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Policy Areas

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Early this year, the FASD Respect Act was introduced in the Senate to authorize and modify programs administered by the Department of Health and Human Services to address fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), and became a provision of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act. The bill sought to establish FASD Centers for Excellence to support FASD prevention through screenings, public awareness, and trainings at a local and state level. In September, Congress passed the SUPPORT Act, and last week the President signed it into law, which officially authorizes the FASD Respect Act.

The legislation will allow the US Department of Health and Human Services to promote and fund FASD education and awareness, as well as the promotion of FASD resources. Beyond funding and program expansion, the FASD Respect Act will task the federal government with addressing FASD through a realigned perspective that supports individuals and families and respects their lived experience.

Please contact Emma Sharp with any questions.

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The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) and the Office of Medical Assistance Programs (OMAP) have jointly issued the Medical Assistance Bulletin Targeted Case Management Services for Eligible Juveniles Enrolled in Medical Assistance Prior to Release From a Carceral Setting, implementing Section 5121 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. Eligible juveniles are individuals under 21 years of age who are determined eligible for MA or an individual 18–25 years of age who was determined eligible for the mandatory eligibility group for former foster care children.

This bulletin advises providers of billing procedures for the physical health (PH) and behavioral health (BH) Targeted Case Management (TCM) services provided to eligible juveniles enrolled in the Medical Assistance (MA) Program within 30 days of release from a carceral setting and for at least 30 days following release. This bulletin also advises providers of a new provider specialty (Spec) for TCM services.

Questions and comments can be sent electronically. You can also contact RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp with any questions.

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Healing Hands — A Collaborative Approach to Treating Pediatric Hand Burns
Monday, December 8, 2025 
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm EST; 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm CST;
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm MST; 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PST
Register HerePresenter Bios:

Hannah Gift, OTR/L, CHT, COMT UE, CEAS
Hannah Gift is an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist at St. Louis Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. Her primary role is providing upper extremity rehabilitation for pediatric patients with acquired, traumatic, and congenital conditions; she also serves on a team specializing in complex pain and neurological disorders. Hannah previously served on the American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT) board of directors in roles including Education Division Director and Board Member at Large, and she has taught live and virtual education courses for Select Medical, ASHT, and other local and national organizations.

Jennifer Seigel, RN, CPNP, CWCN
Jennifer Seigel is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at WashU at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. She works in the Pediatric Surgery Department and has specialized in burn recovery and wound care for 25 years. St. Louis Children’s Hospital is a level 1 trauma hospital and sees several hundred burn patients per year through both their inpatient and outpatient departments. Jennifer has authored textbook chapters on burn care and often lectures on the topic. She enjoys caring for children and their families in the St. Louis Children’s Hospital burn wound unit called PAWS: Pediatric Acute Wound Service.

Objectives: Following this course, the learner will:

  • Describe 2 common mechanisms of pediatric hand burns and their implications for wound depth and tissue involvement;
  • Differentiate between the grades of burn injury to guide appropriate medical and rehabilitation interventions;
  • Identify the correct position of an orthosis based on the location of the hand burn; and
  • Discuss the purpose of pressure garments and other scar management techniques in improving functional outcomes for pediatric patients.

Audience: This webinar is intended for all interested members of the rehabilitation team.

Level: Beginner-Intermediate

Certificate of Attendance: Certificates of attendance are available for all attendees. No CEs are provided for this course.

Complimentary webinars are a benefit of membership in IPRC/RCPA. The registration fee for non-members is $179. Not a member yet? Consider joining today.

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Message from the Office of Developmental Programs:

The Office of Developmental Programs is excited to announce the launch of a new Provider Innovation Series — an exclusive opportunity for the Provider community to showcase and be recognized for their innovations, new and ongoing, in support of the everyday lives of those we serve. We believe in the power of peer learning and support, and we look forward to showcasing your innovative practices that drive quality.

This exciting new series will premiere during the Everyday Lives conference (May 12–14, 2026), as selected Providers will have the opportunity to join ODP’s Director of Training & Communications, Rochelle Troutman, to present their innovative program, policy, or practice to their peers.

Presenters will also be celebrated for their innovation and leadership in the field with a showcase on MyODP News, a certificate of appreciation, and a digital badge, which can be added to email signatures and displayed on their website and social media.

Join Rochelle Troutman, along with ODP’s Deputy Secretary, Kristin Ahrens for an informational webinar to learn more about this opportunity on December 2 from 9:00 am – 9:30 am EST. The webinar will be recorded and made available on MyODP. Selected presenter(s) will be announced in early February and will receive support as they prepare.

Register for the Informational Webinar

Don’t miss this opportunity to demonstrate your impact! We encourage all Provider organizations, large and small, to consider what innovations they may like to share, and look forward to both learning more about — and sharing with others — your innovative work!

Proposals will be accepted from December 1 — January 5. ODP will select providers to present based on the provider’s innovative practices, and encourages providers to use ISAC Recommendations and Strategies to identify areas of innovation.

To submit an application, please complete the survey.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared Bulletin 00-25-05.  The purpose of this bulletin is to establish the ODP policy on communication and assure all individuals have an effective way to communicate in order to express choice and ensure health and safety.  Please review the Bulletin and accompanying attachment for additional information.

In accordance with ODP’s Everyday Lives: Values in Action, individuals and their families identified several areas of importance for increasing the overall quality of their lives. One of those priorities is communication. It is ODP’s goal that every person has an effective way to communicate in order to express choice and ensure health and safety. All forms of communication should consider and include the individual’s language preferences and use of current technology.

Comments and questions regarding this bulletin should be directed to the appropriate ODP Regional Program Office.

Visit the Office of Developmental Programs website for more details.

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