';
Policy Areas

The Legal Action Center (LAC) will host a stakeholder meeting to discuss the recent amendments to 42 CFR Part 2, the federal privacy and confidentiality rule for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment records, from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm on Thursday, February 29, 2024. Stakeholders, including directly impacted individuals and their loved ones, addiction treatment providers, healthcare professionals serving people with SUD, and legal and policy advocates, are encouraged to participate. The meeting will focus on the implications of the final rule, with insight from LAC attorneys. Registration is required. For more information on the final rule, visit LAC’s website.

PA Family Support Alliance (PFSA) offers virtual mandated reporter training for Pennsylvania’s mandated reporters, with three options available. Approved by the Department of Human Services, the Department of Education, and the Department of State for health-related licenses, these three-hour sessions cover recognizing and reporting child abuse, responding to disclosures, and understanding neglect. They’re also eligible for Act 31 and Act 48 credits.

Visit here to register for a preferred training date and time. Each participant must log in separately to receive credit. For inquiries or to schedule an organization-specific session, contact PFSA via email. You can also contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp with any further questions.

March continues the series on Participant Directed Services. Creating an Everyday Life using Waiver Services comes with some exciting opportunities and challenges. Many individuals use Participant Directed Services to pursue their vision and create the life they want. Join us to explore more about Participant Direction and offer resources and information. These workshops are created by family members and self-advocates FOR family members and self-advocates. Register for upcoming events at PA Family Network’s website.

Join the Participation Direction Summits!

Support Groups

LifeCourse Workshops

Waiver Workshops

Community Engagement Workshops

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is sharing an important announcement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warning individuals of the risks related to using smartwatches or smart rings that claim to measure blood glucose levels (blood sugar) without piercing the skin. These devices are different than smartwatch applications that display data from FDA-authorized blood glucose measuring devices that pierce the skin, like continuous glucose monitoring devices (CGM). The FDA has not authorized, cleared, or approved any smartwatch or smart ring that is intended to measure or estimate blood glucose values on its own. If your medical care depends on accurate blood glucose measurements, talk to your health care provider about an appropriate FDA-authorized device for your needs.

View the FDA alert here.