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Policy Areas

Today, June 5, members of the Coalition for the Preservation of Employment Choice and RCPA urged the PA General Assembly to preserve protections and programs meant for those with IDD, including preserving Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Those speaking detailed how a loss of such programs would limit those with IDD to education and workplace options.

Richard Edley, PhD, President and CEO of RCPA, defended the programs, stating, “When you systematically limit choice, you are taking away a basic principle of helping people with disabilities.”

Also speaking at the rally was Colleen Stuart, CEO of Venango Training and Development Center, Inc., President of the Coalition for the Preservation of Employment Choice, and incoming Board Chair for RCPA. Colleen spoke of those with IDD in the workforce and education, asserting, “Without adequate rates that cover the cost of services, they will lose this choice, as providers will not be able to maintain.”

George Gwilliam of Cori’s Place, who also serves as an RCPA Board Member, was present, as well, speaking on behalf of those with IDD who would be impacted by the loss of protections.

Read the full press release here.

Behavioral Health in Ohio: Improving Data, Moving Toward Racial & Ethnic Equity
June 21, 2023
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm MDT; 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm EDT
REGISTER

This webinar, offered by The College for Behavioral Health Leadership (CBHL), explores how data can be more effectively used to advance racial and ethnic equity in behavioral health care.

Since early 2022, a multi-organizational collaborative team with expertise in advocacy, policy, research, and organizational transformation has worked together to improve behavioral health for Ohio’s marginalized racial and ethnic populations. Their work products include a series of research reports analyzing the opportunities and recommendations for change. To date, the collaborative has produced two reports, the first presenting the big picture around racial and ethnic equity and behavioral health as an introduction to the topic; the second report focuses on the workforce, featuring a breakdown of the racial and ethnic composition of Ohio’s behavioral health providers and recommendations for improvement in data collection, policy, diversity in education, and more. Two final reports are in-process and will focus on treatment and funding.

Join us to learn how you might replicate this in your own communities, including rationale for use of data to advance racial and ethnic equity, how to create a team structure and work processes to gather and analyze data, and the ways in which the findings are already making an impact in Ohio.

Learn More, Speakers, & Agenda

Message from ANCOR:

ANCOR has been working diligently to review the proposed Access Rule, Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services, assess its impact, and propose ways to strengthen access to community-based services. Please join us on Tuesday, June 6, from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm EDT for our second Members-Only Briefing on the Access Rule.

Please register in advance for Tuesday’s Feedback Forum.

During Tuesday’s Members-Only Briefing, the GR team will review:

  • How the Access Rule proposes to address direct care compensation, standardize systems of reporting, and engage stakeholder input;
  • ANCOR’s strategy to respond to the Access Rule;
  • How you can help us assess the impact and submit comments.

In addition to Tuesday’s briefing, we want to hear from you, in your own words, what impact the proposed rulemaking may have on your organization’s ability to provide services.

Please respond to this 10-question survey by Friday, June 9 at 11:59 pm PDT.

We remain committed to keeping you informed and providing you with the tools you need to offer comments and insight into the proposed rules. Thank you for everything you do each day, and we hope to see you on Tuesday at 1:00 pm EDT.

Shannon McCracken
Vice President of Government Relations
ANCOR
606-271-3555


If you have any questions regarding this ANCOR message, please contact Carol Ferenz.

Our friends at Greenspace Health and the Yale Measurement-Based Care Collaborative (MBCC) have launched a new MBC knowledge hub.

The ongoing partnership between Greenspace and the Yale MBCC has been an exceptional opportunity for us to engage in insightful MBC discussions and education. In fact, the three-part MBC education series saw attendance from almost 1500 clinical leaders and clinicians.

Throughout the course of the series, Greenspace led engaging sessions with the Yale MBCC, shared insightful content, and delivered many Q&A style videos in order to support anyone looking to learn more about MBC. From research to implementation, its use in practice, and the overall impact MBC is having on the quality of care across North America — there were remarkable learnings and information shared by the experts at Yale.

Today, Greenspace and the Yale MBCC have launched a comprehensive educational hub where you can explore videos, articles, and insights shared from the Yale MBCC team, all in one place.

The Yale MBC Collaborative Knowledge Hub is now live for you to explore and learn from. Be sure to check it out.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) shares details on a free online course from PaTTAN “The Nuts and Bolts of Job Coaching.” This course is geared towards paraprofessionals, other support staff, teachers, transition coordinators, special education directors, or anyone interested in this topic. Please review the flyer for dates, registration information, and course content.

The 2023 RCPA Conference will be here before you know it, so be sure to visit the RCPA Conference website for news regarding this event. New information is being added on a regular basis, and our program is shaping up with many thought-provoking workshops, keynote speakers, and some great networking events! This year, we are very excited to announce a special performance on the first day — Kirsten Michelle Cills will kick off the evening reception at 5:00 pm. Kirsten is a Philadelphia native comedian, actor, and writer, who has survived 9/11 and lives with cystic fibrosis. We are so happy to have her joining us in Hershey! You will also enjoy the return of some conference favorites like Michael Cohen, as well as new voices, including distinguished speaker and retired New Hampshire Supreme Court Justice John Broderick, Jr., who will share his personal and professional experiences with SUD and mental health challenges in his family.

We would also like to extend our thanks to those organizations that have already contributed and shown their support for our Conference! Sponsor and exhibitor spots are filling up quickly, so be sure to complete the brochure today! As a reminder, sponsors, exhibitors, and advertisers who wish to be listed on the website, the mobile app, and in the conference program must submit all materials by September 8. In order to be considered for booth self-selection, a completed contract with payment must be submitted, and no reservation is considered complete without payment. If questions remain, please contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator. Be sure to check out our current sponsors and exhibitors on the Conference website!