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Policy Areas

Join RCPA for an afternoon of golf on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. The event will be held in support of the RCPA PAC and take place at a new location this year — the Colonial Golf & Tennis Club in Harrisburg, PA. Lunch will be at 11:30 am, with a shotgun start at 1:00 pm. Register to attend today!

We hope you will consider becoming a sponsor in support of this fundraiser. Sponsorship will allow your company to receive name recognition. We hope we can count on our support for this event.

Not a golfer but would still like to support the RCPA PAC? For your convenience, you can now make a personal online contribution, which will provide financial support to state legislators or representatives who have demonstrated a strong, consistent, and positive interest in our legislative priorities. If you are interested in learning more about the RCPA PAC or donating, please visit our website or email Jack Phillips, Director of Government Affairs.

We look forward to seeing you on the golf course!

The PA Department of Health (PA DOH) Bureau of Family Health has announced a funding opportunity for community-based, non-profit organizations. From March 21, 2024, through April 25, 2024, PA DOH will be soliciting applications for the Community to Home (C2H) program in four program service regions: Southwest, Northwest, Northwest Central, and Northeast Central. One grant will be awarded for the four regions.

The C2H program improves the health of children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) by assisting them, along with their families, to access the services and supports required to thrive in the community and develop to their full potential. C2H assists CYSHCN and their families to navigate systems and identify resources in order to receive services while empowering them to become strong advocates and self-reliant.

View the flyer for more information about the C2H program, and note that the Request for Applications (RFA) can be found on the PA eMarketplace.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Danielle Rhodes via email or at 717-772-2763.

The Inglis Impact Accelerator is dedicated to fostering a more accessible and inclusive world by investing in entrepreneurs within, and allies to, the disability community with disruptive ideas and business ventures.

To that end, RCPA member Inglis is looking for six businesses to participate in a 15-week virtual program that concludes with a virtual pitch event. The program includes interactive webinars, workshops, and both one-on-one and group coaching sessions about refining and testing business ideas, attracting and engaging customers, optimizing sales funnels, and more.

Each business that successfully completes the program and pitches at the virtual pitch event will receive a $5,000 cash prize provided by Highmark Wholecare.

Eligibility requirements:

  • Founder must reside in Pennsylvania.
  • Founder will ideally have identified a target market and created a minimum viable product/service or prototype.
  • The program does not require a legal business entity to apply, but we are seeking businesses that plan to file in the near future if they haven’t already.
  • Our rigorous selection process will prioritize ideas in three core areas — housing accessibility, assistive technology, and innovative healthcare models, as well as founders who identify as having a disability.
  • At least one member of the founding team should expect to spend a minimum of 4-6 hours per week participating in programming and dedicated work efforts for the duration of the 15-week program.

If you know any founders whom you think might be interested in participating in the program, please share the flyer and link to apply.

If you have any questions, please contact Fady Sahhar.

The meeting documents from the March 7, 2024, Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Subcommittee meeting are now available. These documents include the transcript and PowerPoint presentations. You can view the documents below:

The next LTSS Subcommittee meeting is scheduled for April 3, 2024, from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm in the PA Department of Education’s Honors Suite at 333 Market St. in Harrisburg, PA. The option to participate via webinar is also an option. The agenda for the April meeting is here.

To participate in the meeting via webinar, please register here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. If you plan to participate via phone, the dial-in number is: (213) 929-4212; PIN: 914 913 021#.

The AoD Disability Employment TA Center’s National Community of Practice (CoP) webinar, “Engaging Diverse Communities Through Financial Education and Empowerment, will be hosted Tuesday, April 16, 2024, from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm ET.

Join the AoD Disability Employment Technical Assistance Center (DETAC) for a webinar to increase awareness about National Financial Capability Month. Financial education is a key first step on the pathway towards financial health and wellbeing to live more independently in the community. The Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities funded a three-year initiative with the National Disability Institute (NDI) called Financial Wellness for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD). The panel will highlight how this train-the-trainers model in Illinois provided training to individuals with I/DD and their family members to manage money, reduce debt, and use credit wisely. The training was customized based on individualized needs ranging from a short class to a 10-module curriculum. While we often focus on helping people with disabilities find jobs, this webinar will highlight a model to ensure we also provide a roadmap on the importance of making good financial decisions to further increase independence.

Presenters:

  • Kimberly Mercer-Schleider: Director, Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities
  • Michael Roush: Director, National Disability Institute
  • Tyson Bedford: Council Member, Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities
  • Curtis Harris: Council Member, Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities

Registration is required. Please register for this webinar here.

Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

Pediatric to Adult Health Care Transition Summit
Thursday, June 13, 2024
Live and In-Person at St. Cloud, MN
Virtual Attendance Also Available
REGISTER

Summit Overview
The Pediatric to Adult Health Care Learning Collaborative Summit will offer participants valuable insights into enhancing programs and overall state practices regarding pediatric to adult health care transition (HCT). This progress is urgently needed to support the growing number of youths with special health needs aging into adulthood. IPRC member Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare is a part of the Learning Collaborative.

Target Audience
The Summit is open to those interested in advancing pediatric to adult HCT. This includes pediatric/adult clinicians from any setting, family advocates, insurers, policymakers, health system and health administrators, and more.

Virtual Attendance
All Clinicians: $25
Family Members: Free

Register to attend in person or virtually before May 30. You can find more information in the event flyer.

Folders with the label Applications and Grants

The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) announced the availability of $6.5 million in funding to expand drop-in center services for individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) across Pennsylvania.

Drop-in centers provide a safe, judgment-free place for people to receive daily essentials, engage with staff to learn about the possibility of recovery and treatment options, and, when ready, get connected to those services. They also provide harm reduction and recovery support services.

Eligible applicants, including existing community organizations, single county authorities, and DDAP-licensed treatment providers, can find the grant application online. Approximately eight grants of up to $750,000 will be awarded.

Some examples of services provided by drop-in centers include but are not limited to:

  • Harm-reduction for substance use by incorporating overdose prevention and legally permissible harm reduction efforts into existing services;
  • Addressing social determinants of health through the provision of daily essentials;
  • Access to care and case management systems;
  • Access to free healthcare including wound care, Hepatitis C/HIV testing, reproductive healthcare, and dental care;
  • Referrals to SUD level of care assessments, treatment, including medication for opioid use disorder, behavior health resources, case management services, benefits services, and legal services;
  • Survival resources such as shelter and warmth or cooling;
  • Public restrooms, shower, and laundry facilities;
  • Clothing and hygiene product distribution;
  • Mail services;
  • Professionally facilitated support groups which offer education, emotional and social support, practical help, and more; and
  • Advocacy and other supportive services required to navigate complex issues impacting special populations.

DDAP is placing a focus on health equity as a part of this grant opportunity. Applicants must include a description of their current engagement with diverse populations, including communities of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, persons with disabilities, and those residing in rural and urban settings, and provide detailed information about how the project will engage and provide access to these diverse populations.

All applications must be submitted electronically by 12:00 pm on Friday, April 12, 2024. Applications will be competitively reviewed and scored based upon the applicant’s adherence to the funding announcement guidelines and a timely submission to DDAP.

Funding for these grants is provided from the opioid settlement funding that was appropriated to DDAP by the General Assembly for the 2023/24 fiscal year.

Questions regarding the grants and the application process should be forwarded via email.

Moving From Fear and Fantasy to Find Functionality: Leveraging AI in Behavioral Health
Wednesday, March 27
2:00 pm EST
Register Here

Are you navigating the intricate terrain of artificial intelligence (AI) and what role it plays at your behavioral health organization? Register for a virtual session guided by industry leading experts who specialize in charting this new territory as they discuss practical ways to learn and apply AI into your day-to-day or leverage it to innovate your services.

Tailored for executive leaders of behavioral health organizations, this session is your compass in understanding the dynamic AI landscape. The speakers will explore the latest regulations, practical applications, and strategies for effectively navigating fear in this evolving field. Whether you’re seeking to innovate your services or ensure compliance with changing regulations, this webinar will provide invaluable guidance.

Speakers include:

  • Tonya Long of Quantum Crow Advisory;
  • Mari Savickis of CHIME; and
  • Stacy DiStefano of RCPA Business Member Consulting for Human Services.

Register Here