';
CLOSE
Policy Areas

0 4750
System For Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities, Autism Will Collapse Without Increased State Aid, Advocates Say
Health, human services organizations ask General Assembly for $430 million increase to stop further termination of programs, closure of facilities

HARRISBURG, Pa. (May 3, 2023) – Advocates for and providers of services for individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism (ID/A) today urged the Pennsylvania General Assembly to increase state aid by $430 million to prevent a full collapse of the system. Prominent health and human services organizations gathered in the Capitol rotunda and said chronic underfunding and staffing shortages are forcing them to end programs and turn away individuals.

The $430 million funding request would generate a federal match that would allow providers to resume service to the 4,029 individuals who lost care in recent years. Without the 15-percent increase, providers say that 60,000 Pennsylvanians with ID/A would be at risk of losing or experiencing a reduction of essential services [read full press release].

 

 

0 1406

The Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) Subcommittee will convene for their next meeting on May 12, 2023, from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. The meeting will be held at the Pennsylvania Department of Education in the Honors Suite, 1st Floor, at 333 Market Street in Harrisburg. The meeting will be held in person and will also offer the ability to participate via webinar and remote streaming. The links to participate are provided below. Comments and questions prior to the meeting should be sent via email.

The agenda has been released for the meeting. Please note: this will be the first MLTSS meeting that the Office of Long-Term Living’s (OLTL) new Deputy Secretary, Julie Marsala, will be attending.

Conference Line and Bridge Number:
1-415-655-0052
PIN: 377387993#

Webinar Link

Remote streaming Link

0 1804

Join RCPA as we host the 2023 Annual Conference, A Decade of Unity: Enhancing Lives and Shaping the Future, October 10–13. RCPA staff and the Conference Committee are excited to return to the Hershey Lodge, as we have new opportunities for sponsors and exhibitors to showcase their services! Be sure to complete the Sponsors, Exhibitors, and Advertisers brochure to reserve your spot, as space and opportunities are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.

We already have a growing number of sponsors and exhibitors and wish to recognize the following organizations for their contributions and support for what is shaping up to be a packed week of sessions and events!

Platinum
Carelon Logo
SilverMagellan Healthcare LogoBronze
CBH LogoSupporting

Berks Counseling Center Logo

PatronExhibitors
Butler Human Services Furniture Logo

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.

0 1794

The sustained funding of community-based mental health services, such as community residential programs, family-based support, outpatient care, and crisis intervention, are critical to the wellbeing of our constituents and our communities. Funding levels for county mental health services have direct impacts on whether these important community and family supports will be available. Yet for too many years, state funding for mental health services has lagged far behind its needs. Counties find themselves advocating for the prevention of funds being cut instead of achieving the increases that are needed to catch up from years of underfunding.

This week’s letter, sent on behalf of the Coalition for the Mental Health Safety Net, stands as an open call to the PA General Assembly and stakeholders. For Pennsylvanians with a mental illness, the impact of the county funding shortfalls is already evident. The effects include: shortages of key mental health professionals; chronic underpayment of mental health providers; reductions/closures in mental health residential programs and supportive services, including employment and psychiatric rehabilitation services; uneven crisis response services; outpatient program closures; and the continuing criminalization of mental illness. Across the Commonwealth, there is no consistent level of mental health services available, and access to critical services largely depends on which county a patient lives in.

The Coalition is open to all new partners who wish to join our mission of advocacy for this 2023/24 initiative, as the time to act and engage with your representative is now. The Coalition will also be developing an advocacy toolkit for members to come together to sustain the safety net and serve those who need it most. The reality is that the demand for service far outweighs capacity and rate structures to serve this population.

If you have additional questions or would like to join the Mental Health Safety Net Coalition, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.

0 1792
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Administrative Entities are asked to assist the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) in achieving the request below of all Supports Coordinators. Please keep the survey available and ensure that SCOs are providing the information as requested.

Supports Coordinators have been asked to provide the following information to the individuals and their families at any contact in May and June 2023.

  • Digital Version of Supporting Families Survey — This could be emailed and includes the link to the survey as well as the QR code to access the survey.
  • Printable Version of Supporting Families Survey — This could be printed and mailed and includes the QR code to access the survey.
  • Texting — The QR code itself could also be texted by itself; the information on the flyers is included on the first page of the survey.

For Those Who Need Help Taking the Survey:

Both flyers explain how to request help taking the survey by sending an email to ODP outreach. Once a request is received, the person will be called by a member of the PA Community of Practice (CoP) for Supporting Families Leadership Team. They will be asked the questions over the phone, and the person assisting will enter their responses. This is a great opportunity for people who have limited or no access to the internet.

The survey was developed by the PA CoP for Supporting Families Leadership Team as the measure for our Quality Management Plan for Supporting Families. The results of the 2021 survey showed that 70% of families have the information and support that they need when and how they need it. In 2023, we hope to learn more about how people want to receive support and topics of information across all life domains that people would find helpful. It is hoped that this survey will help ODP, Supports Coordinators and Organizations, as well as Administrative Entities to know more about how to support people in the context of their families.

If you would like further information about the CoP for Supporting Families or the Quality Management Plan and/or survey, please contact Candida Walton.

Prev1...323324325...508Next Page 324 of 508
© 2021 - Rehabilitation & Community Providers Association