Arc of Pennsylvania, RCPA, and TPA Partner With Center for Healthcare Solutions for ID/A Compensation Survey
Home Policy Areas
Pennsylvania Employment First Oversight Commission Annual Report
In 2018, Governor Wolf signed a bipartisan bill with unanimous support from the General Assembly into law. Act 36 of 2018 is known as the Employment First Act [PA Law 229]. The purpose of the Employment First Act (Act 36) is to “ensure that individuals with a disability be given the opportunity to achieve economic independence through jobs that pay competitive wages in community integrated settings.”
In an effort to reach this goal, the PA Employment First Oversight Commission was formed. Stephen Suroviec, Commission Chair, is President and Chief Executive Officer of Achieva and an RCPA member. Other RCPA members, including RCPA President and CEO Richard Edley, also serve on the commission. The commission was charged with:
- Establishing measurable goals and objectives governing the implementation of the Act;
- Tracking the measurable progress of public agencies in implementing the Act; and
- Issuing an annual report that:
- Details the progress made on each of the measurable goals and objectives during the preceding fiscal year, and
- Includes recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly for effective strategies and policies needed to support the implementation of this act.
The annual report from the commission details the progress toward these targets. You can view the report here.
OMHSAS and OCYF Offer Free Trauma Training
In partnership with the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS), the Office of Children, Youth, and Families (OCYF) is funding trauma training opportunities for all child welfare professionals in PA via Lakeside Global. From September 30, 2022, through September 30, 2023, PA child welfare professionals serving children in PA are able to take advantage of FREE trainings facilitated by the team at Lakeside Global to become trauma-aware, trauma-sensitive, trauma-informed, or healing-centered. This also includes “Train the Trainer” sessions to support trauma-informed sustainability within a child welfare organization.
To learn more about how you can take advantage of this professional development, please view the Trauma Training Announcement.
If you have questions relating to any of these trainings, please email PA Care Partnership or RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.
CDC Releases New HEADS UP to Sports Officials for Online Concussion Training
The new HEADS UP to Sports Officials: Online Concussion Training was developed through a partnership between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) to share the latest guidance on concussion safety and prevention. The training provides essential information to help sports officials spot possible concussion signs and symptoms that can help keep athletes safe.
Sports officials will learn how to:
- Recognize the signs and symptoms of concussion;
- Determine when athletes should be removed from play due to signs and symptoms of concussion; and
- Promote a culture of concussion safety.
Illustrated case studies in the training help guide sports officials through practical scenarios they can use in their on-field activities.
Additionally, there are other CDC HEADS UP resources for concussion safety:
- Training for coaches
- Training for school professionals
- Training for athletic trainers
- Training for healthcare providers
- Videos on concussion safety
- Graphics and infographics
Autism Services for Adults in Philly Area Still Haven’t Rebounded From COVID Shutdowns: RCPA Member Elwyn Referenced
Reminder: A Measurement-Based Care Q&A With the Experts at Yale Webinar — November 3
The team at Greenspace Health is hosting their third and final educational panel with the researchers and renowned psychologists at the Yale Measurement-Based Care Collaborative. You won’t want to miss this session with The Collaborative— it’s your chance to build on your knowledge of MBC and learn from the researchers driving its momentum.
Greenspace is excited to invite you to this live Q&A session with the Yale MBC experts to build on your knowledge of MBC and learn from those driving its momentum. Over 650 clinicians and clinical leaders attended the first two sessions. You won’t want to miss this event!
ASK ME ANYTHING: A Measurement-Based Care Q&A With the Experts at Yale is coming up on November 3 at 1:00 pm EDT. Visit here to register now! Greenspace hopes you can make it, and please feel free to share the event with anyone on your team.
Watch this short video for highlights from the last panel!
RCPA Member Gaudenzia Receives Grant to Enhance Treatment Services
Federal Student Loan Debt Relief Plan Explained — Webinar on November 15
Tuesday, November 15
12:00 pm — 1:00 pm
The Student Loan Debt Relief Application is OPEN!
This one-time program will cancel up to $20,000 in student loan debt for borrowers making less than $125,000 or $250,000 for households.
Now’s the time to act before student loan payments restart. The application is simple; however, determining if your loans are eligible can be overwhelming.
Please join PATF for a one-hour webinar where they will provide valuable information to individuals with student loan debt, their families, and supporting professionals on how to receive loan debt relief from the program.
This webinar will cover:
- What the program means to you
- Which loans are eligible
- Where to find the application
- How to submit your application
You will need to register in advance for this webinar. REGISTER HERE
IMPORTANT: After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. This webinar will be recorded, and the recording will be sent out after the event via email to all who register. If you have any questions or need assistance with registering, please contact PATF at 484-674-0506 or email.
Presenters:
- Erin Ellis, Financial Educator at Philadelphia Federal Credit Union (PFCU)
Erin Ellis gives PFCU members the tools they need to better manage their money and achieve their financial goals. Erin is responsible for creating PFCU’s financial education curriculum, providing one-on-one counseling, and presenting seminars on various personal finance topics, including budgeting, saving money, credit, identity theft.
Read Erin’s Bio on LinkedIn - Karen Hassett, Financial Education Director at PATF
Karen Hassett is responsible for developing and implementing PATF’s financial education initiatives, education outreach, and advocacy. Before joining PATF, Karen directed financial literacy education and outreach at CLARIFI. She began her career in financial education at a Delaware County-based credit union where she managed the overall strategy for financial education including designing and implementing content, and community outreach.
Read Karen’s Bio on LinkedIn
For more information, visit here.
To subscribe for updates to the Federal Student Loan Debt Relief Plan, visit here.
The past webinars are part of Money Talks, a free series hosted by Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation on financial empowerment for people with disabilities. View recordings and slides from past Money Talks webinars covering topics such as:
- StudyMoney.us, a new financial education website for people with disabilities
- Credit: What It Is and Why It Matters
- Decision-Making for Adults With Disabilities
- Preparing your taxes for filing
And more!
About Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation
Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF), founded in 1998, is a statewide non-profit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and Alternative Financing Program under the Federal Assistive Technology Act. PATF provides financing opportunities, education, and advocacy for people with disabilities and older Pennsylvanians, helping them to acquire assistive technology devices and services that improve the quality of their lives. Contact PATF at 484-674-0506 or [email protected]. To learn more, visit www.patf.us.
National Council for Mental Wellbeing Telehealth Survey
Expanding telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic was crucial to provide quality mental health and substance use treatment services to clients.
Did your organization provide telehealth services? What services will you continue post-pandemic?
We want to hear about your experiences! The survey will take less than 10 minutes to complete and will assist RCPA in our State and Federal Telehealth advocacy efforts.
Please complete the brief survey by 11:59 pm ET on Wednesday, Oct. 26.
The National Council will use these survey findings as part of a larger effort to collect and share data with policymakers, payers, and the field at large to improve access to mental health and substance use treatment services nationwide.
If you have any questions, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.
Community of Practice Webinar Series — Understanding Community Engagement: A Two Part Employment First Webinar
Wednesday, October 26, 2022
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm ET
Register
As we observe National Disability Employment Awareness Month throughout October, you are invited to join the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services, and members of Federal Community Engagement Cross-Agency Workgroup, for a two-part webinar series on Understanding Community Engagement and its role in expanding Competitive Integrated Employment.
Part One: The Role of Non-Work Activities in Developing Critical Skills for Competitive, Integrated Employment
Join leaders, direct support professionals, and people supported as they discuss the invaluable role non-work activities play in Community Engagement and building critical life and social skills needed to ultimately find success in employment. Hear both firsthand accounts of how community-based activities foster social and professional development as well as research behind the importance of community engagement as part of Employment First efforts.
Part One Webinar Objectives:
- Understand the definition of “Community Engagement” and how it differs from other forms of non-work activities.
- Learn why Community Engagement programs are a crucial aspect of Employment First and Competitive Integrated Employment.
- Discuss how non-work activities build necessary, interpersonal, communication, and professional skills that lead to successful employment outcomes.
- Receive the latest research on the importance of Community Engagement.
The webinar will be facilitated by:
- John Butterworth, Senior Research Fellow and Director of Employment Systems Change and Evaluation, Institute for Community Inclusion, University of Massachusetts Boston
- Karen Lee, Executive Director, Supporting Employment Equality and Community (SEEC)
- Jennifer Sulewski, Senior Research Associate and Project Manager, Institute for Community Inclusion, University of Massachusetts Boston
Stay tuned for an announcement about Part Two, coming soon!
Please email any accommodation requests.
Prev