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Policy Areas

RCPA’s Physical Disabilities and Aging Division meeting is scheduled next Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm. The agenda is now available and can be viewed here as well as on the RCPA website calendar. Included in the agenda will be an introduction to RCPA members of Aetna Better Health, the newly awarded MCO, as well as an open forum with current CHC-MCOs.

We would ask that you send any questions you may have for the CHC-MCOs to Fady Sahhar by COB Monday, September 9, 2024.

If you have not yet registered for this meeting, please register here.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has announced the release of the 2022-23 Employment First report. ODP believes that all people with an intellectual disability and/or autism must be encouraged to pursue their vision for an everyday life, which may include working in competitive integrated employment. Competitive integrated employment offers a person an opportunity to achieve economic independence, build self-confidence, enhance self-determination, and meet new people while building new skills. The Everyday Lives: Values in Action publication, developed by the ODP Information Sharing and Advisory Committee (ISAC) which includes self-advocates, reads, “Employment is a centerpiece of adulthood and must be available for every person. The benefits of employment for people with disabilities are significant and are the same as for people without disabilities.” This report serves as an update to all stakeholders on the progress that has been made to support individuals served by ODP on finding and maintaining competitive integrated employment.

Access the 2022-23 Employment First report here. This document can also be found by visiting the MyODP Employment Home page.

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The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) is hosting the following clinical supervision skills trainings:

  • October 21–25 at 7th Street Conference Center, 2525 N 7th St., Harrisburg
  • November 4–8 at Gateway Rehabilitation, 311 Rouser Road, Coraopolis

This in-person training will build on the information provided in the online training and provide participants with the opportunity to practice their clinical supervision skills. Participants will also be provided with tools to assist in assessing and working with their supervisees.

Trainings will be from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm each day. Cost of the training is $300. Registration is limited and will be processed in the order they are received. A registration form is available on DDAP’s Training Management System website. You can email questions about the training to the DDAP Training Section inbox.

An additional clinical supervision skills training is being planned for the southeast region for December 9–13. Once a location is confirmed, it will be posted in the Training Management System.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 24-087, which informs stakeholders of corrections to rates for select services provided through the ODP Consolidated, Community Living, Person/Family Directed Support, and Adult Autism Waivers and base-funding that were published as final in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Corrections were made to the following rates:

  • Community Participation Support Rates, Effective July 1, 2024; and
  • Life Sharing Without Day 1-Person Needs Group 3 and 4 Rates, Effective October 1, 2024.

The corrected final Fee Schedule Rates and Department-Established Fees for each service can also be found on DHS’s website. Please view the announcement for details.

The 2024 RCPA Conference Embracing Challenges, Empowering Success is just around the corner, with our workshops starting bright and early Tuesday, September 24. Online registration for the conference ends September 13, and by registering today, you will guarantee your early access to the mobile app and your seat in sessions addressing key topics in health and human services!
Register Here for the 2024 RCPA Conference!
View our registration brochure for complete details on the conference schedule.

In addition, due to a high volume of guests at the Hershey Lodge, RCPA has made arrangements for a special rate at the Hilton Garden Inn Hershey, located at 550 East Main Street, Hummelstown, PA 17036, which is less than two miles away from the Lodge. The Hilton is offering rooms to our attendees September 23 – 27 at a Nightly Group Rate of $149.00 plus 11% tax (1-2 adults; $10 each additional adult) using the group name “RCPA 2024 Conference.” Find more information at our Conference website, and please reach out to Carol Ferenz if you have questions or concerns.

Lastly, we wish to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the sponsors and exhibitors who make our conference possible! We can’t wait to see you in Connections Hall! You can view our current sponsors and exhibitors on the RCPA Conference website!

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The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (DLI), in partnership with Penn State College of Medicine, is offering a free virtual training series to help employers create and maintain recovery-friendly workplaces. The training series, “Shatter the Stigma: Supporting Recovery in the Workplace ECHO,” will educate employers on valuable tools to support employees in recovery from substance use disorders, provide strategies to reduce stigma in the workplace, and help prevent unnecessary terminations.

The program starts Tuesday, September 10 with eight one-hour sessions. The sessions are 8:00 am – 9:00 am every other Tuesday at no cost to employers. Those interested can register online.

The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) recently shared information on a live Question & Answer (Q&A) session with the Brain Injury Specialists who manage the National Brain Injury Information Center (NBIIC) on September 13, 2024, at 1:00 pm. Greg Ayotte, CBIST, and Heather Matty, CBIS, will discuss the latest developments in brain injury research, how you can participate in research studies, and more.

If you have a question about brain injury research that you would like to have answered during this event, members are encouraged to submit it here, followed by filling out the form on the page.

The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) will hold its next ASAM technical assistance webinar at 10:00 am Monday, September 9, 2024. It will be the fourth in the four-month “Conversations With Scott Boyles” series. Boyles serves as Senior National Training Director for Train for Change Inc. During September’s webinar, the discussion about handling administrative discharges will continue. The session and Boyles’ series will then conclude with a focus on the principles of the ASAM Criteria.

As a reminder, webinars are regularly scheduled for 10:00 am on the first Monday of each month.

To sign up for ASAM technical assistance webinar invitations, email DDAP’s ASAM resource account. Past webinars and additional ASAM 3rd Edition resources are available on DDAP’s ASAM Transition web page.

Please use the link below to connect to each month’s webinar.

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