October Marks Crime Prevention Month
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October 3–7 is Mental Illness Awareness Week
LGBT History Month Celebrates LGBT Icons From 2022
October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month
National Disability Employment Awareness Month 2022 — “Disability: Part of the Equity Equation”
Reminder: IDD SCO Subcommittee Meeting Thursday, October 6, 2022
As a reminder, the SCO Subcommittee will meet next Thursday, October 6, 2022, from 9:15 am – 12:00 pm. We are honored to have Deputy Secretary Kristin Ahrens and Lauren House from the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) joining us at this meeting. We hope to have an interactive discussion on the role of Supports Coordination Organizations in the ODP system.
If you haven’t already registered, please do so here. If you have any questions, please contact Carol Ferenz.
Emergency Preparedness and Response for IDD Organizations: Relias Webinar for RCPA Members — October 25
Proposed Pennsylvania Abuse/Neglect Registry Meeting on October 17
In February 2022, the Wolf Administration created the Abuse/Neglect Registry Taskforce to address a gap in protection created by having no systematic method for tracking perpetrators of abuse or neglect of adults with disabilities in the commonwealth.
Agencies that provide services to adults with disabilities currently do not have access to information related to substantiated abuse or neglect cases in which a prospective employee was the perpetrator. Adults with disabilities, including older Pennsylvanians, may experience avoidable harm when perpetrators of abuse and neglect are able to move from job to job without detection.
The Abuse/Neglect Registry Taskforce assembled and began meeting in March 2022. The Taskforce is comprised of a membership including: adults with disabilities; family members; protective services experts; Departments of Human Services, Health, Aging, and Education counsel, program, and protective services staff; provider association representatives; advocacy organization representatives; and the four Executive Directors from the Human Services Committees in the General Assembly.
The Taskforce was given the following objectives: outline desirable parameters for a registry, identify challenges for implementation, and provide recommendations for the adoption and implementation of an Abuse/Neglect Registry in Pennsylvania.
After several months of work on this project, the Taskforce has developed a draft proposal for the parameters of an Abuse/Neglect Registry for Pennsylvania. This draft is now being shared with the public for review and comment.
RCPA invites you to participate in a meeting to discuss the proposal and develop comments for the Taskforce to review. We will be meeting on Monday, October 17, 2022, from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm. Please register here to attend this meeting. We also invite you to submit any comments to Carol Ferenz by close of business on October 17, 2022. Comments are due by the end of the day on October 18, 2022.
RCPA Member Community Skills Program Joins Success Rehabilitation’s Continuum of Care
QUAKERTOWN, PA — September 30, 2022: Community Skills Program® — a non-residential rehabilitation program of Counseling and Rehabilitation, Inc., has transferred its program to continue under Success Rehabilitation and will now become a part of Success Rehabilitation’s comprehensive continuum of care.
“We are truly humbled to have the trust of Sally Kneipp, founder of Community Skills Program, and will work with her to continue, under Success Rehabilitation, to build on her legacy and the incredible work of Community Skills Program. We are excited to come together to strengthen our culture of excellence in becoming the model for post-acute brain injury rehabilitation.” Success Rehabilitation CEO Joanne Tangney said in a statement, “This new initiative accelerates our strategic goal of delivering a comprehensive continuum of care to meet the rehabilitation needs of individuals with acquired brain injury or other neurologic impairments wherever they need it the most — from our residential and outpatient programs to their homes and communities.”
When explaining the decision to approach Success Rehabilitation about administering Community Skills Program as part of Success’s comprehensive care options, Sally pointed out that she has respected the brain injury providers with whom Community Skills Program has collaborated over the years, and has enjoyed their collegial relationships. She added, “Given the values and vision of Success Rehabilitation’s team members and the continuity and consistency of their management, it seemed logical for Success to take the reins in expanding Community Skills Program’s non-residential home and community-based services under their leadership.”
Community Skills Program, a private non-residential rehabilitation program of Counseling and Rehabilitation, Inc., has been serving individuals in Pennsylvania since 1981, and then in New Jersey, as well. Community Skills Program was designed to assist individuals with traumatic brain injuries to make the transition from hospital-based programs to inclusive community living focused on their strong interests and personal goals.
Success Rehabilitation is a specialty post-acute brain injury rehabilitation provider with residential and neuro rehabilitation outpatient program locations in Southeastern Pennsylvania. For 34 years, Success Rehabilitation’s CARF Accredited brain injury programs have set the standard for outcomes-focused rehabilitation, including a comprehensive vocational program, improving the lives of individuals who have experienced acquired brain injury.
PA Long-Term Care Learning Network Webinar — October 13, 2022
On behalf of the Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Learning Network, the Jewish Healthcare Foundation invites you to join the next special population webinar on October 13, 2022.
Going Beyond “Great Job!” With Appreciation That Impacts Lives
This webinar will continue to follow this quarter’s education theme, addressing workforce challenges. We all share the same need to feel appreciated for our contributions, yet only 3 in 10 US employees strongly agree that in the last seven days they have received recognition or praise for doing good work (Gallup, 2017). Using an interactive exercise, this session will explore a different way of expressing appreciation that supports connection and wellbeing.
Please invite the following Special Population Team Members:
- Nursing Home Administrators;
- Directors of Nursing;
- Nurse Managers;
- Medical Directors;
- Service Coordinator Supervisors; and
- Human Resource Team Members.
VISIT HERE to register for this Zoom webinar scheduled on Thursday, October 13, at 2:00 pm.
You will need your National Provider Identifier (NPI) to register. (If you do not have one or do not know it, please enter 0 on the registration form)
REMINDER: If you have not already registered for the October 6, 2022, Nursing Facility Webinar: Protecting and Preserving our Workforce by Preventing Common Injuries, VISIT HERE.
The Learning Network is part of the Department of Human Services’ Quality Strategy for Nursing Facilities, offered as a collaboration of the Community HealthChoices Managed Care Organizations.
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