Senator Robert Casey Joins RCPA Members for Open Forum Webinar
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Signed Federal Appropriations Act Increases DDAP’s FY 2023 Budget by At Least $60M
With this week’s signing of the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022, the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) expects its budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 to be at least equal to the current year’s budget of $378 million. Before the signing of the act, DDAP’s budget was $317 million. The difference was the result of a $60 million gap in a state opioid response (SOR) grant that has been restored. The majority of DDAP’s funding comes from the federal government, as opposed to state dollars.
As part of the Federal Appropriations Act, $3.9 billion has been budgeted for substance use treatment, including continued funding for opioid prevention and treatment, recovery, and tribal focused treatment efforts. This includes $1.85 billion for the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SABG); $1.525 billion for SOR Grants; $34.9 million for Pregnant & Postpartum Women; $13 million for Building Communities of Recovery; and $101 million for Medication Assisted Treatment.
In its Senate Appropriations Hearing yesterday, DDAP said that, although the exact amount of Pennsylvania’s SOR grant for FY 2023 was not yet know, it expected it to be at least as much as the current year’s grant, which is $178 million.
$22.6M Available to Addiction Treatment Providers Through Federal MAT-PDOA Grant
This week, SAMHSA announced the availability of $22.6 million to public and private non-profit entities through its Medication-Assisted Treatment – Prescription Drug and Opioid Addiction (MAT-PDOA) grant. Applications are due Friday, April 29. More information about applying for the grant is available on SAMHSA’s website.
National Council to Host Overdose Prevention Webinar — March 21
The National Council for Mental Wellbeing will host Overdose Prevention Across the Continuum of Care: Strategies from the Field, the first of a two-part series, from 3:30 pm–5:00 pm on Monday, March 21. You can register for the event here.
Presenters will discuss a range of evidence-based strategies that have been successfully implemented across the continuum of care to prevent overdose and improve the health of people who use drugs and have substance use disorders, including those with co-occurring serious mental illness.
2022 Candidate Election Update
DHS Proposes Controversial Contract Language in Managed Care Contracts
RCPA Responds to Possible Contract Provisions Relating to “Work Stoppages” in the PH-HealthChoices Program
Statewide Positive Approaches & Practices Meeting — April 14
The Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) and the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is announcing the “Statewide Positive Approaches & Practices” meeting.
Date: Thursday, April 14, 2022
Time: 9:00 am—3:00 pm
Topic: Embracing Behavioral Supports and Meaningful Applications
Please review the attached flyer for detailed session and registration information.
ODPANN 22-031 Update Regarding ARPA Funds
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has just sent ODPANN 22-031 UPDATE — ARPA — One-Time Supplemental Payment to Address Staff Training, Credentialing, and Business Associates Programs for Employment. This update corrects that one-time supplemental payments to address staff training, credentialing, and business associates programs for employment is for providers and was not approved for SCOs. ODP will be releasing information in the upcoming weeks that will support SCO needs.
RCPA Member Threshold Rehabilitation Services, Inc. Announces New COO
NEWSMAKERS – READING EAGLE
Thomas W. McNelis, President and CEO of Threshold Rehabilitation Services, Inc. recently announced that Edward B. Michalik, Jr., PsyD, has been appointed to the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer.
Dr. Michalik will oversee the organization’s strategic planning, human service licensing and accreditation, and government and community outreach efforts.
Dr. Michalik joins Threshold with a broad background in human services administration, most recently as Berks County Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities Program Administrator and Berks County Area Agency on Aging Executive Director.
Dr. Michalik performs significant support functions with the law enforcement community as the Clinical Director, Member Support Program for the Fraternal Order of Police, Berks County Lodge #71, and City of Reading Lodge #9. He also has served for over thirty-five years providing trauma counseling services to first responders. Dr. Michalik actively serves on various state committees and community boards, including the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency and Shillington Borough Council.
Dr. Michalik received his Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology degree from Immaculata University, Immaculata, PA, his Master of Science degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Scranton Graduate School, Scranton, PA, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services from the University of Scranton.
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