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Policy Areas

Project Echo at Penn State College of Medicine Presents:
Project Reassure: Fostering Resilience for Adult Neurodiverse Communities

Register for this no-cost training hour-eligible series for professionals serving adult neurodiverse individuals. The eight-session Project Reassure ECHO series will launch on January 12, 2024, from 7:45 am –9:00 am.

This series will provide participants with strategies in supporting adult neurodiverse individuals struggling with anxiety related to the COVID-19 pandemic and building resilience. The curriculum will cover the basics of recognizing trauma, stress, and anxiety; fostering resilience building skills; crisis prevention; dealing with uncertainty; and changes in the adult neurodiverse brain. Professionals serving adult neurodiverse individuals, including immediate direct clinical supervisors of direct support professionals, group home managers, behavior specialists, and program coordinators, are encouraged to register and actively participate.

Additional details and registration information can be found on the event flyer.

Image by Shotkitimages from Pixabay

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 23-098: Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) Quality Management (QM) Certification Classes: Registration for 2024 Virtual Classes. This announcement provides information on the registration process for ODP’s 2024 Virtual QM Certification Classes. Please review the announcement for additional details.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 23-097: Now Available: Certified Investigator Peer Review (CIPR) Course. The purpose of this announcement is to convey the availability of the CIPR course. All entities that complete investigations are required to conduct the CIPR process as outlined in the CIPR Manual. This course is offered as an opportunity to support entities to complete high-quality CIPRs that help mitigate risks to individuals receiving services. Please review the announcement for registration information and additional details.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) are pleased to announce that the latest edition of the Positive Approaches Journal is now available!

Safe Spaces, Strong Supports: Multifaceted Approaches to Suicide Prevention
and Mental Well-being

This issue of the Positive Approaches Journal focuses important attention on the often under-recognized topic of suicide and individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism.

Knowledge brings new understanding, and new understanding brings new opportunities to be hopeful about better addressing the impact of suicidal thoughts and actions. In this issue, authors from a diverse range of voices, expertise, and professional backgrounds share their insights, experiences and resources which will aid in your support of others.

To print a copy of the PDF, online journal, or a specific article, you will find these options within your left navigation bar on any Positive Approaches Journal page. A new window will open with your selected document. In your browser, you may click the Print button in the top left corner of the page, or by using the Print capability within your browser.

Please submit feedback regarding your experience with the Positive Approaches Journal on MyODP by clicking on the feedback image on MyODP within your left navigation bar on any Positive Approaches Journal page.

The Positive Approaches Journal is published quarterly. You can request additional information electronically.

Photo by Chris Montgomery on Unsplash

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will host a Region 3 virtual town hall, “Expanding the Behavioral Health Workforce: Common Elements Treatment Approach,” from 9:45 am – 12:00 pm on Tuesday, December 5, 2024. The purpose of the town hall is to share information and outcomes about an innovative solution to address workforce challenges with rural, veteran, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC), and international examples.

Information is now available about the event’s speakers, including the agenda. Interested participants can register online. For inquiries, contact Jean Bennett or Jeanne Tuono of SAMHSA.

The 2024 Everyday Lives Conference agenda is now available to view and download! The conference agenda is also available to view and download on the conference website under the “Schedule” tab.

Register for the Conference

The 2024 Everyday Lives Conference will be held at the Hershey Lodge from January 9 – 11, 2024. Individuals with disabilities and/or autism, families, professionals, clinicians, students, and caregivers are invited to participate in the Everyday Lives Conference.

Full Conference
Professionals $150
Individuals with a disability/Self Advocates (includes registration for a direct support professional) $140
Family Members $140
Full Time Students $140
Other
Single Day for all roles $55
Exhibitor Booth $400

The Department of Human Services (DHS) published a bulletin on patient smoking on June 15, 1993, to clarify smoke-free living areas. The Department now requires all state hospitals to be smoke-free facilities, which was announced during the Department’s press release on December 11, 2018. The facilities are to offer smoking cessation programs and support as needed, including nicotine patches, gum, or other replacement items permissible for both patients (if approved/supported by the treatment team, primarily for new admissions) and staff.

View the full announcement on rescission of Bulletin SMH-93-02, Patient Smoking, here. Comments and questions regarding this bulletin should be directed via email.

If you have additional questions or would like RCPA to submit comments, please contact RCPA Mental Health Services Policy Director Jim Sharp.