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Policy Areas

This year, Direct Support Professional Recognition Week is September 10–16, and ANCOR has all you need to plan your thank-yous and celebrations!

One of the most popular ways to customize celebrations is by browsing and purchasing from the 2023 Direct Support Professional Recognition Week Store!

ANCOR has updated the DSP Recognition Week Store with NEW items, they’re bringing back some of their most popular items, and more items will be added throughout this week!

In addition to everything below, there are even more bag options, water bottles, travel mugs and tumblers, notebooks, coolers, and more. Start browsing today!

Make sure to place your orders by August 20 to ensure receipt by the start of DSP Recognition Week.

DSP Recognition Week is one of our favorite times of year, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you and see all of your celebrations! Thank you, DSPs!

Join us at the 2023 RCPA Annual Conference A Decade of Unity for the latest in strategies and innovations within the health and human services sector. Held at the Hershey Lodge October 10 – 13, participants can earn CEs through workshops that will cover a wide variety of topics. Our full brochure is available, and we’ll be rounding out our first day at the lodge with:

  • Driving Pennsylvania’s Health Care Transformation: Integrating Perspectives for Advanced Patient-Centered Care
    • Discuss strategies and methods of health care system integration, including designing a roadmap for practical applications.
  • Purpose and Growth: Engaging and Retaining Your Teams in Challenging Times
    • Learn to retain employees in the face of generational gaps, the effects of the pandemic, and the economy by focusing on what they most want: purpose and growth.
  • Why Your Agency Needs A Specialized Telehealth Solution: Improving Health, Provider Cost Saving, Increased Satisfaction
    • Hear about StationMD and Mainstay Life Services’ telehealth partnership and how having a specialized telehealth solution can improve outcomes while lowering costs.
  • Data Strategies for Impact and System Transformation
    • Do more with your data by learning the stages of organizational development for data-informed decision-making.
  • Value-Based Purchasing: A Survival Guide
    • Review value-based purchasing and how it is a tool to be used to improve quality health care. This discussion will include best practices for utilizing data in real time.
  • Current Steps in Implementing Trauma-informed Care in Children’s MH RTFs
    • Learn about OMHSAS’s TIC Initiative for children’s mental health residential treatment facilities, which serves as part of PA’s commitment to becoming a trauma-informed state.
  • Individual Operations: Owning Your Own Influence
    • Understand what it means to be a leader and implement strategies that will strengthen your team, including utilizing and recognizing scheduling patterns, planning ahead, and knowing when to set and break boundaries.
  • Condition Support: Addressing Escalated Situations in the Health Care Setting
    • Analyze an overview of UPMC’s Conditional Support Process, which addresses patients or visitors who exhibit aggressive or hostile behaviors in order to protect medical professionals.
Register today!

In addition to an impressive roster of speakers, our 2023 Conference will have an exciting array of sponsors and exhibitors. We thank those who have signed on thus far! If you are interested in sponsoring or exhibiting, visit here for more details or contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator, with any questions you may have. Keep up-to-date and register today for #rcpaconf!

The Department of Human Services (DHS) recognizes that the corrective action process is a cornerstone of human services licensing. In 2019, the Department released a webinar, Developing a Plan of Correction, to assist providers with the successful development and implementation of acceptable Plans of Correction. Likewise, the Plan of Correction Quick Reference Guide was issued as a tool to assist our providers with this process.

The Department is seeking your feedback on these resources. Please complete this survey by July 26, 2023, in order to assist DHS in determining what additional steps are needed to ensure that our providers are sufficiently educated and supported in the Plan of Correction process.

If you have further questions, please contact your respective RCPA Policy Director for guidance.

Image by photosforyou from Pixabay

Life Unites Us is hosting a webinar at 12:00 pm on Tuesday, July 25, titled “Uniting Provider Communities: Improving Access to Behavioral Health and Substance Use Disorder Services for Older Pennsylvanians.” The webinar will cover Pennsylvania aging programs and services, the integration of behavioral health and addiction services, their delivery methods, and available resources within the aging network. Registration is available.

Life Unites Us is a collaboration between the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, the Douglas W. Pollock Center for Addiction Outreach and Research at Penn State Harrisburg, and the nonprofits Shatterproof and The Public Good Projects. It aims to end stigma and improve access to addiction treatment and recovery by bringing together organizations fighting the opioid epidemic.

Photo by Markus Winkler from Pexels

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Step By Step, Inc. Acquires 10 Residential Programs Formerly Operated by Goodwill Industries of NEPA, Expanding Services for Individuals with Disabilities

Wilkes-Barre, PA– Step By Step, Inc., a leading provider of services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, is pleased to announce the successful acquisition of 10 Residential Programs formerly operated by Goodwill Industries of NEPA. This acquisition includes 10 residential properties, enabling Step By Step to serve 35 individuals in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties. The completion of this acquisition represents a significant milestone in Step By Step’s growth and reinforces their dedication to fostering independence and opportunity for their clients.

Eric Lindey (CEO/President of Step By Step) expressed his excitement about the acquisition, stating, “We are honored to have the opportunity to serve and support these individuals and their families. This acquisition aligns perfectly with our mission of helping each individual succeed in life. We are dedicated to maintaining the continuity and quality of care that Goodwill has provided, ensuring a seamless transition for everyone involved.”During the acquisition process, Step By Step prioritized minimizing disruptions for the individuals and their families. The agency successfully preserved their homes, furnishings, and retained the trusted and familiar staff. The focus is to create a nurturing environment where these individuals can continue to thrive and lead fulfilling lives.

“We are deeply committed to upholding the highest standards of care and ensuring that every individual receives the support they need to reach their full potential,” added Eric Lindey. “We are excited about the growth opportunities this acquisition brings for Step By Step, as we continue to make a positive impact in the lives of those we serve.”

The acquisition was finalized on June 30, 2023, and as of July 1, 2023, Step By Step officially assumed the role of service provider for the acquired residential programs. Step By Step would like to express gratitude to the staff, board of directors, and executive team for their dedication and hard work throughout the process.

About Step By Step:
Step By Step, Inc. is a private, non-profit corporation devoted to providing community support services to children and adults in Pennsylvania with intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, autism, mental health disorders, and/ or substance use disorders.

Established in 1977, the agency today provides services to over 2,000 individuals in four regions across more than a dozen Pennsylvania counties.  Throughout its history, Step By Step, Inc. has maintained a progressive view of the potential of individuals with disabilities.

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RCPA invites members to participate in the Coalition for the Mental Health Safety Net meeting on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm. You can register for the meeting here. Please note that if you previously registered for the July 12 meeting, you will need to register again. If you have any questions regarding registration, please contact Allison Brognia.

The Coalition is open to all stakeholder groups, and we encourage members to participate in these efforts of joint advocacy in protecting and preserving our mental health service delivery system. If you would like to join the coalition or have any questions, please contact Jim Sharp.

Temple University Harrisburg will be offering some no-cost training options that are approved to meet Personal Care Home (PCH) and Assisted Living Residence (ALR) Administrator annual training requirements. The training sessions that will be offered in the fall include:

Interested individuals need only to register for one session for each topic. Please read the training announcements in full before registering to ensure you can meet the participation requirements.

Please only register for these sessions if you are sure you will be able to complete them, as participation is limited for each course. If you register and later discover you are unable to participate, please cancel your registration to create space for other participants.

If you have any questions about these trainings or if you require assistance with registration, you can email Temple University. If you would like information about additional trainings available for PCH and ALR administrators, please contact the Bureau of Human Services Licensing Operator Support Hotline via email.