RCPA Members Salisbury Behavioral Health, Growth Horizons, & PaHrtners Deaf Services Join RHA Health Services Family
Xavier Becerra Confirmed as New Secretary of HHS
Today, Xavier Becerra was confirmed, with a narrow approval (50-49), as the new Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Becerra, currently serving as California’s Attorney General, was also a former member of Congress. He will play a part in the Biden Administration’s plans to create a Medicare-like public health care option, health care reform, and take on a major role with HHS helping to facilitate COVD-19 vaccinations and testing efforts. Read more.
PA Health Officials to Streamline COVID Vaccine Distribution to Meet March 31 Appointment Deadline
PA Council on Aging to Host Social Isolation Symposium
The Pennsylvania Council on Aging (PCoA) has announced that they will host the first-ever Social Isolation Symposium on March 23 and 24, 2021. The symposium will feature nationally-known speakers focusing on the impact of social isolation, and how to get older adults to ensure their continued health and wellbeing. In addition to older adults, individuals who work with older adults, including caregivers and health care staff, stakeholders, and the public are encouraged to participate.
The two-day virtual event offers attendees a chance to participate in more than a dozen workshop sessions or select those of particular interest. Session topics include older adult suicide prevention; how to prevent social isolation among LGBTQ older adults; engaging, supporting, and empowering family caregivers; using partnerships and collaborations to reduce social isolation; staying social in a socially distanced world; getting seniors online, and more. To view the various sessions and to participate in the symposium, use this registration link.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate
DATES: 3/24/21 – 5/19/21
FEE: FREE
The University of Southern Florida Muma College of Business is offering this free course and certificate to the public. The two-hour weekly modules will begin on March 24 with a new module offered every Wednesday until May 19. Modules/work do not need to be completed live.
DHS Racial Equity Report 2021
The Department of Human Services (DHS) has released Racial Equity Report 2021, including a message from Teresa Miller, Secretary of Human Services. The report addresses several areas and concludes with this message about Moving Forward:
In the more than seven years since the Black Lives Matter movement began, there have been overdue
and necessary conversations about the treatment of people who are Black, Latinx, Asian, Middle
Eastern, and other non-White identities in the United States. Open and honest conversation and
education are critically important. Each of us only truly knows the world as we experience it, and there
is no shame in that. It is incumbent on each of us, though, to not let our experiences alone drive our
worldview and the way we treat and empathize with others. We must listen to others’ experiences,
challenge our own reactions and pre-conceived notions, and act from a more informed lens that
includes multiple perspectives.
The work must continue, and we must use these conversations and education to drive meaningful
change. We must use our platform to be actively anti-racist and educate our staff, the stakeholders and
constituencies we work with, and the broader public as much as possible. Challenging stereotypes and
biases is not a fight that DHS can win unilaterally, but we can use our position and our platform to
challenge and change these conversations where we can. We must actively build equity, inclusion, and
diversity into our work to overcome circumstances of the past that still persist. We cannot change the
past, but we can be a part of a solution moving forward by seeking to eliminate unintentional and
implicit consequences and be an active ally in this work. The more than 3 million people DHS serves,
our nearly 16,000 employees, and the citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a whole
deserve this.
RCPA Member Update Featuring Current PPP & FMAP Information 03-29-21
RCPA members are invited to join the RCPA Member Update Webinar on Monday, March 29, 2021 at 1:00 pm. This webinar will also feature a discussion on the current PPP & FMAP information presented by Peggy Jo Revay, CPA, Senior Manager, Maher Duessel. Please register here.
Ms. Revay began her public accounting career in 1998 with Maher Duessel after spending eight years in the social services field. She has directed engagements of a wide range of governmental and nonprofit entities, including various human service providers. She has comprehensive experience with Single Audits, and also directs multiple employee benefit plan audit engagements.
If you have questions you would like to submit in advance, please send them to Tina Miletic. We look forward to your participation.
Pandemic-Related Nonprofit Unemployment Claims Survey – Response Requested
RCPA has been and continues to work with the Pennsylvania Association of Non-Profit Organizations (PANO) on unemployment issues that have arisen during the pandemic. Specifically, the largest issue we have been working on is self-insured unemployment compensation claims. PANO has asked RCPA to circulate an unemployment claims survey to our members. RCPA is pleased to work with PANO on this issue.
PANO has sent the information below to various non-profit entities. In addition, you will find the link to the unemployment survey. Please take the time to fill this survey out and share the survey with other non-profits in your area.
PANO Information
Since the pandemic started, more than 33% of nonprofits in the United States are in danger of closing within two years in the aftermath of COVID-19 (2021 Candid and the Center for Disaster Philanthropy). As of December 2020, an estimated 60,000 nonprofit employees have been laid off in Pennsylvania.
While many nonprofits found relief from the federal government through various federal programs, loans, and grants, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has not yet provided direct, designated relief clearly needed by their partners in the nonprofit sector, who provide state-mandated and grassroots services for our most vulnerable residents.
One way the state can provide this direct relief is by offering 100% reimbursement for COVID-19-related unemployment compensation claims to all nonprofits, particularly reimbursable organizations (who pay the state back on a claim-by-claim basis).
If you have had any unemployment claims at all, please participate in this 10-question survey and fill in as many fields as possible, including, but not limited to, your status as a contributory vs. reimbursable employer. We are looking for information from nonprofits of all sizes, big and small, so please pass this on to any of your nonprofit colleagues who can contribute.
Together, we are strong! Let’s use our collective voice to make changes in Pennsylvania’s unemployment system.
Employment and People with Disabilities
Employment of Youth and Young Adults with Disabilities
CAPE-Youth published a policy brief on “Employment of Youth and Young Adults with Disabilities in a Recovering Economy: Lessons from the Great Recession and Considerations for Policymakers Today.” The brief focuses on youth and young adults with disabilities who face difficulties gaining employment because of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recession. It outlines state-level strategies and examples policymakers and program administrators can use to support these young people with finding employment.
EARN Newsletter
The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) released its March 2021 newsletter. Highlighted are two new EARN web pages. “COVID-19 Workplace Resources and Tools” outlines the intersection between the pandemic and disability employment policies and practices. “Neurodiversity in the Workplace” discusses the benefits to businesses and employees of including people with neurocognitive disabilities in the workforce.
Employment Considerations During COVID-19
Accommodating Employees with COVID-19-Related Symptoms
The Job Accommodation Network posted a blog on “Accommodating Employees with COVID-19-Related Symptoms.” The blog discusses accommodating employees who have COVID-19 or who have recovered from COVID-19 but have long-term effects. Accommodation suggestions for limitations such as shortness of breath, fatigue, joint pain, and more are included.
State Strategies for Keeping Workers Safe During COVID-19
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) published a report, “Making Work Safe and Accessible During a Pandemic,” which examines the rules and guidance issued by federal, state, and local agencies to help keep workers, including those with disabilities, safe on the job. The report provides state examples and best practices on paid sick leave, personal protective equipment, and other workplace safety measures that accommodate all workers’ needs and mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The report is the third in a series developed in collaboration with the State Exchange on Employment & Disability on the opportunities and challenges stemming from the pandemic and its impact on the employment of people with disabilities.
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