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Tags Posts tagged with "Legislation"

Legislation

This coming week, the Pa. General Assembly will be voting on a critical piece of legislation, HB 1866, aimed at ensuring standards for permanency services for youth turning 18, a time when typically services can end for a child transitioning into adulthood.

Turning 18 represents a pivotal point in life, with new life experiences like college, entering the workforce, living independently, or other exciting and challenging responsibilities. For many youth, this point in life includes the support of biological parents and other natural networks who help guide them and are available when navigating new experiences. Unfortunately, this is not often the case for older youth who are in and transitioning out of the foster care system.

Transition age youth—ages 14 to 21—are older youth in the foster care system transitioning to permanency with a caregiver or aging out of the system to adulthood. Transition age youth often struggle with this life transition due to unique circumstances with being a foster child. Not always having adequate planning and support services to ease the transition can lead to poorer outcomes that have lifelong impacts.

We ask that you support this bill and work with your legislators to get this passed. PA Partnerships for Children has created an amazing fact sheet that can be used to support your efforts. If you have additional questions, please contact RCPA Children’s Director Jim Sharp. We also ask that you share this information with any and all in your network.

In coordination with Brain Injury Awareness month, a Brain Injury Awareness Day has been planned for Tuesday, March 29, 2022. This full-day event (from 10:00 am–3:00 pm) will be held at the State Capitol in Harrisburg, PA. The event will include a briefing with legislative speakers, legislative meetings, a reception, and a brain injury panel discussion. The schedule and additional details can be found on the event flyer.

If you plan on attending the event, please contact Melissa Carmen via email or at (717) 361-2854.

The Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association Political Action Committee (RCPA PAC) is asking members to consider making a personal contribution. With these donations, we are able to provide financial support to state legislators or representatives who have demonstrated a strong, consistent, and positive interest in our legislative priorities.

With support of the RCPA PAC, we have been successful in supporting legislative leadership who understand the severe challenges facing many of our providers and who are willing to stand up for our issues as we fight to move Pennsylvania forward. Recent efforts we have closely followed include:

  • The passage of Act 25 of 2018;
  • Testifying at numerous House and Senate Committee meetings on gun violence, autism, community participation, and other issues affecting RCPA members; and
  • Assisting with language for the 2021/22 fiscal budget to delay the implementation of ASAM requirements on drug and alcohol providers.

As we move into a new legislative year, efforts are now underway in multiple areas, including:

  • Advocating the General Assembly to release federal funding that they placed in reserve for direct care workers (see RCPA media campaign);
  • Drafting legislation to eliminate prudent pay for IDD providers;
  • Working with legislative leaders and family advocates for children and adults with severe autism;
  • Working with House and Senate leadership on rate increases for brain injury providers;
  • Providing information to House and Senate leadership regarding how Drug and Alcohol Opioid Settlement Funds allocations should be distributed to drug and alcohol providers;
  • Advocating the Governor/General Assembly and collaborating with the County Commissioners Association of PA (CCAP) and the Hospital Association of PA (HAP), as well as other organizations, to increase County Mental Health Funding;
  • Working with legislators to Amend Act 25 of 2018, which RCPA helped draft, by introducing new legislation regarding outpatient psychiatric issues (HB 2294);
  • Assisting legislative staff with their constituent issues regarding human services issues, such as consumer placements for services; and
  • Advocating legislators and staff on rate transparency.

We urgently need your support to continue with these ambitious projects. While the request is voluntary, we encourage you to make a contribution of $100, $250, $350, $500 or more to RCPA PAC. For your convenience, you can now make an online contribution.

Thank you for your participation and support. If you are interested in learning more about RCPA PAC or donating, please visit our website, download the PAC FAQ CardDonation Card, or email Jack Phillips, Director of Government Affairs.

Your participation in the RCPA-PAC is completely voluntary, and you may contribute as much or as little as you choose. Donations are not tax-deductible and will be used for political purposes. You may choose not to participate without fear of reprisal. You will not be favored or disadvantaged by reason of the amount of your contribution or decision not to contribute.