Reminder: ASAM Alignment Pilot Survey Experience to Be Shared in Provider-Only Webinar — July 14
OMHSAS
Dual Diagnosis Professional Conference Series — August 11
Promising Positive Practices to Address the Mental Health Treatment and Service Needs of People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Throughout the Lifespan
August 11, 2022
9:00 am – 12:15 pm
REGISTER
Session Description
In this 3-hour training, Dr. Joan Beasley will present best practices in mental health services and supports for people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities throughout the lifespan. The presentation will include the perspectives of people with lived experiences as well as practitioners. The START model will be presented to demonstrate the effective use of these practices in cross systems crisis prevention and intervention. See the flyer for more information.
Session 1
9:00 am – 10:30 am.
Topics include: lessons learned over the past 50 years; integrated health approach; humanistic engagement vs. behavior support; public health tertiary model; and positive psychology/positive medicine.
Session 2
10:45 am – 12:15 pm.
Topic: the START model.
What is the Dual Diagnosis Professional Conference Series?
The Department of Human Services’ Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) are pleased to announce the Dual Diagnosis Professional Conference Series, which offers presentations focused on supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism (ID/A) and mental health needs. The selected presenters share their expertise on best and promising practices as well as provide general knowledge. Session topics, which focus on increasing capacity to serve individuals with dual diagnosis in the community, are chosen based on identified needs and with input from the field of professional stakeholders.
- Invited audience of all professional stakeholders, including direct and clinical supporters for individuals with ID/A, are encouraged to attend.
- Registration is required and at no charge to attendees.
- Three (3) hours of training credits and a certificate of achievement is provided.
ASAM Alignment Pilot Survey Experience to Be Shared in Provider-Only Webinar — July 14
OMHSAS New Bulletin: Revised Guidelines for the Delivery of BH Services Through Telehealth
OMHSAS Announcement: Extension of Regulatory Suspensions Until 10/31/22
Message from Kristen Houser, Deputy Secretary of the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS):
Pursuant to Act 30 of 2022, the suspension of various regulatory provisions under the state disaster emergency declaration that are currently in effect and which were set to expire on June 30, 2022, are now extended until October 31, 2022. A list of the regulations that were suspended in whole or in part and their current status is available here.
If you have any questions, please contact Jim Sharp.
ODP Requests Participation in OMHSAS Survey: PA Crisis Visioning 2022
From Kristen Houser, Deputy Secretary, DHS/Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services:
I am writing to request your participation to inform the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services at the PA Department of Human Services of the values and desired outcomes and objectives that you would like to see reflected in a crisis behavioral health response system of services.
On July 16, 2022, the new, easy to remember, three-digit phone number to reach the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline will become active. People experiencing mental health-related distress – whether that is thoughts of suicide, a mental health or substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress – will be able to call 9-8-8 to be connected to trained staff at a National Lifeline Crisis Call Center for immediate support and referrals to appropriate local resources, including mobile response teams or first responders such as law enforcement or EMS if needed.
We know that communities across Pennsylvania have access to very different local resources to help them during a mental health-related crisis, and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services at the PA Department of Human Services is about to embark on a multi-year plan to work with counties to enhance and expand the availability of mobile crisis response teams. Included in the plans for a full continuum of crisis intervention services is access to walk-in and crisis respite centers.
As a first step, we are reaching out to individuals across multiple disciplines to request input to ensure the values and desired outcomes and objectives we utilize to build these services is informed by stakeholders from across the Commonwealth.
Please take a few minutes to answer the questions within by July 8. The short survey should take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete.
OMHSAS Bulletin Update — 1:1 IBHS Center-Based Services
OMHSAS Stakeholder Meeting — June 24
The next OMHSAS Stakeholder Webinar will take place this Friday, June 24, 2022, from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm. You can register for the webinar here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Call-in Number: (631) 992-3221
Access Code: 933633245#
In the meantime, if you have suggestions for agenda topics for June’s webinar, please submit them via email by COB this Thursday, June 23, 2022. OMHSAS will monitor the account and will reply to the sender if more information is needed.
If you have any questions, please contact your RCPA Policy Director.
Statewide Quarterly Positive Approaches & Practices Meeting — July 14
You are invited to participate in the Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) and the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) quarterly Positive Approaches & Practices Meeting. Details can be found below:
Date: Thursday, July 14, 2022
Time: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Topic: Behavioral and Mental Health Supports for Dually-Diagnosed Individuals
Please review the flyer for detailed session and registration information.
Latest Edition of Positive Approaches Journal is Now Available
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) are pleased to announce this latest edition of the Positive Approaches Journal titled “Innovation & Best Practices in Supporting Autistic Adults.”
The focus of autism supports has almost exclusively been on children. Articles in this issue of Positive Approaches seeks to shed some light on adults with autism, including:
- An article on transgender identity and gender dysphoria highlighting ways that adults with autism can be supported and accepted while defining who they are;
- An article on the Temple University Community Participation Measure and its success in showing areas where adults with autism are spending their time, thereby giving a clearer picture on where supports and services may best be provided;
- An article on an adult with autism’s journey from work into retirement and how he perceived this milestone;
- An article discussing Pennsylvania’s continuing development of forward-thinking autism supports and services;
- An article on the ongoing development and expansion of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Neurodevelopmental Residential Treatment Unit; and
- An article on the reasoning, development, and success of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s (UPMC) Western Behavioral Health Psychiatric Rehabilitation (PR) program carve-out program to serve autistic adults.
This journal issue focuses on the need to look across the lifespan to better understand the issues adults with autism may face.
Positive Approaches Journal is available for viewing online or for downloading in digital form.
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