Statewide Quarterly Positive Approaches & Practices Meeting to Be Held April 17
OMHSAS
ODP and OMHSAS Announce 2024 Dual Diagnosis Virtual Conference
Full Diagnosis: Impact of Trauma, Physical Health, and Metabolic Health
Virtual Event
May 22 – 23, 2024
The Pennsylvania Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) invite you to save the date for the statewide Dual Diagnosis Conference. This year’s two-day conference will be held virtually. Nationally recognized speakers will provide perspectives on the impact of trauma, physical health, and metabolic health. Schedule and registration information will be available soon!
Visit the Dual Diagnosis Conference website for more information.
OMHSAS PATH Grant Application Open for Public Comment
The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) invites public review of the Fiscal Year 2024 Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) grant application on the Mental Health in PA website. The PATH grant, established under the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Amendments Act of 1990, assists individuals with serious mental illness facing or at risk of homelessness. The application, submitted annually to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is open for public comment until 10:00 am Friday, March 22, 2024. For questions or comments, please contact Lauren MacWithey, Pennsylvania PATH Grant Coordinator.
Additional questions can be sent to RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.
Fox43: New Housing to Support Young Adults in Lebanon County
Early Bird Registration Extended for Children’s Interagency Conference
The Early Bird registration deadline for Pennsylvania’s 21st Children’s Interagency Conference has been extended to March 15, 2024. From April 22 – April 25, 2024, the event will be held at the Penn Stater Hotel in State College, PA, focusing on the theme “Shining The Light on Mental Health: Building Youth Wellness & Resilience.” Keynote speakers Dani Bowman, Anthony Cammilleri, and Victor Armstrong will address attendees on April 22, 2024. The conference is organized by the PA Department of Human Services, Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Bureau of Children’s Behavioral Health Services, and the PA Care Partnership. Registration is now open at the 21st Children’s Interagency Conference Registration web page. For more information about the conference, visit the conference website. For assistance, contact conference planner Katrina Harris.
If you have any further questions, please contact Jim Sharp, RCPA Mental Health Policy Director.
Mindful Aging: Let’s Start the Conversation — Positive Approaches Journal Volume 12, Issue 4 Now Available
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!
This issue of the Positive Approaches Journal focuses on the aging process in those with Intellectual Disabilities and Autism (ID/A) and mental health. Pennsylvania has seen significant growth in their older adult population, and this trend certainly applies to those with ID/A and mental health.
The articles presented in this issue of the Positive Approaches journal offer insight and expertise into several aspects of the issues that Pennsylvania’s aging population is confronting. Discussion on such key topics as dementia, social isolation, mental health and substance abuse, and the Pennsylvania Master Plan on Aging are addressed.
This issue of Positive Approaches Journal is in digital form, available for viewing online or for downloading at MyODP’s website. 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 selecting the feedback image on MyODP within your left navigation bar on any Positive Approaches Journal page.
OMHSAS and SAMHSA Announce On-Site SOAR Technical Assistance
The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS), collaborating with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) SOAR Technical Assistance Center, offers on-site technical assistance (TA) to communities interested in implementing or expanding the SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) model, aiding individuals at risk of homelessness or returning from institutions in navigating complex benefits systems. The TA, likely occurring in May or June 2024, requires community coordination and commitment. You can also view the one-pager regarding SOAR outcomes and an overview. Providers interested in participating should complete this survey. For any questions, contact Lauren MacWithey.
If you have any further questions, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.
ODP and OMHSAS Announce 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) announce the Dual Diagnosis Professional Conference Series, aimed at supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism (ID/A) and mental health needs. The series features presentations on best practices and promising approaches, with session topics chosen based on identified needs and stakeholder input. Registration is free for all professional stakeholders, offering three hours of training credit and a certificate of achievement. Register here. Please send all questions regarding registration electronically.
If you have any further questions, please contact RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.
February 2024 Telehealth Work Group Meeting Notes Now Available
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