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OMHSAS

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The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) is providing the YouTube link from their last quarterly PSS Stakeholders Call that was held on January 14, 2025, as well as the presentation that was reviewed, for any interested stakeholders or individuals.

The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 8, from 10:00 am – 11:00 am. A meeting invite will be distributed closer to the meeting date.

Recommendations for agenda topics or questions can be submitted electronically to the OMHSAS Peer Support Services inbox and must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the meeting date.

Please reach out to RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp with any questions.

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The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) and the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) are jointly hosting the quarterly Statewide Positive Approaches & Practices meeting. This meeting aims to provide the most recent research and resources for people with mental health and behavioral challenges, intellectual disabilities, autism, and other developmental disabilities to live an everyday life.

Date: February 20, 2025
Time: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Location: Online – Zoom Webinar
Register Here

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The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has released the Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) Regulatory Compliance Guide (RCG). This guide has been developed to provide clear explanations of the regulatory requirements of Title 55 Pa. Code, Chapter 5240, “Intensive Behavioral Health Services” regulations. It is meant to help agencies providing IBHS services, with the goal of ensuring safe and effective services to children, youth, and young adults through regulatory compliance as well as to help OMHSAS Licensing Representatives protect those served by these programs by conducting consistent and comprehensive inspections.

This guide is a companion piece to Title 55 Pa. Code Chapter 5240 regulations. It is intended to be a helpful reference for these regulations. The explanatory material contained in this guide in no way supplants the plain meaning and intent of the regulations set forth in 55 Pa. Code Chapter 5240.

The RCPA IBHS Steering Committee will be reviewing UBHS RCG and will provide further clarification to members in the near future.

Feedback or questions on the RCG can be sent to OMHSAS electronically.

If you have any questions or are interested in joining the RCPA IBHS Committee, please contact RCPA COO & Mental Health Policy Director Jim Sharp or RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp.

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Photo by Headway on Unsplash

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services’ Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) will be holding a quarterly public meeting on January 14, 2025, for anyone interested in discussing the topic of peer support services (PSS) while working in the mental health field. These meetings will provide a regularly scheduled opportunity for OMHSAS representatives to provide PSS updates and information as well as answer questions and obtain essential insight and feedback from stakeholders.

The quarterly meeting will be held on January 14, 2025, at 10:00 am – 11:00 am. The Microsoft TEAMS Meeting link for this meeting can be found below. OMHSAS will continue to send the meeting invitation to include the meeting link and an agenda in advance. This information will continue to be sent via the OMHSAS listserv.

TEAMS MEETING INFORMATION:
Microsoft Teams Need help?
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 223 156 162 141
Passcode: QkkY9M
Dial in by phone
+1 267-332-8737,,482893574# United States, Philadelphia
Find a local number
Phone conference ID: 482 893 574#

Please reach out to RCPA COO and Mental Health Policy Director Jim Sharp with any questions.

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Hands touching in a circle
Photo by Hannah Busing on Unsplash

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) are pleased to announce the latest edition of the Positive Approaches Journal.

This issue of the Positive Approaches Journal takes a deep dive into the importance of community safety and wellness for individuals and families. Topics include emergency preparedness, interventions and programs for youth, justice and community supports and services, and navigating crises situations. Remember, a community that prioritizes health, safety, and well-being is one that thrives and prospers.

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.

The Positive Approaches Journal is published quarterly. For additional information, please contact ODP Training’s inbox.

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The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has released the OMHSAS-24-05 Peer Support Services (PSS) Bulletin and PSS Provider Handbook, updating the requirements for Peer Support Services. OMHSAS significantly reorganized the existing language in the Handbook to better clarify which requirements apply to OMHSAS licensure and which apply to Medical Assistance payment. Along with these formatting changes, OMHSAS-24-05 includes the following updates:

  • Staff Qualifications and Requirements for Certified Peer Specialists (CPS)
    • The requirement for a CPS to have a high school diploma or GED has been removed.
    • The requirement for a Serious Mental Illness (SMI) or Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) has been replaced with a requirement to have a mental health diagnosis. Please note, to be eligible to receive PSS services, there is still a requirement for “the presence or history of an SMI or SED.”
    • The clause requiring CPSs “to attain certification through the PCB within six months of hire” has been removed, as the certification examination is now available on-demand, eliminating the need for a grace period for testing to be completed.
  • Staff Qualifications and Requirements for CPS Supervisors
    • Adding a new qualification category for individuals with an associate degree.
    • Supervisory meetings held in an audio-only format shall not be considered supervision.
    • Supervisory meetings shall be provided at a minimum of one hour each week.
  • Telehealth
    • The prior requirement that only 25% of total services provided per beneficiary per calendar year can be delivered by telephone has been removed.
    • PSS may be provided via telehealth technology, including audio-only service delivery, when it is clinically appropriate to do so.
    • PSS providers must ensure that the preference of individuals receiving services (or their legal guardian) is given a high priority when determining the appropriate service delivery modality.

Please review all other revisions to OMHSAS-24-05 here.

Comments and questions regarding this bulletin should be directed to:
Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Bureau of Policy, Planning and Program Development,
P.O. Box 2675,
Harrisburg, PA 17105
General Office Number: 717-772-7900
Email

If you have any questions, please contact RCPA COO and Mental Health Policy Director Jim Sharp.

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