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Mental Health

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

RCPA held a golf fundraiser for the RCPA Political Action Committee (RCPA PAC) on Monday, October 9, 2023. This successful event raised much-needed funds for our legislative activities, and we would like to thank all the generous golfers who participated and contributed. Congratulations to our winners! In addition, we would like to thank our sponsors:

Tournament Sponsor:

  • Expert County Care Management

Lunch Sponsors:

  • Brier Dlugolecki Strategies
  • Novak Strategic Advisors

Beverage Hole Sponsors:

  • Comprehensive Financial Associates/PA Pension Planners
  • Morgan Stanley Wealth Management

Prize Sponsors:

  • Qualifacts
  • Salisbury Behavioral Health, a division of RHA Health Services

Hole Sponsors:

  • Ceisler Media & Issue Advocacy
  • Christopher S. Lucas & Associates
  • Embolden WC Trust
  • Firetree, Ltd
  • Hearten Workers’ Comp Program
  • Pinnacle Treatment Centers, Inc.
  • Step By Step, Inc.
  • Threshold Rehabilitation Services, Inc.

Your support is always appreciated. We encourage anyone interested to make a personal contribution to the RCPA PAC. For your convenience, you can now make an online contribution. Thank you again for your participation and support, and congratulations to our golf winners!

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.

The Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF) is pleased to announce the continuation of their partnership with the Office of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) in contracting with Lakeside Global Institute to provide PA Child Welfare Professionals FREE trauma training. What is considered a PA Child Welfare Professional? Anyone who serves children and families who live in Pennsylvania. If your work touches on improving the lives of children and families, this applies to you and your organization!

Multiple cohorts for courses and workshops will be facilitated by Lakeside Global Institute and are available until September 30, 2024, or while funding is available. Available trainings will be offered live via a web-based platform. Tuition and material costs are covered!

This opportunity is perfect for new staff that have joined your team who may need workshops (101–110) as well as the child welfare professionals who are ready to take the next step in their trauma-informed care education journey via completion of the Intensive Courses.

Trainings available include the following:

  • Enhancing Trauma Awareness;
  • Deepening Trauma Awareness;
  • Applying Trauma Principles;
  • Trauma-Sensitive Certification;
  • Train the Trainers;
  • Processing Pain, Facilitating Healing; and
  • Trauma 101 through 110 Workshops.

Interested in workshops? Visit here.   

Interested in the Intensive Courses? Visit here. 

Note: Participants who have completed Enhancing Trauma Awareness, Deepening Trauma Awareness, and Applying Trauma Principles should not take Trauma-Sensitive Certification, as content would be duplicated.

The simple distinction between certification as a Trauma-Sensitive Professional (TSC course) and Trauma-Competent Professional (ETA, DTA, and ATP) is:

  • Trauma-Competent Professional: Requires completion of 3 courses — Enhancing, Deepening, and Applying Trauma (75 hours) and 8 books for required outside reading. The courses must be taken in the order listed, and one must be completed before advancing to the next.
  • Trauma-Sensitive Professional: Requires completion of the course of the same name (50 hours) and 3 books for required outside reading. This certification covers fewer topics than the 75-hour course.

DO NOT DELAY for this exciting and FREE opportunity, and schedule your trauma trainings today!

If you have questions relating to any of these trainings, please submit them via email to Lakeside Global Institute.

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The PA Department of Human Services, Office of Medical Assistance Programs (OMAP), and Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) joint bulletin, entitled “Street Medicine,” was issued on September 29, 2023. This bulletin obsoletes MAB 08-23-12 “Street Medicine,” issued on July 5, 2023.

This bulletin informs medical assistance (MA) providers that DHS will cover certain services for MA beneficiaries experiencing unsheltered homelessness in their lived environment, known as street medicine. Covered services include physical and behavioral health services, such as primary care, vaccinations, wound care, counseling, and diagnostics in the lived environment. The bulletin applies to enrolled physicians, nurse midwives, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, psychologists, mobile mental health treatment providers, and outpatient practitioners in mental health. Managed care providers should contact their managed care organization(s) for billing questions.

If you have questions or concerns regarding this bulletin, visit this website, and select the appropriate toll-free number or email for your provider type. Additional questions may be directed to RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.

The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) October 2023 Stakeholder Webinar is currently scheduled for Tuesday, 10/17/23 from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm.

Please register here to participate. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Call-in Number: 631-992-3221  •  Access Code: 332775346#

Please contact RCPA Mental Health Services Director Jim Sharp with any questions.

On Tuesday, Governor Josh Shapiro signed an executive order to create a Behavioral Health Council. The council aims to bring together state leaders, local governments, and community providers to develop a statewide action plan to address any gaps in access, affordability, or delivery of services, with the goal of removing silos across state agencies, health care providers, payers, state and local government sectors, and decreasing the wait time for services for Pennsylvanians in need.

Charged with setting the agenda for behavioral health under the Shapiro Administration, the council will be comprised of 33 members and include a diverse array of stakeholders with representation from state, county, and local governments, the provider community, advocacy groups, and individuals with lived experiences. A list of Council members is available online.

The executive order also creates an advisory committee that will share with the council industry knowledge, expertise, reports, findings, and feedback from the communities they serve to assist members in their work to improve the delivery of services. Read the complete press release.