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Children's Services

Tips for Hiring & How to Write a Winning Job Post
Free webinar for RCPA members

Wednesday, June 18, 2025
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Register Here

This presentation explores effective strategies for hiring and crafting compelling job postings in order to attract top talent. Participants will learn how to identify key monetary and non-monetary benefits of working at an agency, such as health benefits, professional development, and overtime/holiday pay, which enhance employee satisfaction and retention. Additionally, the session will cover best practices for evaluating job posting platforms and recruitment methods to effectively connect with potential applicants. Through interactive discussions, attendees will leave with actionable insights and tools to improve their hiring processes and create job postings that resonate with candidates, ultimately fostering a stronger workforce. Join us to elevate your recruitment strategy and build a thriving organizational culture.

Presenter: Olivia Rodgers, Customer Success Manager and Hiring Specialist, MITC
Olivia has a strong track record of helping agencies streamline and strengthen their hiring processes. Through tailored trainings, hands-on support, and data-informed strategies, she empowers teams to attract, assess, and retain top talent more effectively.

Objectives: Following this course, the learner will:

  • Analyze and summarize three monetary benefits and three non-monetary benefits of working at their agency, and how to include the information in their job postings;
  • Assess job posting strategies by evaluating the effectiveness of job posting platforms and recruitment methods and discussing how the approaches connect with potential applicants and influence the quality of candidate pools; and
  • Craft effective job posts that will engage applicants and highlight key benefits of agency employment.

Certificates of attendance are available to RCPA members who attend this webinar; anyone interested in a certificate should contact Cathy Barrick. To apply for CEs, you will need to register for the RCPA Annual Conference Strive to Thrive and indicate you attended the webinar in your CE packet, which will be made available on the mobile app.

Contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator, for details, or visit the RCPA Conference website for information on workshops, sponsors, exhibitors, and more!

Treating Functional Neurologic Disorder (FND) — “Not Your Parent’s Functional Neurologic Disorder”

Tuesday, May 20, 2025
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm EDT; 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm CDT;
11:00 am – 12:00 pm MDT; 10:00 am – 11:00 am PDT
Register Here

Presenter Bios:

Samuel Zachary, MOT, OTR/L
Sam is an occupational therapist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) in the inpatient rehabilitation and amplified musculoskeletal pain syndrome (AMPS) programs. Sam brings experience from a variety of medical-based pediatric settings, including acute care, in-patient rehabilitation, and multi-disciplinary outpatient clinics.

Over the past four years, Sam’s practice has focused on the AMPS Intensive Program and Clinic at CHOP. He is passionate about treating children and adolescents with AMPS, functional neurological disorder, or both. He brings great enthusiasm while sharing his knowledge and best practices for caring for this unique population.

Lori Kile, PTA

Lori is a physical therapist assistant at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) working in the inpatient rehabilitation and amplified musculoskeletal pain syndrome (AMPS) programs. She began her career at CHOP in 1998 and has dedicated over 25 years of service to the institution. She worked in a variety of pediatric settings, including outpatient, acute care, and inpatient rehab, prior to finding her passion for treating youth and teens with Amplified Musculoskeletal Pain and Functional Neurological Disorder. Lori now specializes with these populations; she is also involved with the International FND society, where she helps to develop deliverables and build the knowledge base regarding the diagnosis. She loves to share her knowledge and lessons learned to build the skills of others and promote best practices in treatment of patients with FND.

Objectives: Following this course, the learner will:

  • Identify recent changes in the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of pediatric patients with FND.
  • Obtain a best practice framework for treating pediatric patients in the rehabilitation setting.
  • Learn about best practice for measuring outcomes with pediatric patients with FND.

Audience: This webinar is intended for all interested members of the rehabilitation team.

Level: Beginner

Certificate of Attendance: Certificates of attendance are available for all attendees. No CEs are provided for this course.

Complimentary webinars are a benefit of membership in IPRC/RCPA. Registration fee for non-members is $179. Not a member yet? Consider joining today.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

RCPA held a golf fundraiser to support the RCPA Political Action Committee (RCPA PAC) on Tuesday, May 13. This successful event raised much-needed funds for our legislative activities, and we would like to thank all the generous golfers who braved the rain to participate and contribute.

A big thank you to our sponsors:

  • Tournament Sponsor: Expert County Care Management
  • Lunch Sponsors: Brier Dlugolecki Strategies & Novak Strategic Advisors
  • Beverage Cart Sponsor: Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
  • Premium Hole Sponsor: PDC Pharmacy
  • Hole Sponsor: Firetree, Ltd.
  • Hole Sponsor: Christopher S. Lucas & Associates
  • Hole Sponsor: Embolden WC Trust
  • Hole Sponsor: Warfel Construction
  • Hole Sponsor: Ceisler Media & Issue Advocacy
  • Hole Sponsor: Comprehensive Financial Associates/PA Pension Planners

Your support is always appreciated! We encourage anyone interested in supporting the RCPA PAC to make a personal contribution. 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.

Thriving Together: The Role of Curated Communities in Transforming Workforce Culture
Free Webinar for RCPA members

Tuesday, June 10, 2025
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Register Here

Creating spaces where professionals feel seen, valued, and supported is critical to fostering thriving workplaces. This session highlights the transformative power of curated communities like the Black Residency Collective and B.W.E.L., which provide unique opportunities for connection, innovation, and growth. These spaces not only nurture a sense of belonging but also serve as vital tools for addressing retention challenges and inspiring organizational change. Participants will walk away with a deeper understanding of how intentional spaces can catalyze resilience and drive collective success in the workforce.

Presenter: Sierra McNeil, MSW
Director of Workforce Development and Philadelphia Connections, NASW-PA President, Equity-Grounded Leadership Fellow

Objectives: Following this course, the learner will:

  • Identify the key elements of curated spaces that foster a sense of belonging among diverse professionals;
  • Analyze the impact of curated spaces on workplace innovation, relationships, and talent retention through real-world examples; and
  • Describe strategies to implement or enhance curated spaces within one’s organization to improve workforce outcomes.

Certificates of attendance are available to RCPA members who attend this webinar; anyone interested in a certificate should contact Cathy Barrick. To apply for CEs, you will need to register for the RCPA Annual Conference Strive to Thrive and indicate you attended the webinar in your CE packet, which will be made available on the mobile app.

Contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator, for details, or visit the RCPA Conference website for information on workshops, sponsors, exhibitors, and more!

African Woman Filling Survey Poll Or Form On Laptop Computer

The Department of Human Services (DHS) Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) is conducting an all-stakeholders survey as the first step in the process to develop one proposed chapter of licensing regulations for inpatient psychiatric services in psychiatric units of general hospitals, private psychiatric hospitals, and Extended Acute Care services located within those inpatient settings. The survey provides an opportunity for all stakeholders to submit anonymous input into regulatory development. OMHSAS will review and analyze the responses as part of the process of developing a proposed regulation. This survey is for all stakeholders, including licensed providers. All responses are voluntary.

Please do not include any personally identifying information or contact information in the survey response.

A copy of the survey questionnaire can be found here and is to help you gather the information for the questionnaire. Please do not submit a hard copy or a copy of this document. Use the link provided to respond to the questions. If you have any questions about this survey or any additional feedback to provide on the inpatient regulations work, please send these electronically.

Please submit the completed survey by May 26, 2025.

The All-Stakeholders Survey can be accessed here.

The RCPA Mental Health Division will be convening a steering committee as part of this regulatory process. We have had advanced discussions with OMHSAS, and they will work with RCPA in the regulatory development. Thank you for your interest and participation in this important work. If you have questions or wish to be a part of this steering committee, please contact RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp.

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The Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF) has released Policy Clarification #3490-25-03, which provides guidance on how to address concerns involving privately run camps that do not allege “child abuse” committed by a “perpetrator,” as defined by the Child Protective Services Law (23, PA C.S., Chapter 63). View Policy Clarification #3490-25-03 here. Questions regarding this Policy Clarification may be directed to your applicable OCYF Regional Office, or to Erik Walters, Human Services Analyst in OCYF’s Bureau of Policy, Programs and Operations.

Contact RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp with any questions.

The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) Bureau of Children’s Behavioral Health Services is pleased to invite stakeholders to an informational webinar. This webinar will highlight significant sections of the proposed Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) regulations that received the highest number of comments during the comment period. The proposed PRTF regulations will codify the minimum licensing standards, Medical Assistance (MA) participation requirements, and payment conditions for PRTFs that provide medically necessary behavioral health treatment to children, youth, or young adults under 21 years of age with a behavioral health diagnosis.

OMHSAS has worked collaboratively with the Pennsylvania Council of Children, Youth & Family Services (PCCYFS) and RCPA in planning for the May 21, 2025, meeting. RCPA has offered limited space for those who would like to attend in-person; the in-person meeting will be held at 777 East Park Drive, Suite G-4, Harrisburg, PA 17111. Virtual attendance through TEAMS is also an option. In-person attendance is limited to 55 individuals (no more than one individual per organization). Stakeholders may register for in-person attendance by contacting Emma Sharp.

Additional information will be distributed closer to the meeting date. We hope you will join us on May 21, 2025, at 10:00 am!

Questions or comments about this webinar should be sent electronically.

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Contact RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp for in-person registration.

Last year, RCPA met with its provider members regarding the provision of group psychotherapy services via telehealth in the client’s home. RCPA then met with the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) to discuss the possibility of allowing this flexibility in an effort to fully realize the use of telehealth technology to enhance access.

Today, the Department of Human Services’ Medical Assistance (MA) Bulletin #99-25-02 outlines revisions to the MA fee schedule. The following changes are specific to behavioral services and are effective May 1, 2025:

  • Procedure code 99452 (Interprofessional Services) is now open for provider type (PT)/Specialty combination 08/184 (Outpatient Drug and Alcohol).
  • Place of Service (POS) 10 — Telehealth Provided in Patient’s Home is now available to use with the procedure code 90853 (group psychotherapy) for PT/Specialty combination 08/110 (Psychiatric Outpatient).

Please see the section titled “Behavioral Health Services” on page 6 of the bulletin for additional information related to these revisions.

If you have questions about these changes, please reach out to OMHSAS electronically or RCPA COO and Policy Director Jim Sharp.

Free webinar for RCPA Members

Date: Wednesday June 4, 2025
Time: 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Registration Link

This session will address strategies for navigating system changes, such as integrated care, value-based purchasing, and performance-based contracting. By focusing on how these shifts impact organizational structures and employee performance, we will equip participants with the tools to manage transitions successfully. Attendees will learn how to leverage executive functioning skills like adaptability, planning, task prioritization, and time management to align employee goals with organizational targets and drive success in results-driven environments.

Join speaker Stina Borth, MA, Executive Function, Performance and Neurodiversity Specialist Stina Borth, the founder and CEO of Keymaker Services Inc., is a dedicated expert in productivity and life skills development, focusing on empowering youth and young adults to succeed academically, socially, and in their future careers.

Stina provides corporate training to organizations looking to optimize productivity and communication. Her approach to workplace training helps teams build more effective communication, streamline task management, and enhance collaboration, leading to increased productivity and employee satisfaction.

With a background grounded in both academic theory and practical, real-world application, Stina’s work creates lasting impacts across a wide range of individuals — from students to professionals—by helping them develop the tools and strategies they need to thrive in all areas of their lives.

Objectives: Following this course, the learner will:

  • Assess system changes in business practices, including integrated care and value-based purchasing, and evaluate their impact on employee performance and executive functioning.
  • Develop strategies for adapting to system changes that optimize organizational performance, focusing on skills such as adaptability, decision-making, and planning.
  • Create framework for supporting employees through performance-based initiatives, helping them develop the executive functioning skills necessary to succeed.

Certificates of attendance are available to RCPA members who attend this webinar; anyone interested in a certificate should contact Cathy Barrick. To apply for CEs, you will need to register for the RCPA Annual Conference Strive to Thrive and indicate you attended the webinar in your CE packet, which will be made available on the mobile app.

Contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator, for details, or visit the RCPA Conference website for information on workshops, sponsors, exhibitors, and more!

TrueNorth Wellness Services announces the appointment of Chuck Smith as Interim CEO, while the Board of Directors begins a search for the next Chief Executive Officer. Along with Chuck, the leadership team of Cheryl Jones (CFO), Elspeth Williams (COO), and Senior Directors Michelle Shearer, Erin Glenn, and Cori Reed will continue to be available to stakeholders and staff alike. During this transition, we remain committed to the same level of quality and responsiveness that you’ve come to expect from TrueNorth. As we recognize the milestone of delivering services for 50 years, we are looking forward to the exciting possibilities that the future holds for our organization.