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Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 7, 2020
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Harrisburg, PA – The Office of Advocacy and Reform (OAR), established by Governor Tom Wolf’s 2019 executive order to protect Pennsylvania’s vulnerable populations, today announced the launch of a volunteer think tank comprised of 25 experts representing a diversity of fields and backgrounds who will develop a plan to make Pennsylvania a trauma-informed state.

“The people of Pennsylvania are compassionate, thoughtful and resilient. We take care of each other, and that drive to protect our families and our neighbors has never been more obvious than these past few months as we’ve bonded together to fight COVID-19,” said Gov. Wolf. “This group of experts, led by the Office of Advocacy and Reform, will build on this foundation to ensure that local and state government agencies use trauma-informed principles to guide all decisions that affect Pennsylvanians and that we continue to improve our systems that protect vulnerable populations. Thank you to these volunteers for their efforts to build a trauma-informed Pennsylvania.”

As a companion to the governor’s multi-agency effort and anti-stigma campaign, Reach Out PA: Your Mental Health Matters, aimed at expanding resources and the state’s comprehensive support of mental health and related health care priorities in Pennsylvania, OAR announced in January that the agency was looking for a group of cutting-edge thinkers and practitioners in the field of trauma, and how the brain heals from its effects, to form a think tank.

The group will focus on setting guidelines, benchmarks, and goals for trauma-informed care across the commonwealth. In addition, the group is also expanding its original mandate to strategize how to heal the trauma that all Pennsylvanians are experiencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our work is more important than ever,” said Dan Jurman, Executive Director of the Office of Advocacy and Reform. “Every Pennsylvanian is experiencing trauma and toxic stress right now, affecting the behavioral health of each and every one of us.”

The 25 experts chosen to participate are from urban, suburban, and rural communities throughout the commonwealth and represent the fields of psychiatry, psychology, law enforcement, county government, clergy, social work, counseling, mindfulness, community development, education, sexual assault recovery, addiction recovery, domestic violence services, child maltreatment solutions, nursing, public health, pediatric medicine, prison re-entry, and philanthropy. Photos and bios of think tank members are available here.

“The diversity of experiences and perspectives represented in this group will be absolutely key to the success of our mission,” Jurman said. “I’m grateful to everyone who raised their hand to help, and I look forward to working with this group on a plan that will make a positive difference in the lives of so many vulnerable Pennsylvanians.”

The think tank will meet several times over the next few months to collaborate on setting trauma-informed standards that can guide the work of state agencies, as well as local government and nonprofit organizations across the commonwealth. When the first phase is completed, the members of the think tank who wish to continue serving will shift to an advisory role, helping OAR build a network of trauma-informed providers who learn from each other, support pilots and innovation, share best practices, and push the initial guidelines even further over time as our understanding of brain science and trauma-informed approaches evolves and broadens.

Another 43 think tank applicants who weren’t chosen to participate in this first phase of plan development have been invited to assist with building the statewide network.

OAR plans to make the resulting plan to transform Pennsylvania into a trauma-informed state public in July.

“This current crisis has shown us all how vulnerable we are,” Jurman added, “This is our chance to eliminate stigma and misunderstanding and replace them with knowledge about how the brain works and empathy for each other to fundamentally change the way we approach trauma as a commonwealth.”

MEDIA CONTACT: Lyndsay Kensinger, Governor’s Office, ra-gvgovpress@pa.gov
Erin James, DHS, ra-pwdhspressoffice@pa.gov

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Dept of Aging

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 6, 2020

Harrisburg, PA — The Pennsylvania Department of Aging’s Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRC) Office has been awarded $3 million from the Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Community Living to support efforts to mitigate and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ADRC, also known as the PA Link to Aging and Disability Resources, is a statewide program that provides information and referral services to older adults and individuals with disabilities. This program helps individuals with activities of daily living by connecting them with medical and non-medical supports and services. Consumers, family members, caregivers and providers, can contact the PA Link through the helpline,1-800-753-8827, or at www.aging.Pa.gov/local-resources/pa-link.

Funds from this grant will enable the PA Link to support the operations and capacity of the aging and disability network, increase coordination of efforts and provide critical access to services for those populations most at risk from COVID-19.

“During COVID-19, being able to obtain information and access support services is a vital concern for older adults, persons with disabilities and their caregivers,” said Aging Secretary Robert Torres. “The PA Link provides seamless connection to a vast array of services, supports and person-centered counseling delivered in local communities throughout the Commonwealth. This federal funding will help PA Link boost capacity and improve connectivity to serve consumers during this pandemic and beyond.”

The PA Link will use the grant funds to administer the following activities:

Virtual Management of ADRC Access Functions: Implement e-services for PA Link staff and partners to improve business operations related to accessing PA Link programs.

Care Transition Services: Assist those most at risk of COVID-19 who are seeking transitional support from hospital or nursing home to a home setting.

Food Order and Delivery: Collaborate with local grocery stores, restaurants and/or online/mobile food order and delivery services to provide delivered groceries and food.

Assistive Technology: Help older adults, individuals with disabilities, caregivers and care providers learn how to use telehealth technologies to provide and receive needed services. The Department will partner with the Assistive Technology Act program to provide assistive technology assessments, devices and training.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Provide PPE for community partners to ensure in-home supports can be maintained safely.

Marketing of PA Link Helpline and Outreach: Increase public awareness of the PA Link helpline,1-800-753-8827.

Reduce Social Isolation: Provide individuals with the ability to request periodic check-in calls by trained staff and increase awareness of low-cost programs that connect individuals through broadband and telecommunication equipment.

Information and Counseling Services: Increase the capacity of the PA Link network partners to respond to requests from individuals in need of resource information, assistance with referrals and person-centered counseling.

Visit the PA Department of Health’s dedicated Coronavirus webpage here for the most up-to-date information regarding COVID-19.

Learn more about the various programs offered by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging here.

MEDIA CONTACTS:  Karen Gray:  717-705-3702 or karengray@pa.gov

Jack Eilber:  717-585-4045 or jeilber@pa.gov

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Dept of Agriculture

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE       
May 6, 2020

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Harrisburg, PA – First Lady Frances Wolf, Department of Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller, and Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today outlined food assistance programs available for Pennsylvanians to enroll in to get them through current COVID-19-induced tough times. They said Pennsylvanians should feel no shame in accepting state and federal food benefits that were, in fact, designed for unprecedented times like the coronavirus pandemic.

“The stigma that exists around accessing food programs is a huge detriment to the health, wellness, and overall safety of Pennsylvanians,” said First Lady Frances Wolf. “While the need for these programs continues to grow during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial that we encourage our fellow Pennsylvanians to use these benefits available to them. Benefits they invested in. Benefits that will keep them nourished and their families whole. We must refrain from shaming them for needing help. If we do, we shame ourselves. The last thing that the Wolf Administration wants to see is a Pennsylvania going hungry because we were shamed and embarrassed to reach out for the help we so desperately need.”

While most eligibility verifications for food assistance have been waived to reduce barriers to access during COVID-19 mitigation in Pennsylvania, there are several state programs that still require individuals to seek out and enroll in individually to qualify and receive benefit. These programs include:

  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Formerly known as food stamps, SNAP provides assistance to low-income and working Pennsylvanians, allowing them to purchase produce and groceries for themselves and their family. SNAP helps more than 1.8 million Pennsylvanians, including about 700,000 children, about 690,000 people with disabilities, and about 300,000 older adults, expand purchasing power to ensure their household has enough food to avoid going hungry. SNAP is issued through a monthly payment to an electronic benefit transfer card, and benefits are based off income and household size. People can apply for SNAP online at www.compass.state.pa.us online at any time.
  • Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program: This program runs from June 1 through November 30 each year. Seniors must be 60 or older by December 31 of the program year and have income at or below 185% of the U.S. poverty level. Eligible seniors should call their county Aging office for information on distribution of vouchers. Vouchers are distributed on a first come, first serve basis.
  • WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program: This program runs from June 1 through November 30 each year, and recipients must be on the WIC program to receive this benefit. Children 1-year and older, and pregnant/post-partum women will receive vouchers for the program during their quarterly WIC visit (May through September).
  • Commodity Supplemental Food Program: Eligible participants include individuals who are at least 60 years old and whose household income is at or below 130% of the U.S. poverty level. To qualify, individuals must complete an application with proof of income. Questions about where/how to access this program can be directed to the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Food Assistance by calling 1-800-468-2433 or emailing ra-fooddist@pa.gov.
  • Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): Women who are pregnant or have had a baby in the past six months, or twelve if breastfeeding; infants and children under the age of five; and fathers, grandparents, and foster parents who are the legal guardian of a child under age five, may apply for WIC. WIC applicants must reside in Pennsylvania, have a medical or nutritional risk, and have a gross household income that does not exceed 185% of the U.S. poverty level.

In addition to applying for the benefits above, Pennsylvanians can receive immediate access to food resources by visiting a Feeding Pennsylvania or Hunger-Free Pennsylvania member food bank. Pennsylvanians out of work and without pay as a result of COVID-19 are eligible to receive state and federally sourced foods from Pennsylvania’s food banks and pantries.

“Programs and support networks like these exist to help all of us in the moments we cannot plan for — the times that an injury or an accident changes our life and sense of security as individuals, and the times that a global pandemic alters our daily life as a society,” said Secretary Miller. “These programs are needed for many in the best of times, and they are critical in the worst. We cannot forget this when this moment passes, and I urge anyone who knows someone who is struggling to make ends meet or needs assistance themselves to remember that help is always available.”

Lifesaving COVID-19 mitigation efforts led to more than 1.6 million Pennsylvanians applying for unemployment benefits and placed many of those in a position of worrying about feeding themselves and their families. The administration has worked hard to remove barriers to access, advocate for, and invest in Pennsylvania’s charitable food system and raise statewide awareness of availability of resources. In addition to working with the charitable food system, the Department of Agriculture has encouraged food production and processing operations to continue and provided comprehensive guidance to the agriculture and food supply chain to ensure food continues to be available and accessible.

“COVID-19 has created a broad community of need, but Pennsylvania’s charitable food system was designed for times like these. The system was designed to alleviate questions of paying for utilities or food, designed to help people stay on their feet,” said Agriculture Secretary Redding. “Food does more than feed our bodies. It has the power to lift spirits and provide comfort. This nutrition and comfort is a right for all of us. These times will pass; don’t spend them worrying about food. Pennsylvania’s food system is here for you.”

For more information on food security in Pennsylvania including information about resources and actions taken by the Wolf Administration, visit agriculture.pa.gov/foodsecurity. For the most accurate and timely information related to Health in Pennsylvania, visit on.pa.gov/coronavirus.

MEDIA CONTACT:  Shannon Powers, Agriculture – shpowers@pa.gov
                             Erin James, DHS – ra-pwdhspressoffice@pa.gov

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IMPORTANT CANCELLATION NOTICE

The Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) and the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP):

STATEWIDE POSITIVE APPROACHES & PRACTICES MEETING

TOPIC: Innovative Practices and Approaches for Support to Individuals in the Criminal Justice System

The meeting that had been rescheduled for June 1, 2020 has been CANCELLED

Please look for a notice in the future with a possible webinar presentation or rescheduled date.

The mission of this group is: “To improve people’s lives by increasing local capacity to provide supports to individuals with mental health and behavioral challenges by promoting the guiding principles of Positive Approaches, Everyday Lives and the Recovery Movement through the Department of Human Services cross-office collaboration.

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“Making Tough Decisions In Turbulent Times: 12 Steps To Creating Your Data-Driven Organization”

Does Your Executive Team Have the Data Needed For Nimble Decision Making?

Join Monica E. Oss, the Chief Executive Officer of OPEN MINDS and Carol Clayton, PhD, the Chief, Translational Neuroscience of Relias for a briefing on surviving the current unexpected financial disruption.

Executives of specialty provider organizations need to embrace a new approach for developing a strategy to move forward. Executives need the right information, on a timely basis, to navigate times of economic turbulence — both now and in the future. Often this vital information exists somewhere in the organization, but it is not integrated for reporting in a format to help drive decision making.

This webinar will take place on Tuesday, May 12, 2020 from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Register online today.

In this session, we will take executives through a rapid-fire process of becoming a data-driven organization.

During this session attendees will review:

  • The types of information that are most useful for strategic decision making;
  • A field-tested, twelve-step process to move your executive team and your entire organization to data-driven decision making; and
  • A case study and examples of best practice performance reporting.

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Deputy Secretary Ahrens shared the following statistics that reflect data as of 4/29/20. Please note this data is not current to date (5/5/20).

ODP Updates from ISAC Meeting Chart 05-05-20

Additionally, the following topics were discussed:

Emergency Preparedness and Response Policy
Waiver Changes

– Decisions are pending PA’s decision regarding increased rates and additional retainers
– ODP is drafting 2nd Appendix K Emergency Amendments, to include;

Clarifications/corrections
Qualifications, Modification Medication Administration Course
Annual plan extensions
QA&I interim procedure, extension on reporting
Signature requirements

Regulatory Changes
ODP is working on suspensions, partial suspensions of numerous related regulations to ensure providers can respond appropriately to this emergency.

Program Regulations 6100
Licensing Regulations 2380, 2390, 6400, 6500
ICF Regulations

Post Surge Preparedness and Response
ODP is currently developing the Individual Reintegration/Transition Plan that will take the following factors into consideration for each individual:

Contraction risk – including behavioral
Co-morbidities risk
Preferred activities risk
Accommodations and support based on identified risks and needs

Post Surge Preparedness and Response

            – Testing availability critical
– Governor’s Re-opening standards and phases
– CPS Reopening will be based upon
Community in-line with Governor’s phases and individual reintegration/transition plan
Facilities when in Green Phase – work group has been formed for planning

– Concern about trauma care – for individuals, families and staff

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ODP Announcement 20-054 provides guidance for providers to meet challenges associated with obtaining medical examinations for staff and for individuals receiving services in provider-operated residential settings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For Staff Persons:

  • Immediately before working with individuals, the provider must screen staff persons for COVID-19 symptoms in accordance with the most current guidance specified by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The staff persons’ personal physician or a physician associated with the provider must be contacted, and the physician’s guidance followed, if symptoms are present. Additionally, within 12 months prior to working with individuals, staff must have had a truncated medical examination either in person or via telemedicine. Medical examination results must be shared with the provider, and the provider must retain documentation of the results.

For Individuals receiving supports:

  • Immediately before admission to a provider-operated residential setting, an individual must be screened for COVID-19 symptoms in accordance with the most current guidance specified by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The individual’s personal physician or a physician associated with the provider must be contacted, and the physician’s guidance followed, if symptoms are present before the individual can be admitted to the home. Additionally, individuals must have a truncated medical examination either in person or via telemedicine within 12 months prior to or 72 hours after admission. Medical examination results must be shared with the provider, and the provider must retain documentation of the results.

Providers will not be out of compliance in any instance where one or more services specified in the individual’s plan cannot be provided due to factors or circumstances associated with COVID-19. Providers must document the factors or circumstances associated with COVID-19 that prevented the provision of service as specified in an individual’s plan in the individual’s record.

With the Governor’s authorization as conferred in the disaster emergency issued on March 6, 2020, all regulatory provisions in 55 Pa. Code Chapters 6100, 6400 and 6500 and other policies or rules that would impose an impediment to implementing this guidance are suspended. Those suspensions will remain in place while the proclamation of disaster emergency remains in effect or such other time as ODP directs.

Please contact ODP’s Regulatory Administration Unit with any questions about this announcement.

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