';
Policy Areas

TrueNorth Wellness Services is proud to announce that Program Manager Stefanie Griffith received the Leadership in Addiction Prevention Award from the Latino Connection at the Pennsylvania Youth Addiction Prevention Summit on November 4, 2023. Stefanie provided an educational program at the Summit about addiction with youth and young adults, and shared her expertise and experience from her career of almost three decades serving as a prevention professional. Stefanie was also part of the planning committee for the Summit and supported additional prevention education programs for the event. TrueNorth and York/Adams Drug and Alcohol Commission (YADAC) are both extremely thankful to Stefanie for her continued commitment to serve schools, youth, families, and the community, along with her willingness to share her wisdom in many ways with other professionals and prevention initiatives in the community.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 23-099 Medication Administration Paper Course Discontinuation Reminder and Online System Trainer Refresher CourseThe purpose of this communication is to remind Medication Administration trainers that the 2004 paper course and the 2004 and 2013 manuals will be discontinued and no longer valid for use in training students after December 31, 2023, and to advertise an Online System Trainer Refresher Course being held in January 2024. In addition, in response to the concerns providers have shared, ODP has restructured the documentation exam. They are also working on the language level assessment for the multiple choice exam and the documentation exam. ODP anticipates that all updates will be completed prior to January 1, 2024. 

Please review the ODP Announcement for details.

Join RCPA for a Membership Benefits webinar on Thursday, January 4, 2024, at 1:00 pm to orient yourself with all that RCPA membership entails. This is not just for new and future members; for current members, there may be benefits associated with your membership that you may not be aware of, including meetings and group communications that occur throughout the year. This webinar is a great way to ensure you are getting the most out of your membership!

Register here to attend. During the webinar, you’ll be able to:

  • Virtually meet the dedicated RCPA Policy Staff and lobbyists;
  • Discuss the 2024 Legislative and Administrative priorities;
  • Preview RCPA division committee and subcommittee meetings and what they offer;
  • View the RCPA member-only website;
  • Review exclusive yearly education and networking events; and
  • Understand the value of the National Association memberships included with RCPA membership.

Visit the RCPA member benefits page or contact Tieanna Lloyd for benefit information. We look forward to your participation in this webinar.

Earlier this week, RCPA submitted its position on SB 962 to the Pennsylvania Senate Health and Human Services Committee. SB 962 would force overdose survivors into treatment for substance use disorder.

RCPA opposes SB 962 because of:

  • The enormous burden placed on providers to manage an unfunded and complex involuntary treatment process;
  • The perpetuation of stigma towards the disease of addiction by introducing the complexity and trauma of the judicial system to the treatment of a disease – not the commission of a crime; and
  • Scant evidence that this approach reduces overdoses and death.

Read RCPA’s full position paper on SB 962. You can also view the memo announcing SB 962 as well as the language of the bill.

Project Echo at Penn State College of Medicine Presents:
Project Reassure: Fostering Resilience for Adult Neurodiverse Communities

Register for this no-cost training hour-eligible series for professionals serving adult neurodiverse individuals. The eight-session Project Reassure ECHO series will launch on January 12, 2024, from 7:45 am –9:00 am.

This series will provide participants with strategies in supporting adult neurodiverse individuals struggling with anxiety related to the COVID-19 pandemic and building resilience. The curriculum will cover the basics of recognizing trauma, stress, and anxiety; fostering resilience building skills; crisis prevention; dealing with uncertainty; and changes in the adult neurodiverse brain. Professionals serving adult neurodiverse individuals, including immediate direct clinical supervisors of direct support professionals, group home managers, behavior specialists, and program coordinators, are encouraged to register and actively participate.

Additional details and registration information can be found on the event flyer.

Image by Shotkitimages from Pixabay

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 23-098: Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) Quality Management (QM) Certification Classes: Registration for 2024 Virtual Classes. This announcement provides information on the registration process for ODP’s 2024 Virtual QM Certification Classes. Please review the announcement for additional details.