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Policy Areas

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 23-097: Now Available: Certified Investigator Peer Review (CIPR) Course. The purpose of this announcement is to convey the availability of the CIPR course. All entities that complete investigations are required to conduct the CIPR process as outlined in the CIPR Manual. This course is offered as an opportunity to support entities to complete high-quality CIPRs that help mitigate risks to individuals receiving services. Please review the announcement for registration information and additional details.

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

Safe Spaces, Strong Supports: Multifaceted Approaches to Suicide Prevention
and Mental Well-being

This issue of the Positive Approaches Journal focuses important attention on the often under-recognized topic of suicide and individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism.

Knowledge brings new understanding, and new understanding brings new opportunities to be hopeful about better addressing the impact of suicidal thoughts and actions. In this issue, authors from a diverse range of voices, expertise, and professional backgrounds share their insights, experiences and resources which will aid in your support of others.

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 clicking on the feedback image on MyODP within your left navigation bar on any Positive Approaches Journal page.

The Positive Approaches Journal is published quarterly. You can request additional information electronically.

Photo by Chris Montgomery on Unsplash

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will host a Region 3 virtual town hall, “Expanding the Behavioral Health Workforce: Common Elements Treatment Approach,” from 9:45 am – 12:00 pm on Tuesday, December 5, 2024. The purpose of the town hall is to share information and outcomes about an innovative solution to address workforce challenges with rural, veteran, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC), and international examples.

Information is now available about the event’s speakers, including the agenda. Interested participants can register online. For inquiries, contact Jean Bennett or Jeanne Tuono of SAMHSA.

The 2024 Everyday Lives Conference agenda is now available to view and download! The conference agenda is also available to view and download on the conference website under the “Schedule” tab.

Register for the Conference

The 2024 Everyday Lives Conference will be held at the Hershey Lodge from January 9 – 11, 2024. Individuals with disabilities and/or autism, families, professionals, clinicians, students, and caregivers are invited to participate in the Everyday Lives Conference.

Full Conference
Professionals $150
Individuals with a disability/Self Advocates (includes registration for a direct support professional) $140
Family Members $140
Full Time Students $140
Other
Single Day for all roles $55
Exhibitor Booth $400

The Department of Human Services (DHS) published a bulletin on patient smoking on June 15, 1993, to clarify smoke-free living areas. The Department now requires all state hospitals to be smoke-free facilities, which was announced during the Department’s press release on December 11, 2018. The facilities are to offer smoking cessation programs and support as needed, including nicotine patches, gum, or other replacement items permissible for both patients (if approved/supported by the treatment team, primarily for new admissions) and staff.

View the full announcement on rescission of Bulletin SMH-93-02, Patient Smoking, here. Comments and questions regarding this bulletin should be directed via email.

If you have additional questions or would like RCPA to submit comments, please contact RCPA Mental Health Services Policy Director Jim Sharp.

Monday, December 4, 2023
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EST; 11:00 am – 12:00 pm CDT;
10:00 am – 11:00 am MST; 9:00 am – 10:00 am PDT
REGISTER

IPRC is pleased to once again host Shari Wade, PhD, and Devi Miron Murphy, PhD, to discuss practical applications of a trauma-informed approach to pediatric rehabilitation delivery. By member request, this webinar will expand on the content delivered in their previous webinar, Trauma Informed Care in Pediatric Settings, which was held on October 4, 2022.

Speaker Bios:

Shari L. Wade, PhD

Dr. Shari Wade is a tenured professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and Director of Research in the Division of Rehabilitation Medicine at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. She is a highly experienced rehabilitation psychologist who has conducted federally-funded research examining outcomes of traumatic brain injury and factors that influence outcomes since 1991. This research has been widely cited (h-index = 65 and i10-index = 189) and shaped how the field understands the role of social environmental factors on recovery and the effects of TBI on child and family functioning over time. For the past 20+ years, she has conducted single site and multicenter randomized clinical trials of interventions to reduce morbidity following pediatric TBI, including some of the first Class 1 clinical trials. She pioneered the development and testing of technology-based interventions to reduce behavioral and family consequences of pediatric TBI, beginning with an R21 award from NICHD in 2001. She is currently conducting a multi-site RCT examining the efficacy of a brief, online intervention to reduce post-traumatic stress following medical trauma.

Devi Miron Murphy, PhD

Dr. Devi Miron Murphy is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Director of Training, Clinical Psychology at the Tulane School of Medicine. Dr. Murphy’s clinical interests are psychotherapy and psychological assessment with youth and families. Specifically, her clinical activities include the assessment and treatment of young children and their families who have experienced trauma, such as abuse, neglect, exposure to domestic violence, and medical injuries. She is also interested in the evaluation and treatment of attachment disruptions. Dr. Murphy’s research interests include investigating long-term social, emotional, and cognitive outcomes in children who have had traumatic experiences and promoting sensitive caregiving for young children in foster care. Through her research and training endeavors, Dr. Murphy contributes to the development and dissemination of evidence-based treatments for traumatized youth.

Objectives: At the end of this session, the learner will:

  • Identify one or more tools to screen for PTSS;
  • List two strategies for working with children with PTSS during their rehabilitation stay;
  • Describe one approach for supporting families experiencing PTSS; and
  • Discuss how to manage vicarious trauma and identify one strategy for self-care.

Audience: This webinar is intended for all interested members of the rehabilitation team, including medical staff, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, licensed psychologists, mental health professionals, and other interested professionals.

Level: Intermediate

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

Registration: Registration is complimentary for members of IPRC/RCPA. Registration fee for non-members is $179. Not a member yet? Consider joining today. Multiple registrations per organization are permitted.

REGISTER