';
Policy Areas

Young Girl Talking With Counselor At Home

This week’s Mental Health Safety Net (MHSN) Coalition weekly advocacy communication focuses on the Commonwealth’s need for an increase in funding for children’s mental health services. The full advocacy letter can be read here.

The MHSN Coalition is a group of stakeholders participating in a joint advocacy effort to protect and preserve our mental health service delivery system. RCPA invites all members, non-members, and systems-wide behavioral health stakeholders to participate in the Mental Health Safety Net Coalition meeting on Monday, July 14, 2025, from 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm. This meeting will serve to update the group on strategy, activities, and engagement opportunities.

Please contact Emma Sharp with questions or if you would like to join the coalition.

This issue of the Positive Approaches Journal, “The Intersection of Mental and Physical Health Impacting Our Communities: Part 2,” continues the theme of the previous issue in exploring and emphasizing the importance of the balanced pursuit of physical and mental wellbeing. Topics include behavior as communication, pica and lead exposure, positive interactions, and more.

This issue of Positive Approaches Journal is available to view in digital form online or download at MyODP’s website.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODP Health Alert, Choking: A Medical Emergency. This alert discusses the different causes of choking and provides information on how to prevent choking from occurring. Please review the document for additional information and details.

IMPORTANT: All caregivers should follow First Aid/Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training instructions for an individual who is choking. The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) intends to emphasize the importance of calling 911 at the appropriate time and not delaying the call by seeking supervisory approval.

The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) July 2025 Stakeholder Webinar is currently scheduled for Thursday, July 17, 2025, from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm. You can register for the webinar here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

For those that want to join via phone:
Call-in Number: (562) 247-8321
Access Code:  289-226-375

Please contact Emma Sharp, Behavioral Health Policy Associate, with any questions.

The Department of Labor (DOL) just announced its intent to publish a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would exempt certain types of home health workers from minimum wage and overtime requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). In its reasoning, DOL said that the existing regulation “might discourage essential companionship services by making these services more expensive” and is proposing to exempt those employees from the minimum wage and overtime requirements of the FLSA. The proposed rule would also allow third party employers to claim those exemptions.

DOL will be accepting comments on their NPRM up to sixty days following its publication in the Federal Register, which is currently scheduled for July 2, 2025.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has released ODPANN 25-065: Medication Administration My Agency Report, Updated Materials, and July-September Train-the-Trainer Face-to-Face Schedule. The purpose of this announcement is:

  • To announce that the “My Agency” report is available to Agency Administrators and Primary Contacts in the “Reports” tab;
  • To announce that materials have been updated on the Trainer Resources page and a New Provider tab has been added; and
  • To announce the Face-to-Face schedule for July – September 2025.

Please review the announcement for additional information and details.

The Senate today approved the “Big Beautiful Bill” with the collateral impact of taking away health care from hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians. The bill will now return to the House for a final vote before it goes to the President’s desk for signature and approval. The House is expected to act quickly.

The Senate bill makes even more drastic cuts to health coverage than the House version, totaling over $1 trillion, including Medicaid. Millions of Americans will lose access to health care; specifically, these cuts will take away health care from more than 600,000 Pennsylvanians and could double health insurance premiums for many more. In addition, the bill adds trillions to the growing Federal deficit by way of sizable tax cuts.

This will deeply impact our most vulnerable individuals and families that our members serve in the Commonwealth. We must act now to save access to health care. Find your legislator and their contact information here to let them know that you do not support the passage of the “Big Beautiful Bill.”

Registration is now officially open for the 2025 RCPA Conference Strive to Thrive! The conference offers inspiring keynotes and plenaries, over sixty workshops, live updates from both state and national partners, and the ability to interact with exhibitors and sponsors in our Connections Hall! View our Registration Brochure for complete details of the conference schedule and speakers. You can also register directly here.

We are grateful to all of our sponsors who help make the conference happen. Be sure to check the RCPA Conference website regularly for details and updates to the schedule, registration, and sponsors/exhibitors. Our mobile app, which we are proud to share is once again being sponsored by Millin, will become available closer to the time of conference and will contain CE information, a detailed agenda, and more!

In addition to registration, there are still many opportunities available for sponsorship and exhibit booths, so don’t delay! Opportunities still available include but are not limited to our Hospitality Suite, our Awards Luncheon, entertainment, and meal sponsorships. If your organization is interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at our conference, all information is available in our Sponsor, Exhibit, and Advertise Brochure. You can contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator, for more details.

View our sponsors and exhibitors at our Conference website!