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DHS Racial Equity Report 2021

Mar 16, 2021

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The Department of Human Services (DHS) has released Racial Equity Report 2021, including a message from Teresa Miller, Secretary of Human Services. The report addresses several areas and concludes with this message about Moving Forward:

In the more than seven years since the Black Lives Matter movement began, there have been overdue
and necessary conversations about the treatment of people who are Black, Latinx, Asian, Middle
Eastern, and other non-White identities in the United States. Open and honest conversation and
education are critically important. Each of us only truly knows the world as we experience it, and there
is no shame in that. It is incumbent on each of us, though, to not let our experiences alone drive our
worldview and the way we treat and empathize with others. We must listen to others’ experiences,
challenge our own reactions and pre-conceived notions, and act from a more informed lens that
includes multiple perspectives.

The work must continue, and we must use these conversations and education to drive meaningful
change. We must use our platform to be actively anti-racist and educate our staff, the stakeholders and
constituencies we work with, and the broader public as much as possible. Challenging stereotypes and
biases is not a fight that DHS can win unilaterally, but we can use our position and our platform to
challenge and change these conversations where we can. We must actively build equity, inclusion, and
diversity into our work to overcome circumstances of the past that still persist. We cannot change the
past, but we can be a part of a solution moving forward by seeking to eliminate unintentional and
implicit consequences and be an active ally in this work. The more than 3 million people DHS serves,
our nearly 16,000 employees, and the citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a whole
deserve this.

RCPA Member Update Featuring Current PPP & FMAP Information 03-29-21

Mar 15, 2021

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RCPA members are invited to join the RCPA Member Update Webinar on Monday, March 29, 2021 at 1:00 pm. This webinar will also feature a discussion on the current PPP & FMAP information presented by Peggy Jo Revay, CPA, Senior Manager, Maher Duessel. Please register here.

Ms. Revay began her public accounting career in 1998 with Maher Duessel after spending eight years in the social services field. She has directed engagements of a wide range of governmental and nonprofit entities, including various human service providers. She has comprehensive experience with Single Audits, and also directs multiple employee benefit plan audit engagements.

If you have questions you would like to submit in advance, please send them to Tina Miletic. We look forward to your participation.

Pandemic-Related Nonprofit Unemployment Claims Survey – Response Requested

Mar 15, 2021

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RCPA has been and continues to work with the Pennsylvania Association of Non-Profit Organizations (PANO) on unemployment issues that have arisen during the pandemic. Specifically, the largest issue we have been working on is self-insured unemployment compensation claims. PANO has asked RCPA to circulate an unemployment claims survey to our members. RCPA is pleased to work with PANO on this issue.

PANO has sent the information below to various non-profit entities. In addition, you will find the link to the unemployment survey. Please take the time to fill this survey out and share the survey with other non-profits in your area.

PANO Information

Since the pandemic started, more than 33% of nonprofits in the United States are in danger of closing within two years in the aftermath of COVID-19 (2021 Candid and the Center for Disaster Philanthropy). As of December 2020, an estimated 60,000 nonprofit employees have been laid off in Pennsylvania.

While many nonprofits found relief from the federal government through various federal programs, loans, and grants, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has not yet provided direct, designated relief clearly needed by their partners in the nonprofit sector, who provide state-mandated and grassroots services for our most vulnerable residents.

One way the state can provide this direct relief is by offering 100% reimbursement for COVID-19-related unemployment compensation claims to all nonprofits, particularly reimbursable organizations (who pay the state back on a claim-by-claim basis).

If you have had any unemployment claims at all, please participate in this 10-question survey and fill in as many fields as possible, including, but not limited to, your status as a contributory vs. reimbursable employer. We are looking for information from nonprofits of all sizes, big and small, so please pass this on to any of your nonprofit colleagues who can contribute.

Together, we are strong! Let’s use our collective voice to make changes in Pennsylvania’s unemployment system.

Employment and People with Disabilities

Mar 15, 2021

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Employment of Youth and Young Adults with Disabilities
CAPE-Youth published a policy brief on “Employment of Youth and Young Adults with Disabilities in a Recovering Economy: Lessons from the Great Recession and Considerations for Policymakers Today.” The brief focuses on youth and young adults with disabilities who face difficulties gaining employment because of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recession. It outlines state-level strategies and examples policymakers and program administrators can use to support these young people with finding employment.

EARN Newsletter
The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) released its March 2021 newsletter. Highlighted are two new EARN web pages. “COVID-19 Workplace Resources and Tools” outlines the intersection between the pandemic and disability employment policies and practices. “Neurodiversity in the Workplace” discusses the benefits to businesses and employees of including people with neurocognitive disabilities in the workforce.

Arc Issues Action Alert Regarding Vaccinations

Mar 15, 2021

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Employment Considerations During COVID-19

Mar 15, 2021

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Accommodating Employees with COVID-19-Related Symptoms
The Job Accommodation Network posted a blog on “Accommodating Employees with COVID-19-Related Symptoms.” The blog discusses accommodating employees who have COVID-19 or who have recovered from COVID-19 but have long-term effects. Accommodation suggestions for limitations such as shortness of breath, fatigue, joint pain, and more are included.

State Strategies for Keeping Workers Safe During COVID-19
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) published a report, “Making Work Safe and Accessible During a Pandemic,” which examines the rules and guidance issued by federal, state, and local agencies to help keep workers, including those with disabilities, safe on the job. The report provides state examples and best practices on paid sick leave, personal protective equipment, and other workplace safety measures that accommodate all workers’ needs and mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The report is the third in a series developed in collaboration with the State Exchange on Employment & Disability on the opportunities and challenges stemming from the pandemic and its impact on the employment of people with disabilities.

RCPA Submits Comments Regarding Draft ICF Incident Management Bulletin

Mar 15, 2021

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RCPA has submitted comments regarding the draft Incident Management Bulletin for ICF programs. Our recommendations include:

We recommend that in situations when it cannot be reasonably determined which provider was rendering services at the time of the incident, that a third party, such as the county, be assigned as the investigator in order to assure that a non-biased investigation is completed.

While we support the investigation of missing medication if a pattern of missing meds occurs, or a significant amount of medication (amount could be determined by the type of medication, and possible alternative uses) would be reason to investigate. We do not support the investigation of one pill that may have been inadvertently dropped, especially if it is an over-the-counter medication such as Tylenol, or aspirin. We support that missing medication should be documented, but do not feel every instance rises to the need of a certified investigation.

The bulletin reinforces the belief in “Office of Developmental Programs’ (ODP) guiding principles, Everyday Lives, Values in Action,” and “The application of person-centered practices, community integration, individual choice, and assisting individuals to develop and maintain relationships.” Therefore, including any sexual relationship between individuals receiving service as an incident of abuse is not acceptable. The draft states:

Sexual abuse includes any act or attempted act that is sexual in nature between a paid service provider staff or another individual receiving services and an individual regardless of consent on the part of the individual.

This needs to be removed in respect for individuals’ rights to engage in healthy relationships. Sexual activity against their choice would be abuse, not consensual activity.

We are aware of several incidents that remain “Open” in the EIM that are waiting for review, and approval, or not approved status by ODP staff. We recommend that the ODP staff responsible for reviewing incidents be held to a standard similar to the others involved in the EIM process in order to assure that appropriate corrective actions (if necessary) are taken in a timely manner, and to resolve any open incidents.