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Tags Posts tagged with "Advocacy"

Advocacy

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RCPA invites all members, non-members, and systems-wide behavioral health stakeholders to participate in the Mental Health Safety Net Coalition meeting on Monday, June 9, 2025, from 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm. This meeting will serve to update the group on strategy, activities, and engagement opportunities. Members can participate via Teams; information on how to join can be found below.

The coalition, which is open to all stakeholder groups, convened last week to lay out our primary vision, actions, and goals. The coalition will be sending out its first legislative advocacy bulletin to General Assembly legislators and stakeholders this week, and we encourage members to participate in these efforts of joint advocacy in protecting and preserving our mental health service delivery system.

This meeting will review and discuss the critical areas of funding for the 2025/26 budget, including county mental health, school-based services, psychiatric centers, and the Behavioral HealthChoices system, along with ongoing advocacy for the preservation of Federal Medicaid. The coalition listserv has been updated; if you would like to join the coalition or have any questions, please contact RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp.

Microsoft Teams Need help?
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 289 703 832 805 3
Passcode: 4Ji6nE6f

Dial in by phone
+1 689-206-0441,,182354162# United States, Orlando
Find a local number
Phone conference ID: 182 354 162#

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Photo by Toni Reed on Unsplash

What is Pride Month?
June 1 marked the beginning of (LGBTQIA+) Pride Month, a time to recognize and celebrate LGBTQIA+ individuals in our communities. Pride Month commemorates the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York and celebrates the LGBTQ community and the fight for equal rights.

The Stonewall Uprising began on June 28, 1969, when police raided the Stonewall Inn, a prominent gay bar in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village. The protests that followed are credited with a shift in LGBTQ+ activism in the US and is why Pride week is celebrated in June. In many cities across the nation, the celebration is now a month-long series of events.

Today, celebrations include pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia, and concerts, and LGBTQ Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally.

What does PRIDE Stand for?
“Pride” is not an acronym, but the LGBTQIA+ community comprises several identities related to sexual orientation and gender identity. Here are the definitions to know:

  • L: Lesbian
  • G: Gay
  • B: Bisexual
  • T: Transgender
  • Q: Queer, or sometimes Questioning
  • I:  Intersex
  • A: Asexual
  • +: Encompasses other identities under the rainbow umbrella

Why Recognize Pride Month at Work?
Celebrating Pride Month is valuable for organizations and teams.

  1. Promotes Inclusion and Belonging: Affirms the identities of LGBTQ+ employees and sends a clear message that they are seen, respected, and valued. It fosters a culture of belonging where everyone feels safe to be themselves.
  2. Reinforces Organizational Values: If your organization values diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), celebrating Pride shows you are living those values. It’s a chance to demonstrate support beyond words.
  3. Raises Awareness and Education: Pride Month offers an opportunity to educate employees about LGBTQ+ history, rights, and challenges. This may encourage respectful and informed interactions among coworkers.
  4. Boosts Morale and Engagement: When employees feel that their identities and values are respected, it increases job satisfaction, engagement, and loyalty.
  5. Supports Talent Attraction and Retention: Today’s workforce, especially younger workers, tends to seek out employers who are socially responsible and inclusive. Supporting Pride Month can make your organization more attractive.
  6. Shows Allyship and Leadership: For straight (cisgender) colleagues, participating in Pride Month activities is a way to practice allyship. For leadership, it’s a chance to set the tone from the top, showing commitment to inclusivity as a core part of organizational culture.

View 28+ PRIDE Month Ideas for Work

View Pennsylvania PRIDE Events and Festivals

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RCPA invites members to participate in the Mental Health Safety Net Coalition meeting on Friday, May 30, 2025, from 10:00 am – 11:00 am. Members can participate via Teams; information on how to join can be found below.

The Coalition is open to all stakeholder groups, and we encourage members to participate in these efforts of joint advocacy in protecting and preserving our mental health service delivery system. This meeting will review and discuss the critical areas of funding for the 2025/26 budget, including county mental health, school-based services, psychiatric centers, and our Behavioral HealthChoices system, along with ongoing advocacy for the preservation of Federal Medicaid. If you would like to join the coalition or have any questions, please contact RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp.

Microsoft Teams Need help?
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 245 992 905 070 9
Passcode: 4eF9M8Sp

Dial in by phone
+1 689-206-0441,,595808722# United States, Orlando
Find a local number
Phone conference ID: 595 808 722#

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Congress is making decisions that could deeply harm people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). A proposed budget could slash Medicaid by at least $715 billion, putting essential supports and lives at risk.

These cuts aren’t just numbers on a budget document; they’re a threat to the independence, dignity, and community of those we support.

📣 Take Action Today: Call or email your U.S. Senators and Representative.

Tell them: Reject Medicaid cuts. Protect services for people with I/DD.

Your voice matters. Now more than ever, it must be heard.

Use the ANCOR Advocacy Toolbox to contact your federal officials today!

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The Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association Political Action Committee (RCPA PAC) is asking members to consider making a personal contribution to the PAC. With these donations, we have been successful in supporting legislative leadership who understand the severe challenges facing many of our providers. These representatives are willing to stand up for our issues as we fight to move Pennsylvania forward.

We urge you to view our 2025 Legislative & Administrative Priorities to see how RCPA is and will continue to work for you. We are able to achieve these goals thanks to our members’ dedication and contributions.

Make an online contribution and advocate for yourself today. While the request is voluntary, we encourage you to make a contribution of $100, $250, $350, $500, or more to the RCPA PAC. If you are interested, you can also consider making a recurring monthly donation.

If you have any questions regarding the RCPA PAC or making a donation, please contact Jack Phillips, Director, Government Affairs.

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Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

RCPA held a golf fundraiser to support the RCPA Political Action Committee (RCPA PAC) on Tuesday, May 13. This successful event raised much-needed funds for our legislative activities, and we would like to thank all the generous golfers who braved the rain to participate and contribute.

A big thank you to our sponsors:

  • Tournament Sponsor: Expert County Care Management
  • Lunch Sponsors: Brier Dlugolecki Strategies & Novak Strategic Advisors
  • Beverage Cart Sponsor: Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
  • Premium Hole Sponsor: PDC Pharmacy
  • Hole Sponsor: Firetree, Ltd.
  • Hole Sponsor: Christopher S. Lucas & Associates
  • Hole Sponsor: Embolden WC Trust
  • Hole Sponsor: Warfel Construction
  • Hole Sponsor: Ceisler Media & Issue Advocacy
  • Hole Sponsor: Comprehensive Financial Associates/PA Pension Planners

Your support is always appreciated! We encourage anyone interested in supporting the RCPA PAC to make a personal contribution. For your convenience, you can now make an online contribution. Thank you again for your participation and support, and congratulations to our golf winners!

Your participation in the RCPA PAC is completely voluntary, and you may contribute as much or as little as you choose. Donations are not tax-deductible and will be used for political purposes. You may choose not to participate without fear of reprisal. You will not be favored or disadvantaged by reason of the amount of your contribution or decision not to contribute.

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The Brain Injury Advisory Board, established under section 1252 of the Federal Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. § 300d-52), will hold their next public meeting on May 2, 2025, from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm. The meeting will be held in person at the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN), 6340 Flank Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17112 in the Cumberland conference room.

Meeting materials will be sent out before the meeting and will also be available on the Board’s website as well as at the meeting location. Questions should be directed to Nicole Johnson electronically.

The Department of Health’s (DOH) Head Injury Program (HIP) strives to ensure that eligible individuals who have a traumatic brain injury receive high quality rehabilitative services aimed at reducing functional limitations and improving quality of life. The Board assists the Department in understanding and meeting the needs of persons living with acquired brain injuries, both traumatic and nontraumatic, and their families. This quarterly meeting will provide updates on a variety of topics, including the number of people served by HIP. In addition, meeting participants will discuss budgetary and programmatic issues, community programs relating to traumatic and nontraumatic brain injuries, and available advocacy opportunities.

For additional information or for persons with a disability who wish to attend the meeting and require an auxiliary aid, service or other accommodation to do so, contact Nicole Johnson, Division of Community Systems Development and Outreach, via email or at (717) 772-2763. For individuals with speech and/or hearing-impairments, contact V/TT (717) 783-6514 or the Pennsylvania Hamilton Relay Service at (800) 654-5984.

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This community-focused advocacy forum brings together experts and stakeholders to discuss the local impact of federal funding cuts to Medicaid, particularly on vulnerable populations and essential services.

The event will be moderated by Chip Minemyer, publisher of The Tribune-Democrat, and panelists will include RCPA Honorary Board Member Jim Cook, who serves as Executive Director of Cambria Residential Services.

The event will be held Monday, April 21, at 6:30 pm. You can view the flyer here for more details.

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