News
FALL CONFERENCE - NOVEMBER 15 - 17, 2017
 
The PACA MH/DS Fall Conference will be held at Bedford Springs this year.
 
Register Online: www.mhdspa.org (deadline to register/cancel is October 27th or you will incur a $15 per day penalty fee)
 
Wednesday -  Board Meeting - $0
Thursday AND Friday - $215
Thursday - $160 (Continental Breakfast/Buffet Lunch)
Friday - $95 (Continental Breakfast)
 
Hotel Reservations: Call toll free number 800-843-6664
Group Name: PACA MH/DS
Hotel Room Rate: $139 for Single or Double Occupancy Deluxe Rooms
Reservation Cut-Off Date: Monday, October 16th 
Resort Service Charge: The prevailing resort charge is currently $30.00 reduced to $15.00 per night
 
 
UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES SHARED BY ODP & OMHSAS
 
  • Experience the Employment Connection (EEC) - events will be held across the Commonwealth.  It will be a great opportunity to network and will count towards ODPs 24 hour annual training requirement. Registration is now open and further information is available via the EEC website http://pa-eec.org/ . 
  • PeopleFirst Spring/Summer 2017 edition is now available - Published by Mental Health Partnerships for the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services PeopleFirst Spring/ Summer 2017
  • Three-Day Peer Support within the Criminal Justice System Training - For Pennsylvania residents who are Certified Peer Specialists or Certified Recovery Specialists with priority given to those who have lived experience in the criminal justice system. It will take place January 10 - 12 in Monroeville. Training cost is $90. Attendees are responsible for their own expenses. More information and Application
  • AE Webinars Scheduled:  Please see the tentative topics and dates below for the upcoming webinars.  
    • October 26, 2017 (10:00 AM - 11:15 AM) - Autism diagnoses OR Information, Referral & Intake.
    • November 15 (10:00 AM - 11:15 AM) -presentation on TSM Amendment. This webinar for the TSM Amendment will include both AEs and SCOs.  
    • December 7 (10:00 AM - 11:15 AM) - Information, Referral & Intake
    • January 18, 2018 (10:00 AM - 11:15 AM) - Community Living Waiver.  
  • The 25th Annual Forensic Rights and Treatment Conference ( Yesterday, Today, and the Future: New Horizons in Forensic Services).  November 29 - 30th in Grantville, PA. The  Conference Brochure  and  Registration  are now available.   
  • Registration is now open for the 2017 Statewide Stepping Up Summit -  December 4 - 5, 2017 in State College.  The Statewide Stepping Up Summit is a national initiative to reduce the number of individuals with mental illnesses from jails.  This event will help criminal justice and behavioral health professionals understand the key elements of Stepping Up and how to implement Stepping Up in a county.  Details and Registration
  • Upcoming CPS Training - Supporting Youth and Young Adults: Supporting the Transition from Adolescence to Adulthood -  December 5 - 6 in Reading.  Young people who are leaving the children's mental health or other child serving systems frequently are left with little to no supports as they navigate a new world of service delivery.  This training is open to Certified Peer Specialists (CPS) in the state of Pennsylvania.  Application deadline is November 27, 2017.  Details and Registration  are available.
  • SAMHSA's GAINS Center Seeks Communities to Develop Trauma-Informed Training Capacity -   The GAINS Center is offering a series of Train-The-Trainer (TTT) events to train local trainers to deliver its  How Being Trauma-Informed Improves Criminal Justice System Responses  training program. The target audiences for this training program are primarily community-based criminal justice system professionals, including law enforcement, community corrections (probation, parole, and pre-trial services), court personnel, as well as human service providers that serve  adult  justice-involved populations.  Download the Solicitation
  • Pennsylvania Disability Employment and Empowerment Summit (PADES) 2017 -  December 6 - 7 in King of Prussia.  PADES  brings together employers, government agencies, service providers and potential employees to dispel myths and discuss opportunities for people with disabilities to find employment in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. More information  at  http://pades-summit.org/ .

 

GOVERNOR AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY SUED FOR LACK OF BUDGET
 
Commonwealth Partners, an independent membership organization dedicated to improving the economic environment in Pennsylvania, along with Representative Jim Christiana (R-15) and businessman Ben Lewis is filing a lawsuit in Commonwealth Court to enforce the state's constitution mandating a legal balanced budget. There are three counts in the lawsuit:  The governor violated his duties to line-item veto spending that exceed available revenue for FY 2016-17 and 2017-18; the General Assembly violated its duties appropriating funds that exceeded available revenues for FY 2016-17 and 2017-18; and the treasurer, governor and auditor general violated their duties by incurring debt to enable deficit spending without General Assembly approval.
 

FEDERAL BUDGET RUNS WITH CONTINUING RESOLUTION
 
Although the U. S. House passed H.R. 3354 , which would provide $1.2 trillion in government funding, the Senate did not concur. The House and the Senate did approve a legislative package to continue federal funds for the start of the October 1 fiscal through December 8. This gives Congress time to9 negotiate a compromise appropriation package.
 

2014 PROVIDER RATE SETTLEMENT EXTENDED
 
The Department of Human Services has extended their Settlement Agreement  regarding rates with  that prohibits the state from imposing a negative rate adjustment factor to current Home Community Based Services rates, mitigates impact of vacancy factor and retains factor for cost based services. The Second Amendment to the settlement agreement is extended until either the new proposed ID/A regulations for the provision and payment of HCBS services or December 19, 2018, or DHS withdraws regulations from the promulgation process. 
 
 
ODP REQUESTS COMMENTS ON DRAFT SEXUAL HEALTH BULLETIN
 
Follow the link to view/comment:  ODP Communication 105-17
 
ODP CERTIFIED INVESTIGATOR FORUMS OFFERED
 
Temple University is conducting forums to provide up-to-date information about changes to the ODP Certified Investigation program. Two sessions (providing the same material) are being offered on October 27. Registration for the call is available in the HCSIS LMS under "Certified Investigator Forum".
 

ODP SETS PERSON CENTERED THINKING TRAINING DATES THROUGHOUT STATE
 
The Office of Developmental Programs has planned numerous two day training events throughout the state beginning October 23 and 30 in Pottsville. The training is provided in various regions through March 2018. More information and pre-registration is available in the ODP Announcement 103-17 .


REMINDER TO REGISTER TO VOTE

You should submit a voter registration form if: You are a new voter who has never participated before; will be 18 years of age on or before November 7, 2017 and are a naturalized US Citizen; You have recently changed your name or address; in this instance you will need to re-register with the new information; You wish to change your party affiliation. Additional information about registering to vote can be found at the following link.