PACA MH/DS SPRING CONFERENCE AT HERSHEY LODGE MARCH 21-23, 2018

 

Save the date for the upcoming conference! There will be several interesting topics, including discussions on Stepping Up, Life Courses and Cross System Data Sharing. Also, we will be meeting with ODP Deputy Secretary Nancy Thaler and OMHSAS Deputy Secretary Lynn Kovich.

 

Registration Fees 2018

Wednesday Board Meeting                $ 0

Thursday AND Friday                         $235

Thursday Only                                    $180 (Continental Breakfast/Buffet Lunch)

Friday Only                                         $100 (Full Breakfast)

 

The room block for the conference is now set up to accept online reservations at the Hershey Lodge. Guests who prefer to call to make reservations can call 855-729-3108 and ask for the room block for the PACA MH/DS.  

There was a congressional request to report on details about abuse and neglect of developmentally disabled residents in group homes. Recently, ODP provided an update at the Central Region Meeting and referenced the report that DHS Office of Inspector General launched through a series of audits. The report is available online: Joint Report: Ensuring Beneficiary Health and Safety in Group Homes Through State Implementation of Comprehensive Compliance Oversight .

 

 

The executive committee is looking forward to a discussion to occur in February with the Department of Human Services, Secretary Theresa Miller. The meeting will be an opportunity to highlight the association's 2018 priorities.

 

DHS SEEKING INPUT ON COUNTY DASHBOARDS

 

DHS is seeking input on three dashboards that can be found in the links below. The dashboards use a software called Tableau with specific filters, such as county or year, that a user can select to see the data. Counties have been asked to review how the data is displayed and to identify any data errors. Counties can submit feedback through Friday, February 9. Information should be shared directly with Dan Mink ( dmink@pa.gov ).

GOVERNOR DECLARES EMERGENCY ON OPIOID CRISIS 

 

Governor Wolf declared a state of disaster emergency to combat the opioid and heroin crisis. Emergency declarations authorize commonwealth agencies to use all available resources and personnel, as necessary, to cope with the magnitude and severity of the situation.  According to the declaration , other ongoing opioid efforts will be elevated by "speeding up and expanding access to treatment, improving tools for families, first responders and others to save lives, and further enhancing coordination and data collection to improve state and local response." Overarching the efforts is the creation of an Opioid Operational Command Center within the state's Emergency Management Agency that will meet weekly to monitor progress and implementation of the initiatives within the declaration. Counties support the Governor's recent action to declare the heroin and opioid crisis as a statewide disaster emergency. Counties have a critical role in addressing the epidemic, and increased collaboration between state and local officials to develop and implement a comprehensive approach, coupled with additional resources to expand local capacity, is important to the success of these efforts.

 

DHS FINAL REPORT AS PART OF THE ACLU SETTLEMENT

 

The Department of Human Services (DHS) received the final report from Policy Research Associates (PRA) that was part of the settlement agreement made with ACLU on June 15, 2017. DHS plans to work across all counties in order to facilitate ongoing and consistent discussion, collaboration, and planning for each recommendation. You can find these documents on the DHS website by following this link: PRA Report with DHS Response .

 

 

COUNTY HUMAN SERVICE BLOCK GRANT APPLICATION AVAILABLE

 

Act 153 of 2016 expanded the Human Services Block Grant (HSBG) to any willing county to apply and participate beginning Fiscal Year 2017-2018. The Department of Human Services will accept applications until March 10, 2108. Questions can be directed to Kelly Leighty at (717) 705-0131 or klieghty@pa.gov .

 

 

COUNTY HUMAN SERVICE BLOCK GRANT WEBINAR 

CCAP and DHS scheduled a Human Services Block Grant (HSBG) Application Webinar for February 5^th at 10 a.m. The purpose is to have discussions with counties that are not currently in the Block Grant and to provide information on how to apply to become a HSBG County. All counties are invited to participate in the webinar. You can register now and you will then receive a confirmation email with a link and other information about joining the webinar. To join via conference call you dial 800-944-8766 and the access code is 84012#. The phone conference line will be available for verbal communication both for those who are participating in the webinar and for the benefit of those who may not be able to access a computer at that time but would still like to hear the presentation. 

RON COWELL AWARD NOMINATIONS SOUGHT

 

The Pennsylvania State Early Intervention Coordinating Council for Early Intervention will accept nominations until February 23, 2018 to recognize an individual who has had a significant impact on public policy, early intervention practices or staff development. Contact Kim Koteles at kkoteles@pattan.net for more information.

 

GOVERNOR PROPOSES CHANGE TO OVERTIME RULES

 

As part of the "Jobs That Pay" initiative, Governor Wolf announced he is working with the Department of Labor and Industry to finalize a plan to increase the number of individuals eligible for overtime. The plan would raise the salary level to determine overtime eligibility. The plan proposes to start in January 2020 with the threshold at $610 per week or $31,720 annually to $47,982 annually in 2022 with automatic increases every three years. The proposed regulations are to be published for public comment in March.

 

 

SOCIAL SECURITY REQUESTS INFORMATION ON TRANSITION OUTCOMES

 

The Social Security Administration announced a request for information to solicit public input on strategies to improve the adult economic outcomes of youth ages 14-15 with disabilities who receive Social Security Income. Comments can be made via internet, fax or mail. More information, including a link to the survey is available online .

 

 

CMS APPROVES MEDICAID WORK REQUIREMENTS

 

A January 11, 2018 guidance letter from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to state Medicaid directors announced a new policy designed to assist states in efforts to incentivize work and community engagement among non-elderly, non-pregnant adult beneficiaries who are eligible for Medicaid on a basis other than disability. The guidance considers aligning Medicaid requirements with Temporary Assistance to Needy Families and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs.

 

SAMHSA NATIONAL REGISTRY OF EBP CHANGES

 

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced on January 11, 2018 cited flaws with the National Registry of Evidenced Based Practices (EBP). SAMSHA intends to move EBP implementation efforts through targeted technical assistance and training to inform communities of available resources in conjunction with the Department of Health.

CONFERENCES

• The Keystone Crisis Intervention Team's (KCIT) Community Crisis Conference is being held on May 2-4, 2018 at the Ramada Inn Conference Center and Golf Hotel in State College. This statewide conference will focus on trauma informed interventions and provide insight into people not typically contacted unless a crisis arises. Cost is $150 with discount for members.
• NACO Conference
• NACHBBD Conference  

 

RESOURCES

• The Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council released their 2018 Request for Proposals. Funding is available in areas of communications; cross disability; employer focused employment; housing; meeting coordination; person directed services and supports; Policy Information Exchange; rural healthcare access and transition.
• Justice Assistance Grants are available for new Communities That Care sites, evidence-based programs for delinquency and violence prevention and implementation or evaluation of evidence-based programs to reduce victimization are due March 26, 2018. Small planning awards, up to $15,000, are also available to develop local strategy plans for one year.
• 2016 Staff Stability Survey Report was released by the National Core Indicators from Human Services Resources and the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services. Pennsylvania was one of 20 states participating in the survey. The information is available also at MyODP.
• Treatment for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness is a grant offering from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to treat individuals with serious mental illness, serious emotional disturbance, or co-occurring disorders experiencing homelessness. Up to 16 awards will be made for up to $1 million per year for each state or up to $500,000 per year or governmental units within political subdivisions of a state such as a county, city or town. The duration of the grant may be up to five years. Applications are due March 9, 2018.
• Law Enforcement and Behavioral Health Partnerships for Early Diversion is a grant available from SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) to establish or expand programs that divert adults with serious mental illness or a co-occurring disorder from the criminal justice system to community-based services prior to arrest and booking. Grants are available up to $1 million a year for up to five years. Applications are due March 5, 2018.