E P C PA N E W S

3 Director’s Viewpoint 4 State News Briefs 5 Legislative Affairs 8 Across the Nation

9 Mental Health Headlines 11 Drug & Alcohol Action 11 Conferences & Training 13 MR Report

16 On the Autism Spectrum 17 Children’s Corner 20 Calendar

Provider NewsM AY 2 0 0 8

An informational newsletter compiled by the Pennsylvania Community Providers Association for the MH, MR, and D&A communities

e I N S I D E

The Western Pennsylvania Training Collaborative, a network of provider agen-cies in Allegheny County, has won the People Do Matter Award in the field of learning and development. The award was presented by the Pittsburgh Human Resources Association. The collaborative was accepted on behalf of its five members: Family Services of Western Pennsylvania, Family Resources, Allegheny Children’s Initiative, Every Child, and Western Pennsylvania Family Center. Representatives from the collaborative, in conjunction with a contracted consultant, built training curricula

for supervisors and line staff through focus groups. Further improvements were made with pilot projects and follow-up surveys. The cur-ricula were then presented in the form of spe-cial event trainings and web-based platforms.

The People Do Matter Award for learning and development recognizes strategies to achieve exceptional employee performance through skills advancement, knowledge creation, and knowledge transfer. PCPA con-gratulates the collaborative and its members for their accomplishments. f

Training Collaborative Wins HR Award

Regional Meetings Draw CrowdsTwo PCPA regional meetings in April were met with large crowds and rave responses. On April 17, 38 attendees gathered at Friendship House in Scranton for the Northeast Region Meeting sponsored by Tidgewell Associates. The next day, April 18, 55 attended the Western Region Meeting in Mars sponsored by Community Care Behavioral Health Organization. Both meet-ings featured process benchmarking exercises led by Dr. Paul Lefkovitz of Behavioral Pathway Systems. The Northeast Region focused on outpatient staff productivity and the west on

Dr. Paul Lefkovitz takes PCPA members through process benchmarking exercises.

Continued on page 2

P R O V I D E R N E W S MAY 2008

Provider News

Executive DirectorGeorge J. Kimes

Deputy DirectorLynn Cooper

Policy SpecialistsLinda Drummond, MPAConnell O'Brien, MEd Betty Simmonds

Director ofLegislative AffairsAnne McHugh Leisure, MHA

Technical & Conference Services CoordinatorKris Ericson, PhD

Membership & Marketing CoordinatorSteve Neidlinger

Administrative Assistant Cindy Lloyd

SecretaryTieanna BortzErin Asbury ©2008. This newsletter is written by the Pennsylvania Community Providers Associ-ation (PCPA) for the mental health, mental retardation, and addictive disease com-munities. This informational newsletter is published monthly. Deadline for publication is the third Friday of every month.

Pennsylvania Community Providers AssociationBldg 3, Ste 2002101 N Front StHarrisburg, PA 17110

717-364-3280—Phone717-364-3287—Fax

www.paproviders.orgmail@paproviders.org

2 E

E P C P A N E W S

no-show reduction for initial outpatient appointments. In addition to Dr. Lefkovitz’s presentation, Dr. Dennis Daley of UPMC presented on client engagement at the Western Region event.

Evaluations from both meetings featured such comments as:

E “Great interaction between participants,”E “Great food for thought,”E “Will take away ideas to use with our agency.”

Both meetings were distinguished by spirited discussion and best practice sharing among the attendees. PCPA thanks the presenters, sponsors, and all attendees for their active participation. f

BUSINESS MEMBERNSM Insurance GroupRyan Bruni, Sales ExecutiveConshohocken

Members listen intently to a presentation on process benchmarking at the Northeast Region meeting in April.

E N E W M E M B E R S

PROVIDER MEMBERSMercer County Behavioral Health Commission, Inc.George Cavanaugh, CEOMercer

Nulton Diagnostic and Treatment Center, P.C.Larry J. Nulton, PhDJohnstown

Continued from page 1

P R O V I D E R N E W S MAY 2008 3 F

E D I R E C T O R ’ S V I E W P O I N T

As I read the PCPA 2007/08 Annual Review, I take par-ticular pride in what we

have accomplished through PCPA. Like any good association, PCPA’s strength lies in the expertise and perseverance of its members. Moving as a whole instead of 226 separate parts, we are capable of great feats. 2007/08 was no exception.

Our legislative endeavors brought to light the economic obstacles facing Pennsylvania’s commu-nity providers. We celebrated a major legislative victory with the retention of the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in the 2007/08 Pennsylvania Budget. Nearly 400 people attended Capitol Day in June 2007 to ensure that the COLA was retained.

PCPA’s efforts for yearly COLAs (House Bills 2241 and 2160 and Senate Bill 1373) and for a dedi-cated alcohol tax (Senate Bill 870 and House Bill 1032) fulfill the association’s mission of promot-ing a viable system of agencies. These bills, along with the 2008/09 Pennsylvania Budget, will be pri-mary topics of conversation at Capitol Day on June 10.

The extent of PCPA influence was exercised throughout the gover-nor’s administration. We finalized the Rate Setting Position Paper, a landmark publication that advo-cates for a fair rate setting pro-cess. Its effects are already being

felt on many levels. And through our participation on government task forces and committees, PCPA continues to be the definitive voice for community providers in Pennsylvania.

None of this would be possible with-out the involvement of the PCPA Board of Directors. As some board members complete their terms and others replace them, I am reminded of the great depth of knowledge that PCPA members have and freely contribute. I am especially thankful to Steve Christian-Michaels, who regularly went above and beyond his responsibilities as president, and to Mike Ratajczak, who leaves the Executive Committee after completing his term as immedi-ate past president. I welcome our new president, Peg Van Schaick, of Community Services Group. I am looking forward to her contin-ued leadership and energy as she assumes her new role.

Finally, I thank you, the members of PCPA. The reason our association continues to thrive is due to the active participation of members, and I look forward to continuing our tradition of success in this upcoming membership year.

George J. Kimes, Executive Directorgeorge@paproviders.org

This column represents my opinion, not necessarily that of the association. f

George J. Kimes

It Was a Very Good Year

“...PCPA’s strength lies

in the expertise and

perseverance of its members.”

E P R O V I D E R N E W S 4 MAY 2008

E P C P A N E W S

PCPA was pleased to have Deputy Secretary Kathy Gnall, Department of Corrections (DOC), at the April

Forensics Committee meeting. Ms. Gnall provided an overview of the DOC, which includes a current inmate population at more than 46,000; 27 institutions; 15,000 staff; and a $1.7 billion budget. Two new prisons are being planned and much work is being done in coordination with the Sentencing Board and the Board of Probation and Parole to address the popula-tion growth. PCPA members were pleased to hear Gnall emphasize that the future of cor-rections is in the community. Currently the DOC has 3,800 community corrections beds and plans to add an additional 1,000 beds next fiscal year. Gnall reported that the pri-mary reason people are not being released from prison is programming not being com-pleted. DOC is working hard to address the multifaceted problem which includes cost, scheduling, and space. The current recidi-vism rate is 48 percent within a three year period. Gnall was pleased to report that the one year recidivism rate is actually down by four percent. The average time a technical violator is in the DOC is one year at a cost of $32,000. Community treatment and parole is

Deputy Secretary Gnall at Forensics Committee

Deputy Secretary Gnall speaks with members of the Forensics Subcommittee regard-ing department initia-tives and issues.

much more cost effective and more likely to prevent future recidivism. The most common reason for technical violations is alcohol and other drugs.

PCPA members shared problems that adversely affect community provider pro-grams such as the need for picture identifi-cation for all offenders leaving the system. Ms. Gnall stated that a tremendous amount of work is being done with the Department of Transportation to make picture IDs more available for offenders. Some providers expressed concern about the lack of coordi-nation being done for inmates maxing out from numerous institutions, especially on holidays and weekends. Members recom-mended that the DOC reentry coordinator, community corrections director, and the director of the Probation and Parole Board be invited to the July meeting to discuss reentry issues in more depth. Secretary Jeffrey Beard will present at the May 27 Forensics Committee meeting. Members recommended that the September meeting include representatives of Sens. Specter and Casey to discuss the “2nd Chance Initiative” and other federal issues. f

E S TAT E NE W S BR I E F S

The Department of Public Welfare Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration grant funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is intended to assist individuals living in aging, mental health, and mental retardation facilities move into community settings. Once grant details are finalized, progress will continue on rebalancing Pennsylvania’s long-term living system as well as making strategic investments in infrastructure to address gaps and barriers in the overall system of care.

For individuals age 60 or older and those with physi-cal disabilities but under the age of 60 who are already

living in nursing facilities the project plans to build on the success of the existing Nursing Home Transition program. Persons age 65 and older with serious mental illness and residing in state hospitals will work with the Older Adult Peer Specialist and Facility Transition Coordinator to begin the planning process. This will initially be an option for those residing in Norristown and Mayview State Hospitals. Those residing in state mental retardation centers will be the first targeted in this system for community living options through this project. Questions may be directed to Money Follows the Person Director Karen Morton (kmorton@state.pa.us). f

Money Follows the Person

P R O V I D E R N E W S MAY 2008 5 F

E L E G I S L A T I V E A F F A I R S

For additional information on legislative issues, contact the PA Community Providers Association office at 717-364-3280. For copies of bills, call your local legislator, the House Document Room 717-787-5320 or visit the General Assembly’s Electronic Bill Room at www.legis.state.pa.us.

US Representative Tim Murphy (R–18) was recognized as the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare’s Legislator of the Year. The award was pre-sented in his district at Milestone Center. Presenting the award were Milestone CEO Barb Conniff and National Council Vice President for Public Policy and Technical Assistance Chuck Ingoglia.

Register Your Organization for Capitol Day! PCPA’s Capitol Day is June 10. This event is his-torically a great success and in 2007 over 400 members and supporters participated. Members should register attendance with PCPA by May 27. The legislative press conference/rally will begin at 12:00 p.m. The association is pleased to report that several legislators are already con-firmed to speak at the press conference. They include Senator Edwin Erickson (chair, Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee), Senator Patricia H. Vance (chair, Senate Aging and Youth Committee), Speaker of the House Dennis O’Brien, and Representative Kathy Manderino (chair, Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services.)

The PCPA registration table will be located in the Capitol’s Main Rotunda and available from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. PCPA staff will be avail-able to assist members throughout the event. The following information can be found on the PCPA web site:

E PCPA Capitol Day flyer,

E An RSVP form,

E Tips for making appointments and communicating effectively with legislators, and

E Sample text when requesting an appointment in writing.

Please contact Anne McHugh Leisure, director of legislative affairs (anne@paproviders.org), with questions. f

Murphy Named National Council Legislator of the Year

Rep. Tim Murphy (c) is joined by Chuck Ingoglia and Barb Conniff as he receives the National Council award.

Co-chair of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus, Rep. Murphy was the original co-sponsor of the Community Mental Health Services Improvement Act (HR 5176). Introduced earlier this year, HR 5176 would pro-vide new resources and support for community-based mental health care. Among its main provisions, the bill calls for funding to allow community mental health organizations to provide primary care and specialty mental health services in the same setting. Murphy, a child psychologist by training, graciously accepted the award at Milestone’s Monroeville office with staff and individuals in service on hand. In his remarks, he advo-cated for increased spending for mental health services as a way of controlling future costs resulting from an underserved mental health population. f

E P R O V I D E R N E W S 6 MAY 2008

E L E G I S L A T I V E A F F A I R S

COLA Legislation Introduced in SenateSenator Edwin Erickson’s cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) bill, The Mental Health and Mental Retardation Maintenance of Community Services Act, has been introduced as Senate Bill 1373 with 25 co-sponsors. It will be referred to the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee which Erickson chairs. The committee scheduled a vote for SB 1373 on April 30. SB 1373 is a com-panion bill to Rep. Barbara McIlvaine-Smith’s HB 2241 and Rep. George Kenney’s HB 2160, requiring the Secretary of the Budget to include in the Department of Public Welfare budget a COLA for mental health (MH), men-tal retardation (MR), and drug and alcohol programs that would be tied to the Home Health Market Basket Index (HHMBI). The HHMBI for the current fiscal year is three percent. The index would ensure modest increases for programs within its scope, enabling providers to keep up with increasing costs. This legislation would help to maintain stability of the community-based MH/MR system and thus ensure the health and safety of consumers. The legislation includes a stipulation that funding allocated through the Department of Public Welfare to counties only be utilized to increase the rates or amount of funding for existing community-based MH/MR services.

Membership response to PCPA’s call to contact senators for co-sponsorship has been extremely effective, resulting in a substantial increase in the number of co-sponsors on the bill. An updated list of co-sponsors for both SB 1373 and SB 870, Sen. Vance’s drug and alcohol dedicated funding leg-islation, can be found on the PCPA web site. Further questions may be directed to Anne McHugh Leisure. f

PCPA to Testify at COLA Bill HearingThe Pennsylvania House Health and Human Services Committee invited PCPA to provide tes-timony for a one-hour infor-mational hearing April 30 on Barbara McIlvaine-Smith’s cost-of-living adjustment bill (HB 2241.) Other members of the Mental Health/Mental Retardation Coalition also testi-fied, including the Pennsylvania Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, the Pennsylvania Association of Resources for People with Autism and Intellectual Disabilities, The ARC of Pennsylvania, and Vision for Equality. PCPA will keep members informed on the outcome of the hearing. For more information please contact Anne McHugh Leisure (anne@paproviders.org) at PCPA.

PCPA is working with MH/MR Coalition members on a focused campaign aimed

at getting legislators on board to restore the cost-of-living adjust-ment (COLA) and to support COLA legislation. While any form of contact is helpful (email, letter, or phone call) a scheduled visit is the most effective. To make the most of visits, PCPA urges members to high-light these issues:

E Share the PCPA budget position and ask legislators for their support for a COLA for mental health and mental retardation services. It is important to communicate that the COLA needs to be apportioned con-sistently and fairly across the state to support and maintain existing programs and how the lack of a COLA will affect individual agen-cies. Ask legislators to write a letter expressing support to their caucus leadership and, if possible, to share a copy of their letter.

E Ask for support for the COLA bills. This includes HB 2160 (Kenney), HB 2241 (McIlvaine-Smith), and SB 1373 (Erickson). If your legislators are co-sponsors thank them.

E Seek support for drug and alcohol funding legislation (SB 870 and HB 1032). If your representative is a co-sponsor, express appreciation for this support. Ask your legislator to communicate with leadership to move these bills out of committee.

Please see the Legislative Affairs page of the PCPA web site for mate-rials to support member efforts. As members make legislative contacts, please communicate with PCPA about these efforts. Knowing which legislators have been contacted provides PCPA with guidance on follow-up. Further questions may be directed to Anne McHugh Leisure, director of legislative affairs (anne@paproviders.org). f

Visit Your Legislators!

P R O V I D E R N E W S MAY 2008 7 F

Nominations Sought for Government Relations Award PCPA is seeking nominations for the 2008 Raymond R. Webb, Jr. Government Relations Award. This award recognizes outstanding efforts in the government relations area as exemplified by the lifelong example of Raymond R. Webb, Jr., who was a charter member, president, and executive director of PCPA. Those who support PCPA’s government relations efforts are invaluable to the contin-ued success of member agencies, the health of clients, and the improvement of the human service system. PCPA believes that this award not only recog-nizes those who work on critical issues in mental health, substance use, and mental retardation, but that it also helps publicize these efforts and inspires others to do likewise. The nominee can be a legislator, government official, active friend, or supporter of PCPA issues, or a member of the association. The 2007 recipient — Senator Pat Vance — was recognized for work on several laws that she and her staff authored and sponsored since joining the Senate in 2005; particularly Senate Bill 870, which would dedicate taxes on alcohol for addictive disease treatment, ensuring stabilization of the funding system for drug and alcohol treatment programs.

Award recipient(s) are chosen based upon contributions and actions in the area of legislative advocacy. Such contributions may include introducing or sponsoring relevant legislation, championing legislative issues for persons in need, or providing testimony at a public hearing or other public forum. The award is presented at the PCPA conference in October. Nominations should be submitted by mail, fax, or email to Anne McHugh Leisure at the association by June 1. The nomination form can be found on the PCPA web site. For more information please contact Anne McHugh Leisure. f

Vote Imminent on Bill to Delay Medicaid Regulations On April 16 the US House Energy and Commerce Committee approved Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 (HR 5613), the legislation that would delay for one year seven recent Medicaid regulations, including those affecting case management and the rehabilitative service option. The bill was unanimously approved by a vote of 46-0. As Provider News goes to press, HR 5613 is set to be considered on the House floor on April 22 or 23.

On April 15 Michael Leavitt, secretary, Department of Health and Human Services, sent a letter to the leaders of the Energy and Commerce Committee indicating that President Bush’s senior advisers would recommend a veto of the bill in its current form, arguing that HR 5613 “…puts billions of dollars of federal funds at risk, and may turn back progress that has already been made to stop abusive state practices.”

PCPA continues to collaborate with the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare in supporting moratoria on the case management and rehabilitation option rules and other Medicaid-related regulations. PCPA urges members who have not contacted representatives to do so. For more informa-tion please contact Anne McHugh Leisure (anne@paproviders.org) at PCPA. f

Non-profits Gather at the Capitol PCPA was a participant in the first Pennsylvania Non-profit Congress. The event was hosted by the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO) in concert with Pennsylvania Non-profit Day April 17. The congress, a one-day forum held at the State Capitol, provided non-profits from across the commonwealth the opportunity to gather and collaborate on a strategic vision and action plan aimed at protecting the interests of the 501(c)3 nonprofit sec-tor. In addition to addressing issues and concerns among the sector, the resulting agenda and action plan will be presented at the National Nonprofit Congress in June in Washington, DC. Questions may be directed to Anne McHugh Leisure at anne@paproviders.org. f

Legislative Affairs CommitteeThe Legislative Affairs Committee (LAC) will meet via conference call May 19 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

E L E G I S L A T I V E A F F A I R S

E P R O V I D E R N E W S 8 MAY 2008

NPI Deadline May 23Beginning May 23 the National Provider Identifier (NPI) must be used for claims processing for Medicare and Medicaid. In Pennsylvania, providers must register their NPI(s) with Medical Assistance. The combina-tion of NPI, taxonomy, and 9-digit service location zip code will be used to identify the correct PROMISe provider identification for claims processing. Providers cannot register a single NPI to many service locations that have the same taxonomy and zip code. If there is a business need to enroll multiple service locations in PROMISe with the same address, providers may need to obtain additional NPI numbers from the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) (https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov/NPPES/Welcome.do). More informa-tion about NPI is available on the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) web site (http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/PartnersProviders/MedicalAssistance/DoingBusiness/NPIinfo). NPI registration statistics for the week of April 17 indicate a continuing lag.

An April Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, Retooling for an Aging America: Building the Health Care Workforce, states “the number of older adults in the US will almost double between 2005 and 2030, and the nation is not prepared to meet their social and health care needs.” More older adults have at least one chronic condition and rely on health care services more than other populations. The ad hoc Committee on the Future Health Care Workforce for Older Americans, which developed the report, found that the older adult population will become more diverse and family supports will be less available as families become more dispersed. There are inadequate numbers of health care workers adequately trained to meet the needs of older adults. Conclusions are that the definition of the health care workforce must expand to include health care professionals, direct

Active Service Location Registrations Provider Type Total Registered Percentage

Ready

11, Mental Health/Substance Abuse

3068 1431 46.54

08, Clinic 2032 1265 62.16

56, Residential Treatment Facility

144 87 60.42

52, Community Residential Rehab

81 51 62.96

21, Case Manager 598 421 70.23

DPW is offering an NPI Teleconference for electronic billers May 6 and June 10 at 1:00 p.m. Participation is limited to 100 telephone lines for each call so early registration is encouraged. Register through the confer-ence call web site at http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/omap/promise/provconfcalltrng_process.asp. A PowerPoint handout is available through the web site for review during and after the call. f

care workers, informal caregivers, and the individuals themselves. The committee recommends that geriatric competence of the entire workforce must be enhanced, recruitment and retention of geri-atric specialists and caregivers must be increased, and ways that care is delivered must be improved. Individuals and their family mem-bers must be integrated into the health care team. Self-management skills can improve health and reduce the need for formal care and services. The committee further recommends financial incentives for professionals to specialize in geriat-ric services in the form of increased payments for clinical services, development of awards to increase faculty in geriatrics, loan forgive-ness, scholarships, and direct financial incentives.

The report identifies principles for the care of older adults, including a

comprehensive approach to health needs, efficiency of service provi-sion, and encouragement of older adults to participate in their own care. Current financing systems do not pay for features such as patient education, care coordination, and interdisciplinary care that could improve the quality of care and services provided. It suggests that Congress and private and public foundations support research in effective models of care and ser-vices, particularly in areas such as preventive and palliative care. The report recommends research in effective use of the workforce to increase its size and effectiveness and use of assistive technologies and remote monitoring techniques. The report is available on the IOM web site (http://www.iom.edu/CMS/3809/40113/53452.aspx) or from National Academies Press (800-624-6242). f

IOM Report: Health Care Workforce Unprepared

E A C R O S S T H E N AT I O N

P R O V I D E R N E W S MAY 2008 9 F

The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is conducting Service Area

Planning (SAP) meetings for each state hospital. The Service Area Plan is intended to guide services and policy implementation in each area to support recovery and resil-iency in the adult mental health system. Summary reports on the process were issued in April 2006 and February 2007. Three goals were established in 2003 for ser-vice area planning: (1) Within five years no person will be hospital-ized at a state mental hospital for more than two years; (2) Within five years no person will be com-mitted to a community hospital more than twice in one year; and (3) Within five years the incarcera-tion rate of the target population will be reduced. Deputy Secretary

E M E N TA L H E A LT H H E A D L I N E S

Access and Integration: Developing the Psychiatric Workforce in Pennsylvania is June 16, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Omni William Penn Hotel, Pittsburgh. The conference, spon-sored by the Center for Public Service Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, in col-laboration with Community Care Behavioral Health Organization and the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Leadership Council, will explore successful practices and creative approaches to attract and support

Service Area Planning Meetings ScheduledJoan Erney reported that Goal 1 has had the most impact. Some progress has been made on Goal 2 and less direct progress on Goal 3, although overall progress has been made in forensics. Statewide, the percentage of individuals in state mental hospi-tals longer than two years dropped from 53 to 49 percent from fiscal year 2003/04 to 2007/08, while the overall census dropped 14 percent. The statewide average number of involuntary commitments is 3.6 per 1,000. The statewide average for readmission within 30 days for inpatient services was 17 percent. Progress toward Goal 3 includes completion of the Forensic Task Force Report, implementation of the inter-cept model, police training, mental health and other specialty courts, efforts toward reentry, develop-ment of co-occurring treatment

standards, and efforts to amend the confidentiality standards to enable treatment of co-occurring disorders. Efforts toward implemen-tation of the goals will be discussed at each SAP meeting. Respective hospital initiatives in support of community services will also be covered. Remaining meetings are May 4 (Warren State Hospital), May 7 (Allentown State Hospital), and May 15 (Clarks Summit State Hospital). Meetings are from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Location and contact information is available at the Pennsylvania Recovery and Resiliency web site (http://www.parecovery.org). Please contact the respective staff prior to the meet-ings to ensure that adequate space, handouts, and lunch is available. f

Public Psychiatry Recruitment and Retention Conference Scheduled

psychiatrists in the public sec-tor. The conference will encourage the exchange of ideas and provide feedback from stakeholders on how Centers of Excellence in Public Service Psychiatry can best serve the community and those in recovery. Collaboration and community part-nerships will be discussed. Contact Sarah Mendak (mendaksm@upmc.edu or 412-383-5478) or Kendal Norris (norrisk@upmc.edu or 412-647-6264) with questions and to register. The registration fee is $25. f

E P R O V I D E R N E W S 10 MAY 2008

The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) announced funding awards for development of men-tal health treatment courts and related services. The awards were made through OMHSAS and the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to selected coun-ties that submitted concept papers.

Questions about these awards may be directed to Jessica Bradley, OMHSAS Bureau of Community and Hospital Operations (jebradley@state.pa.us). f

County Funding Received

Chester $186,211

Delaware 199,981

Fayette 103,437

Franklin 71,622

Lackawanna 85,500

Lancaster 79,799

Luzerne 91,464

Montgomery 57,300

Washington 124,686

Peer Support Teleconference May 6

How to Develop Your Medicaid-Funded Peer Support Services, a teleconference pre-sented by the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) on May 6, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m., is intended to prepare more providers for peer support services and to assist current providers. It will address readiness for a recovery-oriented service, establishing a peer support service, drafting the service description, and provider perspectives on developing and implementing services. OMHSAS suggests review of OMHSAS and Medical Assistance Bulletin 08-07-09, Peer Support Services and Frequently Asked Questions as well as additional informa-tion available at Pennsylvania Recovery and Resiliency (http://parecovery.org) before the teleconference. To participate in the call dial 800-270-1153 and enter pass code 74900#.

In mid-April OMHSAS reported that 750 certified peer specialists and 400 peer support supervisors have completed training. Forty-eight service descriptions were submitted with 40 approved. Fifteen programs were enrolled in Medical Assistance with 17 pending enrollment. OMHSAS also reported that the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation has committed to support certified peer specialist training. Address questions about the teleconference to Kathy Townley (ktownley@state.pa.us or 717-772-7738). f

Mental Health Treatment Courts Funded

E M E N T A L H E A L T H H E A D L I N E S

P R O V I D E R N E W S MAY 2008 11 F

E D & A A C T I O N

The Drug and Alcohol Committee established a work group to once again focus on problems PCPA mem-bers were experiencing related to drug and alcohol

licensing. PCPA has addressed these issues many times in the past and has seen some positive changes. The work group is hopeful that more needed changes will occur as a result of a careful review and well-articulated recommendations. Members have identified that the current drug and alcohol licensing regulations and interpretations create barriers to good service, add unnecessary costs to programs, and create barriers to efficient/effective program management. Members believe that a large amount of state funds are wasted on outdated and unnecessary regulations. Even more tragic is the fact that, in some instances, clients are simply regulated right out of service due to the obsta-cles to care that these regulations and interpretations create.

There may have been a time when this type of over-regulation and micro-management was needed in the drug and alcohol program. In a current age of a more medical/chronic disease service delivery system model it is not needed. Treatment providers have various pay-ors that audit, monitor, and evaluate services provided such as managed care and county entities. Certification requirements have also increased along with the overall qualifications of drug and alcohol treatment staff in Pennsylvania.

The current workforce crisis has been exasperated by the drug and alcohol licensing regulations and process. Members believe that the licensing regulations are in part responsible for workforce problems providers are facing. They cause undue stress, require unnecessary trainings, and waste valuable staff time. The current process is often demeaning to high quality, hard work-ing, professional staff. Many PCPA members provide both mental health and drug and alcohol services. Mental health counselors are required to complete half the paperwork of drug and alcohol counselors and staff are quick to move to the mental health service system in order to focus more on the client and less on the paperwork. The work group will break into two smaller groups, one focused on specific regulation issues and the second on process issues. Members interested in participating should contact Lynn Cooper (lynn@paproviders.org). f

Changes in Drug and Alcohol Licensing Needed May 1 – 3. 38th National Council Conference. Boston Marriott Copley Place. Boston, MA. More information and registration at www.thenationalcouncil.org/ cs/boston.

May 8 – 9. National Direct Service Workforce Symposium on Strengthening the Home and Community Based Services Direct Service Workforce. Hyatt Regency. Baltimore, MD. Information available at 877-822-2647 or www.dswresourcecenter.org.

June 17 – 19. Bridging the Gap Between Behavioral Health and Physical Health: Managing Work, Life, and Wellness. 17th Annual Case Management Conference. Seven Springs Mountain Resort. Champion, PA. For more infor-mation and registration materi-als contact Maria Pena-Jordan at penajordanmi@upmc.edu or 412-802-6917. f

E CONFERENCES & TRAININGS

E P R O V I D E R N E W S 12 MAY 2008

PCPA continues its commitment to identifying a more secure source of funding for substance use disor-

der treatment. Per the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, over 688,000 citizens in Pennsylvania need treatment for alcohol use disorders and over 232,000 citizens need treatment for illicit drug use disorders, but are not receiving it. Many are turned away late in the fiscal year due to exhausted fund-ing sources or discharged from treatment early due to limited funding. Of the 45,981 inmates in the Pennsylvania corrections system, it is estimated that 34,486 are in need of treatment for substance use dis-orders. Even the most conservative now realize that building more prisons is not the answer to alcohol and drug addiction. Unfortunately, given the current economy and constraints on funding, resources can-not simply be taken from other systems to fund drug and alcohol services. Every dollar spent on drug and alcohol treatment and prevention saves countless dollars in many other systems. PCPA has established a solid foundation for advocacy and communica-tion, but still lacks the resources to develop a comprehensive grassroots campaign to build a strong coalition, better educate the public, and secure designated funding for increased care. PCPA is hopeful that a grant request submitted to the Open Society Institute will help efforts to support pas-sage of two primary initiatives.

The 1. Johnstown Flood Tax, or Emergency Tax, an existing 18 percent tax on wine and spirits, generates over $240 mil-lion each year and has increased year over year since its inception. Originally passed 70 years ago to aid victims of the Johnstown flood, the tax is now a principal source of taxes on wine and spirits, with the proceeds going into the General Fund. Recently, legislators

Closing the Gap: PCPA Submits Funding Proposal

E D & A A C T I O N

have debated whether to eliminate this tax or dedicate it to other purposes such as arts and tourism. PCPA believes that a portion of this tax should be dedicated to existing, state-funded drug and alcohol treatment services, totaling $165 million annually rather than eliminating it. Doing this could be revenue neutral in the first year and then provide significant increases in each year following.

Almost 70 percent of alcohol consumed 2. in Pennsylvania is beer. Pennsylvania’s beer excise tax rate has not been increased since 1948 and is one of the lowest in the US. The tax on beer in Pennsylvania should be raised; revenue realized from an increase of the tax on beer will be used to provide drug and alcohol treatment. Even a modest increase could generate over $50 mil-lion for treatment.

Now is the time for Pennsylvania to pass legislation that assures the fair and appro-priate use of taxes on beer, wine, and liquor for the betterment of the commonwealth and its citizens. While alcohol taxes dedi-cated for treatment has been called a “laud-able idea” by high ranking officials and has great support from providers and other organizations with vested interest, PCPA realizes that additional help is needed. With increased support, the association will be able to reach the ultimate goal and begin to close this addiction treatment gap. Even if the grant is not received work will con-tinue. It may take longer, but the commit-ment remains. f

P R O V I D E R N E W S MAY 2008 13 F

ODP Selects Acumen for Financial ManagementThe Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has selected Acumen Fiscal Agent as the state-wide Vendor Fiscal/Employer Agent Financial Management Service. Each Administrative Entity (AE) is required to establish a waiver service contract with Acumen no later than July 1, utilizing the standard ODP AE and waiver pro-vider contract. This contract will allow payments for waiver services to Acumen. Waiver participants who are not currently using a local Vendor Fiscal/Employer Agent ser-vice may be referred to Acumen after April 15 with an anticipated start date of July 1. f

Revision Work Groups FormingThe Office of Developmental Programs is establishing eight work groups to address revisions to Pa. Code Title 55 Chapters 2380 Adult Training Facilities, 2390 Vocational Facilities, 6400 Community Homes, and 6500 Family Living Homes. Each work group will consist of 51 percent consumers and fami-lies. The revisions will look at the Everyday Lives philosophy, which is individualized and person-centered. The goals are to develop regulations that address safety, quality, best practices, consistent standards, and regulation of services, not build-ings. For details and to view the April information session access www.odpconsulting.org and search “Streaming Events.” f

Payment Advances to Be EliminatedPayments for waiver services will be made directly through the state Treasury effective July 1, 2009. Therefore, the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) will no longer provide advances to Administrative Entities (AE) for waiver services beginning FY 2009/10. Deputy Secretary Casey has informed providers that effective October 1, 2008, cash advances will no longer be issued by the AE to the provider, unless the provider can show valid reason for advances to continue.

To prepare the system for payment through the Treasury, ODP has deter-mined that the FY 2008/09 billing and payment activities should parallel those anticipated for FY 2009/10. ODP has instructed the AEs on the follow-ing (electronic copy available from Linda Drummond):

E Effective July 1, 2008, all services, including base-funded services with an established service definition and procedure code, must be billed through PROMISe and be submitted within 14 days of the end of the billing period or date of service.

E Quarterly advances will continue to the AE through FY 2008/09 and for the first quarter to providers where there is a current AE practice or if there is reason to believe that the elimination of the advances would put the provider at risk for disruption of services.

E Submission of paper claims or other invoices to AEs that duplicate PROMISe claim information shall be discontinued for FY 2008/09.

E Billings and payments outside of PROMISe must be approved by ODP.

E Providers should already be billing PROMISe for services rendered during FY 2007/08, at a minimum from April 1 through June 30, 2008. f

E M E N T A L R E T A R D A T I O N R E P O R T

Down Syndrome ResearchThe National Institutes of Health (NIH) developed a research plan to advance understanding of Down syndrome and speed development of new treatments for the condition, the most frequent genetic cause of mild to moderate mental retardation and associated medical problems. The plan sets research goals for the next 10 years that build upon earlier research fostered by NIH. The plan cites the need for increased research on the medical, cog-nitive, and behavioral conditions that occur in people with Down syndrome. These include leukemia, heart disease, sleep apnea, seizure disorders, stom-ach disorders, and mental health problems. Also identified was the need to study whether aging has a greater impact on mental processes for these individuals. As adults, people with Down’s age prematurely and may experi-ence dementia, memory loss, or impaired judgment similar to that experi-enced by patients with Alzheimer’s. The report is available at www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/upload/NIH_Downsyndrome_plan.pdf.

A copy of the entire press release is available at http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jan2008/nichd-22.htm. f

E P R O V I D E R N E W S 14 MAY 2008

E M R R E P O R T

Supports Coordination ChangesSupports Coordination services will become waiver services within the Consolidated and Person/Family Directed supports waivers. The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has issued guidance regarding minimum qualifications for agencies and instructions for entry of supports coordi-nation services in the 2008/09 individual support plan (ISP). A copy is available from Linda Drummond (linda@paproviders.org). In accordance with waiver requirements, ISPs must specify all necessary services that the waiver participant is authorized to receive. ODP has determined that up to a maximum of 200 (15 minute) units shall be entered in the renewal ISPs for person/family waiver participants and 300 units shall be entered for con-solidated waiver individuals. An exception process will be developed by July 1. f

ICFs/MR Task Force Re-establishedThe Intermediate Care Facilities for the Mentally Retarded (ICFs/MR) Task Force was re-established by the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) after a year’s absence. The office’s initiatives for the work group include increased communications to public and private facilities, development of best practices, rights protection for individuals, and person-centered plan-ning approaches. There will be two regulation revisions work groups devel-oped to address incident management and restraints. Agencies interested in participating may contact Kathy Deans (kdeans@state.pa.us). Internally, ODP is developing the following and comments or recommendations may be made to Deans or Kevin Casey (kecasey@state.pa.us):

E ICFs/MR eligibility and appeal process bulletin,

E Due process bulletin,

E Revision to the waiver process deadline, and

E Changes to the billing cycles based on the Office of Medical Assistance prudent payment timeframe. f

Prudent Pay System for ICFs/MRThe Department of Public Welfare is implementing prudent pay for all non-state Intermediate Care Facilities for the Mentally Retarded (ICFs/MR) and Intermediate Care Facility for Persons with Other Related Conditions providers effective May 1. Payments will be delayed for seven days in May, an additional seven days in June, and seven days in July, resulting in full implementation for the 21-day delay period by the end of July. Providers may request an exception to this implementation. The exception process requires appropriate documentation addressing the lack of funding and its contribution to the deterioration of quality care to individuals. Any approved exception is valid for three months, after which the provider must reapply. For additional information contact Kathy Deans (kdeans@state.pa.us or 717-783-5774). f

Participant Directed ServicesThe Participant Directed Services

(PDS) work group at the Office of

Developmental Programs is creat-

ing a process and guidance for the

development of these services. A

draft guide is in review and will

include details on types of services

allowed, financial management

options, agreements, satisfaction

survey, and provider management.

PDS provide individuals who live in

their own private residence or in

the home of their family the option

to be more directly involved in

deciding what services and supports

they need, when they need them,

and who will provide them. Those

selecting this option will have

available employer authority and

budget authority. Employer author-

ity allows the person or their surro-

gate to be more active in choosing

and managing the qualified sup-

port service workers who furnish

services in the approved individual

support plan. The two options

that offer employer authority are

Vendor Fiscal/Employer Agent

Financial Management Services

where the individual becomes

the “common law employer” and

Agency with Choice Financial

Management Service where the

individual becomes the “managing

employer.” f

P R O V I D E R N E W S MAY 2008 15 F

Coalition Requests Transition FundingThe Mental Health/Mental Retardation Coalition, of which PCPA is a mem-ber, has sent a proposal to Department of Public Welfare Secretary Richman for Emergency Technology and Assistance Fund: Ensuring the Survival of Small Providers in the Mental Retardation Waiver Program. The plan calls for the use of $5 million in unspent FY 2008 Waiting List state funds to be earmarked to provide one-time grants to providers to assist them in transition to fee-for-service billing and cost reporting. Priority would be given in distribution of these funds, which would total over $10 million in state and matching federal funds, to providers that can demonstrate they are at some risk of failing to meet the deadlines established by the Office of Developmental Programs for implementing the new billing system and accounting systems that support cost reporting requirements. f

Positive Practices Resource TeamThe Department of Public Welfare initiative, Positive Practices Resource Team, is focused on reducing and eventually eliminating restraints in state centers and community systems. The April meeting of the statewide committee addressed core competencies and commitments which include positive practices, non-violence, shared leadership, open communication, social responsibility, and emotional and social learning. This is adopted from the Sanctuary Model-Trauma Informed Care (www.sanctuarynetwork.org).

Community providers had an opportunity for discussion regarding restraint reduction initiatives utilizing positive practices. Corrective action plans must be developed which include staff and individual input with teaching of alternatives, problem resolution, and a debriefing process. Customized supports include environmental, staffing, behavior plans, and emotional support. In order for individuals to be successful in changing behaviors they need to be assisted in developing therapeutic and trusting relation-ships, building self-esteem, understanding appropriate boundaries, and coping skills. f

Due Process Bulletin ReleasedThe Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has released Bulletin #00-08-05, Due Process and Fair Hearing Procedures for Individuals with Mental Retardation. The bulletin clarifies the due process, fair hearing, and appeal processes as well as reinforcing the requirement for written county public procedures for appeals of decisions related to base-funded (non-waiver) services. Actions not subject to fair hearing and appeal include changes by federal or state law or regulations which may adversely affect some recipi-ents, waiver amendments approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, non-Medicaid services, or services provided during a period of indi-vidual ineligibility. Questions may be directed to regional ODP program man-agers. An electronic copy of the bulletin is available from Linda Drummond (linda@paproviders.org). f

E M R R E P O R T

It’s important that people should know what you stand for. It’s equally important that they know what you won’t stand for.

– Mary H. Waldrip

E P R O V I D E R N E W S 16 MAY 2008

E O N T H E A U T I S M S P E C T R U M

Autism Advocates Survey ConsumersEarly this spring, AutismLink, a Pennsylvania-based autism advocacy organiza-tion, conducted an Internet survey of parents receiving behavioral health rehabilitation services for their children with an autism spectrum disorder. While results are based on only 89 respondents, findings and comments provide insight into the strengths and weaknesses in the service system. The study’s conclusion begins by stating:

“This study finds that a preponderance of children are receiving good services from their wraparound agency:

E Two-thirds (65%) of Therapeutic Support Staff (TSS) hours are filled,E Seven of ten (71%) parents are satisfied with the quality of their TSS, andE More than half (57%) have not changed their wraparound agencies.”

While responding parents were generally complimentary, they did raise concerns about unfilled services hours, staff turnover, and the need for staff with more training and experience. The entire study is available at http:// www.autismcenterofpittsburgh.com/wrapsurvey.pdf. f

Senate Committee Considers Autism Insurance CoverageSecretary of Public Welfare Estelle Richman told a Pennsylvania Senate commit-tee that health insurance companies shouldn’t be able to deny coverage to f amilies with autistic children. The department continues to urge action on House Bill 1150 banning that practice. “There is no reason that autism should be treated differently than the rest of our health care system,” Richman told the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee. “It is unfair to the taxpayers and unfair to the families.” Richman was joined by several advocates for chil-dren and adults with autism to support a House bill which was approved by that chamber last summer. The state’s insurance industry continues to take the position that legislative efforts should be directed at improving the Department of Public Welfare’s existing programs and services for children with autism. f

Autism Conference Registration/ Scholarship InformationRegistration and scholarship information is available for the Department of Public Welfare’s first conference on autism, A New Vision for Autism Services: Practical Strategies and Solutions. The conference is May 28 – 30 at the Eden Resort Inn & Suites, Lancaster County. Registration is $40/day for profes-sionals and paraprofessionals. Registration must be mailed to the Bureau of Autism Services by May 19. The bureau is also making scholarships available for behavioral health rehabilitation specialists and other mental health and mental retardation professionals that work with individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Scholarships will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and must be submitted by May 5. Conference registration and payment must be sent with the scholarship application. Registration and scholarship information will be posted at www.autisminpa.org. Questions and requests for information may be directed to bas.patc@gmail.com. f

New Autism Centers of ExcellenceThe National Institutes of Health has announced the latest recipi-ents of the Autism Centers of Excellence (ACE) program. The grants support studies covering a broad range of autism research areas, including early brain development and functioning, social interactions in infants, rare genetic variants and muta-tions, associations between autism-related genes and physi-cal traits, possible environmental risk factors and biomarkers, and a potential new medication treat-ment. The ACE program encom-passes research centers and networks. The research centers foster collaborations between teams of specialists who share the same facility so that they can address a particular research problem in depth. ACE networks consist of researchers in facili-ties in locations throughout the country, all of who work together on a single research question. The 2008 ACE network recipients include Wayne State University, University of California, and Drexel University.

Researchers at Drexel University which will include Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Johns Hopkins University, University of California-Davis, and Kaiser Permanente, will study the pos-sible risk factors and biological indicators for autism during the prenatal, neonatal, and early postnatal periods. The study will be known as the Early Autism Risk Longitudinal Investigation. A press release with additional details is available at www.nichd.nih.gov. f

P R O V I D E R N E W S MAY 2008 17 F

E C H I L D R E N ’ S C O R N E R

Children’s Mental Health Awareness DayMay 8 is National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day. In Washington, DC a congressional briefing will focus on the value of effective school-based mental health programs as a priority in the reauthorization of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. PCPA members can mark the day by encouraging lawmakers and key legislative staffers to attend this briefing. In Pittsburgh, Child Mental Health Awareness will be marked through an event on May 6 featuring Systems of Care initiatives and in Philadelphia, a special resource day event on May 13 in Love Park. Contact Connell O’Brien (connell@paproviders.org) to let PCPA know about Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day activities in other agencies and communities. f

Infant-Toddler Mental Health Symposium Resources AvailableThe Department of Public Welfare (DPW) released the briefing report from the Infant-Toddler Mental Health Symposium held in December 2007. A copy is available by contacting Connell O’Brien (connell@paproviders.org) and will be posted on the DPW web site. The department recognized that there were many more people that wanted to attend the event than could be accommodated. In response, DPW arranged to have the event recorded and will offer a set of three DVDs to interested agencies and individuals. Members that wish to obtain a DVD of the symposium’s keynote address and panel presentations can send their name and address to Kelli Thompson (keltho@berksiu.org) and a set of DVDs will be sent in the mail. DPW is also looking into the possibility of having the event video streamed so that the recording of the entire symposium or specific segments can be downloaded. f

Security at Schools: Mental Health Considerations The March 25 edition of the New York Times featured “In an Era of School Shootings, a New Drill.” The story describes the increasingly common occur-rence of local schools conducting “active shooter” and “lockdown” drills designed to prepare students and staff to respond to a violent student, staff person, or intruder. Professionals in the child serving system and com-munities face the dilemma of how to provide security measures and crisis preparation without damage to a positive school climate and to the mental health of students. For mental health professionals steeped in the philoso-phies of recovery and resilience, there is the added concern that these drills may enhance the stigma often associated with mental illness and emotional disturbance. Consideration of the unintended consequences of security drills in schools has hardly begun. The Center for School Mental Health, University of California at Los Angeles, offers some initial consideration on this topic at http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/hottopic.htm. As community mental health providers collaborate with local schools it will be increasingly important to help school leaders consider and respond to the unintended anxiety, fear, confusion, and misunderstanding that accompany security drills. f

Promoting Trauma Informed CareAs part of the commitment to implementation of trauma informed care, the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) is providing additional implementation grant funding for sanctuary implemen-tation sites that send their chief executive or chief operating offi-cers to the initial training events. A key component of successful organizational change for trauma informed care models is the con-tinued and direct involvement of executive management. Agency leader participation is a vital sign that an organization has begun the process of embracing this approach to care and treatment. DPW is awarding up to $15,000 in performance-based grants to begin implementing the approaches described in Sanctuary Model training. Funds must be used to support the projects in the follow-ing categories:

E Development of a safe crisis plan,

E Policies and procedures for new employee orientation based on the Sanctuary Model,

E Interviewing policies and procedures based on the Sanctuary Model,

E Implementation of a first con-sultation core team meeting or a community meeting, or

E Implementing creative ideas for motivating direct care staff and family and youth in the Sanctuary Model. f

E P R O V I D E R N E W S 18 MAY 2008

E C H I L D R E N ’ S C O R N E R

JCJC Meets With MembersA recent meeting of the Child and Adolescent Forensic Subcommittee featured a presentation on The Juvenile Court System in Pennsylvania, Now and Things to Come from Lisa Freese, director of policy and program devel-opment, Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission (JCJC). The presentation reviewed the function, structure, and activities of the JCJC, the juvenile court process, pend-ing legislation of interest, and cross-system efforts. Freese will attend the May subcommittee meeting to continue to provide information to members and to join in identifying ways PCPA can more fully partici-pate in and support JCJC initiatives. She also identified the JCJC web site (http://www.jcjc.state.pa.us/jcjc/site/default.asp) as a resource for information and free or low-cost training opportunities. In discussion with Freese, the subcommittee identified issues related to legislative action calling for detention center staff to be approved and trained to do adolescent drug and alcohol assessments and future legislation related to the Adam Walsh Act. Adam Walsh Act-related legisla-tion could create a heightened sex offender certifica-tion and registration risk for certain youth consumers. The next meeting of the subcommittee is held at PCPA on May 27, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. f

Family Based Work Group Begins MeetingNearly 20 providers representing more than 15 agencies participated in the first meeting of the PCPA Family Based Mental Health Services (FBMHS) Provider Work Group. Participants identified several priority areas that they will look for the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) and PCPA to address and promote. These included:

E The promulgation of regulations that maintain the integrity of the original FBMHS model.

E The support by OMHSAS and its contracted agents to promote and fund assessment, data reporting, and analysis structures that will move FBMHS toward meeting the criteria for an evidence-based treatment service model.

E The support for uniform and comparable admission, acuity, service, and utilization criteria that reflect the design and intent of FBMHS.

E Regulation that will ensure that funding, rate set-ting and review, policy, and practice that reflects the full cost of services and program operation.

The group will meet in person and via conference call on the mornings of the OMHSAS FBMHS Work Group meet-ings beginning in May. f

Advice About College From First-Generation Students For more than two years staff at Next Generation Press has gathered the insights and wisdom of first- generation college students on the critical issues of college access and success. This effort has generated a growing collection of resources by and for first-generation students. With support from the Lumina Foundation, the First in the Family web site, http://www.firstinthefamily.org, offers a wealth of tips, check lists, videos, and other resources for students and families preparing for the opportunities and challenges that come with being the first member of a family to enter college. Many of these resources will prove useful to any young person preparing for his or her first col-lege experience. f

Duane Miller, Pennsylvania Counseling, is joined by Linda Freese and Arlene Prentice, JCJC, at a recent Child & Adolescent Forensic Subcommittee meeting.

P R O V I D E R N E W S MAY 2008 19 F

E C H I L D R E N ’ S C O R N E R

Marilyn Mennis Memorial AwardIn 1995 the PCPA Board of Directors unanimously passed a resolution establishing an annual award in honor of Marilyn Mennis. Before her death, Ms. Mennis had a long history of service to PCPA, Pennsylvania’s children and families, and all people with disabilities. The establish-ment of the Marilyn Mennis Memorial Award recognizes other individuals and programs serving children that reflect this dedication. The Marilyn Mennis Memorial Award is presented in October during the PCPA confer-ence. Members are encouraged to nominate an individual or creative pro-gram that reflects Ms. Mennis’ qualities of dedication, caring, leadership, and advocacy on behalf of Pennsylvania’s children with special needs and their families. Members wanting to obtain a nomination form can contact Connell O’Brien at connell@paproviders.org. f

OCYF to Institute Ages and Stages ScreeningThe Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act requires that children under age three who have been subjects of substantiated reports of child abuse and neglect must be referred for early intervention services. In addition, the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) strongly recommends that all children under age five who are accepted for service by the child welfare system be evaluated for possible developmental delays and referred for early intervention services if any delays are determined. To accomplish this, the Office of Children, Youth and Families will imple-ment statewide use of the Ages and Stages (ASQ) and Ages and Stages – Social and Emotional (ASQ-SE) questionnaires. These questionnaires are designed to screen infants and young children when their developmen-tal status may be in question. DPW has purchased ASQ and ASQ-SE for all public and private children and youth social service agencies and is training trainers to prepare providers. Full implementation is expected to begin September 1. It is anticipated that this widespread screening initiative may result in increased referral rates for early intervention and other services for young children. f

McCarthy Appointed to Lead CWTPMaryRose McCarthy, long-time leader in the field of children and youth services, has been named executive director of the Child Welfare Training Program (CWTP). McCarthy most recently served as the director for chil-dren and youth services in Northumberland County; has served on numer-ous leadership boards, committees, and work groups; and at one time was on staff at PCPA. CWTP is a collaboration between the Department of Public Welfare, the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work, and the Pennsylvania Children and Youth Administrators Association. The CWTP provides training and technical support to the child welfare system with a unique focus on training direct care staff, supervisors, and administra-tors in the state child welfare systems. PCPA offers congratulations to McCarthy in her new position. f

PRTF White Paper ReleasedThe Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) released Community Alternatives to Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility Services. The white paper tracks the recent explosion in growth of psy-chiatric residential treatment facil-ity (PRTF) services and lays ground work for the reduction in use of these services and expansion of community-based alternatives. Data included in the paper provides a useful picture of this level of care. Limitations are that the paper’s research references are often rather dated and selected to support the OMHSAS goal of PRTF service reduc-tion and experts interviewed generally did not include mental health profes-sionals, service providers, or managed care organizations. Despite the docu-ment’s limitations, many of the paper’s recommendations do merit discussion and consideration. The full text can be found on the PCPA web site at http://www.paproviders.org. f

Bullying Prevention Tool KitEyes on Bullying…What Can You Do? A Toolkit to Prevent Bullying offers a variety of tools to help parents and caregivers understand bullying in a new and helpful way. This toolkit, cre-ated at Education Development Center, is designed especially for parents and caregivers of preschool and school-aged children and adolescents to use in child care programs, after-school programs, and camps. It is available at http://www.eyesonbullying.org. The informa-tion and resources help adults and children reexamine their knowledge and beliefs about bullying and shape the beliefs and behaviors of the children in their care. f

E P R O V I D E R N E W S

M AY 2 0 0 8

Tuesday, May 6 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

2:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Government Relations Institute PCPATraining & Conference Committee CBHNPEarly Childhood Mental Health Work Group PCPA

Wednesday, May 712:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Government Relations InstitutePCPA

Wednesday – Thursday May 14 – 15

PCPA Board Retreat Sheraton Harrisburg-Hershey

Monday, May 192:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Legislative Affairs Committee Conference Call

Wednesday, May 2110:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Executive Committee PCPA

Thursday, May 2210:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

FBMHS Work Group PCPA

Tuesday, May 27 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Child & Adolescent Forensic Subcommittee PCPA Forensic Committee PCPA

J U N E 2 0 0 8

Monday, June 9 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Government Relations Institute PCPACAP-PCPA Western Region Pittsburgh

Tuesday, June 10 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Government Relations Institute PCPACapitol Day PA Capitol Bldg, Harrisburg

Tuesday, June 24 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Mental Health CommitteeMental Retardation CommitteeExecutive CommitteeChildren’s CommitteeDrug & Alcohol CommitteeExecutive CommitteeHoliday Inn East, Harrisburg

Wednesday, June 25 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Membership Committee Board Meeting Holiday Inn East, Harrisburg

Thursday, June 2610:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

FBMHS Work Group PCPA