Today, February 2, 2021, Governor Tom Wolf will unveil his proposed 2021-22 budget amidst perhaps the most challenging of times. For the full article from the Morning Call, click here.
Category: Government Actions
PDE Seeks Sponsors For Summer Meals Nutrition Programs (February 2, 2021)
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is asking organizations across the state to consider providing nutritious meals to youth during the summer months (June – September) through the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Summer Food Service Program.
The Summer Food Service Program, which began in 1976, is a federally funded child nutrition program designed to serve youths ages 18 or younger in economically disadvantaged areas. Individuals over age 18 who are mentally or physically disabled and participate in public or nonprofit private programs established for the disabled are also eligible to receive free meals at the Summer Food Service Program sites. The program’s regulations allow participating organizations to be reimbursed for meals served to youth who live in areas in which at least 50 percent of the children qualify for free or reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Program.
Due to the pandemic, the Summer Food Service Program was approved to operate beginning March of 2019 and continues to operate in off-summer times to ensure children across Pennsylvania have access to meals during COVID-19.
Approximately 250 organizations normally participate in the Summer Food Service Program, providing nutritious meals to children at over 2,200 locations across Pennsylvania during the summer season. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has created a greater need for more sites throughout the state.
Participating organizations must be year-round, not-for-profit entities – this may include schools; local, municipal, or county governments; libraries; places of worship; fire and police stations; summer camps; and national youth sports programs. Organizations approved to sponsor the Summer Food Service Program are responsible for managing the sites that provide meals to children.
Most participating organizations may be reimbursed for up to two meals a day: lunch or dinner, and breakfast or a snack. Those serving primarily migrant children may be reimbursed for up to three meals a day. Camps may serve up to three meals a day, but they are reimbursed only for meals served to children eligible for free or reduced-price meals.
The deadline to apply to become a participating organization is June 15, 2021. For more information, visit PDE’s website: www.education.pa.gov/sfspOpens In A New Window or call 800-331-0129.
Wolf Administration Highlights Opioid Response Efforts As Opioid Crisis Continues To Affect Pennsylvania (February 1, 2020)
On January 26, 2021, the Wolf Administration highlighted the latest accomplishments of the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) and provided an update on prescribing and overdose trends up to October 2020.
Since the PDMP launched in 2016, there has been a 29.7% increase in the prescribing of buprenorphine. In addition, there has been a 58.6% reduction in the number of individuals receiving a high dosage of opioid medication, a 52.4% reduction in the number of individuals receiving a dangerous drug combination of opioids and benzodiazepines, and a 36.6% reduction in opioid prescribing overall.
In 2020, opioid overdose-related emergency department visits showed a slight increase (less than one percent) compared to 2019, despite a decrease in all cause emergency department visits during the COVID-19 pandemic response. There was an approximately 19 percent decrease in all cause emergency department visits in 2020 compared to 2019. Also, 20 counties showed statistically significant increases in any opioid overdose-related emergency department visits in 2020 compared to 2019.
Accidental and undetermined deaths related to any drug overdose were higher each month from January 2020 through July 2020 compared to the corresponding month in 2019. Since finalized death records for overdose deaths are often delayed by three to six months, 2020 counts are expected to increase further.
Winter months are typically a challenging time for many who struggle with the disease of addiction. With the need for people to isolate or quarantine, social distance and avoid gathering due to COVID-19, Pennsylvanians who have struggled with the disease of addiction may be at increased risk of relapsing this year. For more information on Pennsylvania’s response to the opioid crisis visit www.pa.gov/opioids.
Wolf Administration Announces Increase To Base Payment Rates For Child Care Providers Participating In Subsidized Child Care (February 1, 2021)
On February 1, 2021, Governor Tom Wolf announced an increase to base rates paid to child care providers participating in Child Care Works (CCW), Pennsylvania’s subsidized child care program. CCW helps make child care affordable for lower-income, working families and allows parents to go to work knowing their children are being cared for and learning in safe, loving environments. Increasing base rates helps all providers who participate in the program invest in services offered for children in care, staff development and compensation, and overall quality of their child care facility.
Pennsylvania is also issuing $600 COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Awards to child care workers across Pennsylvania through federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) quality dollars and remaining CARES funding. Child care providers that are currently licensed and certified through OCDEL can apply for these funds through their local ELRC until February 12, 2021. More information about ELRCs can be found at http://www.raiseyourstar.org/Opens In A New Window.
On December 27, 2020, an additional $10 billion dollars was allocated by the federal government to support child care. Pennsylvania should receive its share of the additional funds in the coming weeks.
For more information on child care providers operating during the COVID-19 public health crisis, visit http://www.findchildcare.pa.gov/Opens In A New Window.
For more information, click here.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline will be Accessible by Dialing 988 in July 2022 (January 31, 2020)
On January 28, 2021, PA Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Teresa Miller announced that Pennsylvania was awarded $340,000 for strategic planning and infrastructure development in preparation for the launch of National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s 988 in July 2022. The 988 call number will eventually replace 1-800-273-TALK (8255) as the direct line for the Lifeline, easing access to life-saving crisis intervention services for people experiencing thoughts of suicide, their loved ones, and anyone helping someone in crisis.
Funding will be used by DHS’ Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services in partnership with Thomas Jefferson University to support 13 crisis call centers in preparation for 988 implementation. This will include building capacity to support increased call volume, coordinating local behavioral health, suicide prevention, and crisis support infrastructure, and building awareness of the launch of 988 as the new way to reach the Lifeline.
Call centers receiving funding through this effort include:
Center for Community Resources, Butler, PA;
Keystone Health Crisis Intervention Program, Chambersburg, PA;
Safe Harbor Behavioral Health, Erie, PA;
Valley Creek Crisis Center, Exton, PA;
TrueNorth Wellness Services, Hanover, PA;
Lancaster County Crisis Intervention, Lancaster, PA;
Family Service Association of Bucks County, Langhorne, PA;
Montgomery County Emergency Service, Inc., Norristown, PA;
The City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA;
Resolve Crisis Services, Pittsburgh, PA;
Centre Helps, State College, PA;
Resources for Human Development, New Perspectives Crisis Services, Stroudsburg, PA; and,
Chestnut Ridge Counseling Services, Uniontown, PA.
The grant was awarded through Vibrant Emotional Health, a non-profit organization that helps individuals and families achieve emotional wellbeing. Vibrant, the administrators of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, supports the Lifeline and other crisis resources through telephone, text, and web-based platforms. Vibrant is supporting states preparing for the 988 transition so the Lifeline can continue to be America’s mental health safety net by providing emotional support for people in distress, reducing suicides and mental health crises, and providing a pathway to well-being for all.
The task force released Pennsylvania’s Statewide Suicide Prevention PlanOpens In A New Window in September 2020. The plan is a four-year strategy to reduce suicide in Pennsylvania by fighting stigma, increasing training and education on suicide and mental health, improving data collection for suicide, and supporting clinical practices and treatment to prevent suicide and help those who are struggling or in crisis know that things can and will get better. The task force will prioritize cross-industry partnerships to fully implement the Lifeline’s new 988 number over the coming year and a half.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or suicidal ideation or have in past, know that help is always available at the following:
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
The Spanish-language National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-888-628-9454
For the Mental Health Crisis Text Line: Text PA to 74174
Persevere PA Support and Referral Helpline: 1-855-284-2494. For TTY, dial 724-631-5600.
TrevorLifeline for LGBTQ individuals: 866-488-7386Trans Helpline: 877-565-8860
These free resources are available 24/7. If you are concerned about someone else’s well-being, these resources can help you be a life-saving assistance. No matter what you are going through, help is available.