Category: Government Actions

September is Suicide Prevention Month (August 26, 2024)

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) suicidal thoughts, much like mental health conditions, can affect anyone regardless of age, gender or background. In fact, suicide is often the result of an untreated mental health condition. Suicidal thoughts, although common, should not be considered normal and often indicate more serious issues.

September is Suicide Prevention Month. It is a time to raise awareness of this stigmatized, and often taboo, topic. We use this month to shift public perception, spread hope and share vital information to people affected by suicide. Our goal is ensuring that individuals, friends and families have access to the resources they need to discuss suicide prevention and to seek help.

The NAMI HelpLine provides the one-on-one help and information necessary to tackle tough challenges that you, your family or friends are facing. Call, Text or Chat with the HelpLine M-F, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET.
988 crisis service is available 24/7.

For resources, visit  NAMI by clicking here

Mandatory use of Special Ed. Paraprofessional Entry Level Credential of Competency Checklist Starts Now! (August 24, 2025)

Per 22 Pa. Code § 14.105, instructional paraprofessionals are required to meet one of the following qualifications:

       (i) Have completed at least two years of postsecondary study; 
       (ii) Possess an associate degree or higher; or
​       (iii) Meet a rigorous standard of quality as demonstrated through a state or local
             assessment.

The Entry Level Credential of Competency Checklist serves as the state assessment and satisfies the third pathway under 22 Pa. Code § 14.105. If a paraprofessional in a local education agency chooses this path, their supervising administrator must document the paraprofessional’s attainment of the seven competencies outlined in the Special Education Paraprofessional Entry Level Credential of Competency Checklist and submit the form to the PA Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education. Upon review and approval of the submitted documents, the applicant will be issued an Entry Level Credential of Competency.

And now, starting with the 2024-25 school year, the Bureau of Special Education will only accept applications using the revised Entry Level Credential of Competency Checklist. The checklist must be completed electronically and emailed to [email protected].

For questions about the revised Entry Level Credential of Competency for Special Education Paraprofessionals, please email [email protected].

DHS Releases Latest Positive Approaches Journal (August 16, 2024)

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) has released the latest issue of the Positive Approaches Journal, which aims to provide the most recent research for people with mental and behavioral health challenges, intellectual disabilities, autism, and other developmental disabilities to help them live an everyday life. This edition focuses on trauma-informed research and the best practices that can be implemented in the most supportive ways possible. This edition of the Positive Approaches Journal features research and articles on the following:

  • Data Discoveries details that while more research is needed, initial research suggest a higher prevalence of trauma among individuals with autism, which underscores the importance of trauma-informed care and resilience-building.
  • The Importance of Place in Trauma-Informed Care: A Wellness Approach details how environments can play a role in trauma and how combining trauma-informed care with positive supports that focus on strengths and resilience can improve care for trauma-affected individuals. 
  • Understanding Complexity: The Convergence of Disability and Trauma in Clinical Practice provides practitioners with concise guidelines on diagnosing trauma, implementing trauma-informed care, and selecting trauma-specific treatments appropriate for individuals with disabilities. 
  • A Review of Top-Down and Bottom-Up Trauma Interventions details positive approaches in treating trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder, with the use of expressive interventions in individuals with intellectual disabilities and/or and behavioral health challenges. 
  • Key Elements of Trauma-Informed Care and Potential Misconceptions identifies key elements and potential misconceptions related to trauma-informed care.  
  • Bridging Theory to Practice: Trauma Proficient Services for Youth with Autism and Developmental Disabilities highlights that children with intellectual and developmental disabilities are more likely to experience trauma than neurotypical children and details the resources available for children and adolescents who have experienced trauma.

The journal is a collaboration of DHS’ Office of Developmental Programs and Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. It collects resources, observations, and advancements in mental and behavioral health in order to better serve people in their communities.

Read this edition of the Positive Approaches Journal. 

CHIP Sends Letter to LEAs: 2024 Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Flyers Now Available (August 14, 2024)

On August 13, 2024, CHIP sent the following letter to LEAs throughout the commonwealth.

Dear School Superintendent/Chief Administrator:

Pennsylvania Act 84 of 2015 requires that public and nonpublic schools receive electronic notice with general information about the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) on an annual basis no later than August 15. The attached flyer was created and should be shared with every parent or guardian of every student enrolled in the local education agency (LEA) during the school year.

CHIP covers uninsured children and teens up to age 19 – and no family earns too much to qualify. With nearly 128,000 uninsured children in Pennsylvania, this is great news for families!

CHIP provides quality, comprehensive health insurance for routine doctor’s visits, prescriptions, dental, eye care, eyeglasses, mental health, and much more. CHIP covers uninsured kids who are not eligible for Medical Assistance. For many families, CHIP is free – for others, it is low cost.

Please forward the CHIP flyer to each school under your jurisdiction at the beginning of the 2024-25 school year. The flyer can be sent directly through email, posted to a school website with a link distributed to students’ families, printed and distributed with other information that is being sent as caregiver packets, or prepared for students to take home. By distributing the flyer at the beginning of the school year, we help ensure that all students, including those new to your LEA and incoming kindergarten classes, receive the information about the program as soon as possible if they are in need.

The flyer and many more resources can be found on the CHIP website at www.CHIPcoversPAkids.com, under CHIP Resources.

The CHIP program is pleased to partner with LEAs in helping families find affordable health insurance for their children. After all, healthy kids are better students!

Thank you for your assistance in helping families in need find comprehensive health insurance coverage for their children.

Sincerely,
Nicole M. Harris, Executive Director
Pennsylvania Children’s Health Insurance Program

PDE Provides Mandatory Fiscal Training for IDEA-B 611 Funding and Other Fiscal Items (August 14, 2024)

The federal Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) has oversight of states’ compliance with federal special education regulations and requirements. OSEP has incorporated a fiscal verification review to its compliance monitoring verification visits. Some components of its fiscal verification review include a review of the use of funds for coordinated early intervening services, maintenance of effort, and general use of federal funds associated with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part B (IDEA-B).

To assist local educational agencies (LEAs) in working with these components of the federal on-site visits, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is providing training to special education directors and business administrators. This training will address the following topics: IDEA-B, 611; Contingency Funding, Act 16, Maintenance of Effort, Medical ACCESS, and Approved Private School Electronic Management System (APSEM).

It is required that each school district and charter school send participants to this training. Because the training is highlighting the fiscal program data verifications associated with the IDEA-B fiscal reporting requirements, it is strongly recommended that the participants attending this training are the special education director and business administrator. Also, if a school district or charter school contracts for business services, its contracted business representative should attend.

There will be no required in-person training sessions during this school year. Instead, the mandatory training will be available on Schoology, accessible from September 16 through October 13, 2024. Live optional office hours will also be scheduled within the course, and dates will be provided there for your convenience. Registration and session information is available at https://www.pattan.net/events/.

Any questions about registration should be directed to Sharon Kennedy, PaTTAN, 717-901-2265 
or [email protected]. Any other questions regarding the fiscal training should be directed to Marcia Wilson, PDE Division of Analysis & Financial Reporting, at 717.736.7266 or [email protected].