Category: News in the Field

DHS Recognizes Suicide Prevention Month, Discusses Multi-Agency Approach to Strengthen Behavioral Health Supports and Save Lives (September 16, 2024)

On September 16, 2024, Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh joined leaders from multiple state agencies, the Governor’s Advisory Commissions on LGBTQ Affairs and African American Affairs, and suicide prevention advocacy groups, to recognize September as Suicide Prevention Month. Although behavioral health and suicide prevention are important to address year-round, this month provides a dedicated time to offer resources, information, and support to those who have been affected by suicide and honor survivors and lives lost to suicide.

To access the DHS press release, including resources, click here.

Shapiro Administration Delivers Funding for Free Period Products to all PA Brick& Mortar LEAS (September 13, 2024)

All school districts, intermediate units, career and technical centers, and brick-and-mortar charter schools will receive funding to provide free period products to students. 

Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2024-25 budget includes $3 million to provide period products in schools to help close a gap in women’s health care. The funding enables schools to provide access to period products at no cost to students and complements the efforts undertaken by the Shapiro Administration to improve health equity. 

Applications and reimbursement requests will not be required. All school districts, intermediate units, career and technical centers, and brick-and-mortar charter schools will receive funding. Funding is proportional to the total number of students enrolled in a school and based on a rate of $1.75 per student. Schools may use the funding for period product purchases made between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025.  

Funding allocations for the 2024-25 Feminine Hygiene Product Grant Program’s non-competitive, non-solicitation grants can be found on the Pennsylvania Department of Health website. Schools have the option to opt out of receiving grant funding. Any remaining funds following the first round of grant funding will be dispersed in a second round.  Schools should consider privacy, responsiveness, access, and education when developing and implementing strategies to make period products available to their students. Additional guidance and suggestions are available in the Menstrual Equity for Pennsylvania Students – Guidance for School Entities.

PA State Board of Ed. Holds 382nd Meeting (September 12, 2024)

On September, 12, 2024, the PA State Board of Education (Board) held its 382nd meeting. Highlights of the meeting included council reports and the approval of a Chapter 4 amendments.

In his Report of the Chair of the Council of Higher Education, the Hon. Pedro Rivera, informed the Board of an earlier Report by Deputy Secretary and Commissioner for Postsecondary and Higher Education Dr. Kate Shaw to the Council of Higher Education.

According to Dr. Shaw, our state has seen a significant decrease in students enrolling in institutions of higher ed. and she spoke of the various barriers to college enrollment in PA, including the high cost of higher ed. enrollment and a lack of coordination across the state, as well as the impacts of such. As a result, Act 69, which was signed into law on July 17, 2024, is aimed to streamline community college credit transfers for students who have completed their associate’s degree. Her report also informed the Board of the creation of a new 21-member State Board of Higher Education. That Board of Directors will also have an Executive Director.  The higher ed. board will operate within PDE and must collaborate with the State Board of Ed.

Dr. Lee Williams, Chair of the Council of Basic Education, reported recommended final form amendments by the council in response to stakeholder concerns. A copy of the recommendations is posted on the PDE website.

PA Ed. Sec. Khalid Mumin reported on Acts 54 and 55, which are omnibus fiscal code bills for funding education in the commonwealth for 2024-25. He highlighted items included in the largest K-12 funding increase in PA history.

The meeting concluded with the approval of Final-form 22 Pa. Code Chapter 4 (Academic Standards and Assessment)​ amendments.

Virtual Mandated Reporter Training Now Available, Act Now (September 11, 2024)

The Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance is continuing to offer virtual Mandated Reporter Training at no cost to mandated reporters in Pennsylvania. The virtual session will have both American Sign Language (ASL) and Certified Deaf Interpreters (CDI) available!

This three-hour virtual training is approved by the Departments of Human Services, Education, and State and meets all requirements for training on recognizing and reporting child abuse (to include Act 126 for school employees).

It is also approved for continuing education credits under Act 31 (Department of State for health-related licenses) and Act 48 (Department of Education for teachers) at no cost. PFSA will submit your training verification to the Department of State or Education as appropriate on your behalf (details provided during training).

Please register by using this session link: Mandated Reporter Training – Sept. 24th 9am-12pm

Each person must log in through separate devices, using the unique access link emailed to them after registration to receive credit.

For questions or to schedule a session specifically for your organization, please email PFSA at [email protected].

DHS Celebrates Historic Budget Investments that Increase Access to Intellectual Disability and Autism Services, Support the ID/A Workforce (September 10, 2024)

On September4, 2024, Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh joined leadership, staff, and clients from The Arc of Washington County to highlight the life-changing investments in PA’s bipartisan 2024-25 budget for Pennsylvanians with intellectual disability and autism (ID/A). This year’s budget secured historic increases in funding for home- and community-based services for Pennsylvanians with ID/A as well as increases in rates for the providers responsible for essential care and support of these individuals every day.

This year’s budget invests in Pennsylvanians with ID/A and the direct support professionals (DSPs) who care for them by securing $354.8 million in federal and state funding to provide more resources for home and community-based service providers. The funding includes $280 million to help raise wages for DSPs and $74.8 million to begin the process of clearing the emergency waiting list. This investment in provider rates will support recruitment, retention, and wages for DSPs who make inclusive, enriching lives possible for people with intellectual disabilities and autism.

This investment sets a transformative course to eliminate the emergency waiting list for services for adults and reduce barriers to care for thousands of Pennsylvanians over the next several years. This system change will also make Pennsylvania one of a handful of states to end its emergency waiting list and help ID/A community members access vital services to live independently, pursue education and job opportunities, and participate in the Everyday Lives they deserve. 

Through a diverse range of programs and services, The Arc strives to foster inclusion, empowerment, and support for individuals with IDD, enabling them to lead fulfilling lives. Services include: offering guidance to families involved in Pennsylvania’s early intervention services, with an emphasis on enhancing their child’s strengths and growth; and equipping adults and their families with the necessary resources, services and support, to help them live fulfilling lives.