The first issue of this two-part series explored key differences between treating adolescents and adults, and ways in which clinical interventions and service delivery should be redesigned to meet adolescents’ unique needs. This issue highlights specific evidence-based screening, assessment and treatment strategies.
Download:  Click here

The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion has launched a new research study examining the effectiveness of an Internet parenting education and social support program for mothers with a psychiatric disability. The TU Collaborative is looking for women who are interested in participating in an online parental education course designed to enhance parental knowledge and skills in the following areas: illness management, child development, stress reduction, parent-child communication, and promoting resiliency in your child. This program also involves Internet social support through a Listserv, which will be co-moderated by a parent with a psychiatric disability and a mental health professional. This group can connect you 24-hours a day, 7-days a week to a community of supportive peers, in your own home or anywhere you can access the Internet!
Looking for people who:
• Are mothers (over the age of 18) diagnosed with a mental illness (Major Depression, Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder or Mood Disorder)
• Currently have primary/shared custody and are serving as the caretaker for at least one child (natural, adopted, or stepchild) under the age of 18
• Have access to a computer and the Internet
• Would consider using the Internet for support and information
• Are United States Residents
• Are fluent in English

Participants will be compensated up to $100 for their participation in this study.
If you want to participate or would like more information, please contact the following address: momsupport@temple.edu.

Please download flyer for more information

A summary report of the fiscal year 2001-2012 County Mental Health Plans for Adults, Older Adults and Transition-Age Youth with Serious Mental Illness and Co-occurring Disorders. This report summarzes the collective movement toward a consumer-driven, recovery-oriented mental health service system as documented in the fiscal year 2011-2012 Mental Health Plans submitted by the counties.

If you’ve ever seen a parent “losing their cool” with a child in a store or restaurant, if you’ve ever wondered if a child in your neighborhood is being supervised and cared for – you are not alone. These concerns, and others, are what the Front Porch Project® is all about.
FPP® is a community-based primary prevention initiative based on the belief that everyone can -- and should -- become more aware of how to help protect fragile and at-risk children in their own community. It provides ordinary citizens with the knowledge, training and encouragement they need to become involved. The two-day training sessions equip citizens with a basic knowledge of child welfare and safety issues, skills for increasing their comfort level in helping a child, and a wide range of ideas for ways they can support today’s families.
Local training sessions are offered at no cost to communities across Pennsylvania. To learn more about sponsoring a training, see the attached information or contact Beth Bitler at PA Family Support Alliance at (717) 238-0397 or bbitler@pa-fsa.org.

The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services/ Justice Related Services presents:
“Developing a Solid and Effective, Peer Driven, Forensic Peer Support Program”

Project Keystone is the Commonwealth’s program to help disaster survivors in presidentially declared major disaster areas, such as those counties affected by Tropical Storm Lee. Help is available for individuals, groups, and communities.  Project Keystone provides crisis counseling through community-based outreach and supports short-term interventions that help disaster survivors. 
Project Keystone is available in the following counties: Bradford, Columbia, Lebanon, Luzerne, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Union, and Wyoming.  For all other counties, contact your county mental health program for assistance.
FEMA News Release - November 16

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 47 percent of Americans take at least one prescription drug each month. At DrugWatch.com, we aim to educate the public about thousands of prescription and over-the-counter medications, many of which have the potential to cause serious side effects. Our website is continually updated with drug recall news, recent FDA approvals, drug interactions, side effects, and current developments in the medical field.

The Early Responders Distance Learning Center of Saint Joseph’s University has created and administers accredited courses for the emergency response community on preparing and responding to terrorist incidents with a specialized focus on psychological consequences.
http://erdlc.sju.edu

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline collaborate with Facebook to help those in crisis.
Facebook is announcing a new service that harnesses the power of social networking and crisis support to help prevent suicides across the nation and Canada. The new service enables Facebook users to report a suicidal comment they see posted by a friend to Facebook using either the Report Suicidal Content link or the report links found throughout the site. The person who posted the suicidal comment will then immediately receive an e-mail from Facebook encouraging them to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or to click on a link to begin a confidential chat session with a crisis worker.
SAMHSA News Release
 

FEMA offers free independent study courses that can be completed for continuing education units. Courses cover topics such as emergency preparedness, developing and managing volunteers, and the Incident Command System.
http://training.fema.gov/IS
 

In October, the Mental Health Association in Pennsylvania (MHAPA) and the Pennsylvania Mental Health Consumers’ Association (PMHCA) announced a new scholarship in honor of Glenn Koons, a beloved Certified Peer Specialist who touched many lives before his untimely death. Glenn’s personality and skills led him to become a Certified Peer Specialist. In this role he helped guide people through their mental health recovery journeys. Whether at work or with friends, he brought hope and smiles to people.
MHAPA and PMHCA are pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the scholarship.
The $1000 scholarship is awarded annually to a promising Pennsylvania candidate for Certified Peer Specialist training who demonstrates the ability to engage people, share life experiences in recovery, provide leadership, and teach others these skills.
To apply, print and complete the application, applications must be postmarked no later than February 15, 2012

If you have questions, please contact the PMHCA office, 1-800-887-6422.
 

Pathways to Recovery
Resource Links, the Northeast ATTC’s quarterly magazine featuring addiction research and practice in New York and Pennsylvania

PA implemented the bulletin 99-11-05 that requires providers and anyone else who is touched by Federal Medicaid Dollars (our Admin) to run once per month any employee, contracted employee, contractor or consultant who is either paid by Medicaid Dollars or has any access to PHI covered by Medicaid.

Download attachments for MA Provider Bulletin, Exclusion Verification Form and Exclusions

Links for Preclusion List:

https://www.epls.gov/

http://oig.hhs.gov/exclusions/index.asp

This Welcome Kit was developed by Value Behavioral Health of Pennsylvania's Family Advisory Committee for all families who need assistance and encouragement along their own personal journey with a loved one. Questions about this guide can be answered by dialing your county's VBH-PA toll-free number and ask to speak to someone in the Prevention, Education and Outreach Department.

VBH-PA Family Advisory Committee's Navigating the System Subcommittee Letter to Parents

Navigating the System: A Parent Friendly Guide to Pennsylvania's Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Service System

1. Getting a Diagnosis for Your Child
2. How to Apply for Medical Assistance
3. Obtaining Services for Your Child
4. Inter-Agency Service Planning Team Meeting (ISPT)
5. After the ISPT Meeting
6. Who Can I call for Help?
7. Child and Adolescent Continuum of Care
8. Get Organized
9. Other Places to Look for Help
10. Resource Order Form

Additional Resources

VBH-PA Resources:

• Brochures:
  • How Do I Get Help with a HealthChoices Complaint (brochure)
  • How Do I Get Help with a HealthChoices Grievance (brochure)
  • VBH-PA's Family Advisory Committee Brochure
  • VBH-PA's Recovery and Resiliency Specialist Brochure
  • Visit with a Psychiatrist (pamphlet)
  • What if My Child's Services Are Not Authorized? (tip sheet)
  • What's Your Opinion of HealthChoices Services? (brochure)
• Frequently Asked Questions:
  • Act 62 Frequently Asked Questions
  • What is a Functional Behavioral Assessment?: Frequently Asked Questions
• Other:
  • Acronyms
  • County Provider Directories and Resource Guides for HealthChoices Members
  • Description of Services available to HealthChoices Children and Adolescents (handout)
  • Local/State Resources

Other Sources:

• Getting An Accurate Diagnosis for Your Child: 10 Steps for Families (NAMI handout)
• Helping Children and Youth with Serious MH Needs: Systems of Care
• Pennsylvania's Children and Adolescent Service System Program Core Principles (CASSP Principles)
• Treatment of Children with Mental Illness (NIMH Frequently Asked Questions)

Network of Care was recognized as a model program by the President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health and provides vital information to help link consumers to support groups and personal advocacy resources in the community. The site also provides a repository of evidence-based practices – successful, creative ways for communities to respond to their behavioral-health needs. 
Visit PA Network of Care for Mental/Behavioral Health
Click on a county to view local information about behavioral health services, laws, and related news.

The June 2011 edition of the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services’ QUIC Facts entitled “Consumer Voice in Treatment Decisions“ has been posted to PArecovery.org.

OMHSAS -11-05: Clarification of Permissible Arrangements for Psychologists Who are Associated with the Provision of Behavioral Health Rehabilitation Services – effective 3/8/11

The SAMHSA Dialogue Blog is a place where up-to-date information including articles from SAMHSA staff, announcements of new programs, links to reports, grant opportunities, and ways to connect to other resources are located. Unlike traditional media, the SAMHSA blog will give you an opportunity to give real-time feedback and have your voice heard. The blog provides a venue to discuss what SAMHSA is up to, share ideas with others around the health care world and what you would like to see from SAMHSA. We look forward to your comments!

NOW AVAILABLE: FREE 10x10 Wellness Campaign Brochures and Posters  
The 10x10 Wellness Campaign launched its free brochures and posters for clinicians, community organizations,
consumers/survivors and peers who want to take action to improve the life expectancy of people with behavioral
health challenges by 10 years in the next 10 years.

The new resources include:
1.Top Three Ways to Promote Wellness poster (SMA10-4569)
2.Eight Dimensions of Wellness poster (SMA10-4568)
3.Informational brochure for primary care providers that provides strategies for talking about wellness and connecting with
patients’ behavioral health care providers (SMA10-4566)
4.Motivational brochure for consumers/survivors/peers that describes how to incorporate the Eight Dimensions of Wellness
into everyday life (SMA10-4567)
5.Informational brochure to raise awareness about the disparity in early mortality for people with behavioral health
problems and gain “champions” for the 10x10 Wellness Campaign (SMA10-4565)

These consumer-centered tools establish a shared language for talking about how wellness can support recovery for
individuals with behavioral health challenges.
 
To order or download these free materials, visit http://store.samhsa.gov/product/SMA10-4566 or
call toll free 1-877-SAMHSA-7 (877-726-4727). 
To learn about the other resources available through the 10x10 Wellness Campaign, SAMHSA and the
FDA’s Office of Women’s Health, visit: http://www.promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov/10by10/resources.aspx
and www.fda.gov/womens

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced $100 million in grants has been made available for 2012 to community agencies that assist low income Veterans and families facing homelessness.  These funds are offered through The Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program, a homeless-prevention and rapid re-housing program established by VA in 2011.
The available funds were announced via a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) posted on the Federal register and at VA’s SSVF website, www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf.asp . Private non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives interested in the grants have until February 15 to submit completed applications.

The NCTSN Learning Center is an online training center geared toward professionals and families seeking to learn more about child traumatic stress. Many resources specifically focus on disaster-related trauma and grief. The NCTSN Learning Center also features the PFA 6-hour interactive course that puts the participant in the role of a provider in a post-disaster scene. This professionally narrated course is for individuals who are new to disaster response and want to learn the core goals of PFA, as well as for seasoned practitioners who want a review. It features innovative activities, video demonstrations, and mentor tips from trauma experts and survivors. PFA Online also offers a Learning Community where participants can share experiences of using PFA in the field, receive guidance during times of disaster, and obtain additional resources and training.
http://learn.nctsn.org
 

Piecing Together Quality Long-Term Care:  A Consumer's Guide to Choices and Advocacy. 

This site offers free Internet-based trainings developed by the UNC CPHP on public health preparedness topics such as disease surveillance; basic epidemiology; bioterrorism; diverse populations; disaster planning, response, and recovery; and emerging and reemerging diseases.
http://cphp.sph.unc.edu/training/index.php