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Home My WebLink AboutCASSP Alert February 2015 DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Bureau of Children’s Behavioral Health Services DGS Annex Complex, Beechmont Building, 2nd Floor, P. O. Box 2675, Harrisburg, PA 17105 Phone: 717-772-7984; Fax: 717-705-8268; E-mail: c-hbicksle@pa.gov Ted Dallas, Acting Secretary, Department of Human Services; Dennis Marion, Deputy Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; Stan Mrozowski, Director, Bureau of Children’s Behavioral Health Services; Harriet S. Bicksler, Alert Editor Volume 24, Number 2; February 2015 TED DALLAS NAMED NEW DHS SECRETARY Governor Tom Wolf has announced the appointment of Ted Dallas as the new secretary for the Department of Human Services. Most recently, Dallas has been the Secretary of Human Resources in Maryland. Previously, he served as assistant managing director and deputy managing director for the City of Philadelphia, and as executive deputy secretary for the former Department of Public Welfare from 2005-2010. Dallas earned an undergraduate degree in political science and economics from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Temple University. His appointment requires confirmation by the Pennsylvania Senate. TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES LAWS “Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse: Mandated and Permissive Reporting in Pennsylvania” is a free three-hour online course that provides information on the recognition of child maltreatment, the obligation or opportunity to report child maltreatment, and the procedures for making a report of child maltreatment. The course offers continuing education credits and is approved by the Departments of Human Services and State to meet mandated reporting (Act 31) training requirements. The course also meets credit requirements for Act 126 (child abuse recognition and reporting). Learning objectives are: Identify the infrastructure for protecting children from abuse in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania;  Identify the expanded legal definition of Child Abuse according to Pennsylvania’s Child Protective Services Law  Recognize potential indicators of child abuse  Determine when to report suspected child abuse  Describe the roles, rights, and responsibilities of mandated and permissive reporters of suspected child abuse  Recognize the process that follows after a report is made  Self-identify as a mandated or permissive reporter  Follow the process for reporting suspected child abuse Register for the training at: www.reportabusepa.pitt.edu. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BAROMETER 2014 The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has released the second edition of the Behavioral Health Barometer: United States, one edition in a series of state and national reports that provide a snapshot of behavioral health in the United States. The reports present a set of substance use and mental health indicators as measured through data collection efforts sponsored by SAMHSA, including the National Survey on Drug Use and Health and the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services. This national report, along with a Behavioral Health Barometer for each state and the District of Columbia, is published on a regular basis as part of SAMHSA’s larger behavioral health quality improvement approach. This year’s report indicates that the behavioral health of the nation is improving in some areas, particularly among adolescents. Pennsylvania’s report shows that the state’s youth indicators are better than the national average. The national report is available at: http://tiny.cc/9me8sx The Pennsylvania report is available at: http://tiny.cc/une8sx PA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OFFERS YMHFA TRAINING The eight-hour training on Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) will be offered in three locations in March, April and May. The YMHFA training is designed to teach people methods of assisting a young person who may be in the early stages of developing a mental health problem or in a mental crisis. The training is offered to school and/or agency teams to ensure ample support is available to students. Dates and locations:  March 6, 2015, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., PaTTAN King of Prussia  April 22-23, 2015, 9:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. both days, PaTTAN Pittsburgh  May 5-6, 2015, 9:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. both days, PaTTAN Harrisburg Registration Information is available at: www.pattan.net. Find out more about YMHFA in the December 2014 edition of the PA CASSP Newsletter, available at: http://tiny.cc/9le8sx CORRECTION: The link to the “Suicide Safe” app in the December/January Alert was incorrect. Here is the correct link: http://store.samhsa.gov/apps/suicidesaf e/ KEEP KIDS SAFE PA WEBSITE LAUNCHED A new website, Keep Kids Safe PA, provides direct access to the information needed to keep children safe from abuse and neglect. The website is designed to serve as the hub for information related to critical components impacting child protection, including a link for mandated reporters to make reports of suspected child abuse electronically, training on child abuse recognition and reporting, information related to clearances and general information related to child protection. The website includes up-to-date information regarding the 23 pieces of legislation recently enacted. Check it out at: www.keepkidssafe.pa.gov EARLY CHILDHOOD RESOURCES From Mind in the Making and First Book: Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs. Includes a book collection that combines children’s books with tips for building the seven essential skills: focus and self-control, perspective-taking, communicating, making connections, critical thinking, taking on challenges and self-directed engaged learning. More information at: www.mindinthemaking.org/firstbook/ The Magic of Everyday Moments: Seeing Is Believing, video series from Zero to Three. Includes short videos on brain development, literacy skills, play, and temperament. Available at: http://www.zerotothree.org/parenting- resources/MOEM Research reports from the Pyramid Model Consortium:  “Implementing Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support: The Evidence-Base of the Pyramid Model for Supporting Social Emotional Competence in Infants and Young Children,” November 2014: http://tiny.cc/eoe8sx  “A Classroom-Wide Model for Promoting Social Emotional Development and Addressing Challenging Behavior in Preschool Children,” July 2014: http://tiny.cc/woe8sx CONFERENCE/TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES *Feb. 19, 2015: “A Method to Improve Outcomes in Treatment by Recognizing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders,” 2:00-3:30 p.m. Training sponsored by the SAMHSA’s FASD Center for Excellence. Registration information at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1 054869620509924610 *Mar. 4, 2015: Assessment and Treatment of Anxiety Disorders in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders,” Doylestown Health and Wellness Center, Warrington. Sponsored by Foundations Community Partnership. More information at: www.fcpartnership.org *Mar. 10, 2015: Bucks County Conference on Crimes Against Children, Delaware Valley College, Doylestown. Sponsored by the Bucks County Children’s Advocacy Center. More information at: www.buckscac.org *Mar. 10-11, 2015: College Mental Health Research Symposium, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mi. Sponsored by Healthy Minds Network. More information at: www.healthymindsnetwork.org/events/resea rch-symposium *Mar. 11-12, 2015: “Managing the Culture of Stress: Depression on College Campuses 2015,” University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mi. Sponsored by the Depression Center, University of Michigan Health System. More information at: http://www.depressioncenter.org/docc/ *Mar. 12-14, 2015: Attachment-Based Family Therapy Workshop, Catholic University, Washington, DC. Sponsored by Department of Couple and Family Therapy at Drexel University. More information at: http://tiny.cc/c18ktx Mar. 22-25, 2015: 28th Annual Research and Policy Conference on Child, Adolescent, and Young Adult Behavioral Health, Hilton Tampa Downtown, Tampa, FL. Sponsored by Department of Child and family Studies at University of South Florida. More information at: http://cmhtampaconference.com/ *April 1, 2015: Identification and Treatment of Childhood Anxiety Disorders,” Doylestown Health and Wellness Center, Warrington. Sponsored by Foundations Community Partnership. More information at: www.fcpartnership.org April 8-9, 2015: “Do Something Remarkable,” Sheraton Harrisburg-Hershey Hotel, Harrisburg. Sponsored by Pennsylvania Council of Children, Youth and Family Services. More information at: http://pccyfs.org/Spring_Conf.html. April 22-24, 2015: National Training Institute on Effective Practices: Addressing Challenging Behavior, Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Golf Club, St. Petersburg, FL. Sponsored by the University of South Florida and the Pyramid Model Consortium. More information at: http://nti.cbcs.usf.edu/ . *April 22-24, 2015: Attachment-Based Family Therapy Workshop, Drexel University Health Sciences Campus, Philadelphia. Sponsored by Department of Couple and Family Therapy at Drexel University. More information at: http://tiny.cc/c18ktx *April 29, 2015: “Mandated Reporting of Child Abuse,” Doylestown Health and Wellness Center, Warrington. Sponsored by Foundations Community Partnership. More information at: www.fcpartnership.org *May 1, 2015: “Understanding Adversity and Helping Youth Overcome It,” Services for Teens at Risk (Star-Center) Conference, William Pitt Union, University of Pittsburgh Campus, Pittsburgh. More information at: http://www.starcenter.pitt.edu/Conference- Information/23/Default.aspx May 27-28, 2015: Fifth Annual PAPBS Network Implementers’ Forum, Hershey Lodge and Convention Center, Hershey. Sponsored by the Pennsylvania Positive Behavioral Support Network. More information at: www.pattan.net. June 9-11, 2015: Eight Annual PA Autism Training Conference for Professionals (PATC), Eden Resort, Lancaster. Sponsored by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Autism Services. More information at: www.autisminpa.org. *June 18-19, 2015: “Partnerships: Inspiring Hope, Dreams and Achievement,” System of Care Learning Institute, Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, State College. Sponsored by the PA System of Care Partnership, in partnership with PA Families, Inc. and the Youth and Family Training Institute. More information at: www.pasocpartnership.org. Sept. 30-Oct. 3, 2015: “Getting to Scale: Building Capacity and Infrastructure,” Parent- Child Interaction Therapy International Convention, Station Square Sheraton, Pittsburgh. Sponsored by PCIT International. Deadline for presentation proposals is Mar. 17, 2015. More information at: www.pcitconvention2015.com. . Oct. 7-9, 2015: Thirty-first Annual International Conference on Young Children with Special Needs and Their Families, Hilton Atlanta Hotel, Atlanta, GA. Sponsored by the Division for Early Childhood. More information at: http://www.dec- sped.org/proposals Note: Additional children’s mental health training is available from Drexel University; University of Pittsburgh Office of Education and Regional Programs, and Philadelphia Child and Family Therapy Training Center. (*new listing this month)