HomeMy WebLinkAboutMH Provider Meeting Minutes 09-11-20Mental Health Provider Meeting
Friday, September 11, 2020
MH 1 9/11/20
MEETING MINUTES
Welcome & Introduction
This meeting was held via Google Meet. Jim Gilbert confirmed the attendance of providers that were
present.
Provider Announcements & Updates
≠ TrueNorth Wellness Services
TrueNorth continues to offer both face-to-face and telehealth appointments. Face masks
and social distancing are required during face-to-face appointments. The percentage of face-
to-face versus telehealth appointments has fluctuated in recent months. Approximately
75% of appointments were face-to-face in July while 60-65% of appointments were
telehealth in August.
TrueNorth Crisis has experienced a recent increase in children being referred from schools.
TrueNorth is attempting to fill the following positions in Fulton County: full-time Outpatient
Nurse (Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse), full-time/part-time Outpatient
Therapist, and part-time Crisis Intervention Specialists. TrueNorth is also looking for full-
time/part-time Direct Care Residential Staff in Chambersburg.
≠ Occupational Services, Inc. (OSI)
Michelle Lane is OSI’s new Executive Director. Client Services Coordinator Deb Thomas has
put in her resignation/retirement notice. OSI has hired internally to fill Deb’s position:
Jenny Rockwell will be the Mental Health Client Services Coordinator and Gabby Snider will
be the Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities Client Services Coordinator. These new
positions were created in order to absorb duties from Deb Thomas’ position as well as
Michelle’s previous role as Director of Programs.
OSI has launched a rebranding and marketing strategy which will feature a new logo/color
scheme. A new OSI website is also being developed.
≠ Mental Health Association (MHA)
MHA will be offering virtual Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention trainings
on September 22nd and 24th. Anyone who is interested in attending either training may
reach out to Erin Grant for more information.
≠ Laurel Life Services/Folium, Inc.
There are currently no openings for Family-Based Mental Health Services (FBMHS) and all
treatment teams are fully staffed. The state completed a site licensure visit two (2) weeks
ago for Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS). Laurel Life will be moving forward with
credentialing for its IBHS licensure and is currently accepting new clients for anticipated
openings. Likewise, new clients are being accepted for Outpatient Services openings at both
the Brown’s Mill campus and Phoenix Drive locations. School-based staff at the Brown’s Mill
campus have been working with school districts in regard to facilitating sessions and
providing assistance with their roles. Approximately 75% of sessions have been taking
place in-person and the other 25% are via telehealth.
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≠ Pennsylvania Counseling Services (PCS)
PCS continues to offer both telehealth and in-person options for its clients. Certain private
insurance companies will no longer be covering telehealth as of the end of September. Staff
have been having conversations with affected individuals about their transition to in-
person. Overall, the volume of in-person appointments has been increasing compared to
telehealth.
There is current availability for various Outpatient Mental Health and Drug & Alcohol
Services. Certified Recovery Specialists and Care Navigators continue to work with
individuals in the Lighthouse Recovery Program. Critical Time Intervention Services are
available for individuals that need additional support after accessing TrueNorth or
Keystone Crisis.
≠ Keystone Health Crisis Intervention
Keystone has experienced a recent increase in both children and adults seeking walk-in,
mobile, and telephone Crisis Intervention Services.
≠ Healthy Communities Partnership (HCP)
Student Assistance Program (SAP) meetings have been taking place virtually for
Chambersburg Area School District and in-person for other districts. Referrals have
increased from some schools, especially in Fulton County. HCP staff will move forward with
scheduling these initial meetings after receiving parent permissions.
HCP currently has an Elementary SAP Liaison/Education Coordination position available.
Anyone who is interested may send a resume and cover letter to Karen Johnston.
Karen asked County MH staff about the possibility of proactively convening a meeting to
discuss ways to address a COVID-19 related mental health crisis. Cori confirmed that
Healthy Franklin County’s Behavioral Health Task Force has been closely following the
local impact of COVID-19. Cori will plan to schedule a meeting as soon as the week of
September 21st to start more conversations on this topic.
≠ Keystone Service Systems (KSS)
The Forensic Specialized Community Residence (FSCR) site is still waiting for its state
licensing visit. KSS has had issues with finding Personal Care Staff for the FSCR. They have
advertised these positions on Indeed.com and on the Keystone Human Services website. Jim
will give Gina Sunderland’s email address to any providers who are aware of potential
candidates.
Standing Agenda Items
≠ Child Adolescent Service System Program (CASSP) Update – Kim Lucas, CASSP
Coordinator
No update at this time.
≠ Tuscarora Manage Care Alliance (TMCA) Update – Gen Harper, Quality and Compliance
Director
No update at this time.
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≠ PerformCare Update – Kourtney Griggs, Account Executive
PerformCare staff are still required to work from home . All provider business will be
conducted virtually until further notice.
≠ Community Resource Spotlight: Payton Mummert, Franklin County Long-term Care
Ombudsman/Volunteer Coordinator for Aging Services
Payton provided an overview on the role of the Long-term Care Ombudsman.
The Ombudsman goes into long-term care settings such as nursing homes, personal care
homes, and assisted living facilities to resolve issues on behalf of residents and/or their
family members. Payton has not been able to visit any facilities since March due to COVID-
19 restrictions. She has received guidance on resuming visits but is still waiting on final
approval to proceed.
Residents or family members will typically call the Ombudsman to report
complaints/concerns about their living conditions and/or rights. The Ombudsman will
ensure that the resident’s independence is respected and that they have permission to take
the next steps to handle an issue. The Ombudsman can also work directly with a resident’s
Power of Attorney (POA). This often becomes necessary when Alzheimer’s or dementia has
significantly impaired the resident’s decision making abilities.
Cori asked Payton if Dementia Friends training would be available in Franklin County.
Payton confirmed that she is certified to provide Dementia Friends training and had
planned to schedule sessions this year before they were put on hold by COVID-19. The
training is usually a thirty (30) minute to one (1) hour session which includes an overview
of the different types of dementia before explaining the concept of a Dementia Friend and
how to become a dementia friendly community. Payton will look into the possibility of
scheduling a virtual or in-person Dementia Friends training in the future.
≠ Provider Spotlight: Family Care Services (FCS), Inc. – Kristen Fisher, Clinical Director
FCS is a private, non-profit that started in 1977. Its original mission was to provide respite
care to individuals with developmental disabilities in family settings. The agency is located
four (4) miles west of Chambersburg on Edenville Road on a property consisting of four (4)
houses that have been converted into office space. One of the houses is currently being
renovated for Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Program staff and should be
completed by the end of 2020. Kristen provided an overview of the following programs and
services: Foster Care, Adoption/Permanency, IDD Program for adults, Family-Based Mental
Health Services (FBMHS), Respite Services, and Representative Payee Services.
Foster Care
Foster Care serves children between the ages of zero (0) and twenty one (21) in court
ordered placements through Children & Youth and Juvenile Probation. The length of stay
depends on each child’s situation with the eventual goal being either reunification or
adoption.
Adoption/Permanency
Adoption/Permanency serves children between the ages of zero (0) and eighteen (18). Most
of the children available for adoption in Pennsylvania are ages ten (10) and older. FCS
works through the Pennsylvania Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN) to
provide services such as Child Profile, Family Profile, Placement, Child Prep, Child Specific
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Recruitment (CSR), Adoption Finalization, and Post Permanency. The agency occasionally
does Private Family Home Studies for families that are preparing to adopt a child but this
service is not funded through SWAN.
Andrea Adams is the Program Director for both Adoption/Permanency and Foster Care.
IDD Program
The IDD Program serves adults ages eighteen (18) and older in Franklin and Fulton
Counties. It is possible for individuals to transition from FCS’ Foster Care Program to the
IDD Program. Residential placements within the IDD Program are referred to as Family
Living and are limited to two (2) individuals. FCS no longer offers Community Home
placements of four (4) individuals.
The IDD Program provides assistance with daily living needs which can vary depending on
each individual’s situation. Some of the individuals are very independent while others
require a high level of hands-on care.
Tony Fisher is the Program Director for the IDD Program.
FBMHS
FBMHS is a thirty-two (32) week intensive program for children between the ages of zero
(0) and twenty one (21). FCS currently has three (3) openings for FBMHS and its treatment
team is now fully staffed. Providers may contact Program Director Angela Ciccarelli if they
are aware of a family that could benefit from the service. Referrals to FBMHS must come
from the child’s primary care physician (PCP).
Respite
Respite Services are available for all ages, however, FCS does not provide this services to
adults with a mental health diagnosis. Referrals can be made by contacting the FCS office.
Respite placements occur only in FCS’ approved homes so the availability of the service
depends on how many individuals are utilizing it at any given time. Families may request
Respite Services because they need a break from caretaking duties, are going on vacation, or
have a medical necessity.
Representative Payee
Representative Payee Services are available for adults in the MH and IDD systems that need
help managing their money. FCS has also occasionally provided this service to children.
Program Support Specialist Pam Dice currently oversees Representative Payee Services for
approximately one hundred (100) adult individuals. These services ensure that individuals’
bills for necessities such as rent and food are fully paid.
Kristen shared that FCS no longer provides Community Residential Rehabilitation (CRR)
Services as of February 2020. This program was closed due to a lack of clients/available
homes for the service and other changes related to IBHS.
County Announcements/Information
≠ Reports due since our last MH Provider Meeting:
Audit engagement/extension letter (FY ending June 30th)
Audited financial report (calendar year ending December 31st)
Progress report on outcomes in Appendix A
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Quarterly report of expenditures (April – June)
Salary Review (for FY ending June 30th)
Property purchased/property leased report (FY ending June 30th)
Fixed assets purchased with MH/IDD/EI funds (FY ending June 30th)
≠ Reports due prior to our next MH Provider Meeting:
Quarterly report of expenditures (July – September)
MCR Report – program funded providers only (September 30th)
o Becky Leidig explained that the MCR Report is a roster of what individual
staff members are paid. The state requests this report in order to document
that these amounts conform to allowable expenses. Becky will reach out to
the appropriate providers for more information after she receives guidance
from the state. This report is only for those providers that are program
funded.
≠ Psychiatric Admissions Reporting Overview (handout): Comparing April – June 2020
with April – June 2019 – Jim Gilbert
When comparing the 2nd Quarter of 2020 to the 2nd Quarter of 2019, the total number of bed
days for adults and children decreased by approximately half of the previous year’s amount.
Likewise, there were lower numbers for total admissions, total persons, and average length
of stay in the 2nd Quarter of 2020.
The following Danville State Hospital updates were mentioned:
The number of Danville State Hospital admissions and discharges were unchanged
in the 2nd Quarter of 2020 compared to the 2nd Quarter of 2019. There was one (1)
admission and one (1) discharge during this quarter for each year.
An individual is expected to be discharged on September 16th. After this discharge,
the census will be seven (7) and bed cap will remain at five (5).
One individual is currently on the waiting list and has been approved for admission.
This individual has not yet received an admission date.
≠ Suicide Prevention Awareness and Recovery Month Reminder – Cori Seilhamer
September is recognized as both Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and Recovery Month.
Purple lights and ribbons are displayed to signify support for each.
≠ Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) Training Course – Cori Seilhamer
Interested providers may contact Cori in order to enroll in a CCTP Training Course. The
County will have a license for the course through May 2021. Staff can earn three (3)
continuing education units (CEUs) for successfully completing the course. Additional CEUs
are also available for completing sections on telehealth strategies.
The meeting was adjourned.
Next Meeting:
Friday, December 11, 2020 starting at 10:00 a.m. (most likely virtual via Google Meet)
2021 Meetings:
March 12th June 11th September 10th December 10th
Minutes by Dan Rhodes