January 3, 2024 Survey: Exploring Suspension and Expulsion in Early Childhood Education Trying Together, the ELRC Region 5’s quality partner, is partnering with Children First and PHMC on a research project aiming to gain insights into the mechanisms behind suspension and expulsion practices in early childhood education settings. Learn More Child care providers and families are invited to actively participate in dialogues, including focus groups and individual interviews, to share stories from their experiences in early childhood education programs. Participation will contribute significantly to a final report analyzing practices that lead to suspension or expulsion. The goal is to formulate policy recommendations that address and mitigate these practices, recognizing the significant role of racism and implicit bias. Child Care Provider Survey Early childhood education providers who support children requiring additional behavioral or early intervention services are invited to take the child care provider survey. Responses will help gain insight into communication practices with families when a child requires services beyond the standard classroom offerings; challenges faced in communicating with families during such circumstances; and interactions between providers and external therapists, as well as one-on-one support providers entering the classroom to assist children. Parent Survey The project aims to gain insights into the reasons behind families leaving early childhood programs. Families who have changed early childhood programs, especially those who may have had to switch more than once, are encouraged to fill out the parent survey. Responses can provide valuable insights into patterns of both voluntary and involuntary departures; the communication strategies utilized between families and early childhood providers before making the decision to change programs; and how these transitions impact the services children can access, including early intervention and behavioral services.
January 2, 2024 DHS Proposes Medicaid Coverage for Health-Related Social Needs The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (PA DHS) is seeking to use its Medicaid program to offer targeted supports and services to certain Pennsylvanians through Bridges to Success: Keystones of Health for Pennsylvania (Keystones of Health). DHS’ goal for Keystones of Health is to improve health and quality of life for Pennsylvania’s Medicaid beneficiaries by helping with health-related social needs, which can improve a person’s quality of life and offset the need for more costly, intensive acute care. Learn More DHS submitted its application for Bridges to Success: Keystones of Health for Pennsylvania, a Section 1115 Medicaid demonstration waiver for the January 1, 2025, to January 1, 2030, demonstration period. 1115 demonstrations allow states to develop programs in coordination with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that provide services and benefits not normally allowed in state Medicaid plans. Focus Areas Under Keystones of Health, DHS will develop a set of services and benefits in four focus areas: Reentry – Improve transitions to the community for beneficiaries reentering society from correctional facilities. The available services, which will require a legislative amendment, will focus on improving transitions to community based health care and social services with a particular emphasis on those with significant health care needs such as serious mental illness and substance use disorder. Housing – Add new Medicaid services to help beneficiaries without stable housing find and keep a place to live. Having stable housing makes it easier to find and use health care. These services will focus on beneficiaries with behavioral health issues and chronic conditions where health outcomes are greatly impacted by improved consistency of care and medication access. Food and Nutrition – Provide food and nutrition services to specific Medicaid populations facing food insecurity, including pregnant beneficiaries and beneficiaries with diet-sensitive conditions. Services would include direct food support such as medically tailored meals or groceries with a goal of also connecting eligible beneficiaries to long-term food assistance, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Multi-Year Continuous Coverage for Children Under 6 Years of Age – Provide continuous Medicaid coverage for children from birth or older but under 6 years of age to reduce gaps in coverage that interrupt access to essential health care services, such as preventive care. This proposal provides eligibility from birth, or when a child first receives Medicaid, through the last day of the month in which they turn 6 years of age. More Information Details are available on the DHS website.
