Aug 27 From Underdog to Advocate: A Keynote Preview with Jim Sharp

My father decided he was going to be an F.B.I. agent at eight years old. And he became one. When I was eight years old, I often felt like an underdog.

I was bullied, like so many kids, and that made growing up challenging. But when I looked at my father – his discipline, his devotion to the military, his dedication to his career – I saw an unwavering commitment to something much larger than himself.

Some called it a “myopic vision,” but I called it inspiration. He inspired me to grow strong. To find a purpose. To be bigger than myself. And that led me to a career dedicated to protecting those who are vulnerable.

Today, I serve as the Chief Operating Officer and Director of Mental Health at the Rehabilitation & Community Providers Association (RCPA), and this year’s keynote speaker at Staunton Farm Foundation’s Rural Behavioral Health Conference. On September 25, we’ll come together for a day of conversation, collaboration, and action.

The RCPA is among the largest and most diverse state health and human services trade associations in the nation. With more than 400 members, we advocate for those in need, work to advance effective state and federal public policies, serve as a forum for the exchange of information and experience, and provide professional support to members.

RCPA provider members offer mental health, substance use disorder, intellectual and developmental disabilities, children and youth, criminal and juvenile justice, brain injury, medical and pediatric rehabilitation, and physical disabilities and aging services, across all settings and levels of care. We leave no stone unturned.

But the work we do isn’t only about serving others. One of the most important parts of delivering wellness is ensuring that we maintain our own. That’s why meeting with other experts and thought leaders at events like the Rural Behavioral Health Conference is so essential.

Other than developing our professional relationships and expanding our knowledge, the most important reason we’ll all be together next month is the wellness of the people who live and work in rural Pennsylvania.

How do we fund behavioral health services in these areas? How do we support and retain a workforce that is stretched thin? And how do these factors impact access for people who already face barriers because of where they live? These are the questions at the heart of our discussions at the Rural Behavioral Health Conference.

When I think about protecting those who are most vulnerable, my mind shifts to our rural areas – they are so often overlooked. Securing resources in Harrisburg is challenging enough, but in areas such as Butler County, the hurdles are much higher.

So how do we ensure stable, funded, professional, and critical care in these areas? We meet at places like the Rural Behavioral Health Conference. We share ideas, examine the bigger picture, and commit to taking action.

That’s the spirit of my keynote address, ‘Creating Planes of Equity.’ It’s about recognizing that true wellness means more than programs and policies. It means ensuring every Pennsylvanian has equal access to the care they deserve, no matter their zip code.

My father inspired me to find what I love to do and follow it whole-heartedly. That same drive has been passed down to the next generation… My daughter, Emma, now works alongside me at RCPA. I hope young leaders like her will leave Staunton Farm’s conference ready to carry this work forward.

As long as I’m breathing, I will fight for wellness. And I invite you to join me in that fight on September 25. Register for the Rural Behavioral Health Conference today.