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Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities

Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF) is proud to share their organization’s growth in their 2022–2023 Impact Report.

“Over the past year, we have successfully expanded our reach and developed innovative programs to meet the needs of people with disabilities and older adults, ensuring that they have access to the assistive technology (AT) and services they want.”

But that’s not all — 2023 marks a momentous occasion for Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF), as they celebrate their 25th anniversary! The Impact Report includes a timeline that details their amazing achievements in the disability community over the past quarter century.

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

The DHS Licensing Administration wishes to provide important information about procedural updates related to the issuance of renewal Certificates of Compliance. In August 2022, the renewal process was updated to require the Civil Rights Compliance Attestation (HS2125) be submitted together with the renewal application to Licensing Administration. Feedback with this procedure change has been favorable.

In reviewing their procedure for issuing the renewal Certificates of Compliance, the Licensing Administration has found that a significant number of providers request changes to their licenses after a renewal has been issued but before the current license expired. This adds an increase in processing time, as the administration then must revise the unexpired license and reissue the renewed license. As a result, it slows down the process to issue the other renewals in queue. Therefore, the procedure has changed. The renewal Certificates of Compliance will not be issued until the current Certificate of Compliance is within 30 days of expiration. This procedural change will better facilitate the timely and accurate issuance of renewal Certificates of Compliance.

Below are a few reminders:

  • The Bureau of Equal Opportunity no longer issues an approval letter after submission of the Civil Rights Compliance (CRC) Attestation (HS2125). The renewed Certificate of Compliance verifies that the CRC Attestation (HS2125) was accepted/approved.
  • The Civil Rights Compliance Attestation (HS2125) can be found here.
  • Licensing Administration frequently uses email for communication, including emailing of the Certificate of Compliance. Therefore, Licensing Administration must be notified of email changes. The renewal application should also include current email addresses.
  • When contacting Licensing Administration, please include the following in the subject line of the email: REASON – AGENCY/FACILITY NAME – LICENSE/CERTIFICATE NUMBER. The reason can be RENEWAL, QUESTION, REQUEST, REVISION, etc.
  • The contact information for each Program Office served by Licensing Administration is as follows:
    • Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF): Email | 717-787-9763
    • Office of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS): Email | 717-703-0006
    • Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL/BHSL) – Personal Care Homes & Assisted Living Residences: Email | 717-705-0382
    • Office of Developmental Programs (ODP): Email | 717-787-6958
    • Licensing Administration Director: Email | 717-705-6954

Statewide associations have been united in advocating for an increase of $430 million in state funds to the home and community-based waiver rates to offset the impact of actual inflation not included in these rates. This was in addition to the budget proposed by the Governor in March of this year. This $430 million in state funding would be matched by an additional $470 million in federal funding to the State.

HB 611 decreased the Governor’s proposal from March by $170 million for the Community Waiver line item, a decrease that represents the growing loss of services within our system. This decrease was a result of underutilization due to the lack of staffing, as individuals struggled to find providers available to support them in their communities.

The ID/A associations joined together to send a message to the General Assembly in a letter expressing our concerns for the viability of ID/A services in PA. Please share this letter with your legislators to ensure adequate funding for ID/A services.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) wants your feedback! The anonymous Supporting Families Survey seeks input from individuals who receive support from a Supports Coordinator (SC, also known as a case manager or case worker), and family members of people who receive support through an SC. The survey helps ODP learn if people and their families have the information and support they need. Your answers will help to improve services from ODP and local partners.

Why take the survey?

  • You can let ODP know your satisfaction with the support you and your family receive from the SC.
  • You can let ODP know other things that would be helpful for you and your family.
  • ODP will be able to prepare information and supports to meet your family’s and other families’ needs.

Visit here to fill out the survey in English or in Spanish.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has recently shared ODPANN 23-048: Required Communication Specialist Provider Qualification Training. The announcement provides guidance and information relating to a new qualification requirement that has been added to the Communication Specialist Service. This requirement will become effective January 1, 2024. This guidance is being released to give providers sufficient time to meet the new requirement.

All providers who wish to provide this service after January 1, 2024, must complete the Communication Specialist training provided on MyODP. This applies to Communication Specialists, Communication Specialists that are direct employees of an agency, and contracted employees of an agency.

Please review the announcement for additional information, including accessing the training course.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) shared the reissued communication Invitation to Apply for the Capacity Building Institute Year 7 (CBI7). The last day to submit an interest survey to join the Year 7 Cohort is now June 23, 2023.

Each person must complete the CBI Year 7 Interest Survey by June 23, 2023, in order to express interest and confirm their ability to attend all sessions. There are a limited number of spaces available for participants. All applicants will be notified through email in mid-July as to their admission status.

Please review the communication for additional information relating to cost and attendance.