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Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities

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ODP Announcement 23-026 announces the release of a new Adult Autism Waiver (AAW) Provider Resource Guide. The guide is available online.

Providers are responsible for compliance with all applicable regulations and requirements of the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) services, as well as local, state, and federal regulations and laws applicable to the services provided.

The guide is designed as an online-only document with links to pertinent regulations, bulletins, communications, forms, websites, and other materials necessary to support AAW providers in the quality provision of services. The online format will allow ODP to update the guide in a timely manner as needed.

Please contact your ODP Bureau of Supports for Autism and Special Populations (BSASP) regional office with any questions.

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RCPA is pleased to announce the addition of a new Policy Analyst serving the IDD Division. Cathy Barrick will begin supporting members and the IDD Division Director, Carol Ferenz, this month. Cathy spent 15 years as Director of Practice Management in an outpatient rehab facility, followed by 6 years’ worth of experience as Administrative Support Manager at The Arc of Cumberland/Perry Counties (CPARC).

Her extensive experience includes human resources, policy development, management, accounting, contract negotiations, provider qualifications, and quality management team membership. Cathy served as a Certified Investigator for the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) mandated reportable incidents, oversaw Incident Management roles, and led a Peer Review team. She also completed waiver renewal and Department of Human Services (DHS) benefit applications.

Please feel free to reach out to Cathy with any issues related to IDD services, as well as to welcome her to the RCPA team.

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The National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disability Services (NASDDDS) is pleased to share this announcement from the Administration for Community Living (ACL) with our members. As you know, NASDDDS, along with NASMHPD, NADD, and other key partners, was awarded a five-year grant from ACL for a technical assistance and resource center to improve supports for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities who also have mental health conditions.

An important part of this grant is that its work will be guided by a steering committee comprised entirely of individuals with living experience. We are excited to announce the open recruitment for Steering Committee members. The center is looking for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD) who have mental health conditions and want to share their experiences. We are hoping to identify potential candidates from many different backgrounds with many different perspectives, so we hope that you will share this opportunity within your state.

The steering committee of 12 people will meet 4 times per year. Steering committee members and, if needed, their support staff will be paid to participate in this project.

A recruitment explainer video by NASDDDS partner Green Mountain Self-Advocates is posted on the NASDDDS YouTube channel. The three-minute video includes open captions and American Sign Language interpretation.

We are asking individuals to contact us if they are interested by March 17, 2023. More information can be found here. Thank you in advance for sharing this with your partners!

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Join the National Center for Advancing Person-centered Practices and Services (NCAPPS) for a webinar exploring the dignity of risk. Dignity of risk is the idea that taking reasonable risks is essential to supporting autonomy for people with disabilities, balancing the need for autonomy while keeping a person’s health and welfare in mind. Participants will hear from providers, national experts, people with lived experience, and state representatives as they examine best practices for addressing and assessing risk through a person-centered lens.

Speakers include:

  • Susan Arwood;
  • Mary Lou Bourne;
  • Carl Lipford;
  • Elise Messner; and
  • Shannon Nehus.

The webinar will take place Thursday, March 23, 2023 from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm ET. You can visit here to register for the webinar.

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ODP Announcement 23-029 releases the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021/22 Annual Data Report. The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) created this statistical report so that all stakeholders can review the number of individuals ODP serves, settings where they live, what services are provided to them, and the costs of those services. While these facts and figures are important, they provide a limited view of the service system. They allow us to assess growth in the programs provided, types of services that are prioritized, and how we are investing in people.

In addition to this report, ODP publishes an annual report on strategies and performance measures developed by the Information Sharing and Advisory Committee (ISAC), as well as various other reports that target specific topical areas or strategies (e.g., waiting list, employment, etc.).  All of these are used to comprehensively assess the system.

Access the FY 2021/22 Annual Data Report here. Please send any questions you have electronically.

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ODP Announcement 23-030 announces a 30-day public comment period on a proposal to expand funding made available to Administrative Entities (AEs)/Counties to support individuals and families on the waiting list to allow for pursuit of innovative strategies and provide alternatives to Community Participation Support (CPS) services.

Staffing shortages and the lingering impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic have led to a decrease in the availability of CPS services for some individuals. Spending for Respite and Family Support Services made available to individuals on the waiting list through the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Spending Plan approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is lower than projected in the majority of counties.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is requesting public comment on the following proposal that would allow AEs to repurpose unspent ARPA respite dollars to develop and fund innovative alternatives to traditional CPS. ODP will review and consider all comments received by 11:59 pm on April 10, 2023, in developing a final proposal for use of these ARPA funds. Public comment may be submitted through one of the following methods:

  • Electronic submission via email.
  • Written submission through mail, addressed to: Julie Mochon, Department of Human Services Office of Developmental Programs 625 Forster Street, Room 510, Harrisburg, PA 17120

Questions about this communication should be sent electronically.

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Photo by Kane Reinholdtsen on Unsplash

The 2023 RCPA Conference, which will be celebrating our 10-year anniversary as a leader in shaping policy and enhancing lives, will be held October 10 – 13 at the Hershey Lodge for a statewide audience. The Conference Committee is seeking workshop proposals in every area for possible inclusion, particularly those that assist providers in developing and maintaining high-quality, stable, and effective treatments, services, and agencies in an industry where change is constant. The committee looks for presentations that:

  • Highlight new policy, research, and treatment initiatives, such as telehealth innovations, suicide prevention, and employing people with disabilities;
  • Provide specific skills and information related to individual and organizational leadership development and enhancement;
  • Discuss advanced ethics practices;
  • Address system changes that affect business practices, including integrated care strategies, value-based purchasing, acquisitions/mergers, and alternative payment models;
  • Provide guidance on building a culture of a committed workforce, including recruitment and employee development as well as effective remote workforce strategies;
  • Offer concrete skills and tools to operate more efficient, effective agencies; and
  • Inspire ideas for organizations to be leaders in their field.

The committee welcomes any proposal that addresses these and other topics essential to rehabilitation, mental health, substance use disorder, children’s health, aging, physical disabilities, and intellectual/developmental disabilities & autism. Members are encouraged to consider submitting and to forward this opportunity to those who are exceptionally good speakers and have state-of-the-art information to share.

The Call for Proposals (featuring a complete listing of focus tracks) and accompanying Guidelines for Developing Educational Objectives detail requirements for submissions. The deadline for submissions is Monday, March 13, 2023, at 5:00 pm. Proposals must be submitted electronically on the form provided; confirmation of receipt will be sent. Proposals submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

If the proposal is accepted, individuals must be prepared to present on any day of the conference. Workshops are 90 or 180 minutes in length. At the time of acceptance, presenters will be required to confirm the ability to submit workshop handouts electronically four weeks prior to the conference. Individuals unable to meet this expectation should not submit proposals for consideration.

Individuals are welcome to submit multiple proposals. Notification of inclusion will be made via email by Friday, May 12, 2023. Questions may be directed to Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator.

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Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is inviting leadership professionals from Administrative Entities (AEs), Support Coordination Organizations (SCOs), Providers of Supported Employment Services and Day Habilitation, and Providers of Community Participation Support (CPS) to attend a 1-day Employment Symposium. The Symposium will be held regionally across the Commonwealth on April 25, May 4, and May 12 from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm with a boxed lunch provided.

The goals of the Regional Employment Symposium are to:

  1. Provide a platform for networking, information/resource sharing, and best practices for employer engagement;
  2. Identify strategies for engaging employers on the benefits of hiring people with disabilities using a dual-customer approach; and
  3. Initiate an improvement process by creating goals and best practices to reach and increase employment rates for people with disabilities.

Agenda:

10:00 am – 10:30 am
Opening Remarks by Kristin Ahrens, ODP Deputy Secretary, and Ryan Hyde, Executive Director for the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR)

10:30 am – 11:30 am
Panel discussion featuring an individual from that region with lived employment experience, along with their support team that got them to competitive integrated employment.

11:30 am – 12:00 pm
Small group discussions to network, share experiences of engaging in community integrated employment, resources, and tools.

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Lunch

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Keynote address: Cultivating Relationships With Employers, by Stephen Martynuska. Stephen is a consultant from Sheetz, Inc.

2:00 pm – 2:45 pm
Small group discussion with the opportunity to report out to the larger group on takeaways from the day, as well as sharing resources and tools for engaging employers.

2:45 pm – 3:00 pm
Closing remarks/wrap-up by Kristin Ahrens and Ryan Hyde.

Please register for the location nearest you. Only register for one session. You must complete a Demographics Form before selecting the session you wish to attend, and please identify any dietary restrictions or allergies on your Demographics Form. You must also indicate if you need accommodation(s) as addressed by the Americans With Disabilities Act. Reasonable efforts will be made to meet the need.

Date Venue Registration Closes
April 25, 2023
10:00 am – 3:00 pm		 PaTTAN Central
6340 Flank Road
Harrisburg, PA 17112		 April 18, 2023
May 4, 2023
10:00 am – 3:00 pm		 PaTTAN West
3190 William Pitt Way
Pittsburgh, PA 15238		 April 28, 2023
May 12, 2023
10:00 am – 3:00 pm		 Bucks County Community College
275 Swamp Road
Newtown, PA 18940		 May 6, 2023

There is a limited number of seats at each location, and they will be filled on a first come, first served basis. In addition to your initial registration confirmation, you will receive an email with specific instructions about the location of the symposium one week prior to your scheduled event.

As a reminder, please be respectful of others. If you are not feeling well the day of the event, do not attend. Attendees are encouraged to wear a mask and maintain respectful distance from others so that everyone can participate and feel comfortable.

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