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Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities

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ODP Announces New IM4Q Leads

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) recently welcomed two new leads to the IM4Q community. Abigale Bowen is taking over for Alisha Walker at Ebensburg Center. Mark Costello brings prior IM4Q experience as a monitor to his new position as the IM4Q lead in the Southeast Region. Both introduced themselves at the recent regional meetings. Welcome, Abigale and Mark!

2024-2025 Contacts List

The IM4Q Contacts List (v2.9) can be found here. Please take a moment to verify this information, and if an update needs to be made, please notify ODP and technical advisors at the earliest opportunity. When contact information is not current or correct, then the appropriate people are not informed.

April Regional Meeting Minutes

Consolidated minutes taken from the three regional meetings can be found here. If there are any questions, please contact your ODP regional leads. Dates and Zoom links for the October 2025 meetings are listed at the end of the minutes.

Enterprise Case Management (ECM) Update

The IM4Q ECM work group met with ODP, Public Consulting Group (PCG), and Accenture (the DHS vendor), for discovery sessions related to the IM4Q pre-survey and considerations processes to be implemented within the new platform. The sessions went well, especially with the creation of process flows for each, which provided everyone the ability to visually follow the discussions. The next discovery sessions involving IM4Q will be during the reporting epic, but no firm dates have been provided.

ODP sincerely thanks all the work group members who were able to participate in the sessions and the additional clarification meetings held with the ODP Functional Architect!

ODESA 2.0

The Human Services Research Institute (HSRI), which oversees the National Core Indicators (NCI) Project, still projects implementation of the new data entry platform for most states on July 1. HSRI and the vendor met with ODP, technical advisors, and several local programs to receive feedback on proposed overall changes and what other features would be helpful. However, with the number of customizations needed for Pennsylvania, ODESA 2.0 will not be available for data entry until November, which aligns with when the current ODESA generally opens.

End of 2024 – 2025 Cycle

This is a reminder that all interviews and data entry must be completed by June 30, and there will be no exceptions. If any local programs are experiencing last-minute issues with either of these activities, please contact the technical advisors and your regional lead immediately!

2025 Annual Statewide Training

As a reminder, the 2025 IM4Q Annual Statewide Training (AST) will occur at the Harrisburg Hilton on July 29 – 30. The Institute on Disabilities expects to issue the final agenda, including the link for registration, in the next several weeks. The registration fee is $75 per person. Supports Coordinators are again offered the opportunity to have two attend the AST for the price of one. A block of hotel rooms has been reserved for $159 per night. Any Steering Committee members interested in attending and who need to book a room should contact Mary Kay Cunningham.

  • Questions for the Deputy Secretary
    ODP Deputy Secretary Kristin Ahrens will again offer welcoming remarks at the beginning of the AST. As mentioned during the April meetings, ODP and the technical advisors encourage everyone to submit any questions for her to address to Lee Stephens by June 13. There may also be a short opportunity for her to address questions directly from the audience.
  • Keynote Addresses
    The first keynote session will be presented by Patrice Jetter of Hamilton, NJ. Ms. Jetter is an athlete, a school crossing guard, an artist, and a member of the disability community. A link to preview her documentary, Patrice: The Movie, will be included with the reservation confirmation.

    The second keynote presentation will feature four panelists long associated with IM4Q: self-advocate Bill Krebs; former Deputy Secretary Nancy Thaler and IM4Q innovator Dana Olsen, both retired from ODP; and former Executive Director Celia Feinstein, retired from the Institute on Disabilities.

  • Baskets for Raffle
    The basket raffle returns! The fun committee is again organizing a collection of baskets to be raffled on Tuesday evening (the 29) at the dessert reception. They are asking that, as the IM4Q community, you kindly participate by donating an interesting basket to this event. Collaboration between AEs and local programs is encouraged but not required. Baskets may be filled with specialty foods, coffees, garden materials, or plan a beach theme, night at the movies, sports items, or things for which your county or area is known. Have fun with it and be as creative as you’d like! Please consider supporting this activity through your contribution. Please contact Nancy LeClair if you have any questions or to confirm that your AE and/or local program will participate.

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Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

RCPA held a golf fundraiser to support the RCPA Political Action Committee (RCPA PAC) on Tuesday, May 13. This successful event raised much-needed funds for our legislative activities, and we would like to thank all the generous golfers who braved the rain to participate and contribute.

A big thank you to our sponsors:

  • Tournament Sponsor: Expert County Care Management
  • Lunch Sponsors: Brier Dlugolecki Strategies & Novak Strategic Advisors
  • Beverage Cart Sponsor: Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
  • Premium Hole Sponsor: PDC Pharmacy
  • Hole Sponsor: Firetree, Ltd.
  • Hole Sponsor: Christopher S. Lucas & Associates
  • Hole Sponsor: Embolden WC Trust
  • Hole Sponsor: Warfel Construction
  • Hole Sponsor: Ceisler Media & Issue Advocacy
  • Hole Sponsor: Comprehensive Financial Associates/PA Pension Planners

Your support is always appreciated! We encourage anyone interested in supporting the RCPA PAC to make a personal contribution. For your convenience, you can now make an online contribution. Thank you again for your participation and support, and congratulations to our golf winners!

Your participation in the RCPA PAC is completely voluntary, and you may contribute as much or as little as you choose. Donations are not tax-deductible and will be used for political purposes. You may choose not to participate without fear of reprisal. You will not be favored or disadvantaged by reason of the amount of your contribution or decision not to contribute.

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Thriving Together: The Role of Curated Communities in Transforming Workforce Culture
Free Webinar for RCPA members

Tuesday, June 10, 2025
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Register Here

Creating spaces where professionals feel seen, valued, and supported is critical to fostering thriving workplaces. This session highlights the transformative power of curated communities like the Black Residency Collective and B.W.E.L., which provide unique opportunities for connection, innovation, and growth. These spaces not only nurture a sense of belonging but also serve as vital tools for addressing retention challenges and inspiring organizational change. Participants will walk away with a deeper understanding of how intentional spaces can catalyze resilience and drive collective success in the workforce.

Presenter: Sierra McNeil, MSW
Director of Workforce Development and Philadelphia Connections, NASW-PA President, Equity-Grounded Leadership Fellow

Objectives: Following this course, the learner will:

  • Identify the key elements of curated spaces that foster a sense of belonging among diverse professionals;
  • Analyze the impact of curated spaces on workplace innovation, relationships, and talent retention through real-world examples; and
  • Describe strategies to implement or enhance curated spaces within one’s organization to improve workforce outcomes.

Certificates of attendance are available to RCPA members who attend this webinar; anyone interested in a certificate should contact Cathy Barrick. To apply for CEs, you will need to register for the RCPA Annual Conference Strive to Thrive and indicate you attended the webinar in your CE packet, which will be made available on the mobile app.

Contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator, for details, or visit the RCPA Conference website for information on workshops, sponsors, exhibitors, and more!

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 25-045, which states that the Temple University Harrisburg Certified Investigator (CI) Program and ODP will be facilitating forums for CIs and others involved in the incident investigation process. These forums are an opportunity for current Certified Investigators and other interested parties to receive up-to-date information about the incident investigation process.

Next Session Date and Time:
Friday, June 13, 2025
10:00 am – 11:30 am
Topic: Investigation Standards and Expectations (ODP Announcement 25-035)
Register at MyODP

Postings of Q&A documents from past CI Forums are also now available on MyODP.

Please review the announcement for additional information and details.

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Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 25-044. This communication is to inform all interested stakeholders about the new assessment protocol that is replacing most of the previous assessments required for participants in the Adult Autism Waiver (AAW), effective July 1, 2025, and to announce a mandatory training for AAW Supports Coordinators (SC) and SC Supervisors.

Beginning with assessments conducted on July 1, 2025, participants in the AAW will no longer be assessed using the SIB-R, Quality of Life Questionnaire, Baseline Outcomes, or Parental Stress Scale. All participant ISPs with plan effective dates beginning October 1, 2025, are subject to the new assessments.

All AAW participants will be assessed using the following five assessment tools, all of which are completed via QuestionPro:

  • Autism Supports Assessment Protocol (ASAP);
  • Periodic Risk Evaluation (PRE);
  • Waisman Activities of Daily Living Scale (W-ADL);
  • Social Responsiveness Scale, 2nd Edition (SRS-2); and
  • Online Readiness Checklist.

Mandatory Training for AAW SCs and SC Supervisors on New Assessment Protocol

SCs and SC Supervisors are required to register for and attend one of the following two training sessions. Content is the same for both sessions, so attendance is only mandatory for one session.

Please review the announcement for additional information and details.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is hosting a forum to support provider preparedness regarding performance-based contracting. ODP will review the quarterly forums and discuss data presented to the Information Sharing and Advisory Committee (ISAC) Provider Performance Review Subcommittee. ODP will also review the emerging themes or trends with the implementation of performance-based contracting.

Audience: Residential Providers

Date: June 16, 2025, 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

Register Here

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The Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Subcommittee meeting was recently held on May 7, 2025. During the meeting, a number of presentations were given. In addition to the presentations, the agenda and a document that provided follow-up items from the LTSS Subcommittee meeting on April 2, 2025, were provided.

Members should take time to review the PowerPoint presentations from the meeting below:

The next LTSS Subcommittee meeting is scheduled for June 4, 2025. The meeting will be held from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm in the Forest Room at the Commonwealth Keystone Building, which is located at 400 North Street in Harrisburg, PA. The option to participate virtually is also available.

If attending virtually, please register here. The option to call in is also available by dialing (415) 655-0052, access code 886-801-808#.

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The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) is offering a webinar on the PA Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Savings Program on May 21, 2025, from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm. Register here.

A PA ABLE savings account gives individuals with qualified disabilities and their families and friends a tax-free way to save for a wide range of disability-related expenses while maintaining important benefits. The state and federal tax-free investment options are offered to encourage eligible individuals and their families to save private funds to support health, independence, and quality of life.

Some of the agenda topics will include eligibility requirements for opening a PA ABLE account, federal and state tax benefits of PA ABLE, and how a PA ABLE account interacts with current benefits.

OLTL Service Coordinators, Direct Service Providers, Community HealthChoices (CHC) Managed Care Organization (MCO) staff, and any individuals who work in employment supports are encouraged to participate in this webinar, as it will help them understand the PA ABLE Program and how it can benefit the OLTL participants they serve.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. If you require accommodations to participate in this webinar, please contact OLTL via email.

Questions regarding this webinar should be directed to Randy Loss, OLTL.

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RCPA Member Inglis’s Regional Housing Coordinators (RHC) offer a variety of FREE webinars each month on Zoom, focused on understanding and navigating the affordable housing system and resources for people with disabilities in housing.

If the training times listed below do not work for your organization, you can always use their Information and Referral form to request a private training.

  • Home Modifications: Thursday, May 15, at 1:00 pm
  • Navigating Income-based Housing Options: Tuesday, May 20, at 12:00 pm
  • Introduction to Housing Concepts: Thursday, May 29, at 11:00 am
Register With Their Training Calendar Here!
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