The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 25-084 and accompanying attachments:
Please review the announcement and documents for additional information and details. All questions that are not included in the FAQ document regarding annual training requirements should be forwarded via email.
Attention all Executive Leads and Credentialing Leads not currently enrolled with National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP)!
Interested in learning more about NADSP? Then this meeting is for you!
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP), in conjunction with the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP), meets monthly to discuss issues, provide support, and allow for PA Local Administrators to gain assistance from one another while navigating the NADSP process. Join Shauna Blee of ODP, Dan Hermreck of NADSP, and other PA Local Admins to gather more information!
NADSP Region Work Group
These work group meetings are held monthly on Teams. You can join by your region or at the meeting time that works best for your schedule. Below are the links for each region.
Central Region:
Fourth Tuesday of the month, 2:00 pm – 2:30 pm
(Starting September 23)
Teams Meeting ID: 286 161 118 136 Passcode: oTdFRx
Or by phone: +1 267-332-8737 Phone conference ID: 607 776 646#
Southeast Region:
Third Wednesday of the month, 10:15 am – 10:45 am
(Starting September 17)
Teams Meeting ID: 242 883 857 637 Passcode: cGHrGc
Or by phone: +1 267-332-8737 Phone conference ID: 190 449 027#
Northeast Region:
Fourth Wednesday of the month, 2:00 pm – 2:30 pm
(Starting September 24)
Teams Meeting ID: 214 554 253 188 Passcode: qvyY8D
Or by phone: +1 267-332-8737 Phone conference ID: 133 202 186#
Western Region:
Second Thursday of the month, 2:00 pm – 2:30 pm
(Starting September 11)
Teams Meeting ID: 210 442 181 474 Passcode: f6RU3u
Or by phone: +1 267-332-8737 Phone conference ID: 671 818 960#
Western Region:
Third Friday of the month, 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm
(Starting September 19)
Teams Meeting ID: 263 772 563 305 Passcode: LsChA2
or by phone: +1 267-332-8737 Phone conference ID: 452 857 919#
Need assistance joining the meetings or have questions? Email Shauna Blee.
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 25-08. This announcement provides guidance for Certified Medication Administration Trainers that train for multiple eligible providers. You can also view “Maintaining your Trainer Certificate” for instructions on ensuring your certificate may be used to teach in eligible provider settings.
If you have any questions regarding this announcement, please submit a ticket through the MA Help Desk.
Autistic and intellectually disabled people are at increased risk of being victimized and experiencing trauma; however, few therapists are skilled in both supporting these communities and providing trauma-focused care. To bridge this gap, psychologists with the ASERT team created the TRAIN program — 12 weeks of self-guided learning and live webinars for mental health therapists licensed in Pennsylvania who are currently working with autistic and/or intellectually disabled adults. TRAIN is an integrative and neuro-affirming approach to trauma-focused care with neurodivergent adults, centering clinical work with the autistic and intellectually disabled communities. After completing the 12 weeks of learning, participants have the option to continue their training through clinical consultation with the developers of TRAIN.
This program covers:
Target Audience: This program was developed for therapists, counselors, and clinical social workers who already have experience working with clients who have an Intellectual Disability/Autism (ID/A) diagnosis and are looking to gain knowledge and skills related to trauma therapy. Therapists who do not have experience with ID/A clients are also welcome to participate, but the expectation is they would be committed to taking such clients into their practice after completing the program, as the purpose is to build capacity in this area across the state. You must currently be licensed and provide 1:1 talk therapy sessions to adult clients at the moment to qualify for this course and participate in the case consultation presentations.
Course Structure: 12 weeks in total, comprised of 3 modules that are each 4 weeks long. The first three weeks are self-paced learning courses that are assigned through the online Learning Management System. The fourth week of each module is an hour-and-a-half interactive discussion with the other group members and instructors. These live sessions are required and are held from 9:00 am – 10:30 am on the following dates:
Case Consultations: After the initial 12 weeks, there is a short break followed by a second 12-week session that consists of weekly one-hour case consultations. These are optional but highly recommended. Each participant is expected to present a case from a current patient and receive feedback/information from other participants and the instructors. Participants need to join at least 6 of the 12 weekly case consultation calls, although it is encouraged to attend all of them. If you are not currently seeing patients or are not in the capacity to present any cases, this may not be the right program for you.
Cost and CE Credits: It is free to participate. 13.5 continuing Education (CE) credits are provided through the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) upon completion of the program.
If you believe this program is appropriate for you and can commit to the requirements, please complete this survey by Wednesday, August 27, 2025. This will be on a first-come, first-serve basis, so don’t delay! Also, if you are unable participate this Fall due to other commitments but would still be interested in doing it for Spring 2026, please say so in the survey.
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) invites individuals with intellectual disabilities and/or autism and their families to join in a virtual exploration and discussion with members of the Division of Policy and Program Innovation. These sessions are informal, meaning the conversation will not be recorded, and rules will be set before the session starts to ensure everyone feels comfortable and safe to provide questions and comments. The session will be held through Microsoft Teams.
Please note: This event is being held only for individuals and family members; this is not an event for someone who is only a professional.
What Will Be Covered?
Family members often want to stay as involved as possible with the services their relative receives. This session will consist of an overview of services that family members can provide through ODP’s 1915(c) waivers, as well as who is considered family and other important definitions. The session will also include time to explore where this information can be found.
Audience:
Individuals and Families
Date:
September 18, 2025, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
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