';
Authors Posts by Cathy Barrick

Cathy Barrick

625 POSTS 0 COMMENTS

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared a Health Alert regarding accompanying individuals to emergency rooms. The alert discusses how it is critical that community home staff accompany individuals to the hospital, stay informed about treatments, be actively involved in discharge arrangements, and understand the follow-up care required. This health alert serves as a reminder of the importance of continuity of care in these situations. Please review the alert for additional information and detail.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Although the work to support individuals to obtain and maintain competitive integrated employment continues throughout the year, NDEAM presents an opportunity to recognize, celebrate, and confirm our commitment to ensuring individuals with disabilities have access to employment opportunities.

Proclamation From Governor Josh Shapiro
In recognition of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Governor Josh Shapiro issued a proclamation to highlight Pennsylvania’s efforts in ensuring everyone has the right to competitive integrated employment opportunities. The proclamation is attached to this email.

Employment Events Across the Commonwealth
To celebrate NDEAM, the Office of Developmental Programs’ (ODP) is highlighting some of the many NDEAM and other employment related events happening across the Commonwealth this October. Please note this list is not exhaustive, and there may be other events happening in your local community.

Download the National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) Event Schedule here

Employment Data:

As of January 2024:

  • 8,239 individuals, ages 18-64, enrolled with ODP had “Competitive Integrated Employment” or CIE.
  • 4,548 individuals enrolled with ODP were utilizing ODP’s employment services.

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) defines Competitive Integrated Employment as work that is performed on a full-time or part-time basis for which an individual is:

  • Compensated at or above minimum wage and comparable to the customary rate paid by the employer to employees without disabilities performing similar duties and with similar training and experience.
  • The Individual receives the same level of benefits provided to other employees without disabilities in similar positions; at a location where the employee interacts with other individuals without disabilities; and presents opportunities for advancement similar to other employees without disabilities in other positions.

Intellectual Disability/Autism (ID/A) Waiver Amendments Effective January 1, 2025

Audience: All Stakeholders
Date: October 30, 2024, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Register Here

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved amendments to the Consolidated, Community Living, and Person/Family Directed Support Waivers (ID/A Waivers) effective January 1, 2025. This webinar will provide a general overview of the changes made in the ID/A waivers. There will be time during the session for presenters to answer questions submitted by participants during the webinar.

Tablet on a desk - Newsletter

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared their Division of Quality Management’s QM Spotlight, the 11th in a series of quarterly publications. This issue focuses on QM Plan quarterly reports, a very important part of the PDCA cycle. You can find this resource and many others on the QM Templates and Tools web page on MyODP, including the very comprehensive ODP QM Certification Handbook. Visit here to view QM Spotlight, Issue 11 — Fall Edition 2024.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared an update to communication ODPANN 24-085, which is intended to provide the hourly wage and benefits ranges for specific participant directed services (PDS) provided to participants utilizing the AWC FMS model effective October 1, 2024. Please note that the update is in red.

Please use this version of the announcement going forward.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) are pleased to announce that the latest edition of the Positive Approaches Journal is now available!

Understanding Trauma: Expressive Therapies

In this issue of the Positive Approaches Journal, we see that there have been important strides in identifying the prevalence of trauma and the complex consequences of trauma from multiple sources, including social adversity, abuse, and neglect. The focus is on the importance of taking this into consideration on every level, from systems collaboration, to how we assess, diagnose, treat, and offer restorative environmental supports to individuals with intellectual disability and autism (ID/A).

This issue of Positive Approaches Journal is in digital form, available for viewing online or for downloading at MyODP. To print a copy of the PDF, online journal, or a specific article, you will find these options within your left navigation bar on any Positive Approaches Journal page. A new window will open with your selected document. In your browser, you may click the Print button in the top left corner of the page, or by using the Print capability within your browser.

Please submit feedback regarding your experience with the Positive Approaches Journal on MyODP.

The Positive Approaches Journal is published quarterly. For additional information, please contact ODP Training’s inbox.