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ODP Bulletin 00-22-02, effective June 2, 2022, is to establish the process for requesting a waiver of a regulatory requirement. This bulletin applies to entities seeking to be licensed or are currently licensed under one or more of the following chapters:
Licensees and ODP-enrolled providers are expected to comply with all applicable regulations. However, the Department recognizes that there are occasions where compliance with a regulation impedes the licensee’s or ODP-enrolled provider’s ability to provide services to an individual. As a result, the Department permits licensees and ODP-enrolled providers to request that a section, subsection, paragraph, or subparagraph of a regulation not apply when it is in the best interest of an individual or group of individuals who receive services from the licensee or ODP enrolled provider.
Not all regulations can be waived. Section 6100.43(a) prohibits waivers of the following regulations:
Additionally, section 6500.12(7) prohibits waivers of sections 6500.1–6500.4 (relating to General Provisions). While Chapters 2380, 2390, and 6400 do not address waivers of regulation, waivers for these chapters are at the discretion of the Department and can be requested pursuant to 1 Pa. Code section 35.18.
Providers should utilize the Office of Developmental Programs’ form “Request for Regulatory Waiver.”
Speaking for Ourselves will be celebrating all they have accomplished by holding a virtual celebration this Saturday, June 4, from 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm. Register here to attend, and be sure to stay tuned for information on Part 2 of the virtual celebration, which is to be held on October 15 at Holy Family University!
In 2016, the Office of Mental Health provided funding and partnered together with three providers to provide homeless veterans the opportunity to live, gain employment, and work on their recovery through this evidence-based model. The initial grant funded the start-up of four new lodges. This year, through “Money Follows the Person” grant funding, there is an opportunity to fund an additional 4 new Veterans Fairweather Lodges. As the contracted Administrative Agency, the Venango Training & Development Center, Inc. is coordinating the RFP process and working with the Office of Mental Health to expand this project, which includes the posting of an exciting new position for a Veteran Fairweather Lodge Statewide Transition Coordinator. For more information about the position, contact Colleen Stuart.
This memo serves as notice to Pennsylvania mental health non-profit providers that proposals are being accepted for start-up grant funding for a new Veterans Fairweather Lodge (VFWL). A “Start Up Guide and Application Tool” is also available, which includes the following information that will assist in your application:
The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs reported higher populations of homeless in the Philadelphia and Coatesville areas. Therefore, providers in these areas are encouraged to apply.
Please consider this wonderful opportunity to provide support to veterans in need.
To mark June and its special significance to the DeafBlind community, the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is sharing some tips on building relationships with those you support who are DeafBlind. Why? A strong relationship is essential to effective communication. Read More
Message from RCPA Member Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF):
We are so excited to announce that Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF) has helped a record number of people with our low- and no-interest loan programs, our information and assistance services, and our financial education resources.
Of note, after we increased the lending cap on our Mini-Loan program from $2,000 to $7,000, this program grew by 151%! (see below: 2021 by the Numbers)
And it doesn’t stop there! We published Smart Homes Made Simple: Your Guide to Smart Home Technology and launched SmartHomesMadeSimple to help the disability community learn about mainstream smart home devices and how they can be financed.
In March of this year, PATF hosted a smart home webinar with more than 500 attendees from around the world!
We are proud to share our organization’s growth over the last year, in which assistive technology (AT) was critical, to support people with disabilities and older adults stay safe, healthy, and connected to our community.
With your unwavering support – our donors, borrowers, partners, families and friends – we were able to expand and create new programs to help people with disabilities and older Pennsylvanians live more independently. Thank you!