ODP Announcement 22-079 announces the start of Cycle 2 of the Quality Assessment & Improvement (QA&I) Process. Cycle 2, Year 1 of the QA&I Process will begin on August 1, 2022. All materials and resources related to the QA&I Process will be posted on the MyODP Training & Resource Center (MyODP). Please note that you must be logged into MyODP to access the information.
Please direct any inquiries, issues, or concerns regarding this communication to the QA&I Process inbox.
Message from RCPA member PATF:
Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF) recently hosted a round table event with Congresswoman Madeleine Dean and several of our borrowers and partners to discuss the importance of PATF’s programs — information about assistive technology (AT), funding resources, financial education, and the loan programs!
We heard how PATF’s loan programs make it possible for people to get the AT they need. We also heard from several partners about how they use our other publications, including Smart Homes Made Simple and financial education curriculum.
Attendee Paul Gordon is a social worker and a wheelchair user. He spoke with Rep. Dean about how he benefitted from PATF’s services.
Paul needed to replace his van’s wheelchair lift so that he could continue to travel to work. With funding from the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and a loan from PATF, he was able to get a wheelchair lift installed in his van.
“Given the excellent condition of my van, replacing the wheelchair lift will provide years of service without having to purchase a new vehicle. This is a much more affordable option for me,” said Gordon.
The Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is offering a webinar in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Education for employers, workers, families, and advocates interested in understanding the application of Rehabilitation Act Section 511 and the protections it offers workers employed under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
WHD also recently published a new Field Assistance Bulletin, and this week published three fact sheets providing new guidance and clarification on these critical protections:
WHD is committed to protecting workers with disabilities — see their recently published blog, along with the Office of Disability Employment Policy, on Protecting the Rights of Workers with Disabilities and Advancing Competitive Integrated Employment. Additional information on Section 14(c) and Section 511 can be found on the DOL website.
Over the past 24 months, direct support professionals (DSP) have experienced high risks of infection, hardship, and exhaustion. Many have become ill and lost loved ones. The voices of DSPs and frontline supervisors matter now more than ever.
Show them you care about their wellbeing by sharing this confidential survey. The University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration, in partnership with the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals, developed this survey to better understand the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on direct support workers and identify the most effective ways to protect DSPs, frontline supervisors, and the people they support.
Please forward this survey to the direct support workers that you employ, including paid family members. Their answers will be anonymous. National and state-specific results from the survey will be shared widely in September 2022. Three earlier surveys were conducted by ICI and NADSP, and the results are available here. The new survey is for both direct support workers who completed an earlier survey and those who did not.
Complete the survey here. The survey closes on July 22, 2022.
Friday, July 22, 2022
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
The Kepro HCQU invites you to attend these free webinars:
LIVING THE GOOD LIFE: HAVING VALUED ROLES
Dr. Guy Caruso
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
2 Continuing Education Credits
THE POWER AND POTENCY OF SOCIAL CAPITAL
Dr. Al Condeluci
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
2 Continuing Education Credits
Target audience for this presentation includes psychologists, social workers, licensed professional counselors, nurses, and other professionals who support people with intellectual disability/autism (ID/A). A Question-and-Answer session will follow the presentation. Attendees may submit questions via the online Q&A chat.
See the flyer for more information, including registration instructions.
Theory to Practice:
Real World Applications of PBS Strategies
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is requesting proposals that focus on the lived experience of professionals who provide support for individuals on the autism spectrum to present at the 2022 Pennsylvania Autism Training Conference: #PATCImplement2022. We will be highlighting the concept of implementing Positive Behavioral Support (PBS) practices. We want to give you the opportunity to share your PBS experiences, challenges, and successes.
For more information, including instructions on how to submit your proposal, see the flyer.
ODP Announcement 22-075 is to obsolete ODP Announcement 20-069 and to provide guidance regarding Person/Family Directed Support (P/FDS) cap exceptions and rate impacts to the Community Living Waiver (CLW) plans. The announcement also provides the CAP Exception Request Template.
Promising Positive Practices to Address the Mental Health Treatment and Service Needs of People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Throughout the Lifespan
August 11, 2022
9:00 am – 12:15 pm
REGISTER
Session Description
In this 3-hour training, Dr. Joan Beasley will present best practices in mental health services and supports for people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities throughout the lifespan. The presentation will include the perspectives of people with lived experiences as well as practitioners. The START model will be presented to demonstrate the effective use of these practices in cross systems crisis prevention and intervention. See the flyer for more information.
Session 1
9:00 am – 10:30 am.
Topics include: lessons learned over the past 50 years; integrated health approach; humanistic engagement vs. behavior support; public health tertiary model; and positive psychology/positive medicine.
Session 2
10:45 am – 12:15 pm.
Topic: the START model.
What is the Dual Diagnosis Professional Conference Series?
The Department of Human Services’ Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) are pleased to announce the Dual Diagnosis Professional Conference Series, which offers presentations focused on supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism (ID/A) and mental health needs. The selected presenters share their expertise on best and promising practices as well as provide general knowledge. Session topics, which focus on increasing capacity to serve individuals with dual diagnosis in the community, are chosen based on identified needs and with input from the field of professional stakeholders.
The ODP Training Calendar for July 2022 is now available. The full listing of available trainings is below. Click the session title in the document to register, and be sure to keep up-to-date with schedule adjustments by checking emails from the ODP listservs.
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