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Authors Posts by Carol Ferenz

Carol Ferenz

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0 1769

The College of Direct Support (CDS) is a nationally accredited, curriculum-based learning management system that provides tools for Direct Support Professionals, frontline supervisors, and managers supporting individuals with disabilities in community settings, as well as for self-advocates and their families, to create lives of independence and inclusion.

CDS is now offering a webinar for persons responsible for administering and assigning CDS courses who are interested in a refresher on maximizing their organization’s use of CSD. The topic is: DirectCourse Learning Management System Overview, to be held on Wednesday, May 23, 2018, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm.

  • Register here.
  • Read ODP’s announcement here.

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The Office of Long Term Living (OLTL) is inviting all interested parties to participate in a webinar that provides information on Certified Employment Support Professional (CESP) certification/credentialing. The growth in the number of individuals seeking CESP certification demonstrates the increased demand for training and consultation to educate and certify employment support professionals. These webinars will cover the basics of the CESP, including the upcoming changes to the test delivery to be given in a computer-based format. While information will be presented on the OLTL requirements on certification/credentialing, and the impact the requirements have on the certification of organizations and staff, these webinars should provide helpful information to ODP Stakeholders as well. The webinar will provide information about this certification, the process of becoming certified, the requirements, and the opportunities that exist for organizations to rise to this challenge.

The webinars will be presented by Ms. Kari Tietjen, CESP Director, National Association of People Supporting Employment. The OLTL requirements will be presented by Mr. Edward M. Butler, Employment Specialist, OLTL.

Please register here for the CESP Webinar on Monday, July 9, 2018, 1:00 PM EDT

Please register here for the CESP Webinar on Tuesday, July 10, 2018, 9:00 AM EDT

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. If you have questions regarding this email, please contact Edward M. Butler, OLTL, via email or call 717-214-3718. ODP Stakeholders with questions, please contact the Employment Leads in your region.

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Educational Provider Sessions are now scheduled in the Southeast Region to learn about Community HealthChoices (CHC). Several sessions have been scheduled throughout June in various locations.  Targeted provider groups include: home and community-based services, service coordinators and area agencies on aging (AAAs), behavioral health, physical health services, nursing facilities, and transportation providers.

JUNE 4–8 • PHILADELPHIA COUNTY
Temple University, Ritter Hall
1301 Cecil B. Moore Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19122

JUNE 18 • CHESTER COUNTY
West Chester University, Sykes Student Union
700 S High St, West Chester, PA 19382

JUNE 19 • DELAWARE COUNTY
Stay tuned for updates regarding the Delaware location

JUNE 20 • MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Montgomery County Community College, Central Campus
340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422

JUNE 21 • BUCKS COUNTY
Bucks County Community College, Newtown Campus
275 Swamp Rd, Newtown, PA 18940

Follow this link for more information and to register.

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Join advocates from across the state to advocate for fair funding for Pennsylvanians with disabilities. A rally will be held at the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg on Monday, June 4, 2018, at 10:45 am. Please spread the word to people with disabilities, family members, friends, disability organizations, and advocates.

Participating groups include:

  • PA House Autism & Intellectual Disability Caucus
  • Disability Rights Pennsylvania
  • Institute on Disabilities at Temple University
  • PAR
  • RCPA
  • Self Advocates United as 1
  • Speaking for Ourselves
  • The Arc of PA and its 33 Chapters
  • The PA Waiting List Campaign
  • The Provider Alliance
  • UCP of PA and Chapters
  • Vision for Equality

Please consider attending and bringing individuals you serve to help make our needs known. For more information, contact Maureen Cronin at The Arc of PA or call 717-234-2621.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has released a statistical report that is available for viewing online via the MyODP and DHS websites. This report enables individuals, families, advocates, providers, government officials, and taxpayers to see and measure how many individuals ODP services, what services are provided, where individuals live, and what the costs are associated with these services.

Information about ODP’s autism services are listed separately from IDD in some cases within the report. The Adult Autism Waiver and Adult Community Autism Program are administered directly by the Bureau of Autism Services and the information about these programs is tracked and measured through different processes.

In addition to this statistical report, ODP has pledged to publish an annual report based on the performance measures developed by ODP’s Information Sharing and Advisory Committee (ISAC). The performance measures are listed in Everyday Lives: Values in Action Information Sharing and Advisory Committee (ISAC) Recommendations, Strategies, and Performance Measures.

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ODP has issued a Communication Memo regarding changes in Money Follows the Person (MFP) funding for Start-up and Transition activities. MFP has historically offered one-time start-up funding to providers, to help defray costs associated with transitioning individuals from inpatient settings, as well as funding for supports coordination transition activities for up to 180 days prior to the person’s move. MFP funds have been exhausted and may no longer be used for these purposes.

There may still be funds available for start-up costs through non-MFP sources, and Ms. Agnes Rudolf, Fiscal Officer, should be contacted for questions regarding start-up funding.

Providers involved in transitioning individuals from the Hamburg State Center should continue to work with Mr. Jarred Ebert, Statewide Transition Coordinator, for matters relating to these individuals.

Supports Coordination Organizations should bill Targeted Services Management funding for transition activities as defined in ODP Bulletin 00-16-01.

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ODP Announcement # 040-18 contains guidance for creating fiscal year (FY) 2018/19 Individual Support Plans (ISPs). The following areas are covered in the communication:

  • Changes for FY 2018/19
  • P/FDS Individual Cap Exceptions
  • FY 2017/18 plans with 6 months or less service/date segments
  • Variance Approvals for FY 2018/19 including those for enhanced services
  • Residential Habilitation “With” and “Without Day”
  • Consolidated Waiver Licensed Residential Rate Exceptions
  • Auto Approval Rules and Manual Approval Override Checkbox
  • FY 2018/19 Waiver Rate Load
  • Community Participation Supports
  • Update Units on FY 2018/19 Renewals for Residential Habilitation Services
  • Changes to an Individual’s Needs Level/Needs Group
  • Reserve to Encumbrance (R2E)
  • Appendix A: Approval Rules

Please see the ODP Announcement for full details.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP), along with the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS), has announced the availability of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Instruction. Mental Health First Aid is an 8 hour educational program in use throughout the country to teach people how to identity, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders. The training gives you the skills you need to reach out and offer initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem, or experiencing a crisis.

This course does not teach you to be the professional, the therapist, or counselor. The course aims to take the fear and hesitation out of starting conversations about mental health and substance use problems by improving understanding and teaching people to safely and responsibly identify and address situations they may encounter.

Through this ODP/OMHSAS initiative, classes are being offered twice a month at varying locations throughout the state and are free to attend. You must register for classes through MyODP. For further information, use this link to ODP Communication 038-18.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) announced that there is now a hub for the Information Sharing and Advisory Committee (ISAC) on the MyODP Training and Resource Center online. ISAC is composed of stakeholders in the IDD system who come together to share information to and from ODP and to advise the Deputy about issues important to our stakeholders. ISAC members are expected to come with information from the group they represent and to share information form ODP learned at ISAC with their group. In order to enhance communication, ODP has created the ISAC hub.

To view the ISAC hub, you may create a MyODP account, or log in as a guest if you do not have an account. Currently, a calendar of scheduled meetings, agenda and topic items from the April 11, 2018 meeting, a folder for previous meeting materials, and the Everyday Lives booklet and recommendations are posted on the hub. Agenda items and presentation materials will continue to be posted for future ISAC meetings. Some materials may be limited to ISAC members only. View the ODP Announcement regarding the hub here.

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