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Authors Posts by Carol Ferenz

Carol Ferenz

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Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

ODP Announcement 23-050 announces the release of the Individual Support Plan (ISP) Manual that includes information from the Consolidated, Community Living, and Person/Family Directed Support waiver renewals that were effective on January 1, 2023. In addition, the Waiver Service Request Form (DP 1022-S) has been translated into Spanish and can be found on MyODP.

Attachment 1 and Attachment 8 should be used effective immediately and have been uploaded as the current attachments to ODP Bulletin 00-22-05 on the DHS Bulletin web page.

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The Information Sharing and Advisory Committee for the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) met this week. Brief updates were given regarding the employment symposiums that were held in coordination with ODP and the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) in April and May as well as Selective Contracting proposal activities. Reports were also given for ISAC Recommendation #10 Expand Options for Community Living, and for ISAC Recommendation #14 Promote Racial Equality.

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It has come to RCPA’s attention that individuals with disabilities lack choice and providers lack referrals due to the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) confusing service description for Benefits Counseling. In September of 2022, ODP sponsored 25 Pennsylvania employment support professionals representing 18 providers (five of whom are RCPA members) across the state to take part in training through Cornell University’s Work Incentive Practitioner Credential Program, which was facilitated by the K. Lisa Yang and Hock E. Tan Institute on Employment and Disability. Of the participating providers, only one is an Employment Network, suggesting that, once certified, 17 providers would be relying on referrals from ODP and the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) to provide the Benefits Counseling service.

Although ODP offers the service to Pennsylvanians in the Community Living, Consolidated, and PF/DS waivers, Benefits Counseling remains an underutilized service across the Commonwealth. This is not due to a lack of certified counselors, however. Since approximately 2008, language in the Benefits Counseling service description has stipulated the following rule:

“Benefits Counseling may only be provided after Benefits Counseling services provided by a Certified Work Incentives Counselor through a Pennsylvania-based federal Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) program were sought and it was determined and documented by the Supports Coordinator that such services were not available either because of ineligibility or because of wait lists that would result in services not being available within 30 calendar days” (ISP Manual updated 08/09/2022).

Please view the following document for more detailed information about this issue. Additionally, if any providers are also experiencing barriers to accessing the Benefits Counseling service due to ODP’s conditions, or for anyone interested in advocating for program participants to receive this valuable service in the manner of their choice, please reach out to Eileen Campbell, Benefits Counselor & Special Projects Coordinator at Lighthouse Vocational Services, via email or at (717) 354-0355.

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Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF) is proud to share their organization’s growth in their 2022–2023 Impact Report.

“Over the past year, we have successfully expanded our reach and developed innovative programs to meet the needs of people with disabilities and older adults, ensuring that they have access to the assistive technology (AT) and services they want.”

But that’s not all — 2023 marks a momentous occasion for Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF), as they celebrate their 25th anniversary! The Impact Report includes a timeline that details their amazing achievements in the disability community over the past quarter century.

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Statewide associations have been united in advocating for an increase of $430 million in state funds to the home and community-based waiver rates to offset the impact of actual inflation not included in these rates. This was in addition to the budget proposed by the Governor in March of this year. This $430 million in state funding would be matched by an additional $470 million in federal funding to the State.

HB 611 decreased the Governor’s proposal from March by $170 million for the Community Waiver line item, a decrease that represents the growing loss of services within our system. This decrease was a result of underutilization due to the lack of staffing, as individuals struggled to find providers available to support them in their communities.

The ID/A associations joined together to send a message to the General Assembly in a letter expressing our concerns for the viability of ID/A services in PA. Please share this letter with your legislators to ensure adequate funding for ID/A services.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) wants your feedback! The anonymous Supporting Families Survey seeks input from individuals who receive support from a Supports Coordinator (SC, also known as a case manager or case worker), and family members of people who receive support through an SC. The survey helps ODP learn if people and their families have the information and support they need. Your answers will help to improve services from ODP and local partners.

Why take the survey?

  • You can let ODP know your satisfaction with the support you and your family receive from the SC.
  • You can let ODP know other things that would be helpful for you and your family.
  • ODP will be able to prepare information and supports to meet your family’s and other families’ needs.

Visit here to fill out the survey in English or in Spanish.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has recently shared ODPANN 23-048: Required Communication Specialist Provider Qualification Training. The announcement provides guidance and information relating to a new qualification requirement that has been added to the Communication Specialist Service. This requirement will become effective January 1, 2024. This guidance is being released to give providers sufficient time to meet the new requirement.

All providers who wish to provide this service after January 1, 2024, must complete the Communication Specialist training provided on MyODP. This applies to Communication Specialists, Communication Specialists that are direct employees of an agency, and contracted employees of an agency.

Please review the announcement for additional information, including accessing the training course.

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