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Authors Posts by Carol Ferenz

Carol Ferenz

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OVR is seeking information to refine its “Request for Proposals” for the InVEST (Integrated Vocational Engagement & Support Team) Project.

Pennsylvania’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) would like to hear from interested parties about the management of services delivered through the Integrated Vocational Engagement and Support Team (InVEST) Project. The goal of the InVEST Project is to provide services and supports to individuals and their families, community businesses, and providers in successfully transitioning individuals receiving subminimum wage to competitive integrated employment (CIE). Additionally, the InVEST Project aims to address barriers to CIE for individuals with disabilities in a person-centered, strengths-based and community-integrated approach by using the Charting the LifeCourse (CtLC) Framework and tools.

One step in achieving this goal was issuance of a “Request for Proposals” in March 2023 for the Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) 84.421D Subminimum Wage to Competitive Integrated Employment Grant (SWTCIE). The “Request for Proposals” sought an entity to manage the delivery of services included in the InVEST Project throughout the 5-year term of the project.

Please, join us on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at 9:00 am for a Supplier Forum. Registration is required; please use this link for additional information. An RSVP to the supplier forum is due via email to Nicole Moyer by COB Monday, May 15, 2023.

Questions: Contact Nicole Moyer at 717-346-7667 or via email.

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DSPs are a vital part of agencies everywhere.

MITC is awarding $5,000 in September to Direct Support Professionals (DSP) who stand out and go above and beyond to provide exemplary service. MITC values the hard work put forth by DSPs every day and is hoping to show our appreciation through these prizes!

Your participation is important — it shows DSPs that you appreciate their hard and, at times, dangerous work. Three prizes will be awarded:

  • First place prize of $3,000
  • Second place prize of $1,500
  • Third place prize of $500

We will share the awardees’ stories with providers. The winners will be announced during DSP Recognition Week in September 2023.

The deadline to nominate a DSP is August 1, 2023.

Nominate Your DSP

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The COVID-19 Mitigation Unit is currently evaluating devices that can eliminate viruses, bacteria, mold, and other pathogens from air and surfaces simultaneously. The devices could be stand-alone or wall mounted, utilize a standard outlet for power, and would come with 2 years of supplies that may be needed to run the device.

If funding is approved, the Department of Health (DOH) would purchase and distribute the devices free of charge to small businesses, nonprofit entities, healthcare providers, and other facilities throughout the Commonwealth to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, flu, and other diseases. If you are interested in receiving a device that could greatly reduce viruses, bacteria, mold, and other pathogens in your facility, please complete this application. The deadline for applications is May 31, 2023.

Currently, the application is being used to gauge interest in receiving a device, and those who complete the application are not guaranteed a device; however, the application must be accurately completed in order to be considered when and if funding becomes available. At that point, DOH would reach out to the facilities chosen to receive devices to confirm delivery details and provide an approval notice. Devices will be awarded based on the amount of funding available and on a first come first served basis. DOH will also consider factors such as foot traffic versus square footage and COVID-19 risk in the community served, prioritizing underserved communities.

If you are interested, please complete this application. Feel free to email with any questions.

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Orchid Phoenix is an annual virtual tabletop exercise (VTTX) facilitated by the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) to improve the understanding of emergency response concepts, identify opportunities or problems for your program, and build organizational, systemic resiliency.

Previously, participation was only available to Intermediate Care Facilities (ICF). For this year, ODP is expanding Orchid Phoenix and invites the following organizations to participate:

  • ICF facilities;
  • ICF provider organizations; and
  • Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) provider organizations.

The exercise time commitment will be for one four-hour period during the last two weeks of August 2023. ODP will ensure that the four-hour time commitment is respected. Once the call for participants is closed and the number of interested organizations is known, you will receive additional communication to schedule a specific date and time.

The call for participants for the 2023 Orchid Phoenix VTTX will close on June 30, 2023, at 5:00 pm. Please submit your interest in participation here.

The 2023 Orchid Phoenix VTTX will be a group discussion-based and mediator-facilitated exercise that will focus on four key target capabilities: Planning, Operational Coordination, Situational Awareness, and Critical Transportation.

  • Participating organizations will be presented with an evolving scenario that summarizes key events occurring within a defined time period.
  • Participating organizations will engage representatives from within their organization for a functional group discussion to identify an organizational response and think critically about unmet needs or future concerns.
  • Each participating organization will share a summary of their functional group discussion to the other participating organizations.

Questions and concerns about the 2023 Orchid Phoenix VTTX or this communication may be directed to Douglas Trahey, MPA, Emergency Preparedness and Response Coordinator.

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In 2020, the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) Bureau of Supports for Autism and Special Populations (BSASP) clinical team implemented a triage process to prioritize clinical support for participants and teams with high-risk needs. Currently, those participants deemed high-risk are assigned one clinical rep to consult with teams and ensure continuity of support. All other participant teams reach out to the clinical team as needed, but the clinical rep varies depending on the need at that time. The triage process remains fluid, and as participant’s needs change, risks increase, or new concerns arise, so will the level of clinical support. The triage levels are determined by multiple factors, including the information identified within the Periodic Risk Evaluation (PRE) and incident history. This triage process only applies to the ODP-BSASP Clinical Team and does not change any involvement, operational processes, or responsibilities of the Regional Office and the Regional Office Representatives.

New AAW Clinical Referral Process

In an effort to maximize the clinical team resources and triage team needs efficiently, the clinical team is implementing a new referral process for participant teams in the Adult Autism Waiver (AAW) in need of clinical support effective May 15, 2023. This new process will require Supports Coordinators (SCs) to complete an online form to share information about the type of support requested. View the full announcement here. The referral form is titled Referral for ODP/BSASP Consult for AAW Participants.

If you have any questions about this communication or process, please contact the Provider Support inbox.

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The transition from student to adult services is often referred to as a “cliff” where many needed services and service providers “drop off.” For individuals with complex communication needs, this often results in regression or stalled progress in communication, right when it is arguably more important to quality of life than ever. Penn State Health has focused their efforts on addressing this gap, teaching adults with limited functional communication to be able to communicate more with high tech augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). While providing outpatient speech and language therapy and applied behavior analysis services in their clinic, they then noticed another gap in services. The direct support professionals, parents, and other caretakers supporting the patients on a daily basis often had limited experience, knowledge, and confidence using the AAC themselves with the person they were supporting. In response to this concern, Penn State Health has been building resources to help caregivers become confident, competent communication partners using the AAC. They have been developing models of education and training that meet caretakers where they are, acknowledging their time and capacity limits. With these efforts, they hope to hear the voices of many more adults in this population – not just in the clinic, but also in the community.

Tuesday, June 30, 2023
10:00 am – 11:30 am
Register Here
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