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Authors Posts by Carol Ferenz

Carol Ferenz

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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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System For Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities, Autism Will Collapse Without Increased State Aid, Advocates Say
Health, human services organizations ask General Assembly for $430 million increase to stop further termination of programs, closure of facilities

HARRISBURG, Pa. (May 3, 2023) – Advocates for and providers of services for individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism (ID/A) today urged the Pennsylvania General Assembly to increase state aid by $430 million to prevent a full collapse of the system. Prominent health and human services organizations gathered in the Capitol rotunda and said chronic underfunding and staffing shortages are forcing them to end programs and turn away individuals.

The $430 million funding request would generate a federal match that would allow providers to resume service to the 4,029 individuals who lost care in recent years. Without the 15-percent increase, providers say that 60,000 Pennsylvanians with ID/A would be at risk of losing or experiencing a reduction of essential services [read full press release].

 

 

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Join RCPA as we host the 2023 Annual Conference, A Decade of Unity: Enhancing Lives and Shaping the Future, October 10–13. RCPA staff and the Conference Committee are excited to return to the Hershey Lodge, as we have new opportunities for sponsors and exhibitors to showcase their services! Be sure to complete the Sponsors, Exhibitors, and Advertisers brochure to reserve your spot, as space and opportunities are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.

We already have a growing number of sponsors and exhibitors and wish to recognize the following organizations for their contributions and support for what is shaping up to be a packed week of sessions and events!

Platinum
Carelon Logo
SilverMagellan Healthcare LogoBronze
CBH LogoSupporting

Berks Counseling Center Logo

PatronExhibitors
Butler Human Services Furniture Logo

As a reminder, sponsors, exhibitors, and advertisers who wish to be listed on the website, the mobile app, and in the conference program must submit all materials by September 8. In order to be considered for booth self-selection, a completed contract with payment must be submitted, and no reservation is considered complete without payment. If questions remain, please contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator.

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Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Administrative Entities are asked to assist the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) in achieving the request below of all Supports Coordinators. Please keep the survey available and ensure that SCOs are providing the information as requested.

Supports Coordinators have been asked to provide the following information to the individuals and their families at any contact in May and June 2023.

  • Digital Version of Supporting Families Survey — This could be emailed and includes the link to the survey as well as the QR code to access the survey.
  • Printable Version of Supporting Families Survey — This could be printed and mailed and includes the QR code to access the survey.
  • Texting — The QR code itself could also be texted by itself; the information on the flyers is included on the first page of the survey.

For Those Who Need Help Taking the Survey:

Both flyers explain how to request help taking the survey by sending an email to ODP outreach. Once a request is received, the person will be called by a member of the PA Community of Practice (CoP) for Supporting Families Leadership Team. They will be asked the questions over the phone, and the person assisting will enter their responses. This is a great opportunity for people who have limited or no access to the internet.

The survey was developed by the PA CoP for Supporting Families Leadership Team as the measure for our Quality Management Plan for Supporting Families. The results of the 2021 survey showed that 70% of families have the information and support that they need when and how they need it. In 2023, we hope to learn more about how people want to receive support and topics of information across all life domains that people would find helpful. It is hoped that this survey will help ODP, Supports Coordinators and Organizations, as well as Administrative Entities to know more about how to support people in the context of their families.

If you would like further information about the CoP for Supporting Families or the Quality Management Plan and/or survey, please contact Candida Walton.

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Technology for All
Thursday, June 15, 2023
9:00 am – 12:30 pm

Technology For All invites you to register for its free technology summit on June 15, 2023. Technology For All is a technology training consortium who aims to increase technology literacy for individuals with disabilities and their families. Keynote speakers include:

Dr. Shea Tanis

Dr. Tanis is a well-respected professor from the University of Kansas. Her research is focused on how technology can benefit people with disabilities. As the Director of the Project of National Significance, State of the States, she is an expert on “Technology for All” projects in more than 15 states across the US. Dr. Tanis will discuss how technology is disrupting all aspects of our lives and the impact it can have on people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. She will explore how technology can provide new opportunities and support for individuals with disabilities to live more independently, work more effectively, and participate more fully in their communities.

Dr. Michael Gamel-McCormick

Michael Gamel-McCormick, PhD, is the Disability Policy Director for Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania. He held a similar position in the office of Sen. Tom Harkin, as well as being Sen. Harkin’s senior education staffer. He began his career as an early childhood education teacher, teaching in inclusive settings. He also was a special education technical assistance provider for over 40 counties and cities in Virginia. For 15 years, he was a professor and dean at the University of Delaware as well as the director of the university’s Center for Disabilities Studies. He earned his doctorate in human development and education from Virginia Commonwealth University, his masters in family and school counseling from the University of Wisconsin, and his B.S. in early childhood education and B.A. in psychology from the University of Delaware.

Other session topics include:

  • Artificial Intelligence, ChatGPT;
  • Smart Homes, Part 1;
  • How do you obtain funding for tech;
  • Remote Supports (staff are just a phone call away);
  • VoiceIT communication translator for people with hard to understand speech;
  • Staying safe on the internet; and
  • Using technology to get and keep a job.

Learn More and Register

See the flyer for more information.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) Technology Task Force is seeking input from providers about the use of Remote Supports, Assistive Technology, Teleservices, and Video Monitoring. The information collected will develop baseline data and inform future decisions related to supportive technology. We would like to thank all providers that have participated in the survey so far. We have extended the deadline so that all providers may have a chance to participate.

This brief survey should take approximately 5–10 minutes to complete. Please include information for all individuals served and for all service locations throughout your organization. Once collected, ODP plans to publish the results for all stakeholders.

The survey will close on Friday, May 5, 2023, at 4:00 pm.

Thank you for your participation.

To complete the survey, please use this link.

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Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

The Department of Health has updated “Recommendations Regarding the Monovalent and Bivalent mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines.” A summary of these updates include:

  • The FDA announced on April 18, 2023, that it had rescinded the authorization for the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech and monovalent Moderna COVID-19 vaccines and that the bivalent Pfizer-BioNTech and bivalent Moderna vaccines are now authorized for all doses for individuals 6 months and older.
  • The FDA authorization for the Novavax vaccine is unchanged.
  • The definition of up-to-date for COVID-19 vaccination was simplified, and now all individuals 6 years and older who have received a single dose of a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of past history of receiving monovalent COVID-19 vaccine, are considered up-to-date.
  • Children 6 months through 4 years of age who are unvaccinated may receive a 2-dose series of the Moderna bivalent or a 3-dose series of the Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent vaccine.
  • Children who are 5 years old and are unvaccinated may receive 2 doses of the Moderna bivalent vaccine or 1 dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent vaccine.
  • Children 6 months to 5 years of age who received one, two, or three doses of monovalent COVID-19 vaccine may receive bivalent vaccine, but the number of doses that they receive will depend upon the vaccine given and their vaccination history.
  • Individuals 65 and older and those with certain immunocompromising conditions may choose to receive an additional dose of the bivalent Pfizer-BioNTech or bivalent Moderna vaccine.
  • If you have any questions, please call PA DOH at 877-PA-HEALTH (877-724-3258) or your local health department.

You can view the entire health advisory here.

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