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Authors Posts by Carol Ferenz

Carol Ferenz

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Photo by MChe Lee on Unsplash

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared a new policy issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) that allows students who are eligible under federal IDEA to access a Free and Appropriate Public Education until their 22nd birthday. This means if a student would have traditionally exited from high school during or after the school term in which they turned 21 years of age, they now may remain in school until their 22nd birthday. This includes students that exited during or after the 2022/23 school term. Students can be reenrolled by contacting the school that the student will attend in the 2023/24 school term as soon as possible and requesting reenrollment.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your school district. If you require additional assistance from PDE, please send your request via email to PDE.

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Message from ODP Deputy Secretary Kristin Ahrens:

It is a great source of pride for me that my career in this field began with work as a direct support professional (DSP). More than 30 years ago I was a DSP, first in a private family home and then in residential programs. I know firsthand how difficult the work can be, how exhausting it can be when pulled in to work extra shifts because of staffing shortages. I also know how rewarding it can be when you support someone to live life the way they want or help them achieve something they have worked for, no matter how big or small that achievement is.

The work of DSPs is challenging work. Here in the commonwealth, with our commitment to the vision of Everyday Lives for people with disabilities, we ask a great deal of our DSPs. We ask DSPs to support people with their often complicated medical and behavioral needs and with their physical, social and emotional needs. We ask DSPs to assist people to develop and maintain meaningful relationships with others in the community. We ask DSPs to support people, regardless of how high their support needs are, to live Everyday Lives like any other Pennsylvanian.

With this background, I am pleased to share with you Governor Shapiro’s proclamation that September 10-16 is Direct Support Professional Week honoring the profession and DSPs throughout the commonwealth.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared a recent announcement that provides eligible providers with the application to receive supplemental funds as part of the ongoing systemic recovery of services for people with an intellectual disability and autism. You can view the announcement here. Eligible providers who are interested in receiving these supplemental payments must complete the application and submit it to Rick Smith by September 30, 2023.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared the following recall information announced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA):

Dr. Berne’s Whole Health Products is recalling all lots of MSM DROPS 5% 15% Solution, Dr. Berne’s Organic Castor Oil Eye Drops, and Dr. Berne’s MSM MIST 15% Solution because FDA analysis has found one lot (lot 6786) of Dr. Berne’s MSM DROPS 5% Solution to fail sterility, with both bacterial and fungal contamination found in the product. Out of an abundance of caution, Dr. Berne’s is recalling all other lots of the 5% and 15% strengths of MSM Solution and all lots of Dr. Berne’s Organic Castor Oil Eye Drops and Dr. Berne’s MSM MIST 15% Solution. These products are used as lubricating eye drops.

RISK STATEMENT: Using contaminated eye drops could result in minor to serious vision-threatening infection, which could possibly progress to a life-threatening infection. To date, Dr. Berne’s has received 2 reports of adverse events related to this recall.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

  • Consumers should contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to using this drug product.
  • Consumers/distributors/retailers that have product which is being recalled should stop using and return to the company Sun Star Organics.
  • Consumers with questions regarding this recall can contact Dr. Berne’s Whole Health Products.

Further information is available here.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has shared that the latest edition of the Positive Approaches Journal is now available!

Understanding the Complexities of Behavioral Phenotypes and How to Support People

This issue of the Positive Approaches Journal shares insights from several expert and skilled clinicians into biological and genetic conditions which have been associated with behavioral phenotypes, including fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, autism, and Down syndrome (Trisomy 21). The field of intellectual and developmental disabilities in general has recognized various characteristic patterns of behavior for various conditions long before the term behavioral phenotype, or even the modern understanding of genetics, was developed. Those familiar with the historical aspects of the field are well aware that past attempts to characterize patterns in those with conditions or syndromes at times contributed to mischaracterizations and to damaging stereotypes of individuals. 

This issue of Positive Approaches Journal is in digital form, available for viewing online or for downloading here. To print a copy of the PDF, online journal, or a specific article, you will find these options within your left navigation bar on any Positive Approaches Journal page. A new window will open with your selected document. In your browser, you may click the Print button in the top left corner of the page, or by using the Print capability within your browser.

Please submit feedback regarding your experience with the Positive Approaches Journal on MyODP. The Positive Approaches Journal is published quarterly. For additional information, please contact ODP Training’s inbox.

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Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

Adult Autism Waiver (AAW) and Adult Community Autism Program (ACAP) providers are invited to sign up for a scheduled one-on-one virtual office hour to discuss incident management topics with ODP-BSASP. Providers may sign up for one 30-minute session, and multiple staff from the provider may join at the provider’s discretion. Topics for discussion may include: provider-specific IM issues or concerns; EIM reports; general questions about certified investigations; brainstorming ideas of how to improve “performance” related IM tasks; review of provider IM data and compliance; and discussion of provider trends.

We encourage AAW providers and ACAP to take advantage of this opportunity. Sessions are offered in 30-minutes intervals and are on a first-come, first-served basis. The first session is scheduled to begin at 12:30 pm on Wednesday, September 13. To register, visit here. Be sure to complete all required information to reserve a time slot.

Please contact the Provider Support Inbox with questions.

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Don’t wait any longer — time is running out to take advantage of the early bird registration rate for the 2023 RCPA Annual Conference A Decade of Unity! Early bird rates end Friday, September 8, 2023. You can view our registration brochure to see our exciting lineup of sessions, keynote speakers, and activities, including networking and Connections Hall events, as well as information on booking your hotel room. Complete the brochure and reserve your seat at the early bird discount rate today!

We also wish to extend our thanks to those organizations that have already contributed and shown their support! Please note that all exhibitor booths have been reserved! However, you can still sponsor and advertise by completing our sponsor/exhibitor brochure today! 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. If questions remain, please contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator.

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Students with disabilities in Pennsylvania will now receive free support through the public education system for an additional year beyond what current policy dictates, The Associated Press reported. Under a settlement announced Thursday, the state’s Department of Education will change its policy to allow students with disabilities to continue in K-12 public education until they turn 22. Previously, students would age out of the program at the end of the school year, during which they turned 21. Students who turned 21 during the 2022/23 school year and were considered to have aged out will also have the option to re-enroll in public school this year, according to the settlement. The new policy takes effect September 5.

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RCPA members are encouraged to participate in the ID/A Workforce Compensation study conducted by and in collaboration with the Center for Healthcare Solutions described below. The Center for Healthcare Solutions performed the survey that we supported last year, as well. This study is being done jointly with several other statewide and regional associations, and we are hoping that providers across Pennsylvania will participate in order to provide adequate data for use in advocacy efforts to improve conditions for our workforce. This also presents an opportunity to have comparative data.

The scope of this survey and the report generated from it will address compensation practices for 46 positions, including Direct Support Professionals (DSP), supports coordinators, frontline supervisors, clinical positions, program specialists, facilities staff, and administrative personnel. It will also provide data on staff vacancies and turnover that continues to impact care and services across Pennsylvania.

Any ID/A employer in Pennsylvania is eligible to participate in the survey and will receive the published report, which will also be provided to the Pennsylvania Office of Developmental Programs. As always, CFHS follows all FTC/DOJ guidelines to de-identify data and maintain confidentiality. If you are a member of multiple associations, you only need to complete the survey once.

Two files are included: the input form and the general instructions for filling out the input form. Completed surveys may be emailed to Steve Forest or uploaded via SFTP (information included in the instructions) by Friday, September 22. The published report is expected to be issued on Friday, October 6.

Additionally, a workshop has been scheduled for Thursday, September 7, at 10:00 am to review the survey and assist participants in its completion. To register for this workshop, please visit here.

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