ANCOR White Paper Identifies Promising Payment Reform Pilots in Community I/DD Services
Carol Ferenz
Adult Protective Services Proposed Regulation Posted for Public Comment
A proposed regulation related to Adult Protective Services is currently posted on the Independent Regulatory Review Commission’s (IRRC) website. This proposed regulation “identifies mandatory reporters and prescribes penalties for their failure to report suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, or abandonment; requires consistent and timely investigations of allegations; and when necessary, provides for protective services to mitigate risk to individuals.”
The public comment period has started and will end on May 22, 2023. Please take the opportunity to review the proposed regulation and submit any comments that you may have following the processes outlined within the timeframe allotted. Consider sharing your thoughts with Carol Ferenz or your policy division director by May 19, 2023, for inclusion in RCPA’s comments.
PA OVR Request for Proposals for InVEST Project Deadline Extended
The date of submission for the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation’s (PA OVR) statewide Request for Proposals for the InVEST (Integrated Vocational Engagement & Support Team) Project, PA OVR’s Subminimum Wage to Competitive Integrated Employment (SWTCIE) Model Demonstration Grant, has been extended until Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at 2:00 pm. Interested parties should inquire through eMarketplace.
ODP Technology Taskforce Newsletter Volume 4, April 2023 Now Available
The Technology Today quarterly newsletter shares information, resources, events, and success stories from the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) Technology Taskforce. You can access the Volume 4, April 2023 newsletter here.
ODP 2023 Administrative Review Process Manual Now Available
ODP Announcement 23-034 serves to announce that the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has released an updated Administrative Review Process Manual. Agency Board of Directors and Human Rights committee members, Agency Administrative, Management and Risk Management staff, Administrative Entities (AEs), Supports Coordination Organizations (SCOs), Supports Coordinators (SCs), Direct Service Providers (DSPs), and Contracted Entities that are responsible for reviewing critical incident investigations as required under Incident Management Bulletin 00-21-02 and under Chapter 6100.404 Final Incident Report should all be familiar with the information contained in this manual.
All prospective and current Administrative Review Committee members and other administrative staff are required to be familiar with the Administrative Review process guidelines that are outlined in the manual and should review the entire 2023 Administrative Review Process Manual to ensure their understanding and use of the standards and protocols contained in it.
In order to align with Incident Management (IM) Bulletin 00-21-02 (effective July 1, 2021) and the Enterprise Incident Management (EIM) system, several new or expanded topics have been added to the manual. This document replaces the manual that was published in 2021.
If you have any questions regarding the 2023 Administrative Review Process Manual, please contact Taniqua Robinson at Temple University.
PADDC Requests Applications For Community Grants Program and LEAF Scholarships
Dual Diagnosis Conference to Be Held Virtually on May 18 — Register Today!
President’s Committee for People With Intellectual Disabilities Public Meeting — May 1
May 1, 2023
12:00 pm ET
The Committee will collectively discuss emerging Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) issues identified by four PCPID work groups in the areas of direct support professionals, employment, community living, and federal support programs. This discussion will help develop a general framework for the preparation of the PCPID Report to the President.
If requesting accommodations for meeting participation, please send an email request by April 17, 2023. Both ASL and CART will be provided during the meeting. Register here.
RSA Invites Applications for Improving Pre-Employment Transition Services for Youth With Disabilities
The U.S. Department of Education Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) is pleased to announce a notice inviting applications on April 5, 2023, for the Disability Innovation Fund Pathways to Partnerships Innovative Model Demonstration Project (Pathways to Partnerships), Assistance Listing Number 84.421E. The application deadline is June 5, 2023.
The Pathways to Partnership program is the largest discretionary grant administered by RSA, with an estimated $224 million available to fund multiple innovative model demonstration projects administered through partnerships among state vocational rehabilitation agencies, state or local education agencies, and centers for independent living focused on the creation of systemic approaches to improve access to pre-employment transition services for children and youth with disabilities.
As children and youth with disabilities move through the school system, many do not have exposure to self-advocacy training, careers, and independent living opportunities. This historical funding opportunity advances a key goal of the Biden-Harris Administration to pave a clear and robust path to independent living and competitive integrated employment as children and youth with disabilities transition from high school to postsecondary endeavors.
The Notice Inviting Applications and additional information, including the Application Package, can be found at the following resources:
- RSA website (link to the Federal Register Notice and additional information)
- NCRTM: OSERS will conduct a pre-application meeting specific to this competition on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at 2:00 pm ET to respond to questions. More details are forthcoming. Please continue to check for more information.
The teleconference information, including the 84.421E pre-application meeting summary of the questions and answers, will be available within six business days after the pre-application meeting. - GRANTS Government website (link to application package)
- QUESTIONS: OSERS invites you to send questions via email in advance of the pre-application meeting.
Reminder: Join ODP for the Employment Regional Symposium
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is inviting leadership professionals from Administrative Entities (AEs), Support Coordination Organizations (SCOs), Providers of Supported Employment Services and Day Habilitation, and Providers of Community Participation Support (CPS) to attend a 1-day Employment Symposium. The Symposium will be held regionally across the Commonwealth on April 25, May 4, and May 12 from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm with a boxed lunch provided.
The goals of the Regional Employment Symposium are to:
- Provide a platform for networking, information/resource sharing, and best practices for employer engagement;
- Identify strategies for engaging employers on the benefits of hiring people with disabilities using a dual-customer approach; and
- Initiate an improvement process by creating goals and best practices to reach and increase employment rates for people with disabilities.
Agenda:
10:00 am – 10:30 am
Opening Remarks by Kristin Ahrens, ODP Deputy Secretary, and Ryan Hyde, Executive Director for the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR)
10:30 am – 11:30 am
Panel discussion featuring an individual from that region with lived employment experience, along with their support team that got them to competitive integrated employment.
11:30 am – 12:00 pm
Small group discussions to network, share experiences of engaging in community integrated employment, resources, and tools.
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Lunch
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Keynote address: Cultivating Relationships With Employers, by Stephen Martynuska. Stephen is a consultant from Sheetz, Inc.
2:00 pm – 2:45 pm
Small group discussion with the opportunity to report out to the larger group on takeaways from the day, as well as sharing resources and tools for engaging employers.
2:45 pm – 3:00 pm
Closing remarks/wrap-up by Kristin Ahrens and Ryan Hyde.
Please register for the location nearest you. Only register for one session. You must complete a Demographics Form before selecting the session you wish to attend, and please identify any dietary restrictions or allergies on your Demographics Form. You must also indicate if you need accommodation(s) as addressed by the Americans With Disabilities Act. Reasonable efforts will be made to meet the need.
| Date | Venue | Registration Closes |
| April 25, 2023 10:00 am – 3:00 pm |
PaTTAN Central 6340 Flank Road Harrisburg, PA 17112 |
April 18, 2023 |
| May 4, 2023 10:00 am – 3:00 pm |
PaTTAN West 3190 William Pitt Way Pittsburgh, PA 15238 |
April 28, 2023 |
| May 12, 2023 10:00 am – 3:00 pm |
Bucks County Community College 275 Swamp Road Newtown, PA 18940 |
May 6, 2023 |
There is a limited number of seats at each location, and they will be filled on a first come, first served basis. In addition to your initial registration confirmation, you will receive an email with specific instructions about the location of the symposium one week prior to your scheduled event.
As a reminder, please be respectful of others. If you are not feeling well the day of the event, do not attend. Attendees are encouraged to wear a mask and maintain respectful distance from others so that everyone can participate and feel comfortable.
Prev