RCPA Member Venango Welcomes New Production Operations Director
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PA House Panel OKs Minimum Wage Hike on Party-line Vote
DHS Licensing Administration Updates Certificate of Compliance Process for Providers
The DHS Licensing Administration wishes to provide important information about procedural updates related to the issuance of renewal Certificates of Compliance. In August 2022, the renewal process was updated to require the Civil Rights Compliance Attestation (HS2125) be submitted together with the renewal application to Licensing Administration. Feedback with this procedure change has been favorable.
In reviewing their procedure for issuing the renewal Certificates of Compliance, the Licensing Administration has found that a significant number of providers request changes to their licenses after a renewal has been issued but before the current license expired. This adds an increase in processing time, as the administration then must revise the unexpired license and reissue the renewed license. As a result, it slows down the process to issue the other renewals in queue. Therefore, the procedure has changed. The renewal Certificates of Compliance will not be issued until the current Certificate of Compliance is within 30 days of expiration. This procedural change will better facilitate the timely and accurate issuance of renewal Certificates of Compliance.
Below are a few reminders:
- The Bureau of Equal Opportunity no longer issues an approval letter after submission of the Civil Rights Compliance (CRC) Attestation (HS2125). The renewed Certificate of Compliance verifies that the CRC Attestation (HS2125) was accepted/approved.
- The Civil Rights Compliance Attestation (HS2125) can be found here.
- Licensing Administration frequently uses email for communication, including emailing of the Certificate of Compliance. Therefore, Licensing Administration must be notified of email changes. The renewal application should also include current email addresses.
- When contacting Licensing Administration, please include the following in the subject line of the email: REASON – AGENCY/FACILITY NAME – LICENSE/CERTIFICATE NUMBER. The reason can be RENEWAL, QUESTION, REQUEST, REVISION, etc.
- The contact information for each Program Office served by Licensing Administration is as follows:
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- Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF): Email | 717-787-9763
- Office of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS): Email | 717-703-0006
- Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL/BHSL) – Personal Care Homes & Assisted Living Residences: Email | 717-705-0382
- Office of Developmental Programs (ODP): Email | 717-787-6958
- Licensing Administration Director: Email | 717-705-6954
ID/A Associations Respond to HB 611’s Proposed Decrease to Waiver Funding
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.
Reminder: Supporting Families Survey is Open Through June 30
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.
Supreme Court Hands Down ‘Major Victory’ For Disability Rights
Required Communication Specialist Provider Qualification Training Announced
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.
RCPA Member Vista Autism Services Welcomes New CEO, Nze Obinelo
Invitation to Apply for the Capacity Building Institute Extended to June 23
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) shared the reissued communication Invitation to Apply for the Capacity Building Institute Year 7 (CBI7). The last day to submit an interest survey to join the Year 7 Cohort is now June 23, 2023.
Each person must complete the CBI Year 7 Interest Survey by June 23, 2023, in order to express interest and confirm their ability to attend all sessions. There are a limited number of spaces available for participants. All applicants will be notified through email in mid-July as to their admission status.
Please review the communication for additional information relating to cost and attendance.
Tobacco Recovery Lunch-and-Learn Set for July 27
Tobacco-related illness is a leading cause of death for people in substance use disorder and mental health recovery. In response, the Pennsylvania Recovery Organizations Alliance and the State Tobacco Recovery Free Initiative are hosting a virtual tobacco recovery lunch and learn at 12:00 pm Thursday, July 27, for anyone interested in tobacco recovery.
Registration is required. Registrants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Recognizing the range of tobacco and nicotine addiction severity, this session will teach participants about individualized replacement coping skills. It also will help participants to define the physical, behavioral, and emotional reasons individuals smoke and develop an individualized approach to managing tobacco-free living.
Discussion will focus on:
- Understanding the nature of tobacco addiction;
- Ways to relieve craving and withdrawal;
- Proactive strategies to adapt to behavior change; and
- Identification of how to support family members who use tobacco.
Tony Klein, MPA, NCACII, is the presenter. He has more than 30 years of administrative and clinical experience in behavioral health services and is known for his work as an advocate for addressing tobacco use disorder by using evidence-based practice guidelines anchored in solution-focused recovery principles.
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