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The Board of Directors of Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania is pleased to announce the hiring of a new President and Chief Executive Officer, Monique McIntosh. Monique becomes the eighth Goodwill SWPA Chief Executive since its founding in 1919.

Monique joins Goodwill SWPA from her most recent position as the Chief Program Officer of YWCA Greater Pittsburgh, where she has served in various leadership capacities, including Co-Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Administrative Officer. She currently manages organization programs and evaluation in her role as Chief Program Officer. Previous to her leadership of the YWCA, she served as Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh’s Vice President of Programs and Services. In each of these roles, she expanded the reach and effectiveness of the organization.

Monique is a member of The Forbes Fund Advisory Council and United Way of Southwestern PA Women’s Leadership Council Diversity Work Group. Monique serves on the Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation Board, where she chairs the Development Committee and the Sixth Economic Empowerment Development Corporation Board. She also serves as an Advisory Committee member for the Homewood Community Development Collaborative and a Core Team member for the Homewood Comprehensive Community Plan, formally adopted into the city’s Comprehensive Plan. She is an Advisory Committee member for the University of Pittsburgh Community Engagement Center. Monique received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Education from Penn West California.

Monique succeeds Michael Smith, who retired last fall after serving as Goodwill SWPA’s President/CEO for 20 years. She will officially begin in her new role on March 1, 2023. Monique represents a considerable step forward for Goodwill SWPA and its commitment to integrating diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging into how they function, as the first woman and person of color to lead the organization.

Goodwill SWPA is a diversified nonprofit human service agency that serves southwestern Pennsylvania and north central West Virginia and manages several affiliate units and special-purpose entities, including Goodwill Commercial Services, Inc. and Mission Logistics, LLC. The agency operates 34 retail stores and several other businesses to help fund programs and to provide job training, education and related services to help people overcome employment barriers. The organization serves over 10,000 adults and youth annually while employing over 1,000 people with an annual budget of over $60 million.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) invite provider agencies enrolled to deliver the following services to complete a survey on employment services:

  • Supported Employment;
  • Advanced Supported Employment/Customized Employment; and/or
  • Pre-Employment Transition Services.

Information gathered from the survey on staffing, training, service options, and coordination may influence the provision of employment services funded by ODP and/or OVR for people with disabilities.

This approximately 10 minute survey is voluntary. Responses may be submitted anonymously. The survey should be completed by provider staff responsible for hiring, training, and programmatic decision-making.

This survey will remain open until close of business February 10, 2023. You can complete the survey here.

RCPA has partnered with several other ID/A associations to develop a unified budget ask to send to Governor Shapiro. RCPA, The Provider’s Alliance, The Arc of PA, PAR, MAX, and The Alliance sent a letter asking the governor to include $430 million in the 2023/24 state general fund budget proposal to significantly improve the wage rates for the Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who provide care to individuals with ID/A. This funding, along with its federal match, is crucial because the ID/A system is in crisis. Nearly 60,000 Pennsylvanians with ID/A are at risk of losing or experiencing a reduction of essential services because there are not enough DSPs to care for them. The letter outlines several specific challenges in the ID/A system.

The letter was also sent to Dana Fritz, Chief of Staff; Lindsey Mauldin, Deputy Chief of Staff; The Honorable Uri Monson, Secretary of the Budget; The Honorable Akbar Hossain, Secretary of Policy and Planning; The Honorable Mike Vereb, Secretary of Legislative Affairs; and The Honorable Valerie Arkoosh, Secretary, Department of Human Services.

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The PA House Republican leadership team has just announced committee chairs for the 2023/24 season. You can view the full listing below:

  • Rep. Steve Mentzer (R-Lancaster) – Aging and Older Adult Services
  • Rep. Dan Moul (R-Adams) – Agriculture and Rural Affairs
  • Rep. Seth Grove (R-York) – Appropriations
  • Rep. Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-Northumberland/Montour) – Children and Youth
  • Rep. Joe Emrick (R-Northampton) – Commerce
  • Rep. Jim Marshall (R-Beaver) – Consumer Affairs
  • Rep. Jesse Topper (R-Bedford/Fulton) – Education
  • Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter) – Environmental Resources and Energy
  • Rep. Kate Klunk (R-York) – Ethics
  • Rep. Keith Greiner (R-Lancaster) – Finance
  • Rep. David Maloney (R-Berks) – Game and Fisheries
  • Rep. Russ Diamond (R-Lebanon) – Gaming Oversight
  • Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren/Crawford/Forest) – Health
  • Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) – Human Services
  • Rep. Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Wyoming) – Insurance
  • Rep. Rob Kauffman (R-Franklin) – Judiciary
  • Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-Lehigh) – Labor and Industry
  • Rep. Mindy Fee (R-Lancaster) – Liquor Control
  • Rep. R. Lee James (R-Venango/Crawford) – Local Government
  • Rep. Aaron Kaufer (R-Luzerne) – Government Oversight
  • Rep. Carl Walker Metzger (R-Somerset) – Professional Licensure
  • Rep. Brad Roae (R-Crawford/Erie) – State Government
  • Rep. Donna Oberlander (R-Armstrong/Clarion) – Tourism and Recreational Development
  • Rep. Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin) – Transportation
  • Rep. Rich Irvin (R-Franklin/Huntingdon) – Urban Affairs
  • Rep. Mark Gillen (R-Berks) – Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness

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Step By Step is delighted to announce Lynn Miller has become their Vice President of Business and Program Development.

Eric Lindey, President/CEO of Step By Step shared: “We are thrilled to have Lynn join the Step By Step team! Her work throughout Pennsylvania and the US is well documented and we look forward to developing new services and partnerships with other providers that will continue our mission under Lynn’s direction.”

Lynn most recently served as the national senior justice/WRAP associate and consultant at Advocates for Human Potential. Prior to joining Advocates for Human Potential, Lynn accepted the state’s first position as the Department of Correction’s Mental Health Advocate, where she was responsible for advising the Secretary of Corrections on improvements to the prison’s behavioral health care services, including services for individuals with intellectual disabilities and dually diagnosed individuals. Lynn also served as the Chief of Staff in the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS).

Lynn has a Bachelor of Science degree in behavioral science and earned her Master of Health Education degree from the Pennsylvania State University. She is also a member of the state’s trauma informed initiative, which is intended to guide the Commonwealth and service providers on what it means to be trauma-informed and healing-centered.

RCPA extends our sincere congratulations to Ms. Miller and we look forward to working with you!