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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 24-032. The purpose of this announcement is to communicate that the Administrative Review (AR) Course, which includes an online module and a live virtual case study session, is now available. All entities that complete investigations are required to conduct the AR process, as outlined in the AR Manual. This course is offered as an opportunity to support entities to complete high-quality ARs that help mitigate risks to individuals receiving services. Please view the announcement for information and details.

Photo by Chris Montgomery on Unsplash

Full Diagnosis: Impact of Trauma, Physical Health, and Metabolic Health
Virtual Event
May 22 – 23, 2024

The Pennsylvania Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) invite you to save the date for the statewide Dual Diagnosis Conference. This year’s two-day conference will be held virtually. Nationally recognized speakers will provide perspectives on the impact of trauma, physical health, and metabolic health. Schedule and registration information will be available soon!

Visit the Dual Diagnosis Conference website for more information.

The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) has issued Licensing Alert 05-2024 to provide and organize guidance on the interpretation and implementation of regulatory licensing requirements for staff education, training, and supervision, as well as client-to-staff/counselor ratios for drug and alcohol treatment providers.

DDAP has issued individual licensing alerts over time that focus on specific regulation topics. This licensing alert organizes previous relevant active licensing alerts, as well as provide additional guidance for Chapter 704 staffing regulations.

Licensing Alert 05-2024 is available online.

Join RCPA for an afternoon of golf on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. The event will be held in support of the RCPA PAC and take place at a new location this year — the Colonial Golf & Tennis Club in Harrisburg, PA. Lunch will be at 11:30 am, with a shotgun start at 1:00 pm. Register to attend today!

We hope you will consider becoming a sponsor in support of this fundraiser. Sponsorship will allow your company to receive name recognition. We hope we can count on our support for this event.

Not a golfer but would still like to support the RCPA PAC? For your convenience, you can now make a personal online contribution, which will provide financial support to state legislators or representatives who have demonstrated a strong, consistent, and positive interest in our legislative priorities. If you are interested in learning more about the RCPA PAC or donating, please visit our website or email Jack Phillips, Director of Government Affairs.

We look forward to seeing you on the golf course!

The PA Department of Health (PA DOH) Bureau of Family Health has announced a funding opportunity for community-based, non-profit organizations. From March 21, 2024, through April 25, 2024, PA DOH will be soliciting applications for the Community to Home (C2H) program in four program service regions: Southwest, Northwest, Northwest Central, and Northeast Central. One grant will be awarded for the four regions.

The C2H program improves the health of children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) by assisting them, along with their families, to access the services and supports required to thrive in the community and develop to their full potential. C2H assists CYSHCN and their families to navigate systems and identify resources in order to receive services while empowering them to become strong advocates and self-reliant.

View the flyer for more information about the C2H program, and note that the Request for Applications (RFA) can be found on the PA eMarketplace.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Danielle Rhodes via email or at 717-772-2763.

The Inglis Impact Accelerator is dedicated to fostering a more accessible and inclusive world by investing in entrepreneurs within, and allies to, the disability community with disruptive ideas and business ventures.

To that end, RCPA member Inglis is looking for six businesses to participate in a 15-week virtual program that concludes with a virtual pitch event. The program includes interactive webinars, workshops, and both one-on-one and group coaching sessions about refining and testing business ideas, attracting and engaging customers, optimizing sales funnels, and more.

Each business that successfully completes the program and pitches at the virtual pitch event will receive a $5,000 cash prize provided by Highmark Wholecare.

Eligibility requirements:

  • Founder must reside in Pennsylvania.
  • Founder will ideally have identified a target market and created a minimum viable product/service or prototype.
  • The program does not require a legal business entity to apply, but we are seeking businesses that plan to file in the near future if they haven’t already.
  • Our rigorous selection process will prioritize ideas in three core areas — housing accessibility, assistive technology, and innovative healthcare models, as well as founders who identify as having a disability.
  • At least one member of the founding team should expect to spend a minimum of 4-6 hours per week participating in programming and dedicated work efforts for the duration of the 15-week program.

If you know any founders whom you think might be interested in participating in the program, please share the flyer and link to apply.

If you have any questions, please contact Fady Sahhar.

The meeting documents from the March 7, 2024, Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Subcommittee meeting are now available. These documents include the transcript and PowerPoint presentations. You can view the documents below:

The next LTSS Subcommittee meeting is scheduled for April 3, 2024, from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm in the PA Department of Education’s Honors Suite at 333 Market St. in Harrisburg, PA. The option to participate via webinar is also an option. The agenda for the April meeting is here.

To participate in the meeting via webinar, please register here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. If you plan to participate via phone, the dial-in number is: (213) 929-4212; PIN: 914 913 021#.

The AoD Disability Employment TA Center’s National Community of Practice (CoP) webinar, “Engaging Diverse Communities Through Financial Education and Empowerment, will be hosted Tuesday, April 16, 2024, from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm ET.

Join the AoD Disability Employment Technical Assistance Center (DETAC) for a webinar to increase awareness about National Financial Capability Month. Financial education is a key first step on the pathway towards financial health and wellbeing to live more independently in the community. The Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities funded a three-year initiative with the National Disability Institute (NDI) called Financial Wellness for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD). The panel will highlight how this train-the-trainers model in Illinois provided training to individuals with I/DD and their family members to manage money, reduce debt, and use credit wisely. The training was customized based on individualized needs ranging from a short class to a 10-module curriculum. While we often focus on helping people with disabilities find jobs, this webinar will highlight a model to ensure we also provide a roadmap on the importance of making good financial decisions to further increase independence.

Presenters:

  • Kimberly Mercer-Schleider: Director, Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities
  • Michael Roush: Director, National Disability Institute
  • Tyson Bedford: Council Member, Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities
  • Curtis Harris: Council Member, Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities

Registration is required. Please register for this webinar here.