The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 24-026. The purpose of this announcement is to communicate that registration for the May – August CI Initial Certification Course classes (also known as cohorts) is now open on MyODP. Please view the announcement for information on how to access and register for the trainings.
RCPA submitted comments to the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) regarding the proposed amendments to the Consolidated, Person/Family-Directed Support (P/FDS), Community Living, and Adult Autism Waivers to allow providers to request a one-time supplemental payment to cover recruitment, retention, and any unusual staffing expenses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic for direct support professionals, frontline supervisors, or supports coordinators.
ODP will review and consider all comments received by 11:59 pm today.
While we are grateful for the opportunity for members to access additional funds this fiscal year, we wanted to express our strong belief that the calculation of the dispersal of funds includes the NEA rates. There has been discussion with ODP staff that indicates they may not be including those amounts in the calculation.
Please see our comments and feel free to share your thoughts with ODP as well by 11:59 pm tonight.
The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) released the Phase 1 findings of its statewide stakeholder engagement tour, detailing actions to enhance community and treatment provider engagement and improve access to substance use disorder services. The findings address various challenges within the behavioral health workforce, regulatory and data aspects of service delivery, and unmet needs within priority populations. For more details, read the full press release.
The deadline for RCPA’s request for proposals is just one week away! Proposals must be submitted by COB next Monday, March 11 to be considered for the 2024 Annual Conference Embracing Challenges, Empowering Success, which will be held September 24 – 27 at the Hershey Lodge for a statewide audience. Our Conference Committee seeks workshop proposals in every area for possible inclusion, particularly those that assist providers in developing and maintaining high-quality, stable, and effective treatments, services, and agencies in an industry where change is constant. The committee looks for presentations that:
The committee welcomes any proposal that addresses these and other topics essential to rehabilitation, mental health, substance use disorder, children’s health, aging, physical disabilities, and intellectual/developmental disabilities & autism. Members are encouraged to consider submitting, and we highly encourage you to forward this opportunity to those who are exceptionally good speakers and have state-of-the-art information to share. Individuals are welcome to submit multiple proposals.
The Call for Proposals (featuring a complete listing of focus tracks) and accompanying Guidelines for Developing Educational Objectives detail requirements for submissions. The deadline for submissions is Monday, March 11, 2024, at 5:00 pm. Proposals must be submitted electronically on the form provided; confirmation of receipt will be sent. Proposals submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
If the proposal is accepted, individuals must be prepared to present on any day of the conference. Workshops are 90 or 180 minutes in length. At the time of acceptance, presenters will be required to confirm the ability to submit workshop handouts electronically four weeks prior to the conference. Individuals unable to meet this expectation should not submit proposals for consideration.
Notification of inclusion for the conference will be made via email by Friday, May 17, 2024. Questions may be directed to Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator.
RCPA member Familylinks’s President and CEO Stacey Vaccaro is currently completing a study for her PhD regarding the characteristics of health and human services managers that make them stay in the industry. Members can assist Stacey by completing this questionnaire. The information obtained will help to shed light on whether or not some managers are truly “built” for this work. The questionnaire will take about 10 minutes to complete and will provide valuable insight to help us all better understand the managers in the industry.
Should you have questions, please contact Stacey directly about the study. You may also contact the faculty sponsor, Dr. J. Rosendale.
This project has been approved by the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects (Phone 724-357-7730).
The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) is hosting its monthly ASAM technical assistance webinar at 10:00 am on Monday, March 4. The topic is “Individualizing Services and Group Development” and will include a discussion on documentation with ASAM’s Golden Thread, transitioning to clinically driven treatment, and strategies for group development. You can email DDAP’s ASAM Transition team to learn more. ASAM technical assistance webinars are held every first Monday of the month at 10:00 am via Microsoft Teams.
ODP Announcement 24-025 provides information regarding the accreditation of MyODP trainings by the National Alliance of Direct Support Professionals (NADSP). The NADSP credentialing process is important to DSPs, as it puts them on a path for portable credentialing, creates a career ladder, and is an opportunity to demonstrate an up-to-date and relevant skill set, highlight professional achievements, and document the DSP’s value to the employer and supported individuals.
Training hours (certificates) that were achieved for accredited ODP trainings prior to ODP’s accreditation approval will be accepted and applied towards DSP E-Badge requirements. Accredited trainings available in MyODP will be identified with the “NADSP Accredited DSP Training” icon. The list of Accredited trainings can be found here. Please contact ODP via email with any questions.
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