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Criminal Justice

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When: March 3, 2022 12:00 pm Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Real-Life Stories: Using Smart Home Technology For Independence.
Register in advance for this webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Webinar Speakers

Michael Anderson (Legislative Advocate @The ARC of Philadelphia)
Michael Anderson has been a legislative advocate for The ARC of Philadelphia since 2015. He meets with lawmakers from the Philadelphia area at local, state, and federal levels to make the case for legislative changes that will improve the lives of people with disabilities. Mr. Anderson is also a member of Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation’s (PATF’s) Smart Home advisory committee. In a previous life, Mr. Anderson worked for three years as a statistician for the Philadelphia 76ers. He has also worked on a number of political campaigns. Mr. Anderson is a proud graduate of Lower Merion High School and received an associate’s degree with a concentration in journalism from Edinboro University. Currently, he is co-owner of a home in Merion Station, PA. Mr. Anderson has cerebral palsy and is a wheelchair user.

Alexa Brill (Social Media and Website Manager @The Arc of Pennsylvania)
Alexa Brill graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in 2013. She has worked for The Arc of Pennsylvania since 2014 as their Social Media and Website Manager. Alexa also serves as the President on the Board of Self Advocates United As 1 (SAU1). She also serves on the Smart Home Advisory Committee through the Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF). Alexa is very passionate about advocating for the rights of people with disabilities, as well as helping to make sure they have access to the right technology. She wants to help as many people learn about and access the technology they need to be as independent as possible.

George Russo (Assistive Technology Assistant @Easterseals)
I’m George Russo. I’ve been working as an assistive technology assistant at Easterseals for fifteen years. Easterseal has been a part of my adult life since 1996 as a client, a volunteer, an ambassador for PRC, and now as an employee. I have an Associate Degree in Computer Science from Miami Dade Community College. I’ve been a member of the Smart home Committee for about a year.

Laura Slotkoff (Occupational Therapist and Assistive Technology Specialist @Easterseals of Southern Pennsylvania)
Laura Slotkoff, MS, OTR/L, ATP is an Occupational Therapist and Assistive Technology Specialist for Easterseals of Southeastern Pennsylvania. Through her role as AT Specialist on an interdisciplinary AT team, Laura works to provide innovative solutions to individuals with disabilities across the lifespan. Over the past 2 years, she has worked collaboratively with teachers, therapists and the AT team to design 3D printed assistive technology and utilize the tools within maker spaces to benefit students with special needs. Laura is excited about the ever-evolving potential of Smart Home Technology to improve her clients’ independence and quality of life.

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The Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Division of Adult Protective Services (APS) developed a media toolkit designed for facilities, mandatory reporters, and community members to assist in the awareness of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and abandonment of adults ages 18 to 59 living with a disability within the Commonwealth. Learn more about APS and use these resources to help promote APS to your clients, constituents, and network at the Adult Protective Services Media Toolkit web page.

Additionally, there are several dates (that are subject to change) where DHS will be publishing different social media posts that everyone is encouraged to share. These are available at the Adult Protective Services Media Toolkit web page on:

  • Wednesday, February 9, 2022;
  • Tuesday, February 15, 2022;
  • Wednesday, February 23, 2022;
  • Thursday, March 3, 2022;
  • Monday, March 14, 2022; and
  • Wednesday, March 23, 2022.

Questions regarding the materials found in the APS Media Toolkit or suggestions of additional resources that might be helpful in promoting the program should be directed to the APS Division.

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The next Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) Subcommittee meeting will be held on March 1, 2022, as a webinar from 10:00 am–1:00 pm.

You can register for the meeting here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Remote captioning and streaming services will be provided; if you require these services, please visit here. If you require another accommodation, including an alternative method for submitting questions or comments about meeting topics, please send an email no later than February 18, 2022, so other accommodations can be scheduled.

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Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

RCPA staff reviewed the Governor’s proposed budget, and while many details still need to be sorted out, RCPA can provide some high-level facts about the proposed budget from the House Democrat Appropriations Committee 2022/23 Executive Budget Proposal At–A-Glance and the Governor’s 2022/23 Executive Budget Spreadsheet. Of note, please see pages 12–13 for the Department of Human Services line items and page 6 for the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs.

The highlights of the Governor’s proposed budget include:

Education Funding

  • Spending $43.7 billion in state General Funds;
  • $1.55 billion, a 24% increase, in basic education funding;
  • $1.25 billion to be distributed through the fair funding formula;
  • $300 million in Level Up funding to the 100 most underfunded districts; and
  • $200 million, a 16% increase, in special education funding.

Economy

Proposed increase to state’s minimum wage to $12 per hour effective July 1, 2022, including tipped workers, with 50 cent annual increases up to $15 per hour ($74.6 million direct revenue increase).

Protecting the Most Vulnerable

  • $91.25 million ($190.1 million total funds) to increase MA rates for skilled nursing facilities, effective January 2023, to comply with regulatory changes planned for July 2023;
  • $50 million, or a 44% increase to state supplemental programs for aged, blind, and individuals with disabilities, to increase the personal care home state supplement from $439.30 to $1,351.80 per month;
  • $75 million in federal funds to recruit and retain behavioral health providers;
  • $36.6 million to invest in critical county behavioral health services;
  • $15 million in federal funds to stabilize payments to substance use disorder treatment providers and assist with pandemic related expenses;
  • NEW: $14.3 million to increase the monthly Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit from $20 to $35 for 75,000 to 95,000 seniors and individuals with disabilities;
  • NEW: $280,000 to implement Agency with Choice, preserving the ability for home and community-based waiver participants to choose their worker while allowing workers to obtain the support of an agency;
  • $18.8 million to serve an additional 832 individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism currently waiting for services;
  • $1 million to provide community placements for individuals residing in intermediate care facilities;
  • $1.25 million to discharge 20 individuals from state hospitals through the Community Hospital Integration Project Program (CHIPP);
  • $2.4 million for Department of Aging and Department of Human Services to strengthen older adult protective services (8 positions), create a child welfare crisis response team (4 positions), and support increased regulatory, licensing, budgetary, and administrative functions (30 positions) through increasing complement;
  • NEW: $8 million to extend postpartum coverage for birthing parents eligible for Medical Assistance to 12 months;
  • $15 million, a 77% increase, to implement additional evidence-based home visiting and family support services to 3,800 additional families;
  • $1.8 million to support court-appointed volunteer advocacy; and
  • NEW: $10 million for State Disaster Assistance, a new initiative to provide disaster assistance to individuals and to improve access to safe, secure, and weathertight homes.

In addition to the above proposed funding, the Governor and Democratic legislative leaders support allocating the unused American Rescue Plan funds from last year’s budget to various programs, which are outlined in the Democrat’s American Rescue Plan Act — State Fiscal Recovery plan, to help Pennsylvanians rather than letting the funds be transferred to the General Fund to sit in reserve.

The above information is a high-level overview of the Governor’s budget proposal. The specific line items contained in the Governor’s 2022/23 Executive Budget Spreadsheet are the overall dollars allocated for health and human services. The Department of Human Services (DHS) has not yet released their Budget Blue Book, which breaks down these line items and provides a detailed dollar amount allocated to specific human service programs. We are being told the DHS Blue Book should be available with this specific information at the end of February or the first week of March. Once RCPA obtains the Blue Book and reviews it, we will provide members with a more detailed summary and analysis.

As a reminder, the Governor’s Proposed Budget is just that: a proposal. The General Assembly will now hold budget hearings; a complete hearing list can be found here. The General Assembly and the Governor will conduct budget negotiations after the House and Senate budget hearings conclude to hopefully finalize the Commonwealth’s 2022/23 budget by June 30. If you have any questions, please contact Jack Phillips.

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