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Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared an update to communication ODPANN 25-093. The purpose of this announcement is to provide updated guidance related to the ODP Incident Management (IM) Rebalancing Initiative. Updates have been made to the “Clarifying the Definition of Serious Injury” section of this announcement. Updates appear in red text. The guidelines are organized into seven separate topics covering the following:

  • Finalizing Incident Reports
  • Reducing Duplicative and Multiple Incident Reports
  • Clarifying the Definition of Serious Injury
  • Clarifying the Definition for Discovery Date
  • Managing Events Occurring Prior to Enrollment
  • Discontinuing the Use of Optionally Reportable Events (OREs)
  • Discontinuing the Use of Illness/Other and Illness/COVID Incident Categories.

Please view the announcement for additional information and details.

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The Pennsylvania House Human Services Committee is scheduled to vote on HB1939 on Tuesday, October 29, 2025.

HB1939, along with its companion bill in the Senate (SB617), would establish annual rate increases for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) services based on the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). This bi-partisan legislation, supported in both chambers, would help ensure that provider reimbursement rates keep pace with inflation, supporting workforce stability and maintaining high-quality services across the system.

RCPA supports HB1939 and encourages members to contact the House Human Services Committee to express support and request a “Yes” vote on the bill.

Please direct any questions to Tim Sohosky.

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Information provided by The Arc Alliance: 

Due to the federal government shutdown, SNAP (food stamp) benefits will not be paid starting November 1, 2025.

5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW:

1) FEDERAL SHUTDOWN
SNAP benefits will be temporarily stopped beginning November 1, 2025. Payments will resume once the shutdown is over and funding is restored. Visit here to read more.

2) EBT CARDS
Starting November 1, EBT networks may be shut off at grocery stores and retailers. This means you may not be able to use any remaining balance on your EBT card after October 31.

3) FOOD RESOURCES
The Arc Alliance has created a Food Resource Page with local Food Banks and Food Pantries by county. These are separate from SNAP, but please note — they may become very busy as many Pennsylvanians seek help. Visit for the Food Resource Page.

4) LOCAL CHURCH PANTRIES
Church food pantries often have more flexibility than larger food banks because they don’t rely on government funds. We recommend contacting your local church or parish to ask about their food support options. (Some are listed on our Food Resource Page.)

5) QUESTIONS ABOUT SNAP BENEFITS
If you have questions about your benefits, contact your County Assistance Office (CAO) and speak with your caseworker. Find your CAO’s contact information here.

The Arc Alliance is here to support you and your family during this difficult time. Please share this information with others who may be affected.

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Please share these important workshops and support groups with your networks! Register for upcoming events at PA Family Network’s website.

Good Life Group, Support Groups

Good Life Group, Support Groups

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Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is hosting a series of discussion boards and focus groups focused on 1-person licensed residential homes. The discussion boards will be online forums open for 48 hours, allowing participants to log in and out at their convenience throughout the two-day period. Total participation time is expected to be about 2 – 3 hours, and the forums will be semi-anonymous (participants will be identified only by first name). Focus groups will follow the discussion boards and will be scheduled at a later date.

The provider participant group has reached capacity, and no additional provider representatives are needed at this time. However, ODP continues to seek participants for the DSP, family, and self-advocate stakeholder groups. Interested individuals should submit their name, agency (if applicable), and contact information to Tim Sohosky no later than October 20, 2025. Agencies may designate representatives for more than one stakeholder group where applicable.

Stakeholder Groups & Dates

DSP Group
Discussion Board Dates: December 4 – 5, 2025
ODP is seeking DSPs who:

  • Support individuals in 1-person homes and can share their experiences, successes, and challenges;
  • Have helped individuals transition from 1-person to 2+ person homes; and
  • Support individuals with significant behavioral support needs in 2+ person homes.

Family Group
Discussion Board Dates: December 11 – 12, 2025
ODP is seeking family members who have a loved one living in a 1-person licensed home and are willing to share their perspectives and experiences.

Self-Advocate Group
Focus Group (Virtual): Date TBD
ODP is seeking self-advocates who:

  • Currently live in a 1-person licensed home, or
  • Have transitioned into or out of a 1-person home from a 2+ person setting.

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As Pennsylvania faces increasing challenges in funding and resources for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), RCPA member Community Services Group (CSG) is proud to announce the appointment of Denise Sechrist as its new Vice President of IDD Services, effective July 1, 2025. With over three decades of experience at CSG, she has been a steady advocate for strengthening community-based supports and expanding programs that help individuals live more independently. Her appointment reinforces CSG’s commitment to meeting the growing need for compassionate, high-quality care — despite the financial and systemic challenges providers face across Pennsylvania.
https://csgonline.org/2025/10/community-services-group-announces-new-leadership-vice-president-of-idd-services/

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