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Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is inviting leadership professionals from Administrative Entities (AEs), Support Coordination Organizations (SCOs), Providers of Supported Employment Services and Day Habilitation, and Providers of Community Participation Support (CPS) to attend a 1-day Employment Symposium. The Symposium will be held regionally across the Commonwealth on April 25, May 4, and May 12 from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm with a boxed lunch provided.

The goals of the Regional Employment Symposium are to:

  1. Provide a platform for networking, information/resource sharing, and best practices for employer engagement;
  2. Identify strategies for engaging employers on the benefits of hiring people with disabilities using a dual-customer approach; and
  3. Initiate an improvement process by creating goals and best practices to reach and increase employment rates for people with disabilities.

Agenda:

10:00 am – 10:30 am
Opening Remarks by Kristin Ahrens, ODP Deputy Secretary, and Ryan Hyde, Executive Director for the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR)

10:30 am – 11:30 am
Panel discussion featuring an individual from that region with lived employment experience, along with their support team that got them to competitive integrated employment.

11:30 am – 12:00 pm
Small group discussions to network, share experiences of engaging in community integrated employment, resources, and tools.

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Lunch

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Keynote address: Cultivating Relationships With Employers, by Stephen Martynuska. Stephen is a consultant from Sheetz, Inc.

2:00 pm – 2:45 pm
Small group discussion with the opportunity to report out to the larger group on takeaways from the day, as well as sharing resources and tools for engaging employers.

2:45 pm – 3:00 pm
Closing remarks/wrap-up by Kristin Ahrens and Ryan Hyde.


Please register for the location nearest you. Only register for one session. You must complete a Demographics Form before selecting the session you wish to attend, and please identify any dietary restrictions or allergies on your Demographics Form. You must also indicate if you need accommodation(s) as addressed by the Americans With Disabilities Act. Reasonable efforts will be made to meet the need.

Date Venue Registration Closes
April 25, 2023
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
PaTTAN Central
6340 Flank Road
Harrisburg, PA 17112
April 18, 2023
May 4, 2023
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
PaTTAN West
3190 William Pitt Way
Pittsburgh, PA 15238
April 28, 2023
May 12, 2023
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Bucks County Community College
275 Swamp Road
Newtown, PA 18940
May 6, 2023

There is a limited number of seats at each location, and they will be filled on a first come, first served basis. In addition to your initial registration confirmation, you will receive an email with specific instructions about the location of the symposium one week prior to your scheduled event.

As a reminder, please be respectful of others. If you are not feeling well the day of the event, do not attend. Attendees are encouraged to wear a mask and maintain respectful distance from others so that everyone can participate and feel comfortable.

During the Department of Human Services budget review this morning, Acting Secretary Arkoosh shared that part of the budget plan is to continue the enhanced rates for CPS and Transportation Trip. RCPA has confirmed that the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) plans to publish the CPS and transportation rates for continuation beginning November 11, 2023, as part of the regular fee schedule. We will share more information as it becomes available.

Registration and additional information for all classes may be found at LRA Consultants’ website. In addition to Open Registration classes, LRA Consultants can schedule online or in-person classes for your organization, usually at a per-person cost savings. Please visit their website for more information about all their courses, including self-paced options, or contact Laura Nuss via email or at 202-355-0799.

Mortality Review and Death Investigations Class
March 22–23, 2023
9:00 am – 11:30 am and
1:00 pm – 3:30 pm CST
Cost: $416

LRA Consultants offers a 2-day training opportunity for State Oversight, Licensing and/or Survey Agencies, Protection and Advocacy Organizations, Provider Organizations, and Mortality Review Committee Members.

The death of an individual under the care of an organization requires an in-depth response on the part of the organization’s and/or oversight agency’s Incident and Risk Management System. Participants will learn the additional knowledge and skills, beyond those developed by conducting serious incident investigations alone, to effectively conduct a death investigation and mortality review meeting.

Conducting Serious Incident Investigations Class
April 4–6, 2023
9:00 am – 11:30 am and
1:00 pm – 3:30 pm CST
Cost: $624

This three-day program is designed to teach participants the fundamental principles of investigation, including:

  • The role of speed, thoroughness, and objectivity in conducting investigations;
  • Collecting and preserving physical evidence;
  • Interviewing witnesses and obtaining written statements;
  • Collecting other documentary evidence; and
  • Reconciling conflicting testimonial evidence.

Level I Certified Investigator Exam
April 7, 2023
9:00 am CST
Cost: $189

LRA Consultants also offers the exam for Level I Certified Investigator to those who complete the Conducting Serious Incident Investigations course.

RCPA will be hosting our 2023 Capitol Day on Monday, April 24 and will hold a press conference and rally between 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm on the front steps of the State Capitol (outside the Main Rotunda). This is your opportunity to show a shared voice to the legislature, administration, and governor’s office on matters that impact providers and those they serve. Members from all RCPA divisions are requested to attend and schedule appointments with their Senate and House legislators to discuss the state budget, legislation, and regulations that impact the services of our members.

Detailed information will follow, but if you have questions or suggestions regarding our 2023 Capitol Day, please contact Jack Phillips, Director of Government Affairs.

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Join Stacy DiStefano, Dr. Sailaja Musunuri, Melissa Fox, and Chris Wolf as they present the Integrated and Complex Care for Special Populations Symposium, moderated by Tine Hansen-Turton.
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Register Here

Description:

Nothing is more urgent than solving the problem of how to address the fragmented systems and gaps in care for the most complex populations. Join Woods Services to hear from expert panelists in the field of health and human services who will speak from experience about meeting the medical and behavioral healthcare needs of populations that require complex care, such as people with intellectual disability and/or behavioral health complexities — a challenge for both the individuals in need and their healthcare providers. Panelists will discuss how they have built programs and services, and how an integrated and coordinated service delivery system of programs and services around a population, taking into account their changing needs over time, not only better serves that group — and is what these individuals prefer — but is an approach that will also result in large, cohesive, and concentrated market shares, making it a sustainable model. We hope you’ll join us for an informative, dynamic discussion. Moderated by Tine Hansen-Turton, President and CEO of Woods Services.

Thriving Through Transformation Symposia Series:

This symposium is the third in a series of four symposia that stem from key themes in the newly-released book Thriving Through Transformation: A Practical Guide to Creating Organizational Change in the Social Sector by Woods Services. For more about the book and the series, see below.

Visit here to purchase a paperback copy of the book.

Visit here to download the free digital version.

Learn more about the speakers, agenda, and registration details here.

ODP Announcement 23-028 shares that the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has published its 2022 Annual Waiting List Report. The waiting list is comprised of individuals who are eligible to receive services and supports through ODP’s four home and community-based services (HCBS) waivers; however, due to insufficient waiver capacity, the state cannot currently meet their needs.

In this report, you’ll find information regarding ODP’s strategies and initiatives to address the problem. The report also demonstrates the progress that has been made since 2015 to reduce the number of individuals on the waiting list

Please send any questions you may have electronically.

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The 2023 RCPA Conference, which will be celebrating our 10-year anniversary as a leader in shaping policy and enhancing lives, will be held October 10 – 13 at the Hershey Lodge for a statewide audience. The Conference Committee is seeking 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:

  • Highlight new policy, research, and treatment initiatives, such as telehealth innovations, suicide prevention, and employing people with disabilities;
  • Provide specific skills and information related to individual and organizational leadership development and enhancement;
  • Discuss advanced ethics practices;
  • Address system changes that affect business practices, including integrated care strategies, value-based purchasing, acquisitions/mergers, and alternative payment models;
  • Provide guidance on building a culture of a committed workforce, including recruitment and employee development as well as effective remote workforce strategies;
  • Offer concrete skills and tools to operate more efficient, effective agencies; and
  • Inspire ideas for organizations to be leaders in their field.

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 to forward this opportunity to those who are exceptionally good speakers and have state-of-the-art information to share.

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 13, 2023, 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.

Individuals are welcome to submit multiple proposals. Notification of inclusion will be made via email by Friday, May 12, 2023. Questions may be directed to Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator.