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Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities

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Message from PA DHS:

Under new federal rules, to keep or become eligible for SNAP benefits, some recipients will have to meet work requirements that include working, volunteering, or participating in an education or training program for at least 20 hours a week (or 80 hours each month) AND report that they are meeting these work requirements.

To help SNAP recipients and applicants find out if they need to meet this requirement, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (PA DHS) has launched a new online screening tool.

By answering a simple set of yes or no questions, SNAP applicants and recipients can find out if they need to meet the work requirements, if they are already meeting the work requirements, or if they are eligible for an exemption.

The screening tool is not a final determination of whether someone is meeting the work requirements or is eligible for an exemption, but it can help recipients and applicants have a more informed conversation with their caseworker.

The new work requirements will apply to Pennsylvanians who:

  • Are between 18-64 years old;
  • Do not have a dependent child under 14 years old; and
  • Are considered physically and mentally able to work.

In addition, being a veteran or a current or former foster youth age 18–24 will no longer be an exemption.

Some people may still be exempt from work and reporting requirements if they meet a different exemption. You can learn more about these work reporting requirements, who they affect, and more about exemptions at DHS’s website.

State Budget Investments Help Fight Food Insecurity

Pennsylvania’s charitable food network and our agricultural community are vital to keeping our neighbors and communities fed. Governor Shapiro’s 2025/26 budget delivers major investments to combat hunger, strengthen the charitable food network, and support Pennsylvania farmers. The budget includes a historic $11 million increase for food security, including:

  • $3 million for the State Food Purchase Program and $1 million for the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System (PASS);
  • $2 million for a new state Food Bucks program to supplement SNAP; and
  • $5 million in new funding to Pennsylvania food banks.

Help Us Spread the Word

PA DHS has developed a communications toolkit to help Pennsylvanians understand the changes happening to SNAP.

We ask RCPA members, advocates, and stakeholders to view and share the toolkit, which includes sample text, social media posts, and more.

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Businessman and team work using a Laptop Computer with Webinar E-business Browsing Connection and cloud online technology webcast concept, business concept

From Chaos to Clarity: How Human Service Leaders Bring Order to Oversight
Tuesday, December 9, 2025
12:00 pm ET
Register Here

Keeping up with inspections and licensing requirements can feel like an endless chase — especially when each site or program has its own system. Many organizations are finding new ways to bring structure, visibility, and calm to these responsibilities, even with limited resources.

Join us on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 12:00 pm ET for From Chaos to Clarity: How Human Service Leaders Bring Order to Oversight, a live webinar co-hosted by RCPA and PUPS Software. This session brings together leaders for an open, practical conversation about streamlining inspections, licensing, and operational readiness.

Featured Panelists:

  • Jim Sharp, Chief Operating Officer & Director of Mental Health Services, RCPA
  • Savannah David, Service Director – ID/A NE Region, Step By Step, Inc.
  • Morgan Gerety, Director of Maintenance, Caring, Inc.

We’ll talk about:

  • Practical steps to bring consistency and visibility to inspections and licensing;
  • How to move from paper and spreadsheets to digital processes without overwhelming your team;
  • Real examples of accountability and readiness in action; and
  • Lessons learned from organizations that replaced annual scrambles with steady progress.

Whether your team is just getting started or already modernizing oversight, you will walk away with useful ideas, peer insights, and tools to support your next steps.

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From Pennsylvania Capital-Star “Pa.’s Rural Health Application Reveals Priorities in Federal Funding Request,” November 20, 2025:

Pennsylvania is hoping to secure its own slice of a $50 billion rural health fund in the face of federal Medicaid cuts, with a focus on bolstering a beleaguered workforce and expanding health access for more than two million people.

The Rural Health Transformation Fund was a last-minute addition to President Donald Trump’s summer budget bill that imposed Medicaid work requirements and cut upwards of $51 billion in funding to the commonwealth over the next decade. That new fund is worth roughly 37% of the estimated lost Medicaid funding in rural areas…

The 67-page application requests up to $200 million in annual funding over the next five years, totaling $1 billion. Its six focuses include: technology and infrastructure, workforce, maternal health services, behavioral health services, aging and access, and emergency medical services and transportation.

The U.S. Department of Human Services is expected to award funding by the end of the year.

Key objective targets are:

  • Access to care: More than 85% of Pennsylvanians can get a routine primary care appointment within four weeks and urgent care appointments within one week.
  • Digital connectivity and telehealth: More than 85% of rural hospitals and clinics will have broadband and telehealth functionality. More than 50% of rural hospitals and clinics connected via Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources.
  • Workforce adequacy: Reduce rural hospital vacancy rates by 10% for key direct care roles. Add three new rural training programs.
  • System sustainability: More than 60% of systems partnered with rural Community Health Centers for specialty care.
  • Health outcomes: Reduce the number of pregnant women living in rural areas with inadequate prenatal care by 20%.

From the PA Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program Application:

Pennsylvania’s rural health transformation strategy is grounded in a balance of statewide coordination and regional leadership and collaboration. Pennsylvania’s “Health Hub” state agencies (Human Services, Health, Aging, Insurance, Drug and Alcohol Programs), and other partner agencies will establish clear strategic priorities focusing on access, workforce, maternal health, aging, behavioral health, EMS and infrastructure. Pennsylvania will leverage statewide technical expertise, evaluation, and financial oversight and support. Strong regional rural care collaborative will be composed of a roster of regional stakeholders that prioritize local needs, develop effective local sustainable solutions, and leverage existing resources and assets.

Pennsylvania will leverage established regional entities that coordinate regional economic development. These Partnerships for Regional Economic Performance (PREP) organizations are long-standing, quasi-governmental organizations that convene regional stakeholders, administer federal and state grants, collect local data, report outcomes, and catalyze public and private partnerships for regional economic development. They bring established governance structures, convening power, and a track record of successful cross-sector collaboration. PREPs (Figure 2) will convene regional stakeholders to create Rural Care Collaborative (RCCs) to align initiatives with regional economic planning and development – making the RHTP investments sustainable and promoting long-term partnerships.

If you have any questions, please contact RCPA COO and Mental Health Policy Director Jim Sharp.

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An upgrade to the MyODP LMS is scheduled to begin at 10:00 pm today, Monday, November 24, 2025. This outage will impact all training courses currently available on MyODP. All users should complete any lesson modules, quizzes, or exams and be logged out of any training or courses by 10:00 pm or their progress may be lost. Overall course progress and all course completions will be saved. Please plan accordingly for all your training needs for the week of November 24, 2025 – December 2, 2025. It is planned that MyODP will be available by 12:00 pm on December 2.

Please see ODP Announcement 25-100 for additional details regarding the upgrade.

Registration is now available to attend a walkthrough of the MyODP Upgrade and Enhancements. ODP will show visual changes to the LMS, enhancements, and the new MyLearning Transcript report that is now available. The Transcript report will be the primary record of course completion for MyODP coursework.

The walkthrough will be held on Tuesday, December 9 from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm. Please visit here to register. There are a limited number of seats available; however, the session will be recorded and will be available on MyODP shortly after the live session concludes. View ODP Announcement 25-104 for further details.

For questions regarding registration for the webinar, please contact ODP Outreach via email.

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Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared an update to ODPANN 25-075. This announcement informs stakeholders of updates to the Implementation Guide. All changes are highlighted in red within the communication. The attachment to this communication replaces Appendix C: Supports Coordination Minimum Activity for Billing. Each document referenced in this announcement can be found at MyODP’s website under Performance-Based Contracting. Please review the announcement for additional details.

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RCPA member The Alliance of Community Service Providers’ 22nd Annual Conference for Direct Service Professionals will take place on Friday, February 27, 2026, from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm at the Hilton Philadelphia City Avenue.

This year’s theme — Celebrating Our Journey…Charting the Path Ahead — honors the extraordinary work of Direct Service Professionals across our region and reaffirms the Alliance’s commitment to moving human services forward. It promises to be an energizing day of learning, connection, and celebration.

Workshop Proposals:

The Alliance of Community Service Providers is now accepting workshop proposals for this year’s conference. If you or members of your team are interested in presenting, please review the Request for Proposals (RFP). Proposals are due no later than December 31, 2025. Notifications of accepted workshops will be sent by mid-January. Please submit your RFPs electronically.

Sponsorship Opportunities:

Once again, the Alliance is pleased to offer a range of sponsorship opportunities for organizations that wish to support the conference and show their commitment to the DSP workforce.

Sponsorship is a great way to:

  • Increase visibility among hundreds of human service professionals;
  • Support the professional development of the frontline workforce; and
  • Align your organization with innovation and excellence in the sector.

View the form for key information, and please email Michael or Cherie to indicate your intention to sponsor.

Save the Date & Spread the Word:

Please mark your calendars for February 27, 2026, and feel free to begin sharing the announcement within your networks. We look forward to another outstanding conference that brings our community together and strengthens the future of human services.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared Bulletin 00-25-04 and the following attachments.

  • Attachment 1 – Template for HCQU Scope of Work and Payment Structure
  • Attachment 2 – HCQU Annual Plan and Reporting Templates
  • Attachment 3 – Current Health Care Quality Units

This bulletin explains the responsibilities of the Health Care Quality Units (HCQU) and establishes standards for planning and reporting.

The purpose of the HCQUs is to enhance the health and wellness of individuals with I/DD or autism through collaboration with providers of I/DD and autism services, AEs, Supports Coordinators/Targeted Support Managers, and healthcare providers, by raising awareness about community health resources and providing education for stakeholders about the physical health, behavioral health, and wellness needs unique to the individuals they support. The HCQUs strive to improve access to appropriate physical and behavioral healthcare for individuals with I/DD or autism, as well as improve capacity for risk assessment and risk mitigation. The HCQUs are comprised of professionals with expertise in the areas of I/DD or autism and healthcare.

HCQU Functions:

Each HCQU’s contract will specifically outline the HCQU’s responsibilities and requirements, total budget, payment triggers, and reporting requirements. HCQU responsibilities include the following:

  1. Assessment of Individual and Community Needs
  2. Training
  3. Technical Assistance
  4. Health Risk Screening
  5. Outreach and Education
  6. Collaboration
  7. Response to Imminent Risk
  8. Documentation and Reporting

Please see the bulletin for additional details and information.

Comments and questions regarding this bulletin should be directed to the appropriate ODP Regional Program Office. Visit the ODP website for regional office information.

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The final agenda for the Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Subcommittee meeting on December 3, 2025, has been released. As a reminder, this meeting will be conducted via webinar and remote streaming only and will take place from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. Register here to attend. The conference line for the meeting: 1 (415) 655-0052 PIN: 883-556-407#

Comments and questions may be sent electronically.

Remote streaming is available here.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 25-103 with an accompanying attachment. The purpose of this announcement is to inform provider agencies of ODP’s participation in the 2025 National Core Indicators® Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (NCI®-IDD) State of the Workforce (SoTW) survey and to request confirmation of current contact information from eligible providers. Please view the announcement and attachment for information and details.

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