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Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities

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RCPA submitted comments regarding the PA Department of Human Services spending plan for funding available to home and community-based services (HCBS) through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Section 9817 that was due today, July 6, 2021. The document details several overall, cross-system comments for review in addition to specific comments from each RCPA Division; Adult Mental Health, Children’s Services, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (including Supports Coordination), Drug and Alcohol, Physical Disabilities and Aging (including Brain Injury services) and Pediatric Rehabilitation.

RCPA appreciates the opportunity to provide this feedback on the DHS ARP plan. We look forward to further discussion and stand ready to assist DHS as a key community stakeholder.

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This 3-day training provides a comprehensive overview of Discovery (an alternative to traditional vocational assessments) and how to complete Discovery. For those seeking to become certified providers of Discovery through Marc Gold & Associates, it is the prerequisite training for certification. Individuals not seeking certification will gain valuable information and insight and may attend as auditors to the session.

When: Online Zoom meeting August 4–6, 2021 from 9:00 am–4:00 pm. Registrants must have a computer or laptop with a webcam. The training will use Zoom to host the conference. Registrants will not be able to join by phone.

Where: This training will be done completely online.

Who is this for: Job Coaches and Job Developers, Supports Coordinators, Parents and Families, Transition Coordinators, and School Transition Teams.

Please review the attachment for registration information and course system requirements. For questions, please email Jen Hipps.

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Webinar
Friday, July 9, 2021 12:00 pm–1:00 pm

Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Providers are invited to join Deputy Secretary Ahrens and the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) Medical Director Dr. Gregory Cherpes for an overview of the updated guidance released on June 23, 2021 in Announcement 21-048 COVID-19 Update: Guidance for Infection Control and Mitigation for ODP Home and Community-Based Services Providers ODP. Register here today.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is excited to announce the first annual publication of the Resource Guide for Supporting Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing Individuals. The purpose of this guide is to offer resources in one central location for those who support or care for someone who is Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or DeafBlind and receives supports from ODP. The guide provides some of the most frequently accessed resources to assist in addressing the unique needs of these populations, such as information about ASL courses, apps, home modifications, assistive technology, a foundational organizations directory, and so much more!

Development of this guide included input from individuals within the deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, and hearing communities and will be revised annually by ODP’s Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing Advisory Committee.

This Guide is attached and will also be available in the near future on MyODP.org under Training > Special Populations > Deaf Services.

For questions, email ODP Deaf Services.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is pleased to announce that Lauren House will be joining the ODP team July 26, 2021 as the Director for the Bureau of Community Supports. Lauren comes to the Commonwealth from her position as the Deputy Administrator for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Chester County.

She started in the human services field in 2009 and has spent the last decade working to support individuals and families to access needed services and improve the quality of those same service systems. She has done this through working with youth living in out-of-home placement, managing one of the Lehigh Valley’s largest children’s behavioral health outpatient programs, serving in the Administrative Entity of two counties, managing a county Supports Coordination Organization, and, her most current role, leading the county intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) program.

Lauren has completed several certifications and trainings through the Office of Developmental Programs, including the department’s Quality Management Certification, and is a Certified Investigator.

Lauren holds a bachelor’s in psychology and a master’s in public administration, both from Penn State University.

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The purpose of this message is to advise that the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) has announced the reopening of their Order of Selection effective 07-01-21.

The Office of Long-Term Living’s (OLTL) Employment Bulletin details the process for accessing employment services when OVR is operating under an open order of selection. Referrals to OVR must be made before Medical Assistance waiver-funded employment-related services can be authorized unless the participant has already been deemed ineligible by OVR and/or has a closed OVR case. Also, if OVR has not made an eligibility determination within 120 days of a referral, then OVR services are considered to not be available to the participant, and OLTL employment services may be provided under an OLTL Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) program.

If you have any questions, please contact Edward Butler in the OLTL Bureau of Policy Development and Communications Management at 717-214-3718 or by email.

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Message from Kevin Dressler:

Weekly COVID Report
The weekly COVID reports that the Intermediate Care Facilities (ICFs) have been sending to the regional office can be discontinued, effective immediately. All COVID cases for people served in the ICFs are required to be reported into EIM. All COVID cases for staff are required to be reported into HRS. We ask that if you have a COVID outbreak in your facility and you are in need of support in any manner, please contact the RA account and the regional office and we can try to assist in addressing your needs. The link to the HRS reporting requirement is COVID-19 Reporting–ODP Announcement 20-061.

Health Alert Network (HAN)
Please continue to monitor the Pennsylvania Department of Health HANs even as the COVID pandemic seems to be easing its spread across Pennsylvania. The HANs offer insight into health related information that is of value in supporting our staff and people served. On the DOH website there is a link that you can sign up to receive new and updated HANs as they are published.

The link to the website is here.

Updated DHS Guidance for Long-Term Care Facilities (includes ICFs)
The DHS guidance for long term care facilities was updated and primarily reflects changes to the surveillance testing for unvaccinated staff and residents. Please review and adjust your policies accordingly. The link to the guidance is here.

ICF Task Force Meeting
Reminder the ICF Taskforce meeting is set for Tuesday July 6 from 10:00 am–1:00 pm. The Agenda was emailed on 6-17-21, and the link to register is here (same as per 6/25 email).

Lastly, have a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend!

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Attached is the most current Thresholds for Community Spread Report as described in Updated ODP Announcement 20-101.

Providers are responsible to review the report and make any necessary changes according to the status of their county. The publication of the Threshold for Community Spread Report will follow publication of DOH’s updated Dashboard numbers, which is available on Friday of each week.

A provider is expected to implement recommended operational status by the following Monday.

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