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Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities

Registration is now officially open for the 2025 RCPA Conference Strive to Thrive! The conference offers inspiring keynotes and plenaries, over sixty workshops, live updates from both state and national partners, and the ability to interact with exhibitors and sponsors in our Connections Hall! View our Registration Brochure for complete details of the conference schedule, presenters, current sponsors, and a message from RCPA President and CEO Richard Edley. You can also register directly here.

All conference information is also available on the RCPA Conference website. Be sure to check the website regularly for details and updates to the schedule, registration, and sponsors/exhibitors. Our mobile app, which we are proud to share is once again being sponsored by Millin, will become available closer to the time of conference and will contain CE information, a detailed agenda, and more!

In addition to registration, there are still many opportunities available for sponsorship and exhibit booths, so don’t delay! Opportunities still available include but are not limited to coffee and refreshment breaks, our Awards Luncheon, entertainment, and meal sponsorships. If your organization is interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at our conference, all information is available in our Sponsor, Exhibit, and Advertise Brochure. Contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator, for more details.

View our sponsors and exhibitors at our Conference website!

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 25-054. This announcement provides details related to changes to the HCSIS Auto Authorization Functionality.

In alignment with the Multi-Year Program Growth Strategy, Administrative Entities (AE) require greater insight into plan changes that will have virtual budget impacts. Plans submitted for AE review after June 9, 2025, will be subject to the changes. See changes on the chart within the announcement, reflecting the categories of Individual Support Plan (ISP) updates or revisions. Plan categories where a yes appears in the chart require manual approvals. The newly-added categories are highlighted in green and will now require manual review by AEs.

Questions should be directed to the ODP Regional Office.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 25-053. This announcement provides clarification to assist Supports Coordination Organizations (SCO) and Administrative Entities (AE) in properly identifying and planning for individuals who may be eligible for enrollment in the Person/Family Directed Support (P/FDS) Waiver through reserved capacity provisions.

Please review the announcement for additional information and details.

Enhancing Access to Specialized Care: The Impact of the STAT Waiver Service and BH Services
Free Webinar for RCPA members

Tuesday, June 24, 2025
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Register Here

This session will explore the impact of the STAT (Specialized Telehealth and Assessment Team) service in Pennsylvania, focusing on its role in improving access to care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Key data will highlight how STAT connects individuals to specialists trained to meet their unique needs and its positive impacts on both individuals and Direct Support Professionals (DSP).

A discussion with Barber National Institute will showcase how they use StationMD services for STAT and Behavioral Health support. The provider will share how StationMD enhances behavioral health care for individuals with I/DD, while offering valuable support to DSPs by providing timely guidance in complex situations.

Lastly, this session will emphasize how STAT and StationMD services complement each other to improve access to care and to enhance the quality of life for individuals with I/DD.

Presenters:
Matthew Kaufman, MD, FACEP, Chief Executive Officer, StationMD
Thad Jackman, Senior Director of Residential Services, Barber National Institute

Objectives: Following this course, the learner will:

  • Describe the role of the STAT Waiver Service in providing individuals access to specialized clinicians 24/7 to meet their unique needs;
  • Analyze the impact of StationMD Behavioral Health services in enhancing the timely delivery of expert support for their behavioral and developmental needs; and
  • Discuss how the integration of STAT and StationMD Behavioral Health services collaboratively address barriers to care and improve the overall quality of life for individuals with I/DD.

Certificates of attendance are available to RCPA members who attend this webinar; anyone interested in a certificate should contact Cathy Barrick. To apply for CEs, you will need to register for the RCPA Annual Conference Strive to Thrive and indicate you attended the webinar in your CE packet, which will be made available on the mobile app.

Contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator, for details, or visit the RCPA Conference website for information on workshops, sponsors, exhibitors, and more!

RCPA is excited to host a membership benefits webinar on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at 10:00 am, as an opportunity for members to orient themselves with all that RCPA membership includes. This is not just for new and future members. For current members, there may be benefits associated with our membership that you may not be aware of, including targeted meetings and groups that occur throughout the year.

Registration is required; please register here to attend the webinar. Items we will review include the below and much more:

  • Virtually meet the dedicated RCPA Policy Staff and RCPA lobbyists;
  • Discuss the 2025 Legislative and Administrative priorities;
  • Preview RCPA divisional committee and subcommittee meetings and what they offer;
  • View the RCPA member-only website;
  • Review exclusive yearly educational and networking events; and
  • Understand the value of the National Association and ANCOR memberships included with RCPA membership.

Visit the RCPA member benefits web page for more information, or contact Tieanna Lloyd for benefit details.

RCPA is excited to once again host the RCPA PAC silent auction, which will be held in conjunction with the 2025 RCPA Annual Conference Strive to Thrive. The silent auction will take place outside Connections Hall, and we are looking to attract the attention of over 700 attendees, including registrants, presenters, exhibitors, and sponsors. The money raised helps to support the RCPA PAC; these funds provide financial support to state legislators who have demonstrated a strong, consistent, and positive interest in our issues and priorities.

We are requesting your consideration in assisting us by providing a donation of an auction item. We are hoping to secure a variety of items that will be enticing to all members. All donations are greatly appreciated and can be something as simple as a gift certificate for a restaurant to a basket of sorts (candy, movie night, grilling items, cooking theme, etc.). We are also accepting items such as jewelry, designer handbags, tickets to college or professional sporting events, golf items, and sports memorabilia.

Please contact Christine Tartaglione by August 25, 2025, if you would like to donate any items. Thank you for your consideration of our request. We hope we can count on your support, and we look forward to seeing you at the conference!

The Office of Developmental Disabilities (ODP) has shared ODPANN 25-052. This announcement is to inform all provider agencies employing Direct Support Professionals (DSP) that the Human Services Research Institute (HSRI) has extended the deadline for completing the 2024 National Core Indicators® (NCI®) State of the Workforce Survey. The portal will close on Thursday, July 31, 2025.

Please review the announcement for additional information and details.

Photo by Headway on Unsplash

June 27, 2025
10:00 am – 11:30 am
Register Here

Adult Autism Waiver (AAW) providers are invited to participate in the AAW Provider Quarterly Incident and Risk Management meeting. This meeting will be held for all Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) providers and Support Coordinators (SC) providing AAW services. Pam Treadway and Heather Easley will facilitate these meetings with the intent to provide updates on incident and risk management related activities, share AAW data, inform providers of any upcoming changes, review ODP expectations, etc. Providers will be able to network with one another and ask questions directly to the Bureau of Supports for Autism and Special Populations (BSASP).

The upcoming meeting will include recommendations for providers to ensure incidents are appropriately detailed so that during the Management Review process, the incident can be approved and closed. We highly encourage those who fulfill the Incident Management (IM) Representative role to attend this meeting.

Multiple staff from a provider may attend but should register separately. Be sure to complete all required information to confirm attendance. A link to the meeting will be sent prior to the scheduled meeting date.

Please contact the Provider Support inbox with questions.