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Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 25-048. This communication advises stakeholders of the release of two new skill building trainings for Direct Support Professionals (DSP).

Introduction to Skill Building introduces why it is important for direct supporters to teach skills to individuals with developmental disabilities. Services offered through the ODP waivers are habilitative. DSPs have a direct role in assisting participants in acquiring, maintaining, and improving skills that individuals need to live more independently and have meaningful participation in their communities. The training introduces why it is important for DSPs to teach skills to individuals and focuses on how to build skills so that individuals are safe, healthy, and have a good life in their community. This course is now available on MyODP and offers .5 credit hours. This is a prerequisite to the new Skill Building Basics course.

Please view the announcement for instructions on how to access the trainings.

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Photo by Copernico on Unsplash

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) invites you to save the date for the 2025 Community of Practice for Supporting Families Regional Collaborative Summit! The summit will be held live at State College on August 14 and 15 at the Penn Stater Hotel. Virtual participation options will also be available. Join the summit this August to learn from peers and professionals about how to bolster your communities of practice for supporting individuals with disabilities and/or autism (ID/A) and their families. Visit here to learn more; registration information will be announced when available.

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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!

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The Incident Reporting Cycle From Discovery to Closure
June 25, 2025
10:00 am – 11:30 am

The purpose of this webinar is to provide a high-level overview of the incident management process, specifically the path of an incident report in the incident reporting system, from discovery through closure.

This includes:

  • Determining the discovery date;
  • Initial reporters;
  • Regulatory timeframes;
  • Management reviews;
  • Impacts of management reviews that result in a “Not Approved” status; and
  • Using the workload dashboard.

Audience: All Interested Stakeholders

Registration information to follow.

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Child Guidance Resource Centers (CGRC), a leading nonprofit provider of behavioral and mental health services for children and families across the Greater Philadelphia region, is pleased to announce the appointment of Lisa Roberts Cadorette as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective May 7, 2025 [read full release].

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Thriving Together: The Role of Curated Communities in Transforming Workforce Culture
Free Webinar for RCPA members

Tuesday, June 10, 2025
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Register Here

Creating spaces where professionals feel seen, valued, and supported is critical to fostering thriving workplaces. This session highlights the transformative power of curated communities like the Black Residency Collective and B.W.E.L., which provide unique opportunities for connection, innovation, and growth. These spaces not only nurture a sense of belonging but also serve as vital tools for addressing retention challenges and inspiring organizational change. Participants will walk away with a deeper understanding of how intentional spaces can catalyze resilience and drive collective success in the workforce.

Presenter: Sierra McNeil, MSW
Director of Workforce Development and Philadelphia Connections, NASW-PA President, Equity-Grounded Leadership Fellow

Objectives: Following this course, the learner will:

  • Identify the key elements of curated spaces that foster a sense of belonging among diverse professionals;
  • Analyze the impact of curated spaces on workplace innovation, relationships, and talent retention through real-world examples; and
  • Describe strategies to implement or enhance curated spaces within one’s organization to improve workforce outcomes.

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!

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Tablet on a desk - Newsletter

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared the latest issue of the Certified Investigator (CI) Program Spotlight Quarterly newsletter. This newsletter is designed to provide helpful information and resources to Certified Investigators (CI), Administrative Review Committee members, CI Peer Reviewers, Incident Management (IM) Representatives, and others involved in the incident investigation process.

Please review ODPANN 25-047 for more information and to access the newsletter.

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Direct Support Professionals (DSP) make a lasting difference in the lives of those they assist, helping individuals of all ages and abilities rise above challenges, embrace new opportunities, and live healthier, more fulfilling lives. The Move Your Way® campaign promotes easy to use, evidence-based physical activity guidance from the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Share the recommendations with those you support and inspire them to get more active.

Start the conversation!
When you bring up physical activity, it helps to keep the tone friendly and encouraging. Try these quick conversation starters.

How much physical activity do you get in an average week?
Meet people where they are. Once you have an idea of their current activity level, you can suggest small changes to help them get more active.

Are there activities you’d like to be able to do?
Would they like to run in a 5K? Climb stairs more easily? Explore more outdoor activities? Knowing their motivations can help you work together to set achievable goals. DSPs have the creativity and compassion to modify activities that align with each person’s physical abilities, ensuring they can participate safely and feel proud of their achievements—no matter their starting point.

See the DSP Move Your Way flyer for more tips on starting the conversation.

How can you Move Your Way?
Anything that gets your heart beating faster counts. And it all adds up. Find what works for you! Walking, dancing, gardening, swimming, and stretching are just a few suggestions for weekly movement. Adults need a mix of physical activity to stay healthy. Moderate-intensity aerobic activity at least 150 minutes a week, and muscle-strengthening activity at least 2 days a week. Do activities that make your muscles work harder than usual.

Kids and teens ages 6 to 17 need at least 60 minutes every day. Most of it can be moderate-intensity aerobic activity.

At least 3 days a week, encourage them to step it up to vigorous intensity. As a part of their 60 minutes, they also need muscle-strengthening at least 3 days a week and bone-strengthening 3 days a week.

What’s Your Move?
Do you have a weekly movement routine or are you just getting started? Share your story with us!

Send an email with a subject line of “Move Your Way” and ODP may feature your story on MyODP News Online!

Please be sure to fill out the Department of Human Services (DHS) Media Release Form to send with your story!

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