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Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared the release of the Multi-Year Program Growth Dashboard on MyODP. This dashboard presents key metrics aligned with the Department of Human Services (DHS) Office of Developmental Programs Multi-Year Program Growth Strategy. This strategy is focused on expanding access to home and community-based services (HCBS), increasing system capacity, and making measurable progress toward eliminating the emergency waiting list for adults with intellectual disabilities and autism.

The dashboard will be updated on a quarterly basis and reflects changes in waitlist status, service access, and enrollment trends over time. It is designed to support ongoing monitoring of progress, inform strategic decision-making, and ensure accountability in advancing ODP’s long-term system transformation and service expansion goals.

Stakeholders are encouraged to review the dashboard regularly to stay informed on progress and key developments.

Access the dashboard here.

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is reissuing the 2025 Employment First Report. The purpose of the reissue is to update data contained in Appendix A and B.

ODP believes that all people with an intellectual disability and/or autism must be encouraged to pursue their vision for an everyday life, which may include working in competitive integrated employment. Competitive integrated employment offers a person an opportunity to achieve economic independence, build self-confidence, enhance self-determination, and meet new people while building new skills. The Everyday Lives: Values in Action publication, developed by the ODP Information Sharing and Advisory Committee (ISAC), which includes self-advocates, reads, “Employment is a centerpiece of adulthood and must be available for every person. The benefits of employment for people with disabilities are significant and are the same as for people without disabilities.” This report serves as an update to all stakeholders on the progress that has been made to support individuals served by ODP on finding and maintaining competitive integrated employment.

Access the 2025 Employment First report. This document can also be found by visiting the MyODP Employment Home page.

Photo by Larry Crayton on Unsplash

Family-Centered Care: One Organization’s Revolutionary Approach to Include Families in All Aspects of Care

Monday, April 20, 2026
11:00 am – 12:00 pm EDT; 10:00 am – 11:00 am CDT;
9:00 am – 10:00 am MDT; 8:00 am – 9:00 am PDT 
Register Here

Donna Provenzano, Director of Family-Centered Care

Donna Provenzano is the Director of Family-Centered Care at Children’s Specialized Hospital. She has thirty-nine years of experience in working with children, adolescents, young adults, and their families at Children’s Specialized. Donna serves on several hospital leadership committees and councils and provides administrative and operational management of Family-Centered Care and Volunteers. She supervises and partners with Family Faculty staff and coordinates with the Family Advisory Council. Donna has presented both nationally and internationally on Patient- and Family-Centered Care. Under Donna’s leadership, her department received the IPFCC Family-Centered Care Partnership Award for Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) in 2022. Donna has received additional leadership certifications from the Harvard Business School. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Therapeutic Recreation from Ithaca College.

Linda Waddell, Family Faculty Manager

Linda Waddell is the Family Faculty Manager at Children’s Specialized Hospital. She has been employed at the hospital as a Family Faculty since June of 2008 and a member of the Children’s Specialized Hospital’s Family Advisory Council since 2014. On behalf of the hospital, Linda has presented with her team on Patient- and Family-Centered Care at regional, national, and international conferences. Most recently, Linda was a member of a panel that presented at the 2024 RISE Summit “Addressing Social Determinants of Health (SDOH): A Look into Children’s Specialized Hospital’s Program in NJ and Beyond.” Linda participates in various hospital committees and is also a member of the IPRC Steering Committee, where she provides a family member’s perspective for discussions and decision-making.

Linda was the 2019 recipient of the Lester Z. Lieberman Humanism in Healthcare Award and received the IPFCC 30th Anniversary 2022 Partnership Award on Social Determinants of Health. Linda received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Kean University. Linda’s first experience with Children’s Specialized Hospital began in 1999, receiving multiple services for her newborn, medically fragile baby. She became an expert in the experience of pediatric rehabilitation through caring for her daughter with medical complications.

Family Faculty at Children’s Specialized Hospital are paid positions held by parents and family members whose children have received or are still receiving services at Children’s Specialized Hospital Inpatient, Outpatient, or Long-Term Care sites. Their own day-to-day experiences provide a unique perspective, understanding, and empathy for families going through similar situations. Family Faculty partner with staff and families to build a respectful and understanding relationship by listening, providing insights, and encouraging positive communication between staff and families.

Objectives: At the end of this session, the learner will identify strategies to:

  • Embed Patient- and Family-Centered Care into your organization;
  • Cultivate respectful partnerships and collaboration with leadership, staff, and families;
  • Include families in education and training of staff at all levels; and
  • Engage families and staff in creating valuable resources.

Audience: This webinar is intended for all interested members of the rehabilitation team.

Level: Beginner-Intermediate

Certificate of Attendance: Certificates of attendance are available for all attendees. No CEs are provided for this course.

Complimentary webinars are a benefit of membership in IPRC/RCPA. Registration fee for non-members is $179. Not a member yet? Consider joining today.

Guidance - wooden signpost, roadsign with one arrow

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) has released DHS-26-01 Complex Needs Planning for Children, Youth, and Young Adults Through Age 21. This bulletin updates guidance provided in 14-Bul-110 Complex Case Planning for Children and Youth Under Age 21. The guidance clarifies the referral process, roles, and responsibilities; offers the availability of technical assistance; and describes the benefit of technical assistance to the agencies in the human services systems that support children, youth, young adults through age 21 and their families and/or caregivers.

This bulletin, an online referral form, and suggested resources (tools/templates) are now posted on the DHS website.

If you have questions regarding this bulletin, the online referral form, or the suggested resources, please contact DHS electronically.

The Office of Child Development & Early Learning (OCDEL) has completed the Mass Claims Adjustment for all PAID CLAIMS of Early Intervention (EI) services that contain a date of service between July 1, 2025 – March 8, 2026 and were filed on or before March 8, 2026.

Due the high volume of claims, the Mass Claims Adjustment was processed in daily batches with a summary of claims below:

  • Week 1: March 16, 2026
    • Claims Adjusted for Speech Therapy
    • Claims Adjusted for Occupational Therapy
    • Claims Adjusted for Physical Therapy
  • Week 2: March 23, 2026
    • Claims Adjusted for Special Instruction
    • Claims Adjusted for Audiology/Evaluation/Teaming
    • Claims Adjusted for Service Coordination

A complete review of the Mass Claims Adjustment was performed during the week of March 30, and a final batch of claims were processed on April 7, representing claims with a date of services of July 1, 2025.

Reminder of Next Steps:

  • Using the newly published Fiscal Year 2025/26 Fee Schedule, file NEW claims on or after March 9, 2026, that contain a date of service on or after July 1, 2025.
  • Using the newly published Fiscal Year 2025/26 Fee Schedule, adjust claims filed on or after March 9, 2026, that contain a date of service on or after July 1, 2025, if the OLD fee schedule was used.

IMPORATANT:

As expected, OCDEL reports that there are many ICNs that failed the Mass Claims Adjustment. The Bureau is preparing a document for each County to distribute to their contracted providers that includes the original ICN that did not successfully Mass Adjust. Detailed instructions will be included with this document for how the Infant Toddler program and EI Provider can work together to resolve the claims errors. After successful resolution of the claims error, providers will be responsible for performing their own Claims Adjustment for the claims that failed the Mass Claims Adjustment.

View the following links for more information: