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Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities

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Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

Friday, April 10 at 5:00 pm is the deadline to complete and submit nominations for the Rural Health Transformation Plan (RHTP) Advisory Council and RHTP Rural Care Collaboratives (RCC).

Advisory Council (Statewide): This is a not a decision-making body.
The Advisory Council will provide subject matter expertise (SME) to the RCCs. The Council’s feedback is intended to inform and enhance RCC regional plans to ensure planned projects have the best chance of succeeding and will be sustainable after the 5-year RHTP funding is no longer available.

  • Meeting Cadence: The Advisory Council will meet once a month during the RCC plan development period. Once plans are solidified, the Advisory Council will meet quarterly to help address implementation concerns.
  • Council Member Expectations: Provide technical assistance (TA) to the RCCs in the member’s identified area of expertise. TA can be provided in multiple formats. This could be open discussion during RHTP meetings, written questions and answers, or a more hands-on knowledge transfer.
  • Conflict of Interest: If chosen for the Advisory Council, members must provide their formal CV for documentation, a brief bio, and disclosure of any conflicts of interest. All conflicts of interest also must be communicated verbally during meetings and TA communication with RCCs.

The Advisory Council needs SME representation in:

  • Aging and Access
  • Behavioral Health
  • EMS and Transportation
  • Technology and Infrastructure
  • Maternal Health
  • Workforce

Rural Care Collaboratives (Regional): This is a planning body.
There will be 8 RCCs established with the purpose of:

  • Identifying regional priorities based on healthcare gaps;
  • Developing a regional plan to address prioritized needs; and
  • Recommending/identifying projects to the RHTP interagency project team to operationalize the regional plan that works towards Pennsylvania’s identified outcomes.

Complete the RHTP Advisory Council and RCC Nomination form here.

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Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, recently announced a hearing titled Healthier America: Legislative Proposals to Improve Public Health.

The hearing, scheduled for April 15, 2026, at 10:15 am, will focus on the bills below that address various areas of public health, including disease research and prevention efforts, bolstering resources for rural medical services and health care providers, promoting healthy activities, and increasing access to care.

The hearing will be open to the public and will be livestreamed online.

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Replay icon on wooden cubes on smart grey background and copy space. Recap business, meeting summary, business review concept.

The Department of Human Services (DHS) held a “kickoff” webinar to discuss the Rural Health Transformation Plan (RHTP) and have released the recording and slides for the presentation, which are available here. DHS is currently awaiting the release of the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the first phase of Year 1 implementation.

Year 1 Funding Mechanisms will include:

  • Expansion of existing programs;
  • Program payments;
  • Intergovernmental agreements; and
  • Grant agreements.

If your organization has an interest in these RFPs, RCPA will provide updates as appropriate, but we also encourage you to sign up directly for the DHS listserv info. Direct RHTP inquiries can be sent here.

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The Arc of Pennsylvania is hosting the 3rd Annual Disability Health Action Summit from May 19–20, 2026, in Camp Hill, PA. This is an in-person only event, taking place at the Penn Harris Hotel & Convention Center. The Arc of PA is excited to announce Theo Brady, Executive Director of NCIL, will keynote on Tuesday, May 19, and Secretary Valerie Arkoosh will keynote on May 20.

For a complete agenda and registration, please visit The Arc of PA’s website. Scholarships for self-advocates and student discounts are available! Space is limited, to register today!

Visit here to view the flyer for more details.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared updates to ODPANN 26-028. The purpose of this communication is to distribute the updated Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services (PUNS) Manual and the revised DP1055 – PUNS Form, effective February 2026, and to announce the implementation of related updates to the Emergency PUNS process. Updates appear in underlined red text.

This communication formally distributes:

These updates are part of the Office of Developmental Programs’ continued implementation of the Multi-Year Program Growth Strategy and are intended to strengthen the accuracy, consistency, and documentation of Emergency Need determinations statewide.

Please review the announcement for more details.

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The Office of Developmental Programs is pleased to share an upcoming opportunity for professionals across systems to engage in a new Learning Collaborative focused on supporting people with disabilities who are parents or who are planning to become parents.

This Learning Collaborative will bring together professionals from across state and local systems, including providers, supports coordination organizations, administrative entities, and partners in early childhood, behavioral health, and child-serving systems. Participants will engage as regional or local teams to explore effective practices, share resources, and strengthen cross-system collaboration.

Through a series of interactive sessions, the collaborative will focus on:

  • Identifying practical strategies and best practices to support parents with disabilities;
  • Promoting informed choice, supported decision-making, and rights-based approaches;
  • Navigating complex situations with clarity around roles, responsibilities, and system requirements;
  • Connecting individuals and families to a broader network of supports and resources; and
  • Building sustainable relationships across agencies and communities.

The Learning Collaborative is designed as a community of practice, emphasizing shared learning, discussion, and real-world application. While it will not provide regulatory guidance, it will highlight key questions and opportunities to inform ongoing system improvement.

An informational webinar on June 4, 2026, will provide more details about the collaborative, expectations for participation, and how to get involved.

We hope you will consider joining and sharing this opportunity with others in your network.

Registration details will be announced in the coming weeks — stay tuned!

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 26-040. This communication states that the updated SPeCTRUM training is now available on MyODP. It also outlines completion requirements and provides guidance regarding documentation, transition timelines, and prior version applicability. This announcement obsoletes ODPANN 19-072, 19-121, and 20-032.

The updated SPeCTRUM training has enhanced webinar capabilities, updated content, and has been streamlined while continuing to provide foundational information necessary to support adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

SPeCTRUM training is available on MyODP’s website.

Questions regarding SPeCTRUM training requirements may be directed to the BSASP Training inbox.

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Photo by Larry Crayton on Unsplash

The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) has released the Family Leadership Toolkit, which is designed for state-level professionals and family leaders working to elevate family voices in systems changes. The Family Leadership Toolkit offers practical tools, strategies, and real-world examples to help build strong, collaborative partnerships between professionals and family leaders. You can:

  • Use it to guide leadership development.
  • Share it with your networks and colleagues.
  • Introduce it in meetings, trainings, and planning sessions.
  • Promote it through your organization’s communication channels.

Access The Family Leadership Toolkit here. For questions, please reach out to OCDEL via email.

Additional questions can be directed to RCPA COO and Mental Health Policy Director Jim Sharp.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is requesting presentation proposals for its 19th annual Pennsylvania Autism Training Conference (PATC). The conference will be held virtually with an interactive schedule on November 4 – 5, 2026. PATC invites professionals, clinicians, autistic self-advocates, and their families/caregivers to learn from leading experts in the field of autism supports. We are interested to hear from people who have developed and/or effectively implemented models in the following areas:

  • Communication approaches, modalities, and technical advancements;
  • Supporting autistic individuals with profound support needs;
  • The neuroscience of autism;
  • Applications in genetic testing;
  • Sensory impacts and strategies;
  • Executive functioning;
  • Understanding and implementing the foundational frameworks Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA);
  • Supporting the family and other caregivers;
  • Competitive Integrated Employment; and
  • Community and cultural competence.

Submit your proposal for PATC 2026 here. The deadline to submit proposals is May 29, 2026.

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