Pittsburgh Nonprofits, Still Reeling From the Pandemic, Face Uncertainty as Pa. Budget Impasse Continues: RCPA Member PLEA Agency Quoted
Explore Unique Leadership and Support Strategies at the 2023 RCPA Annual Conference
Explore unique leadership and up-to-date support strategies in health and human services at the 2023 RCPA Annual Conference A Decade of Unity, as our speakers will be covering topics that touch on hoarding disabilities, handling subpoenas, and even tackling social anxiety with tabletop games! Held at the Hershey Lodge October 10 – 13, participants can earn CEs through these exciting and interactive workshops. Our full brochure is available, and below is a sampling of the many sessions being offered:
- Hoarding Recovery and Maintenance Program
- Learn about the Hoarding Recovery and Maintenance Program, which was designed to support individuals dealing with anxiety and stress as they let go of their hoarded possessions.
- Make Difficult People Disappear: How to Reduce Stress and Eliminate Conflict in the Workplace
- Obtain tricks and resources to not only managing stressful individuals but making them disappear without worsening the situation.
- Investigating the Use of Tabletop Role-Playing Games as a Potential Therapeutic Intervention for Individuals With Social Anxiety
- Discover how tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons can assist adults in dealing with anxiety, particularly social anxiety.
- A Treatment Outcome Measurement System That Helps to Get & Keep Treatment Funding
- Develop a simple yet effective treatment outcome measurement system in order to keep funding, including Medicaid funding.
- Addressing Cultural Barriers to Treatment: How to Be Respectfully Curious When Working With Families
- Address leadership tactics for being curious yet respectful when interacting with fellow employees in order to avoid causing more harm or enforcing one’s personal beliefs.
- Subpoenas, Court Orders, and Requests for PHI: Obligations Under HIPAA, the MHPA, and Other Statutes
- Delve into HIPAA and PA statues in order to learn about the complexities regarding subpoenas and court-related orders when working in health and human services.
- Enabling Technology: The Why, What, and How Needed to Make it Happen
- Understand how companies can improve organization capacity in order to provide up-to-date technology to disabled communities.
- Leadership and Navigating Change
- Tackle resistance in a team that is going through significant adjustments and learn how to be a leader by focusing on the ‘people side’ of change.
Register today!
In addition to an impressive roster of speakers, our 2023 Conference will have an exciting array of sponsors and exhibitors. We thank those who have signed on thus far! If you are interested in sponsoring or exhibiting, visit here for more details or contact Carol Ferenz, Conference Coordinator, with any questions you may have. Keep up-to-date and register today for #rcpaconf!
2023–2024 Temple Peer Review Process Announced
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 23-068: 2023–2024 Temple Peer Review Process Beginning. The purpose of this announcement is to communicate the beginning of the 2023–2024 Peer Review process conducted by Temple University’s Quality Investigations Unit (QIU). This involves the creation of a survey to obtain updated provider information, informing providers that the Peer Review process will include the tracking of certification/recertification dates of each CI who conducted the investigation that was reviewed, and informing stakeholders of staff changes within the QIU.
Please review the announcement for details.
Harrisburg-Based Nonprofit Using Collaboration to Help Young People Find Summer Jobs: RCPA Members Youth Advocate Programs Inc. and PA OVR Highlighted
Resource Guide for Supporting Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing Now Available
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has announced the third 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 American Sign Language (ASL) courses, 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 will also be available in the near future on MyODP under Training > Special Populations > Deaf Services.
For questions, please email ODP Deaf Services.
SAU1 to Host “Your Vision For Your Life” on September 21
SAU1 Announces August 2023 Virtual Events
Governor’s Office Publishes Proposed Regulatory Agenda
Governor Shapiro’s office published a list of regulations being considered by the state agencies in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on July 22, 2023. The document lists regulations being drafted by state agencies that cover a wide variety of activities under oversight of the state government. Under Executive Order 1996-1, all agencies under the jurisdiction of the Governor must submit for publication semi-annually an agenda of regulations under development or consideration. This list is current as of July 15, 2023.
Student Class Creation Walkthrough for Med Admin Trainers — August 1
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) shared that, after August 1, 2023, trainers will be able to create their own Student and Practicum Observer classes on the Med Admin platform. The class creation request form will no longer be used after this date. Starting on August 2, 2023, trainers will create their own classes as needed and will no longer request class creation via the help desk. To learn about class creation, DHS will be hosting a training webinar on August 1 from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm. This training is required for all Med Admin Trainers, as it will provide a walkthrough on how to create your own classes in the new system.
Register for the webinar here.
Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act Moves to Committee Markup
Message From ANCOR:
In a notable development, the Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act has progressed to the committee markup stage in the Senate’s Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC). The Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act has been a key legislative priority for ANCOR. This legislation aims to establish a Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs). Its passage would officially recognize direct support as a profession and tackle the recruitment and retention crisis that has impacted the availability of professionals supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in home and community-based settings.
ANCOR, along with its coalition partners, has been a steadfast advocate for the establishment of a SOC for DSPs and wrote a statement of support to HSGAC on this significant legislation. The workforce crisis in community disability services has resulted in alarming turnover and vacancy rates, leading to limited access to crucial and often life-saving services for individuals with I/DD. According to the latest data from National Core Indicators, DSP turnover stood at 43.3% at the end of 2021, with 16.5% of full-time direct support positions and 20.3% of part-time positions remaining vacant.
The establishment of a distinct SOC for DSPs would enable the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to accurately capture employment and wage data specific to this profession. This, in turn, would support state and federal agencies in making informed policy decisions concerning the Medicaid Home and Community Based Services program. Furthermore, it would facilitate the development of precise payment rates, addressing the negative and enduring effects on DSP workforce retention and recruitment. Shannon McCracken, ANCOR’s vice president for government relations, emphasized, “When we eventually see the Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act become law, we will look back on it as a pivotal moment in the history of our service delivery system—a moment when we made a collective choice to stop undervaluing the services that connect people with I/DD to their communities.”
The bill was introduced by Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Susan Collins (R-ME) in the Senate, along with Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Joe Morelle (D-NY) in the House. Their bipartisan efforts reflect the importance of addressing the workforce crisis and improving the support provided to people with I/DD.
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