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Message from the Office of Child Development & Early Learning (OCDEL):

Review & Comment Period Now Open for the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C Grant Application for the Infant Toddler Early Intervention Program

  • Available for review beginning on March 30, 2026
  • Comment Period Open on April 1 – May 8, 2026

Each year the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) provides access and opportunity for interested parties, including families, EI providers, and other professionals, to review and make comments on the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C application for the Infant Toddler Early Intervention program for Federal Fiscal Year 2026.

Anyone who would like to review the proposed grant application can find the document at: Early Intervention Services or Early Intervention on the right side menu of the web pages. Hard copies can also be requested by emailing or by calling 717-346-9320.

To ensure all families, professionals and other Early Intervention stakeholders throughout our system have access to the application and are provided with opportunity to comment, we are providing you with a few reminders to ensure wide distribution of the information, specifically for those who may not have computer access to provide input.

Strategies to ensure access to the draft application include:

  • Sharing the email and its content with your Local Interagency Coordinating Councils to assist with its distribution. Please encourage them to share with those who may not always have web access to review or provide comment.
  • Encourage service coordinators to share the information from the email with families using the preferred method of communication identified by families. Highlighting how families can receive a print copy of the application and how they can submit comment would be beneficial to ensure appropriate reach to all stakeholders.

Opportunities to provide public comment from April 1 – May 8, 2026 include:

  • Visit Part C Grant Public Comment. This link will allow for online comment opportunity.
  • Submitting written comments regarding the proposed grant application can be directed to Office of Child Development and Early Learning, Bureau of Early Intervention Services and Family Supports, ATTN: Public Comments for Part C Grant Application, 607 South Drive, 4th Floor Rotunda, Harrisburg, PA 17120 or via email.

If you need an accommodation or assistance to review the proposed grant application or to submit comments, please contact via email or by calling 717-346-9320.

Comments will be accepted through May 8, 2026. All comments will be reviewed and considered by the Department before submitting the final grant application.

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A Hands-On Workshop in Incident Management Data Organization, Analysis, Risk Identification, and Action Planning for Providers and Supports Coordination Organizations (SCO)

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) invites providers and SCOs to register for its training workshop “From Data to Decisions.” Findings from the most recent Quality, Assessment & Improvement (QA&I) cycle identified opportunities for improvement in conducting and documenting incident management trend analyses in accordance with IM Bulletin 00-21-02. To support this effort, ODP is hosting training sessions focused on using available tools, strengthening the analysis and documentation, and using risk management strategies to identify risk and develop effective actions.

Registration is free, but pre-registration is required to attend.

If you are a provider, register for one of four available sessions by following the registration links below:

If you are SCO staff, register below:

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has issued Announcement 26-034 reminding providers and Supports Coordination Organizations (SCO) of the annual training requirements under Chapter 6100. Key highlights include:

  • 24 hours annually required for Direct Support Professionals (DSP), Support Coordinators, life sharers, and their supervisors.
  • 12 hours annually required for administrative, management, and ancillary staff, as well as certain contractors, volunteers, and interns working independently with individuals.
  • Training must cover core topics, including person-centered practices, abuse prevention and reporting, individual rights, incident recognition, behavior supports (if applicable), and implementation of individual plans.
  • ODP offers free trainings via MyODP, many of which are NADSP-accredited and count toward credentialing.
  • Providers and SCOs must maintain detailed training records, and staff are responsible for retaining their own training transcripts.

Members are encouraged to review their current training practices to ensure full compliance with Chapter 6100 requirements.

Please direct any questions or feedback to Tim Sohosky.

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Novitas Solutions, the Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) for Pennsylvania, has announced the introduction of a new and improved Medicare Navigator program for providers.

The program includes webinars focused on supporting providers so they can successfully navigate Medicare program requirements and submit complete, accurate transactions. March’s Medicare Navigator Program also spotlights the Foundations of Compliance:

  • March 24, Foundations of Compliance: Locating and Utilizing Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs)
  • March 26, Foundations of Compliance: Purposeful Documentation

Members are encouraged to review Novitas’s event calendar for the full listing of events and opportunities to register.

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The Mental Health Safety Net (MHSN) Coalition is a group of stakeholders participating in a joint advocacy effort to protect and preserve our mental health service delivery system. The Coalition’s first advocacy bulletin discusses the critical areas of funding for the FY 2026/27 budget, including community mental health, school-based services, crisis intervention services, Behavioral HealthChoices programs, and impacts associated with the implementation of H.R. 1.

The full letter can be read here.

RCPA invites all members, non-members, and systems-wide behavioral health stakeholders to participate in the Mental Health Safety Net Coalition meetings that will be occurring throughout the budget season. These meetings will serve to update the group on strategy, activities, and engagement opportunities.

Also note that the Mental Health Safety Net Coalition will also be participating in the RCPA Capitol Day on Wednesday March 25, 2026, with the event starting at 10:00 am in the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg.

Please contact Emma Sharp with any questions or if you would like to join the Coalition.

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In addition to the OLTL updates, key items presented included the trends in PAS Person-Centered Plans and ensuing reductions in hours. This highlighted significant differences between the three CHC-MCOs.

The in-depth presentation of Assisted Living Facilities as an “in lieu of” service provides the platform for potentially introducing this setting as part of the acceptable community settings, where other waiver services may be delivered. This would also be a departure from Pennsylvania’s definition of HCBS settings, but aligns with 23 other states where Assisted Living is included in the HCBS waivers.

If you have any questions, please contact Fady Sahhar.

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Please share these important workshops and support groups with your networks! Register here for upcoming events.

Good Life Group, Support Groups

Life Course Workshops

Waiver Workshops

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