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Policy Areas

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The Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association Political Action Committee (RCPA PAC) is asking members to consider making a personal contribution to the PAC. With these donations, we have been successful in supporting legislative leadership who understand the severe challenges facing many of our providers. These representatives are willing to stand up for our issues as we fight to move Pennsylvania forward.

We urge you to view our 2026 Legislative & Administrative Priorities to see how RCPA is working, and will continue to work, for you. We are able to achieve these goals thanks to our members’ dedication and contributions.

Make an online contribution and advocate for yourself today. While the request is voluntary, we encourage you to make a contribution of $100, $250, $350, $500, or more to the RCPA PAC. If you are interested, you can also consider making a recurring monthly donation.

If you have any questions regarding the RCPA PAC or making a donation, please contact Jack Phillips, Director, Government Affairs.

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Shot of a smiling little boy sitting in a white chair and holding his teddy bear while talking to a child psychologist

The Department of Human Services (DHS) Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF) has released #14-559: Residential Services for Children and Youth proposed regulations.

The Department is proposing to update the licensure requirements for children and youth facilities by revising Chapter 3800 to clarify that it does not apply to child residential facilities, secure residential facilities, or secure detention facilities for youth. Instead, the Department is proposing three new, updated regulatory licensure chapters for children and youth facilities: Chapter 3900 (relating to child and youth facility requirements), Chapter 3910 (relating to child residential facilities), and Chapter 3920 (relating to secure residential and secure detention facilities for youth). The purpose of the rulemaking is to update the requirements to strengthen and improve the minimum health and safety standards for these facilities to protect the health, safety, and well-being of children and youth receiving care.

The Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) will be accepting public comments for the proposed regulation until July 7, 2026. RCPA will convene a regulatory review team to analyze the proposed regulatory package and prepare public comments. Please contact RCPA Policy Associate Emma Sharp if you are interested in joining the regulatory review group.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) has opened a new application period for the Primary Care Practitioner Loan Repayment Program. The program supports health care professionals, including those providing substance use disorder (SUD) and behavioral health (BH) services, who serve in underserved communities across Pennsylvania through loan repayment assistance to eligible providers in exchange for a two-year service commitment at an approved site. Its primary purpose is to increase access to care in underserved areas by supporting and retaining the workforce.

The program is open to a range of licensed providers, including:

  • Psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners/physician assistants;
  • Licensed behavioral health professionals (LCSWs, LPCs, LMFTs, psychologists); and
  • Primary care providers (physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, certified nurse midwives).

To be eligible, applicants must:

  • Be licensed to practice in Pennsylvania;
  • Work at an approved site serving at least 30 percent low-income patients or located in a Health Professional Shortage Area; and
  • Commit to two years of full-time or half-time service.

Eligible practice sites may include community-based settings such as community behavioral health clinics; outpatient SUD and BH treatment providers; and federally qualified health centers and similar settings. Benefits include:

  • Loan repayment assistance to reduce education-related debt;
  • An opportunity to provide care in high-need communities; and
  • Up to $80,000 (full-time) or $40,000 (half-time) for physicians, dentists, and psychologists, OR up to $48,000 (full-time) or $24,000 (half-time) for other eligible providers.

The application process closes Friday, May 4, and applications must be submitted online. More information is available online. Email DOH with questions.

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