';
CLOSE
Policy Areas

0 1252

ODP Announcement 23-016 announces that the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is requesting that qualified providers employing DSPs participate in the 2022 State of the Workforce (SoTW) survey. This important survey includes questions relating to the volume, stability, compensation, and benefits of DSPs serving adults 18 years of age and older. The data gathered from this voluntary and anonymous survey will help ODP, along with other policy makers and advocates, inform policy and program development regarding DSP workforce (DSPW) improvement initiatives and other important work in this area. Within the next two weeks, providers will receive an email from HSRI inviting them to participate in this SoTW survey.

In addition to the standard survey, ODP has added a series of questions to address several areas in which it has a specific interest. These questions are identified in the PA Supplement section and have PA attached to the question number. The data collected for these questions will not be analyzed by HSRI, but ODP will complete its own analysis.

Results of the survey will only be reported in the aggregate, and organizations will not be identified in any way. It is recommended that the Human Resources (HR) or Payroll Office complete the surveys and that answers should reflect DSPs who were on agency payroll during any period between January 1 and December 31, 2022.

The deadline to complete data entry is June 30, 2023. A copy of the survey is available to allow for preparation of data prior to completing data entry. It is a proprietary tool of NCI® and is to be used for reference only. ODP is eager to be a part of this important project again. Provider participation will help ODP to make sound policy decisions regarding Pennsylvania’s DSPs.

Any questions can be directed to Ms. Lee Stephens, ODP NCI Statewide Lead.

0 1652

Message from the National Disability Institute:

Accessing capital can be essential for business growth, yet many founders with disabilities report experiencing significant barriers. Join our five-part webinar series to hear from community development financial institutions (CDFI) who have found ways to increase inclusion and from disability-owned businesses on how they obtained the capital they needed.

Who should attend:

  • Entrepreneurs with disabilities looking for information on accessing capital and how CDFI lending differs from that of traditional banks;
  • CDFIs with a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion who wish to ensure they are meeting the needs of business owners with disabilities; and
  • Entrepreneurial and other support organizations looking for information to assist their customers to access capital and other financial health supports.

Register for the Introduction to CDFI’s session on February 28, 2023, from 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm EST.

Register for sessions 2–5, scheduled every other Tuesday from March 7, 2023, through April 18, 2023, from 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm EST. Each session will include CDFI and the experiences of business owners with disabilities.

ASL interpretation and captioning will be provided during the session. If you have any accessibility requests or questions, please email Alexis Jones. For more information, visit NDI’s website.

0 3182

The Department of Human Services (DHS) issued a communication regarding a delay in the distribution of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding allocated to Personal Care Homes (PCH) and Assisted Living Residences (ALR) by Act 54 of 2022.

As of 2/6/2023, approximately 50 percent of the Act 54 payments for PCH and ALR had been processed by OLTL, and approximately 25 percent of the total facilities for which form submissions have been received have been fully processed and paid by the Treasury. DHS anticipates that it may take until the end of March 2023 for the remaining 50 percent of payments to be processed and finalized. Providers are asked to please be patient while the remaining payments are processed. If your facility is anticipating serious negative consequences from the delay of your payment, please email.

Visit here for information on the exact breakdown of the $26,767,000 of available Act 54 funding for PCH and ALR.

Please remember that Act 54 of 2022 requires the ARPA funding to be obligated by December 31, 2024, and spent by December 31, 2026, or returned to the Commonwealth. Additionally, these funds must be used for COVID-19 related expenses. Providers must keep documentation to prove that these funds were used for their response to the COVID-19 pandemic in case of an audit. Any person or entity accepting an ARPA payment agrees to provide documentation to the Department of Human Services (DHS) upon request for purposes of determining compliance with Act 54 requirements. Instructions on expenditure reporting will be provided at a later date.

DHS recommends that providers consult their accountants or attorneys for further clarification on acceptable uses of ARPA funding. DHS encourages providers to review guidance for eligible expenditures on the US Department of the Treasury website in their Compliance and Reporting Guidance.

If your facility has not submitted an Act 54 Facility Acceptance Form, you may still do so. Do not submit this form if your facility has previously applied for this funding.

Other questions about this information may be directed via email.

0 2488

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has published resources to assist healthcare workers prepare for the end of the public health emergency (PHE) on May 11, 2023. Included in these resources are a number of provider-specific fact sheets for information about COVID-19 PHE waivers and flexibilities; two specific documents included are the Long-Term Care Facilities and Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities fact sheets.

0 2439
Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (PA DHS) is pleased to share resources available through the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). The Special Education 101 presentation, available on YouTube, is a great overview for all human service staff who, in a variety of capacities, serve children and their families. Supporting documents and required forms are also helpful resources for your staff as they support children in their educational journey.

Prev1...325326327...476Next Page 326 of 476
© 2021 - Rehabilitation & Community Providers Association