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Policy Areas

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared the communication, ODPANN 24-030: Community Participation Support (CPS) Billing Changes to Assist Individuals to Participate in the InVEST Project and Trainings Held by Self Advocacy Power Network for All (SAPNA) and the PA Family Network.

This communication announces CPS billing changes to support individuals’ participation in these offerings. Suggested audience includes:

  • Individuals and Families;
  • Administrative Entities (AEs);
  • Supports Coordination Organizations (SCOs);
  • Providers of CPS; and
  • Any interested stakeholders.

Please review the announcement for additional information and detail; contact ODP directly with any questions.

The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) will be conducting a virtual Brain Injury Fundamentals course on March 20, 2024 from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm. The course will provide foundational knowledge about working with individuals who have a brain injury, and is ideal for non-licensed health care professionals, first responders, and support staff.

This course is self-paced, so those who are unable to participate in the in-person course due to scheduling conflicts or other commitments have the opportunity to complete the course with greater flexibility. Please note that while the self-paced option offers 24/7 access for independent learning and development, there is a two-hour live instructor component as well. To participate in the session, please register here.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has released the FY 2022/23 Annual Data Report. The ODP Annual Data Report provides statistical information to educate our stakeholders about the individuals ODP serves and the services they receive. This data provides an important overview of the service system ODP oversees that supports individuals with disabilities. The accompanying resource, Everyday Lives: Values in Action Information, Sharing, and Advisory Committee (ISAC) Recommendations, Strategies, and Performance Measures, provides information on indicators of success used to gauge the effectiveness of the work of ODP.

Access the FY 2022/23 Annual Data Report here. This document can also be found by visiting MyODP and following this path: Everyday Lives > Everyday Lives Publications > ODP’s Annual Data Reports.

The Everyday Lives: Values in Action Information, Sharing, and Advisory Committee (ISAC) Recommendations, Strategies, and Performance Measures publications are available here.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 24-028, which introduces the new SIS-A Discrepancy Form. This announcement also provides guidance on how to submit a review request when discrepancies are identified in a finalized SIS-A Report. All requests must be submitted on this form within 120 days (4 months) of the SIS interview date. The SIS-A Discrepancy Review form can also be accessed in the following ways:

  • On the MyODP SIS website landing page; and/or
  • By scanning the QR Code in the bulletin.

ODP has also created an SIS-A dedicated inbox specifically for the discrepancy review process. You can view the announcement for additional information and details.

The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) invites public review of the Fiscal Year 2024 Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) grant application on the Mental Health in PA website. The PATH grant, established under the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Amendments Act of 1990, assists individuals with serious mental illness facing or at risk of homelessness. The application, submitted annually to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is open for public comment until 10:00 am Friday, March 22, 2024. For questions or comments, please contact Lauren MacWithey, Pennsylvania PATH Grant Coordinator.

Additional questions can be sent to RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.

Image by photosforyou from Pixabay

Part 1: Navigating Evidence: Finding and Synthesizing Literature for Evidence-Based Practices
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm EDT; 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm CDT;
12:00 pm – 1:00 MDT; 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PDT
Register Here

Part 2: Making Evidence-Based Practices Work: Strategies and Outcomes
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm EDT; 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm CDT;
12:00 pm – 1:00 MDT; 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PDT
Register Here

Michael Peterson, MA, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist and Clinical Transformation Specialist

Speaker Bio:
Michael works as a Clinical Transformation Specialist, where he focuses his efforts as part of a Clinical Transformation team to promote a culture of evidence-based practice at Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare in St. Paul, Minnesota. Michael is also a speech-language pathologist with 12 years of clinical experience working with children and adults with childhood-onset conditions. He applies his clinical experience and advanced training in knowledge translation and implementation science to partner with and guide clinical staff to bridge the gap between evidence and clinical practice.

Objectives: At the end of these sessions, the learner will:

Part 1: Navigating Evidence: Finding and Synthesizing Literature for Evidence-Based Practices

  • Describe how to search for literature using PICOT questions
  • Identify resources to support appraisal of relevant papers
  • State the purpose of synthesis tables in supporting evidence-based practice decisions
  • Describe how to use synthesis tables to make evidence-based practice recommendations

Part 2: Making Evidence-Based Practices Work: Strategies and Outcomes

  • Describe how frameworks guide implementation of EBP
  • State how barriers and facilitators influence implementation of EBP
  • Describe implementation strategies
  • List different kinds of outcomes to monitor implementation of EBP

Audience: This webinar is intended for all interested members of the rehabilitation team.

Level: Intermediate

Certificate of Attendance: Certificates of attendance are available for all attendees. No CEs are provided for this course.

Last week, ANCOR and United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) unveiled the latest Case for Inclusion report: Transforming Temporary Progress into Long-Term SustainabilityThe report is a vital resource assessing the effectiveness of state Medicaid programs in serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families. Since 2019, ANCOR has partnered with UCP to publish this comprehensive report, combining transactional data with transformational stories to inspire positive change.

The Case for Inclusion 2024 provides a deep dive into community inclusion across three data snapshots, featuring nearly 80 measures spanning six crucial issue areas: Addressing a Workforce in Crisis; Promoting Independence; Reaching Those in Need; Serving at a Reasonable Cost; Keeping Families Together; and Tracking Health, Safety, & Quality of Life.

Key findings from the report shed light on critical issues, including notable increases in hourly wages for direct support professionals (DSP), rising vacancy rates with full-time vacancy rates increasing to 16.5% and part-time vacancy rates increasing to 20.3%, and persistent challenges in addressing waiting lists for home- and community-based services (HCBS), with 497,354 people on state waiting lists for HCBS across the country.

The report also emphasizes that 17 states and the District of Columbia have closed their state-run institutions. Furthermore, it highlights the participation of 38 states in the federal Money Follows the Person program and the approval of 18 demonstration waivers nationally addressing social determinants of health with 17 more pending.