RCPA invites you to sponsor, exhibit, and advertise for the in-person 2022 Conference: “Together!” Our event will focus on face-to-face sessions and networking, with a mobile app available for attendees to connect with vendors, sponsors, and exhibitors on-site. Please note that there will be no hybrid or virtual-only options. This event will be in-person only with no plans to change to virtual. We want to focus on being Together!
2022 Virtual Everyday Lives Conference
An Everyday Life in a Changing World: A Focus on Wellness and Resilience
The Pennsylvania Office of Developmental Programs invites you to register for the 2022 Virtual Everyday Lives Conference! The Everyday Lives Conference seeks to provide valuable information to individuals with an intellectual disability and/or autism, their families, and support professionals to help empower individuals to live their ideal everyday lives.
Registration
The conference is free for individuals and families, and $50 for professionals. Registration allows access to all virtual conference sessions. To register online, visit the Everyday Lives website and click on the Registration tab. You can also mail in your registration using the form attached.
Conference Lineup
The conference lineup, including presenters and presentation topics, is now available to view at the Everyday Lives website under the Schedule tab.
Conference Dates and Tracks
May 17, 2022
Communication and Connection
May 24–May 25, 2022
Community of Practice for Supporting Families
Regional Collaborative Summit
June 1, 2022
Supportive Technology
June 8–June 9, 2022
Dual Diagnosis
June 16, 2022
Employment
This announcement is to inform stakeholders of ARPA funds that are available to AEs to disperse in order to meet Respite and/or the Family Driven Support Services (FDSS) needs of individuals on the waiting list who do not currently receive waiver funded services. This communication is intended to:
An FAQ is included to address common questions about this program as well as a Family Support Funds tracker for reporting use of the funds.
RCPA is eager to support our partner, Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children (PPC), with Casey Family Programs as they look to facilitate community engagement sessions aimed at elevating the lived experiences of those parents and caregivers who have been involved with the Child Welfare System. The purpose would be to learn what policies and practices can focus on primary prevention, family support, and reduction of out-of-home placement. PPC is looking to identify providers who have access to parents and caregivers with a history of formal involvement with the child welfare system through either a referral, in-home services, or placement. The parent or caregiver cannot have current involvement with a county child welfare agency.
The focus group would be coordinated between the provider and PPC and would take approximately 2 hours. Parents and caregivers will be compensated for their time.
We hope our members can support PPC efforts in engaging potential parents in this initiative. If interested, or if you have any questions, contact Policy Director Rachael Miller or RCPA Policy Director Jim Sharp.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced that they plan to offer more than $110 million to expand access to home and community-based services (HCBS) through Medicaid’s Money Follows the Person (MFP) program. MFP, authorized since 2005, has provided states with $4.06B to support individuals who choose to transition out of institutions and back into their homes and communities. This new Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) provides individual awards of up to $5 million available for more than 20 states and territories not currently participating in MFP. These funds will support initial planning and implementation to get the state/territory programs off the ground, which would ensure more people with Medicaid can receive high-quality, cost-effective, person-centered services in a setting they choose.
For states already participating in MFP, CMS also announced that the agency is increasing the reimbursement rate for MFP “supplemental services.” These services will now be 100 percent federally funded with no state share. Additionally, CMS is expanding the definition of supplemental services to include additional services that can support an individual’s transition from an institution to the community, including short-term housing and food assistance.
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