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DSP

The Institute on Disabilities at Temple University is inviting people to participate in a paid interview about the Direct Support Professional (DSP) workforce.

Who can participate?

  • Current and former Direct Support Professionals (DSP) or Support Service Professionals (SSP).
  • Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) or their family members with experience of migration and/or the DSP workforce crisis.
  • Direct support providers.

View the flyer for details about this project, including why and how to participate. To schedule an interview or learn more, please contact the team via email or at 215-204-7177.

On July 11, 2024, Governor Shapiro signed a bipartisan 2024/25 budget that invests in a range of fields, from health care to public transportation to education. The details of the budget are available in the Governor’s Press Release, which highlights each field and dollar amounts signed. In particular, the budget addresses:

  • Supporting PA’s ID/A community and Direct Support Professionals (DSP);
  • Investing in gun violence prevention;
  • Increased funding for nursing homes and the Aging Our Way plan;
  • Combatting maternal mortality; and
  • Further investments in mental health.

RCPA Policy Staff will be reviewing the budget in great detail over the next few days. We plan to reach out to our members with updates and key information as more becomes available and analyzed. If you have any questions regarding the budget, please reach out to your Policy Director.

Self-advocates joined RCPA, several legislators, and other associations and provider organizations at a press conference to support ID/A funding in the state budget on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at the State Capitol in Harrisburg. As part of his 2024/25 budget proposal, Governor Josh Shapiro called for investing $483 million in state and federal funds into the network of care for individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism (ID/A). If enacted, the funding would allow more individuals to access professional support and services as well as relieve families of around-the-clock caregiving duties. ID/A providers across Pennsylvania have long called for increased state investments, and this allocation will allow providers to recruit and retain more direct support professionals (DSP) who have cared for these individuals at low wages. The lack of DSPs and funding have caused thousands of Pennsylvanians to wait months or more for services and support.

Sherri Landis of the Arc of PA spoke, as did Representatives Kinsey and Heffley.

In addition, many self-advocates, including DSPs and family members of those with ID/A, attended and spoke about the need for funding.

 

Image by Werner Moser from Pixabay

ANCOR has shared that the first step to revise the Standard Occupational Classification process has begun. Today the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), on behalf of the Standard Occupational Classification Policy Committee (SOCPC) — which is the committee that makes recommendations to OMB for potential revisions — announced it is beginning the review of the 2018 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Manual for revisions to be made for 2028, and that it is soliciting public comment.

This is an opportunity to write comments in support of revisions to the SOC, in particular for the creation of a code for direct support professionals. In its notice for comments, OMB specifically notes that it “solicits and welcomes comments related to any aspect of occupational classification, especially comments concerning . . . whether to consider the addition of new detailed occupations or occupational groups, including specifically care workers.”

The public comment period is open until August 12, 2024. ANCOR will be submitting comments and providing additional guidance and tools to submit comments in the coming weeks.

For more information, the notice is available on the Federal Register website.

Today, June 10, the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) held the second of four Provider Preparedness Summits for Residential Providers. More discussion on specific performance standards for Performance-Based Contracting took place. The PowerPoint is now available, and a recording of the session will be posted shortly on the MyODP website.

ODP staff in attendance answered many questions submitted by providers, and the discussion was primarily focused on staff credentialing. Credentialing is unique to the DSP, is portable, and requires recertification every two years. A quick google search on NADSP will provide a thorough e-badge handbook.

There are two additional summits planned, and ODP will be recording each summit. Providers are encouraged to attend all four sessions as well as watch a pre-recorded webinar. All of these resources can be found on the MyODP website.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared the Invitation to Apply for the Capacity Building Institute (Year 8). The Capacity Building Institute (CBI), offered by ODP and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS), provides an in-depth learning opportunity to professionals across the entire service partnership, including direct support staff and supervisors, supports coordinators/case managers and supervisors, agency trainers, managed care organizations, behavior specialists, psychiatrists, professional counselors and therapists, and dual diagnosis treatment teams.

The Capacity Building Institute will meet for nine two-day sessions, beginning September 2024 and ending April 2025. These sessions will present current best practices and supportive models to best provide support to individuals with a dual diagnosis (individuals with an Intellectual Disability and Autism with co-occurring mental health issues and challenging behaviors) to lead healthy, happy, and meaningful lives.

Please refer to the invitation for information on how to express interest in participating, session information, and requirements.