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DSP

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.

The United States Senate Special Committee on Aging will be holding a hearing tomorrow to discuss the long-term care workforce. The hearing will be to address the shortages and legislation to improve the caring professions. U.S. Senator Bob Casey (PA), Chairman of the Committee, has invited Nick Smith, an NADSP-certified direct support professional from Philadelphia, to provide testimony. It is rare that direct support professionals have the opportunity to testify before the United States Senate, and NADSP invites you to watch Mr. Smith on Tuesday. Insights gained from such hearings can inform the development of legislation aimed at addressing workforce issues.

HOW TO WATCH:

The hearing will be livestreamed on the committee page. To access the livestream, visit here. Details are below:

United States Senate Special Committee on Aging
Full Committee Hearing
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
10:00 am (EDT)
Featuring Nick Smith, DSP-1, SPIN, Philadelphia, PA

LEARN MORE

College of Direct Support Webinar — Discover How DirectCourse Can Revolutionize Your Organization
April 18, 2024
10:00 am
Register

This webinar is for providers within the state of PA who oversee a workforce that provides services and supports to individuals with disabilities in their home and/or employment setting. Discover how, through DirectCourse, you can educate and empower Direct Support Professionals (DSP) to do their best work for the individuals they support in your community.

What DirectCourse Offers:

  • Foundational Training: Perfect for newcomers to the field.
  • Compliance Training: Content that meets regulatory standards.
  • Skill-building Modules: For those seeking to elevate their expertise.
  • Advanced Content: Tailored for seasoned professionals.
  • Specialty Training: For targeted projects and circumstances.
  • Leadership Training: For those at the helm of policy and practice design.
  • Career Path Options: For those looking to advance in the field of Direct Support Professionals.

Our Commitments:

  • Up-to-Date Training: Our online training curricula align with the latest research.
  • Strong Partnerships: We value our bonds with content developers from university partners.
  • Skill-Based Training: Our content is rooted in specific skills and competencies, ensuring clear on-the-job training.
  • Building Connections: We foster connections between families, providers, board members, supervisors, and everyone in the support industry.

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.