';
Tags Posts tagged with "Family"

Family

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is hosting a series of discussion boards and focus groups focused on 1-person licensed residential homes. The discussion boards will be online forums open for 48 hours, allowing participants to log in and out at their convenience throughout the two-day period. Total participation time is expected to be about 2 – 3 hours, and the forums will be semi-anonymous (participants will be identified only by first name). Focus groups will follow the discussion boards and will be scheduled at a later date.

ODP continues to seek participants for the DSP and family stakeholder group. Interested individuals should submit their name, agency (if applicable), and contact information to ODP’s Executive Assistant Jordan Kembel electronically.

Stakeholder Groups & Dates

DSP Group

Discussion Board Dates: December 4 – 5, 2025
ODP is seeking DSPs who:

  • Support individuals in 1-person homes and can share their experiences, successes, and challenges;
  • Have helped individuals transition from 1-person to 2+ person homes; and
  • Support individuals with significant behavioral support needs in 2+ person homes.

Family Group

Discussion Board Dates: December 11 – 12, 2025
ODP is seeking family members who have a loved one living in a 1-person licensed home and are willing to share their perspectives and experiences.

Please help the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bureau of Family Health find out what is needed to support transition age youth with special health care needs/disabilities. The Bureau is working with PEAL to outreach to families and will be asking questions about transition planning, bullying, safe relationships, and reproductive health and sexuality.

A $25 Gift Card will be provided per family. We are looking for young adults (12–21) to participate by themselves and also for young adults to participate with their family member to support communication. You can view the flyer for more details here.

Registration for Youth Only
If you are younger than 18, please ask your parent/guardian to register with you.
REGISTER

Registration for Youth Attending with Parent/Family Caregiver
REGISTER

You will need to fill out a form to receive your $25 gift card. If you are ages 12–17 and participating alone in the focus group, you will need parent signatures to receive a gift card and a release form to participate. The links to complete the forms below. Please save and send to Mary Hartley, whose contact information is also below.

If you need any accommodations, support, or have questions, please contact Mary Hartley via email or call (412) 281-4404, ext. 208. We are happy to help!