The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 25-055. This communication provides ODP stakeholders with information to access various emails (resource accounts) that can help address many common questions or issues that arise through the use of ODP services. These resource accounts have been created to better assist stakeholders in contacting specific ODP departments to gain information and support.
Message to Supports Coordinators:
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared the following information as part of the Annual Review Update process. It is essential to ensure each individual’s demographic information is accurate and current. Please take a few extra moments during your review to verify that all details are up-to-date and correctly documented.
HCSIS Navigation
Completion Guidelines
Please confirm that the following details are correct to the best of your knowledge:
Consumer Demographics
Consumer Addresses
Consumer Contacts
Accurate information not only supports effective service planning and coordination — it also plays a key role in ensuring a smooth transition as we prepare for Enterprise Case Management (ECM) implementation. Thank you for your attention to detail and your continued commitment to delivering high-quality supports.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact your ODP Regional Office.
TOPIC: Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Overview and Practical Application
On behalf of the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP), due to a widespread power outage when we were scheduled to conduct the Western Region ASD Seminar in April, we have decided to hold an additional session. We welcome anyone interested to register for this event!
Reminder: This seminar satisfies the basic autism training requirement for Residential Performance-Based Contracting. Please see more details below on Continuing Education Credits.
Over the years the prevalence of autism has increased, Pennsylvania’s service delivery system for individuals with autism has expanded, and best practices to provide quality supports have emerged. To support the individual needs of each person with autism across the lifespan, an understanding of core characteristics must be established. It is also important to learn how the individual’s presentation of autism may change across settings and situations. This seminar will provide attendees with an in-depth presentation on core characteristics of autism and the impact of the characteristics on daily life, routines, and activities. A review of common terms and basic principles used to change behavior, teach new skills, and develop practical application of best practices will be included. Opportunity for discussion and engagement will occur throughout the seminar.
Who should attend?
Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), Front Line Supervisors, and Program Managers supporting individuals with autism in residential and other home and community-based settings. Professionals supporting individuals in the Adult Autism Waiver (AAW), Adult Community Autism Program (ACAP), Consolidated, Person/Family-Directed Support (P/FDS), and Community Living waivers are encouraged to attend.
Where and when will sessions be held?
Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
*After logging into your MyODP account, completion of the Demographics Form is required before being able to register for a session.
Please contact the Bureau of Autism Training inbox with questions.
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 25-054. This announcement provides details related to changes to the HCSIS Auto Authorization Functionality.
In alignment with the Multi-Year Program Growth Strategy, Administrative Entities (AE) require greater insight into plan changes that will have virtual budget impacts. Plans submitted for AE review after June 9, 2025, will be subject to the changes. See changes on the chart within the announcement, reflecting the categories of Individual Support Plan (ISP) updates or revisions. Plan categories where a yes appears in the chart require manual approvals. The newly-added categories are highlighted in green and will now require manual review by AEs.
Questions should be directed to the ODP Regional Office.
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 25-053. This announcement provides clarification to assist Supports Coordination Organizations (SCO) and Administrative Entities (AE) in properly identifying and planning for individuals who may be eligible for enrollment in the Person/Family Directed Support (P/FDS) Waiver through reserved capacity provisions.
Please review the announcement for additional information and details.
The Office of Developmental Disabilities (ODP) has shared ODPANN 25-052. This announcement is to inform all provider agencies employing Direct Support Professionals (DSP) that the Human Services Research Institute (HSRI) has extended the deadline for completing the 2024 National Core Indicators® (NCI®) State of the Workforce Survey. The portal will close on Thursday, July 31, 2025.
Please review the announcement for additional information and details.
June 27, 2025
10:00 am – 11:30 am
Register Here
Adult Autism Waiver (AAW) providers are invited to participate in the AAW Provider Quarterly Incident and Risk Management meeting. This meeting will be held for all Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) providers and Support Coordinators (SC) providing AAW services. Pam Treadway and Heather Easley will facilitate these meetings with the intent to provide updates on incident and risk management related activities, share AAW data, inform providers of any upcoming changes, review ODP expectations, etc. Providers will be able to network with one another and ask questions directly to the Bureau of Supports for Autism and Special Populations (BSASP).
The upcoming meeting will include recommendations for providers to ensure incidents are appropriately detailed so that during the Management Review process, the incident can be approved and closed. We highly encourage those who fulfill the Incident Management (IM) Representative role to attend this meeting.
Multiple staff from a provider may attend but should register separately. Be sure to complete all required information to confirm attendance. A link to the meeting will be sent prior to the scheduled meeting date.
Please contact the Provider Support inbox with questions.
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is looking for provider representatives for an Emergency Planning and Continuity Work Group. Representatives from RCPA members that render residential habilitation and/or day services who are interested can contact Tim Sohosky by June 11, 2025.
The first initiative the group will focus on is reviewing and providing feedback on a Hazard Vulnerability Analysis (HVA) tool for residential habilitation and day services settings. This tool is essential in identifying potential risks and ensuring that emergency planning measures are comprehensive and effective. Given the increasing number of natural disasters, ODP anticipates providers may find this tool very helpful. Ultimately, ODP will make this tool, accompanying training, and technical assistance available to providers to use (voluntary).
By volunteering for this small work group, representatives will:
ODP anticipates convening an HVA tool review meeting to discuss and review and will provide a virtual option to accommodate schedules. Tool review and feedback is expected to be three (3) meetings of 1 – 3 hours each over the next few months. On-going work group meetings would be quarterly for 90 minutes – 3 hours.
For Questions or Additional Information
Please contact Tim Sohosky with any follow-up or inquiries related to this update.
The Pennsylvania Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) invites you to save the date for the 2025 Pennsylvania Autism Training Conference (PATC)! The conference will be hosted virtually on September 30 – October 1, 2025.
About the Conference
PATC provides professionals working directly with children and/or adults with autism with tools, strategies, and resources to help provide the most effective support.
Who should attend?
Professionals looking to increase their knowledge of and/or ability to support individuals with autism across the spectrum and the lifespan. We welcome all individuals and the professionals who support them. Please join us!
Stay tuned for more information!
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared its Fiscal Year (FY) 2024/25 Q3 Report. This is a temporary report format while ODP builds a dashboard for waiting list and program growth data to make this data more accessible for stakeholders. ODP anticipates this will be ready by August.
The report shows ODP has made great progress on tackling the adult emergency waiting list over the past year, noting a 24% reduction since the Governor’s announcement in 2024.
For Questions or Additional Information
Please contact Tim Sohosky for any follow-up or inquiries related to this update.
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