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ODP

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has announced the release of new and updated resources available through MyODP to support Life Sharing services. These materials have been developed to enhance the quality, consistency, and effectiveness of Life Sharing services provided to individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism across Pennsylvania.

In alignment with the mission of ODP, resources are intended to inform providers, along with individuals and families, about Life Sharing and support person-centered approaches across all Life Sharing settings.

Key Updates Include:

  • Resource materials for providers, families, and Support Coordinators;
  • Guidance reflecting current service definitions and rates;
  • Tools to support effective person-centered service planning; and
  • Recorded webinars about Life Sharing services.

ODP remains committed to ensuring that individuals receiving services experience safe, supportive, and meaningful living environments.  These resources are an important step in advancing that commitment and fostering continuous improvement across the system.

We encourage all providers, families, and partners to review and utilize these materials as part of their ongoing efforts to deliver high-quality Life Sharing services.

Resources can be accessed by clicking the following link: Life Sharing – MyODP

Or by navigating to MyODP’s website, clicking the “Resources” tab at the top of the page, then selecting “Life Sharing” from the drop-down menu.

Image by Shotkitimages from Pixabay

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and Temple University have developed a new online training module shared in ODPANN 26-036. The newly released lesson provides an additional learning opportunity designed to enhance skills relating to interviewing the victim of an incident and supplies helpful information to Certified Investigators (CI), Administrative Review Committee members, CI Peer Reviewers, Incident Management (IM) Reps, and others involved in the incident investigation process. The “Interviewing the Victim” lesson has been added to the Additional Learning Opportunities section on the MyODP, PA ODP Certified Investigator Program Home page.

Please view the announcement for more details.

A Hands-On Workshop in Incident Management Data Organization, Analysis, Risk Identification, and Action Planning for Providers and Supports Coordination Organizations (SCO)

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) invites providers and SCOs to register for its training workshop “From Data to Decisions.” Findings from the most recent Quality, Assessment & Improvement (QA&I) cycle identified opportunities for improvement in conducting and documenting incident management trend analyses in accordance with IM Bulletin 00-21-02. To support this effort, ODP is hosting training sessions focused on using available tools, strengthening the analysis and documentation, and using risk management strategies to identify risk and develop effective actions.

Registration is free, but pre-registration is required to attend.

If you are a provider, register for one of four available sessions by following the registration links below:

If you are SCO staff, register below:

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has issued Announcement 26-034 reminding providers and Supports Coordination Organizations (SCO) of the annual training requirements under Chapter 6100. Key highlights include:

  • 24 hours annually required for Direct Support Professionals (DSP), Support Coordinators, life sharers, and their supervisors.
  • 12 hours annually required for administrative, management, and ancillary staff, as well as certain contractors, volunteers, and interns working independently with individuals.
  • Training must cover core topics, including person-centered practices, abuse prevention and reporting, individual rights, incident recognition, behavior supports (if applicable), and implementation of individual plans.
  • ODP offers free trainings via MyODP, many of which are NADSP-accredited and count toward credentialing.
  • Providers and SCOs must maintain detailed training records, and staff are responsible for retaining their own training transcripts.

Members are encouraged to review their current training practices to ensure full compliance with Chapter 6100 requirements.

Please direct any questions or feedback to Tim Sohosky.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) waivers are required to be renewed with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) every five years. The Consolidated, Community Living, and Person/Family-Directed Support (P/FDS) Waivers, collectively known as the ID/A waivers, are scheduled for renewal effective July 1, 2027.

ODP invites you to participate in an upcoming listening session as part of the renewal process. Please join Deputy Secretary Kristin Ahrens and Director of Policy Julie Mochon for a general overview of the ID/A waivers and the renewal process during one of the two sessions listed below.

Attendees will have the opportunity to share valuable feedback and insights to help strengthen the Waivers and enhance the services provided through them. Stakeholder input gathered during these sessions will play an important role in informing the ID/A waiver renewal process.

Registration is required for each session. Due to limited space, ODP asks that you only register for one session. Register below:

Interested in providing feedback?

When registering for a session, you will be asked if you would like to provide verbal comments. Registrants can participate without providing comments.

If you register to provide comments, on the day of the session a moderator will share additional instructions about using the virtual meeting features.

When your name is called, you will have 3 minutes to provide your input.

Topic — Best Practices in Behavioral Assessment and Treatment
Updates are in Red

Regardless of our role, we should all continuously strive to implement best practices when supporting someone who may have behaviors that are challenging or not yet understood. This training will focus on ways that, within your role, you can ensure that the behavioral support you are providing is sound, appropriate, and implemented with fidelity and integrity. ODP will offer two tracks held across different days and times that focus on the role you play in this process.

Please choose 1 date for the appropriate track that best represents your role. There is no cost to attend the training, but pre-registration is required.

Note: Both tracks will provide best practice information grounded in peer-reviewed and evidence-based research and will not address ODP program-specific service definitions, procedures, or guidelines.

Track 1 is for any Behavioral Specialist (and their supervisors) who completes behavioral assessments, develops behavioral plans, and trains others on the implementation of the plan. This session will discuss best practices to conduct better assessments and develop better behavioral support plans while acknowledging barriers and pitfalls to these processes.

Virtual Session on Microsoft Teams. Please attend only 1 session. All sessions will cover the same material.

  • April 9, 2026, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
  • April 12, 2026, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
  • April 16, 2026, 9:00 am – 11:00 am
  • April 20, 2026, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Track 2 is for any professional (and their supervisors), including Supports Coordinators (SC), who implements behavioral plans and who work directly with individuals. This session will present an introduction to the essential components of effective behavioral assessment and treatment with an emphasis on best practices to support the implementation of a Behavioral Support Plan.

Virtual Session on Microsoft Teams. Please attend only 1 session. All sessions will cover the same material.

  • April 10, 2026 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
  • April 15, 2026 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
  • April 17, 2026 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
  • April 23, 2026 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Presented By:
The ODP Clinical Team

Register Here
Please be sure to log into your MyODP account. If you do not already have an account, please register for a new account before registering for the ASD seminar.

Continuing Education Units (CEU):
This training satisfies the basic autism training requirement for Residential Performance-Based Contracting measures CN-DD/Bx.01.1S and CN-DD/Bx.01.1CE for all Direct Support Professionals (DSP), Frontline Supervisors (FLS), and program managers.

This training also fulfills §6100.143 ongoing training requirements.

Please contact the Bureau of Supports for Autism and Special Populations (BSASP) Training Inbox with questions.

Topic — Best Practices in Behavioral Assessment and Treatment

Regardless of our role, we should all continuously strive to implement best practices when supporting someone who may have behaviors that are challenging or not yet understood. This training will focus on ways that, within your role, you can ensure that the behavioral support you are providing is sound, appropriate, and implemented with fidelity and integrity. ODP will offer two tracks held across different days and times that focus on the role you play in this process.

Please choose 1 date for the appropriate track that best represents your role. There is no cost to attend the training, but pre-registration is required.

Note: Both tracks will provide best practice information grounded in peer-reviewed and evidence-based research and will not address ODP program-specific service definitions, procedures, or guidelines.

Track 1 is for any Behavioral Specialist (and their supervisors) who completes behavioral assessments, develops behavioral plans, and trains others on the implementation of the plan. This session will discuss best practices to conduct better assessments and develop better behavioral support plans while acknowledging barriers and pitfalls to these processes.

Virtual Session on Microsoft Teams. Please attend only 1 session. All sessions will cover the same material.

  • April 9, 2026, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
  • April 12, 2026, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
  • April 16, 2026, 9:00 am – 11:00 am
  • April 20, 2026, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Track 2 is for any professional (and their supervisors), including Supports Coordinators (SC), who implements behavioral plans and who work directly with individuals. This session will present an introduction to the essential components of effective behavioral assessment and treatment with an emphasis on best practices to support the implementation of a Behavioral Support Plan.

Virtual Session on Microsoft Teams. Please attend only 1 session. All sessions will cover the same material.

  • April 10, 2026 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
  • April 15, 2026 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
  • April 17, 2026 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
  • April 23, 2026 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Presented By:
The ODP Clinical Team

Register Here

Continuing Education Units (CEU):
This training satisfies the basic autism training requirement for Residential Performance-Based Contracting measures CN-DD/Bx.01.1S and CN-DD/Bx.01.1CE for all Direct Support Professionals (DSP), Frontline Supervisors (FLS), and program managers.

This training also fulfills 6100 ongoing training requirements.

Please contact the Bureau of Supports for Autism and Special Populations (BSASP) Training Inbox with questions.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and the Bureau of Supports for Autism and Special Populations (BSASP), in collaboration with Autism Services, Education, Resources, and Training (ASERT), has announced the upcoming release of a new SPeCTRUM training course. This updated course will replace the existing SPeCTRUM 2.0 currently available on MyODP. The revised SPeCTRUM training will include enhanced webinar capabilities, updated content, and a variety of interactive learning features designed to support an improved and more engaging learning experience for participants.

For applicable providers of the Consolidated Waiver, in the interim of this new course becoming available, the recording of the Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Overview and Practical Application is now available as an alternative to SPeCTRUM 2.0 for the purposes of satisfying the basic autism training requirement for Residential Performance-Based Contracting measures CN-DD/Bx.01.1S and CN-DD/Bx.01.1CE for all Direct Support Professionals (DSP), Frontline Supervisors (FLS), and program managers. This training also fulfills §6100.143 ongoing training requirements. Users will be required to view 4 hours’ worth of training content and pass a 10 question quiz before the course displays on MyTranscript.

Staff providing services under the Adult Autism Waiver (AAW) and Adult Community Autism Program (ACAP) are required to take SPeCTRUM 2.0 or the upcoming updated SPeCTRUM course once it becomes available. Additional communication is forthcoming.

MyODP users who are currently working toward completion of the SPeCTRUM 2.0 course must complete all required modules by 11:59 pm on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. The course will be retired effective April 1, 2026, and will no longer be accessible on MyODP. Any incomplete progress toward module completion that has not been finalized by the deadline will not be retained.

Expanding Our World: Technology and an Everyday Life
March 19, 2026
10:00 am – 2:30 pm
Register Here

The Department of Human Services’ Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) have announced the Dual Diagnosis Professional Conference Series, which offers presentations focused on supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism (ID/A) and mental health needs.

This session will discuss how innovation meets impact by introducing assistive technology in the lives of people supported in the dual diagnosis community. The speakers come from varied backgrounds, all with the shared goal of improving the quality of life for the people they support. They will demonstrate how to expand independence at the person and provider level, explore how to use technology to create new opportunities that might not have been available without it, and share personal accounts of people and providers who used this technology to demonstrate how lives and operations have changed by adding this measure.

Please view the flyer for additional details.

The session will be offered virtually via the Zoom© platform. The Zoom link for joining the session will be sent to the email you used to register. This link will be unique to your registration. Please do not share this link.

For questions on registration, please send them electronically.