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Tags Posts tagged with "PA Office of Developmental Programs"

PA Office of Developmental Programs

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ODP Announcement 19-007 states that the department’s report, “Improving the Quality of Residential Services,” is now available. This report shares with stakeholders ODP’s commitment toward improved service quality, as the Department works to maintain the health and well-being of individuals residing in community-based homes. This report includes both planned initiatives and activities already in progress, demonstrating ODP’s continued efforts to improve residential service quality. ODP has worked internally and in partnership with stakeholders to identify gaps in service delivery. Improvement activities are either tied to the four model practices outlined in the Joint Report: Ensuring Beneficiary Health and Safety in Group Homes Through State Implementation of Comprehensive Compliance Oversight (Joint Report) or recommendations from the ODP Residential Strategic Thinking Group (STG).

The Joint Report was published by the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (OIG), in response to congressional requests concerning abuse and neglect of individuals residing in group homes. The OIG conducted a series of audits based on a review of practices in several states and found that “residents often experienced serious injuries and medical conditions that resulted in emergency room visits.” This publication provides guidance on model practices in four areas: (1) State Incident Management and Investigation, (2) Incident Management Audits, (3) State Mortality Reviews, and (4) State Quality Assurance.

In November 2017, ODP convened the Residential STG to develop recommendations for new or revised policies, guidance for provider practice, methods for incorporating person-centered practices, modifications to ODP licensing practices, and technical assistance and training.

This report focuses on three principles of residential services:

  • It is home, a place where we feel most comfortable, safe, and where we feel we belong;
  • Every individual has the capacity to engage in lifelong learning; and
  • Person-centered practices inform how we support people.

The Residential STG identified six key domains for residential services improvement and recommended change actions for each domain. Please refer to the report for more detailed information about ODP’s plan for continued efforts to improve the quality of residential services. Please submit questions via email.

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The Department of Human Services (DHS) has published a Q&A Fact Sheet regarding Community HealthChoices (CHC) and ODP Providers. This fact sheet provides basic information such as enrollment in CHC, dates for rollout in various regions in Pennsylvania, services available through CHC, how to become a CHC provider, and transition between CHC and ODP.

What is Community HealthChoices?
Community HealthChoices (CHC) is Pennsylvania’s mandatory managed care program for dually eligible (Medicare and Medicaid) individuals and individuals 21 years of age or older with physical disabilities. The goal of the program is to improve services for hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvania residents.

CHC has been developed to enhance access to and improve coordination of medical care and create a person-centered long-term support system in which people have choice, control, and access to a full array of services that provide independence, health, and quality of life. Long-term services and supports (LTSS) help eligible individuals to perform daily activities in their homes such as bathing, dressing, preparing meals, and administering medications.

Will participants receiving services from ODP be in CHC?
Individuals with an intellectual disability or autism who are receiving services beyond supports coordination through ODP will not be enrolled in CHC. However, if an individual needs the level of care provided in a nursing facility, and they would be better served by the services available in CHC, they may choose to transition from ODP into CHC.

Individuals will be enrolled in CHC if they are age 21 or over and are:

  • Receiving both Medicare and Medicaid;
  • Receiving LTSS in the Attendant Care, Independence, or Aging waivers;
  • Receiving services in the OBRA waiver and determined nursing facility clinically eligible;
  • Receiving care in a nursing home paid for by Medicaid; or
  • Determined to meet nursing facility level of care.

Individuals who already participate in the Living Independence for the Elderly (LIFE) program can remain in their LIFE program and will not be moved into CHC unless they specifically ask to change. Anyone who is enrolled in CHC who would prefer to participate in the LIFE program and qualifies to participate in LIFE may do so.

CHC is now live in the Southeast region. Make sure you and your coworkers have the information you need about CHC. Take our 30-minute online training here.

If you have other questions about CHC, view our comprehensive question and answer document.

If you have any additional questions, please visit the HealthChoices website or submit via email.

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The Certified Investigator Initial Certification Course was created to ensure all incidents that require an investigation receive a systematic investigation, which meets established standards. In order to perform investigations, the investigator must successfully complete all requirements listed in the course description. ODP Announcement 19-005 announces course openings April to July 2019.

Registration for the Certified Investigator Initial Certification Couse is now open for anyone wishing to become a Certified Investigator through ODP. In order to complete this course and obtain certification, please complete the following process:

  1. Go to this link on MyODP and read the description to ensure comprehension of certification requirements;
  2. Click on “Register for a scheduled CI training session” to enroll;
  3. Complete the 3 online prerequisite modules in preparation for the next step;
  4. Attend 4 days of face-to-face training; and
  5. Complete and successfully pass the online exam.

Current course offerings for the Certified Investigator Initial Certification Couse are available on MyODP.org.

For assistance with registration, please contact ODP Support. For questions regarding the course or its topic, please contact Sarah Naughton.

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ODP has announced that Medication Administration trainers can now request training aids, including a document with links to the Medication Administration webcasts, transcripts for each lesson, a copy of quizzes, and a quiz answer key. Similar training aids also are available for the Practicum Observer course. This method of access can be used by Medication Administration Course Trainers instead of using Matrainer Dashboard Course set up and online Mastudent Course Administration.

There have been numerous requests to allow more flexibility in providing the Medication Administration Training Course to unlicensed staff learning to pass medications. Trainers will now be able to request a document, which contains links to the medication administration webcasts and transcripts for each lesson. There is a similar set of documents available for the Practicum Observer course. Additionally, trainers will receive a copy of quizzes and a quiz answer key. This permission is temporary. Once there is a new online version of the Medication Administration Training Course available, this permission will be rescinded.

ODP Announcement 19-006 provides the detailed information regarding accessing copies of the course material and quizzes as well as the process for training staff who are taking the training.

ODP will also be offering face-to-face classes in the Spring of 2019.

Class requirements:

  • The trainer candidate must already have registered for and completed the required online modules.
  • The trainer candidate must have successfully completed all 10 quizzes with an 80% or higher.
  • The trainer candidate must have successfully completed all exams (multiple choice and written documentation), with an overall course average of 90% or higher.
  • A trainer candidate will automatically attain access to select an available face-to-face class, once he or she has successfully completed all of the above.
  • There is no additional charge to attend the face-to-face class. It is part of the original fee.
  • The face-to-face class is required for new trainers as well as for recertifying trainers.

The face-to-face training date and location may be selected by returning to this website. The full address of the class location will be provided, once you have successfully completed the exams. If you need to change a class date after you have already registered, please contact the helpdesk.

Please do not contact the facility for information. If you have questions about arrival times, parking, assignments, handouts, etc., please contact the Meds Admin Help Desk Portal listed in the above announcement.

Note: Classes are assigned on a first come, first-served basis, based on when you successfully complete your exams. There is a finite number of seats in each class and some classes do fill up. Some class locations may be cancelled, if enrollment is too low.

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Close-up of Hands holding pens and making notes at the conference

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has announced the schedule for upcoming Quality Management (QM) Certification classes. The ODP QM Certification Program enhances the QM knowledge and skills of ODP staff and stakeholders throughout the service delivery system. ODP recognizes that providing opportunities to join together to become ODP QM Certified will improve our system’s expertise and capacity to move forward in partnership and collaboration.

With the implementation of the QA&I Process in July 2017, each AE is expected to have one staff person who is ODP QM Certified on its Provider Review Team. To meet this demand, ODP is offering four classes in the Spring of 2019. These classes are located throughout the Commonwealth to make them more accessible.

ODP Announcement 19-004 provides the application requirements and process to register for the classes.

ODP’s Spring 2019 QM Certification Class Sessions:

Southeast PA – Chester County
Chester County Government Services Center, 601 Westtown Road, West Chester, PA 19382
March 13 and 14
Deadline to complete the Application Process: February 15, 2019

Central PA – Cambria County
Ebensburg State Center, 4501 Admiral Peary Highway, Ebensburg, PA 15931
April 3 and 4
Deadline to complete the Application Process: March 8, 2019

Western PA – Allegheny County
Monroeville Training Lab, Penn Center East, 400 Penn Center Blvd Bldg. 4, Suite 741, Pittsburgh, PA 15235
May 1 and 2
Deadline to complete the Application Process: April 5, 2019

Central PA – Cumberland County
Child Welfare Resource Center, 403 Winding Hill Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
May 22 and 23
Deadline to complete the application process: April 26, 2019

Fall 2019 classes will be announced mid-summer. Staff should regularly visit the Quality Management section of the MyODP website to stay informed. As ODP’s Quality Strategy is updated, waivers are renewed, and regulations are implemented, information will be posted to MyODP.

Questions about the Quality Management Strategy, the ODP QM Certification program, or other questions related to quality management, can be sent to the ODP QM Mailbox.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has revised the Residential Habilitation Vacancy management process in order to streamline the referral process for any vacancies that become available in a home where a Harry M class member resides. The Harry M settlement agreement was approved by a federal court judge in 2013 and was created in order to ensure Pennsylvanians are provided with necessary communication assistance services based upon their assessed needs. The agreement also establishes that the participants who are deaf have the opportunity to live with other deaf participants if they so choose.

It is not uncommon for people who are deaf to regularly interact and reside with other deaf individuals. ODP promotes individual choice and no individual will be required to move involuntarily. ODP Announcement 19-003 directs providers to notify the ODP deaf services mailbox for all vacancies that occur in a home where a Harry M class member resides in lieu of the usual process. This will allow ODP to review the opening and possibly identify a Harry M class member that communicates in a similar manner and is interested in residing in the home.

If an individual is identified, they will be offered the opportunity to live with another deaf person. If an individual is not identified within five business days, the administrative entity (AE) will have the opportunity to identify an individual who might utilize the vacancy. In that case, the AE would follow the usual process detailed in ODP Communication Packet 098-12.

For further information regarding this communication contact the ODP deaf services mailbox.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is pleased to announce the schedule of virtual trainings and virtual office hours during the months of January, February, and March 2019. This represents an alignment of the training schedule for both the Bureau of Community Services (BCS) and Bureau of Autism Services, and the trainings are designed for both, with specific content for administrative entities (AEs), supports coordination organizations (SCOs) and agencies, other service providers, and other professionals supporting individuals with autism, intellectual disabilities, and other developmental disabilities.

Please note that beginning in February, ODP will offer one targeted session for BCS AEs and SCOs, but those entities may also benefit from attending other non-targeted topic sessions, and are encouraged to review the scheduled options.

Pre-registration is required for each session you want to attend. ODP uses GoToWebinar for Virtual Targeted Trainings (VTTs). Each scheduled VTT offered will have its own unique registration link. The links are available in the ODP Announcement 19-002. To register for trainings and virtual office hours that you plan to attend, click on the linked title of the training or virtual office hours. Once you preregister, you will receive an email with instructions to participate, including a new link to join the meeting.

It is recommended that you register in advance to ensure you receive the meeting reminder.

Please note: Attendees will have the option to call into the webinar by phone, in addition to participating online and using the chat feature.

Virtual Office Hours (VOH)

  • Interactive dialogue opportunity to field questions related to a specific topic
  • Not recorded or posted
  • One-time opportunity to participate live

Virtual Targeted Training (VTT)

  • Traditional virtual training presented using a PowerPoint (lecture format)
  • Will be recorded and posted
  • Little to no opportunity to answer questions unless time permits at the end

For questions about this announcement, email: MyODP Training.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) and the Autism Services, Education, Resources and Training (ASERT) Collaborative are trying to learn more about training needs among providers who work with individuals living with autism, intellectual disabilities, other developmental disabilities, and their families. ODP is constantly building capacity by developing resources and trainings that are helpful to people who support individuals with autism, intellectual, and developmental disabilities.

By responding to this survey, you are helping ODP to create trainings and resources that will better meet your needs. Please have your voice heard! This survey should take less than 10 minutes to complete. Please complete this survey by January 18, 2019. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact info@paautism.org.

To complete the ASD Seminar Survey, use this link.

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The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has announced that the document, “Action Plan: Information Sharing and Advisory Committee (ISAC) Plan for Sexual Abuse Prevention and Healthy Relationships,” is available now on MyODP. The document is the product of conversations and commitments made by ODP’s ISAC membership and emphasizes the shared responsibility of everyone to help prevent sexual abuse.

The Department of Justice reported that people with intellectual disabilities are sexually assaulted at seven times the rate of those without a disability. This is almost certainly an underestimate. The #MeToo and #TimesUp movements have raised the national consciousness, illuminating how sexual assault is pervasive in our country. Yet, it is still too often ignored, downplayed, justified, or rationalized.

For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, this suppression of the reality of sexual abuse is exacerbated because people often aren’t believed, or their testimony is discounted or devalued. As a result, ISAC organizational representatives have laid out these plans to tackle the problem and begin implementing a solution.

Contact RCPA IDD Division Director Carol Ferenz with any questions.

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Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) Acting Deputy Secretary Kristin Ahrens has officially been named Deputy Secretary of ODP.

Deputy Secretary Ahrens formerly served as Director of Bureau of Policy and Quality Management. She was instrumental in developing the ODP waivers and has been responsible for policy development, training, quality, and communications for the past two years. Prior to her appointment at ODP she served as the Policy Director at Temple University, where she was responsible for directing all policy-related activities for the institute, including policy analysis; training and technical assistance to staff, community groups, and policymakers; and creating and/or disseminating briefs on local, state, and federal policy issues that affect people with disabilities and families. Ahrens also provided consultation to ODP on fiscal policy and the HCBS settings rule, served on the Adult Protective Services Coalition, Disability Budget Coalition, DHS Regulatory Revision Work Group, and Association for University Centers Legislative Affairs Committee. She also has experience in Person-Driven Services, including her work at Self Determination Resources (SDRI) for six years, where she was instrumental in the growth of SDRI from a pilot project to a fully operational model brokerage which was replicated statewide. In addition, Ms. Ahrens served as a consultant on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Transformation Transfer Initiative for building sustainable self-directed services in PA’s mental health system.

RCPA extends our congratulations to Deputy Secretary Ahrens and we look forward to continuing collaborative work in her role at ODP. Contact Carol Ferenz, RCPA IDD Division Director, with questions.

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