The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 25-089. This announcement is:
Please view the information in the announcement for details, including training dates and registration information.
ADvancing States, which represents the nation’s 56 state and territorial agencies on aging and disabilities as well as long-term services and supports directors, has partnered with the Department of Health Policy and Management at UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health to create a first-of-its-kind online training program to support our nation’s Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) program workforce. The initial Foundational Leadership in HCBS: Building Expertise to Better Support People in their Homes and Communities certificate program launches in September 2025.
The core training sessions deliver essential curriculum covering HCBS systems, policies, and operations — everything participants need to enhance their effectiveness and advance policy advocacy in this critical sector. Fewer than 20 spots remain in the September pilot session, and there will be another session offered in January 2026. The course fee is $600 for government and non-profit employees and $1300 for corporate employees. Group registration opportunities are expected to be available for the January 2026 session.
Quick Registration Links:
The course is offered exclusively online and is self-paced so learners can set their own schedules, but the course will require the equivalent of about two hours per week for 10 weeks. Participants will learn more about populations utilizing LTSS, the organizations and individuals providing LTSS, and the varied sources of funding for LTSS, with a focus on HCBS, plus key policy areas, including the Older Americans Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Medicare, Medicaid, and the processes by which individuals access services. Please view the Course Overview and Syllabus for additional details about course topics and learning objectives.
Sign up using the links above; for questions about the HCBS Certificate program, contact Annie Kimbrel via email.
Autistic and intellectually disabled people are at increased risk of being victimized and experiencing trauma; however, few therapists are skilled in both supporting these communities and providing trauma-focused care. To bridge this gap, psychologists with the ASERT team created the TRAIN program — 12 weeks of self-guided learning and live webinars for mental health therapists licensed in Pennsylvania who are currently working with autistic and/or intellectually disabled adults. TRAIN is an integrative and neuro-affirming approach to trauma-focused care with neurodivergent adults, centering clinical work with the autistic and intellectually disabled communities. After completing the 12 weeks of learning, participants have the option to continue their training through clinical consultation with the developers of TRAIN.
This program covers:
Target Audience: This program was developed for therapists, counselors, and clinical social workers who already have experience working with clients who have an Intellectual Disability/Autism (ID/A) diagnosis and are looking to gain knowledge and skills related to trauma therapy. Therapists who do not have experience with ID/A clients are also welcome to participate, but the expectation is they would be committed to taking such clients into their practice after completing the program, as the purpose is to build capacity in this area across the state. You must currently be licensed and provide 1:1 talk therapy sessions to adult clients at the moment to qualify for this course and participate in the case consultation presentations.
Course Structure: 12 weeks in total, comprised of 3 modules that are each 4 weeks long. The first three weeks are self-paced learning courses that are assigned through the online Learning Management System. The fourth week of each module is an hour-and-a-half interactive discussion with the other group members and instructors. These live sessions are required and are held from 9:00 am – 10:30 am on the following dates:
Case Consultations: After the initial 12 weeks, there is a short break followed by a second 12-week session that consists of weekly one-hour case consultations. These are optional but highly recommended. Each participant is expected to present a case from a current patient and receive feedback/information from other participants and the instructors. Participants need to join at least 6 of the 12 weekly case consultation calls, although it is encouraged to attend all of them. If you are not currently seeing patients or are not in the capacity to present any cases, this may not be the right program for you.
Cost and CE Credits: It is free to participate. 13.5 continuing Education (CE) credits are provided through the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) upon completion of the program.
If you believe this program is appropriate for you and can commit to the requirements, please complete this survey by Wednesday, August 27, 2025. This will be on a first-come, first-serve basis, so don’t delay! Also, if you are unable participate this Fall due to other commitments but would still be interested in doing it for Spring 2026, please say so in the survey.
Registration for the August Virtual Office Hour (VOH) sessions are now available for Trainers, Primary Contacts, and/or Agency Administrators. If interested in joining, please select the registration link available on the Med Admin Trainer Dashboard. VOH for the August 21, 2025, sessions are listed below.
If you are unable to attend, the next VOH session will be September 18.
RCPA is proud to be at the forefront of developments in health and human services, and we strive to present information covering a wide variety of aspects within the industry. At our 2025 Annual Conference Strive to Thrive, attendees will expand their knowledge of topics impacting their consumers, providers, insurance, IT teams, compliance, and more! Register today to reserve your seat, and view the Registration Brochure for complete details.
For your convenience, we have compiled the list of workshops by topic, highlighting just how much we plan to cover during our stay at the Hershey Lodge! Please note that some workshops may discuss more than one set of topics. Use this as a guide, see what interests you, and make sure you register today!
AI, Data, and Technology:
Autism and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities:
Behavioral, Children’s, and School-Based Health:
Brain Injury:
DHS Offices and Items:
Ethics:
Financial Management, Medicaid, and Value-Based Purchasing:
Government and Advocacy:
Suicide Prevention:
Trauma-Informed Care and Wellness:
Workplace Culture, Leadership, and Management:
View the Registration Brochure for a full listing of each day’s workshops and events as well as how to register!
The Prevention Practitioners Network is hosting an in-person training from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm Sunday, September 14, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh to provide clinicians with the first risk assessment and management tool for targeted violence that can be used by mental health professionals working in generalist settings.
Offered in partnership with Boston Children’s Hospital and Eradicate Hate’s Prevention Practitioners Network, the Targeted Violence and Terrorism Strengths, Needs, and Risks: Assessment & Management Tool (T-SAM) offers mental health professionals a collaborative, client-centered approach to assessment and management of risk for both adults and children. An evidence-based, suicide-focused therapeutic framework known as the Collaborative Assessment & Management of Suicidality (CAMS) informed development of the T-SAM.
Harm toward others is a known risk, yet mental health professionals working outside of forensic settings have few, if any, tools they can use to assess and manage violence risk to inform risk assessment and treatment planning.
Boston Children’s Hospital will provide eight continuing education credits for licensed psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers. More information, including registration, is available here.
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 25-080. The Temple University Harrisburg Certified Investigator Program and ODP will be facilitating Forums for Certified Investigators (CI) and others involved in the incident investigation process.
The next session date and time is Friday, September 12, 2025, from 10:00 am – 11:30 am. The topic will be “Death Investigation Discussion.”
Please view the announcement for registration details as well as information on how to submit questions for discussion.
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) has shared ODPANN 25-078. This communication provides information on new 2025 QM Certification class dates and registration information.
Registration opens August 5. Visit MyODP to register. Class dates are:
Please view the announcement for additional information and details.
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