The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requests your assistance sharing the attached communication, ODPANN 25-081: The Important Role of The Incident Management (IM) Representative Training Now Available on MyODP. The purpose of this announcement is to advise Provider and Supports Coordinator Incident Management Representatives (IM Reps) that a new training is available on MyODP. The training should be considered a prerequisite for future trainings, technical assistance, and skill building opportunities that may be offered through ODP. Please review the announcement for additional information and details.

The Office of Developmental Programs requests your assistance sharing the attached ODP Health Alert: A Late Summer Increase in COVID-19 Activity in Pennsylvania. The Health Alert provides information on increasing COVID-19 rates in Pennsylvania, recommended actions for preventing and treating the virus, and a list of resources to help better understand the current situation.

TRAIN: 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:

• Trauma-focused mental healthcare

• Types and prevalence of trauma

• Expressions of trauma

• Neurodiversity and Neuro-affirming practices

• Navigating disclosures of abuse and ethical considerations of reporting abuse and neglect of dependent adults

• Assessing trauma and using trauma-focused interviews

• Trauma-focused and neuro-affirming psychoeducation

• Trauma response and nervous system regulation strategies

• Trauma processing techniques

• Resiliency and therapist self-preservation

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.

Good Afternoon:

Attached are the PA Family Network workshop and support groups for September. Thank you for sharing these important workshops and support groups with your networks! Register for upcoming events at www.pafamilynetwork.org/events.

The Office of Developmental Programs’ (ODP) requests your assistance sharing the September 2025 training and events calendar. Please share widely.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requests your assistance sharing the attached communication, ODPANN 25-070 Update: Department of Human Services (DHS) Choking Prevention Website Now Available. This communication announces the release of the Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Choking Prevention website. This communication is being reissued to provide an updated link to the DHS Choking Prevention website. Updates appear in red text.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requests your assistance sharing the attached communication, ODPANN 25-080: Registration Now Open for September Certified Investigator (CI) Forum. The purpose of this communication is to communicate that the Temple University Harrisburg Certified Investigator Program and the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) will be facilitating Forums for CIs and others involved in the incident investigation process. Please review the announcement for registration information and how to submit questions for discussion.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requests your assistance sharing the attached communication, ODPANN 25-079: Now Available: Administrative Review (AR) Live Case Study Sessions. The purpose of this announcement is to communicate that new live case study sessions for the Administrative Review (AR) course are now available. Please review the announcement for additional information and detail.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requests your assistance sharing the attached communication, ODPANN 25-078: Office of Developmental Programs' (ODP) Quality Management (QM) Certification Classes Registration for Additional Upcoming 2025 Virtual Classes. The purpose of this announcement is to provide information on seven new 2025 QM Certification class dates and how to register. Please review the announcement for additional information and details.

The Office of Developmental Programs requests your assistance sharing the attached reissued communication, ODPANN 25-028: What the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation's Memo Regarding the Order of Selection and Waiting List Means for the Office of Developmental Programs' Services. This announcement is being reissued to update the name of the Individuals with a Non-Significant Disability (NSD) priority category. On July 1, 2025, the NSD category was renamed to Individual with a Disability (D). The change in the priority category name has not affected the relevant eligibility criteria for the D, formerly NSD, category. Please note: Changes are in red.

Please review the announcement for updated information and details.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requests your assistance sharing the attached communication, ODPANN 25-077: Now Available: Certified Investigator Peer Review (CIPR) Live Case Study Sessions. The purpose of this announcement is to communicate that new live case study sessions for the Certified Investigator Peer Review (CIPR) Course are now available. Please review the announcement for additional information and detail.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requests your assistance sharing the attached communication, ODPANN 25-076: 20..23-2024 Independent Monitoring for Quality (IM4Q) Statewide Report and Resource Manual Added to MyODP.org. The purpose of this announcement is to inform all stakeholders that the 2023-2024 IM4Q Statewide Report and Facts and Resources for People with Disabilities, Family Members, and Advocates, have been added to the IM4Q section of the MyODP.org website. Please review the announcement for information on how to access these reports.