The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requests your assistance in sharing this reminder of the importance of supporting individuals in maintaining their eligibility for Medicaid and in verifying an individual’s eligibility for Medicaid prior to delivering services.

Please review the attached communication ODPANN 25-097 Maintaining and Verifying Medicaid Eligibility and its accompanying supplemental documents.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requests your assistance sharing the attached communication, ODPANN 26-042 Now Available for Consolidated and Community Living Waiver Providers Updated SPeCTRUM Training. The purpose of this communication is to announce the updated SPeCTRUM training is now available on MyODP, outline completion requirements, and provide guidance regarding documentation, transition timelines, and prior version applicability. This announcement obsoletes ODPANN 19-072 and 19-121 and 20-032.

The ICF taskforce meeting will be held in-person on April 28^th from 10am – 4pm at PaTTan Central in Harrisburg. The agenda is attached and includes the address. Please RSVP to the following email  [email protected]  with the names and number of people that will be attending the meeting from your organization. Also, if you have any additional questions you would like to discuss after reading the agenda, please also send them to that RA email account.

Attached is the May 2026 training and events calendar. The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requests your assistance in sharing it widely. 

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) is Reissuing the 2025 Employment First report. The purpose of the reissue is to update data contained in Appendix A and B. ODP believes that all people with an intellectual disability and/or autism must be encouraged to pursue their vision for an everyday life, which may include working in competitive integrated employment. Competitive integrated employment offers a person an opportunity to achieve economic independence, build self-confidence, enhance self-determination, and meet new people while building new skills. The Everyday Lives: Values in Action publication, developed by the ODP Information Sharing and Advisory Committee (ISAC) which includes self-advocates, reads, “Employment is a centerpiece of adulthood and must be available for every person. The benefits of employment for people with disabilities are significant and are the same as for people without disabilities.” This report serves as an update to all stakeholders on the progress that has been made to support individuals served by ODP on finding and maintaining competitive integrated employment.

Access the 2025 Employment First report by clicking here. This document can also be found by visiting the MyODP Employment Home page.

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) is pleased to release DHS-26-01 Complex Needs Planning for Children, Youth, and Young Adults Through Age 21.  This bulletin updates guidance provided in 14-Bul-110 Complex Case Planning for Children and Youth Under Age 21.  The guidance clarifies the referral process, roles and responsibilities, offers the availability of technical assistance, and describes the benefit of technical assistance to the agencies in the human services systems that support children, youth, young adults through age 21 and their families and/or caregivers.

This bulletin, an online referral form, and suggested resources (tools/templates) are now posted on the DHS website at Complex Needs Planning | Department of Human Services | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requests your assistance sharing the attached communication, ODPANN 26-028 Update - Updates to the Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Service (PUNS). The purpose of this communication is to distribute the updated Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services (PUNS) Manual and the revised DP1055 – PUNS Form, effective February 2026, and to announce the implementation of related updates to the Emergency PUNS process. Updates appear in underlined red text.

This communication formally distributes:

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requests your assistance sharing the attached communication, ODPANN 26-040 Now Available Updated SPeCTRUM Training. The purpose of this communication is to announce the updated SPeCTRUM training is now available on MyODP, outline completion requirements, and provide guidance regarding documentation, transition timelines, and prior version applicability. This announcement obsoletes ODPANN 19-072 and 19-121 and 20-032.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requests your assistance sharing the attached communication, ODPANN 26-038: Updated MyTranscript Report Now Available and Instructions for Re-taking MyODP Courses. The purpose of this announcement is to inform users that the MyTranscript report available on MyODP has been updated to include three distinct categories and to provide instructions for accessing the reports. Also, to provide instruction on re-taking MyODP courses.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requests your assistance sharing the attached communication, ODPANN 26-039 Performance-Based Contracting 2026-2027 Residential Pay-for-Performance Details Now Available. The purpose of this communication is to provide details about the Residential Performance-Based Contracting (PBC) Pay-for-Performance (P4P) initiatives for Fiscal Year 2026-2027.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requests your assistance sharing the attached communication, ODPANN 26-037 Updated Incident Management (IM) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Document Now Available. The purpose of this communication is to announce the release of the updated Incident Management (IM) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document on MyODP. This FAQ has been developed to answer commonly asked questions about incident management.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requests your assistance sharing the attached communication, ODPANN 26-036 Newly Released Lesson - Interviewing the Victim. The purpose of this communication is to announce the release of a new online lesson, Interviewing the Victim, which will be part of an interviewing lesson series.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requests your assistance sharing the attached communication, ODPANN 26-035 Medication Administration April-June 2026 Train-the-Trainer Face-to-Face Schedule. The purpose of this communication is to announce the Medication Administration Training Program Face-to-Face schedule for April through June 2026.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requests your assistance sharing the attached communication, ODPANN 26-034 Reminder of 6100 Annual Training Requirements. The purpose of this communication is to remind all Office of Developmental Programs’ (ODP) Providers and Supports Coordination Organizations (SCOs) of the Annual Training Requirements outlined in the Chapter 6100 Regulations.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) requests your assistance sharing the attached communication, ODPANN 26-033 Now Open - Registration for Certified Investigator (CI) Initial Certification Course. The purpose of this communication is to communicate that registration for the May – August 2026 CI Initial Certification Course cohorts is now open in MyODP.