July 9, 2019 DHS Licensed Providers: Plan of Correction Notice The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) is offering training for all DHS licensed providers on completing a Plan of Correction (POC). About This free, live webinar training will focus on the elements needed for the foundation of an acceptable POC. It is strongly recommended that all facility staff involved in completing POCs attend one webinar session. Each scheduled webinar will last approximately one hour. Only one webinar should be attended, as the material covered will be the same in each session. Webinar Dates The dates for the webinars are as follows: Tuesday, July 16, 9:30 – 10: 30 a.m. Tuesday, July 16, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 17, 10:30 – 11: 30 a.m. Wednesday, July 17, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 23, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 24, 10:30 – 11: 30 a.m. Wednesday, July 24, 1:30 – 2: 30 p.m. Thursday, July 25, 9:30 – 10: 30 a.m. Registration To register for a training session, visit the registration web page. Space is limited and is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. After registering, you will receive a link to connect you to the webinar training. Unable to Attend? If you are unable to attend one of these webinar sessions, DHS will be offering a similar training in a self-paced format in late July 2019. Additional information will be shared on how to access the self-paced training in the future. *Information provided by the PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning
July 5, 2019 General Assistance Program Ending August 1, 2019 As required by Act 12 of 2019, which amended 62 P.S. § 403.2(a), the General Assistance program will end on August 1, 2019. No General Assistance cash assistance will be dispersed after July 31, 2019. Additional Benefits Information Current General Assistance recipients were notified of this change via mail. If they are currently receiving other benefits like Medical Assistance or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), those benefits will continue. The Department of Human Services (DHS) will notify clients before making changes to other benefits for any reason. This change will likely result in an additional need for resources from charitable and social service organizations around the commonwealth. DHS is working closely with their partners to identify potential resources for people affected by this change. Receiving Benefits If you, someone you know, or someone you work with currently receives or thinks they qualify for General Assistance, they may qualify for other benefits. Individuals can contact their local County Assistance Office or apply online via COMPASS at www.compass.state.pa.us. More Information For more information, contact the DHS Helpline at 1-800-692-7462. TDD Services are available at 1-800-451-5886. *Information provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
January 16, 2019 DHS Will Issue February SNAP Benefits Early On January 8, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) notified states that February benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will be fully funded. In order to receive funding however, February benefits must be issued by January 20, 2019. The Department of Human Services (DHS) has determined that they will be able to issue February SNAP benefits by January 20 in order to meet the federally imposed deadline. Below is what you need to know about SNAP benefits in January and February. Receiving February Benefits All SNAP recipients who did not have a renewal due in January, or whose renewal for January was completed by January 14, will receive their February benefits on their electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards on January 18, 2019. For those (with January renewals due) who completed their renewal after January 14, February benefits will be available on their EBT card one day after their renewal is processed. What This Means for SNAP Recipients These benefits will be the only benefit payment SNAP recipients will receive for the month of February. Recipients will not receive a payment on their regularly scheduled February payment date. This payment is not a bonus or increase in a recipient’s monthly payment. Rather, this payment is their benefit for the month of February. Recipients will need to make this early payment last through an undefined period of time if the government shutdown persists. DHS is awaiting further guidance from the USDA regarding the availability of benefits for March. Because of this, recipients experiencing food insecurity may have greater challenges during this period. This will likely result in a higher number of individuals seeking aid from charitable food organizations around the commonwealth. Applications and Renewals DHS will continue to accept SNAP applications and process renewal applications. Recipients should continue reporting any changes and should submit the semi-annual reviews or renewals that they receive. DHS will continue to issue benefits to applicants found eligible in February until they are told to stop issuing by USDA. Questions and Concerns All County Assistance Offices remain open and staff are available to assist applicants and recipients during this time. For any questions about benefits, please contact the statewide customer service center at 1.877.395.8930. For residents of Philidelphia, contact 1.215.560.7226. Resources For any individual seeking additional food assistance, the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has compiled a list of community resources and organizations.
December 13, 2018 DHS Releases Request for Information The Department of Human Services (DHS) recently released a Request for Information (RFI) to explore existing individual or family needs assessments, methods of connecting individuals and families to community resources, and models for providing whole-person or whole-family case management. Purpose The department recognizes the frustration individuals and families may experience while trying to access much-needed services in a timely manner when receiving case management from multiple agencies. DHS wants to make it easier for individuals to obtain meaningful information and access to the services they need to achieve overall wellbeing, positive health outcomes, and financial self-sufficiency. Their goal is to build a system that addresses each family’s needs and amplifies the work of health care providers and community organizations. Submissions and Deadlines If your organization has experience in any of the areas outlined in this RFI, respond by January 18, 2019 by visiting the Pennsylvania eMarketplace website. *Information provided by PA Early Ed News
October 18, 2018 Comment On Proposed Changes To Child Care Regulations The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) announced that the proposed changes to the Child Care Regulations at 55 Pa. Code, Chapters 3270, 3280 and 3290 are now available for review. The proposed changes can be viewed in the PA Bulletin. All public comments must be submitted in writing by the closing date of the public comment period on November 13, 2018. All comments, suggestions or objections must reference the Regulation Chapter, Number, Section, and Subsection. Submit Via email: RA-PWCCRegChanges@pa.gov Via fax: 717-787-1529 Via mail: Tamula Ferguson Bureau of Certification Services Office of Development and Early Learning Department of Human Services 333 Market Street, 6th Floor Harrisburg, PA 17105 Persons with a disability who require an auxiliary aid or service may submit comments using the AT&T Relay Service at 1-800-654-5984 (TDD users) or 1-800-654-5988 (voice users). A public hearing will be held in Harrisburg at PaTTAN Harrisburg (6340 Flank Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17112) on November 2, 2018. The hearing begins at 10:00 AM. Registration is required and can be completed on the PA Department of Human Services site. Current regulations can be viewed on the PA Department of Human Services site. View this announcement on the PA Keys website. View a flyer of this announcement. (PDF)
June 11, 2018 Pilot Begins for Professional Development Verification Program The PA Key and Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Certification are partnering to pilot verifying professional development currently coordinated by the Registry and are choosing several programs to test this process beginning July 1, 2018. To ensure one’s PD Registry profile is ready for the DHS Certification, the following steps should be taken: Directors/Administrators: Create an organization profile. If you already have an active profile, it will appear and allow you to update any information. Login and complete your profile. Your profile is a representation of your professional career. You can add your education and past work history. Add your employment. To add your employment, click the “Employment” tab on the top navigation bar. Your director will verify that you are employed by your current center. Locate your Professional Development Learning Record. Certificates are a thing of the past in the new PD Registry. Your Professional Development Learning Record will replace individual certificates and serves as one place for all your completed professional development to live. For tip sheets, visit the PA Key website.
Rates to Increase for Child Abuse Clearances Rates for the cost of child abuse clearances will increase next month. Beginning July 1, 2018, the cost of clearances will increase from $8 to $13. Fees for volunteers will still be waived once within a five-year period. In December 2014, individuals who require clearances expanded to include: volunteers, youth camp employees, coaches, youth mentors, Boy Scout and Girl Scout leaders, work study programs, internships, family-living home employees, and community-home employees for individuals with disabilities. In 2016, DHS received 951,414 child abuse clearance applications and identified 2,272 substantiated or alleged perpetrators of child abuse. For more information on clearance and background check requirements as required by the CPSL, please visit KeepKidsSafe.pa.gov.
June 8, 2018 Keep Families Together Since May 2018, approximately 658 children have been separated from their parents at the border. More than 540 organizations from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico that represent well-recognized experts in the fields of child welfare, juvenile justice, and child health, development, and safety including Trying Together have shared collective concern about this practice in letters sent to the Department of Homeland Security. To learn more, view the letter sent to Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen or visit theyoungcenter.org. #KeepFamiliesTogether
