A Community of Practice (CoP) is a group that comes together to learn from one another and to develop and implement strategies towards a common practice.  The focus of this CoP is Supporting Families!  The strategies Pennsylvania ODP is using to reach all people are threefold:

1. Partnership with  Self Advocates Power Network for All (SAPNA) to provide training and supports to persons with IDD/A;

2. Partnership with PA Family Network for training and mentoring of family members of a person with an intellectual or developmental disability or autism (IDD/A); and

3. ODP offering Regional leadership with community partners in the form of Regional Collaboratives.

Thus, we are embracing the broad and rich diversity that defines Pennsylvania’s character: diversity in geography, demographics, cultures and ethnicity, history and traditions, and local identity.

ODP is happy to share the results of the 2023 Supporting Families Survey.  The survey helps ODP learn whether people and their families have the information and support they need from the Supports Coordinator (SC).  The survey is part of the quality management plan for supporting families.

Watch the Supporting Families Survey Results webinar.

Download the Supporting Families Survey Results slide deck.

For more information on Pennsylvania’s involvement in the National Community of Practice, to learn how you can be involved, or to request training for your organization or staff, contact Candida Walton at cawalton@pa.gov or call 717-439-5278. To stay informed, you can also

subscribe to the ODP Supporting Families ListServ .