Key Partners: ADRCs, Areas Agencies on Aging, Centers for Independent Living, State Unit on Aging, State Medicaid Agency, local community-based organizations     

The Pennsylvania NWD System, called PA Link, includes 117 local partner organizations that help carry out NWD System functions. The AAAs serve as the local lead agencies for the ADRC network and other local partners include a wide variety of disability organizations, housing agencies, mental and behavioral health providers, and other human service agencies. To be a designated partner, organization staff complete a person-centered counseling (PCC) self-paced training module. Staff within any one of the 117 local partners are then reimbursed for each PCC session through a contract between the State Unit on Aging and the State Medicaid Agency. Funds are allocated to each local lead AAA, who then reimburses partner organizations for PCC sessions performed.  The PA Link has implemented the following activities to develop and further enhance the PCC component the state NWD System:

1. Developed statewide PCC training program: The state worked with Temple University to develop the PCC training and PCC guide using COVID-19 relief funding and a grant from ACL’s National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices. One hundred and thirty-five people have completed the training since its launch in March 2022.

2. Built technical assistance: The state has also just began a technical assistance and training program called PCC Connections which offers a space for monthly meetings of PCC counselors to share success stories, ask questions of peers and receive guidance.

3. Focused on Sustainability: Last fiscal year the state’s NWD partners conducted 1500 PCC sessions. The organizations conducting these sessions were reimbursed $110 dollars per unit of PCC after completing an assessment form.  The state’s contract with the state Medicaid agency also supports activities for Medicaid outreach and training on Medicaid programs.

States interested in building out and strengthening their PCC capacity should explore ACL’s NWD website which includes free PCC course content which can adapted for a states’ learning management system.