Breakfast

8:30 - 9:30 am

Break Out Sessions

Reducing Provider Burden: The MART Process

Jamie Rupe, BSW, Quality Improvement Specialist, Office of Community Quality Improvement, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services

Britton Welch, Director, Office of Community Quality Improvement, Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services

In May of 2021, the Office of Community Quality Improvement began going down a DBHDS path to reduce burden on providers that resulted in the establishment of the Multi-Agency Review Team (MART). The MART process has demonstrated success for streamlining review processes of six review entities, with the overarching goal of reducing burden on providers’ completion of various regulatory reviews.  Undergirding that goal are two strategies: 

• Decrease, if not eliminate, reviews starting on the same day.
  • Accomplished through the MART Master Scheduler
• Decrease, if not eliminate, multiple requests for the same documentation to be uploaded to multiple locations.     
  • Accomplished through the MART Master Document List (MDL); and
  • The development of the MART Repository for one-time upload of provider documentation for multiple review entities.

While MART began with a focus on CSB DD services, it is now at the point to begin the work of expanding the MART process to private providers. 

Please feel welcome to join Britt Welch and Jamie Rupe as they provide an overview of the current MART process, features and benefits of MART, and plans for MART throughout 2026 and beyond.

Understanding DARS Services and Becoming a DARS Provider

Donna Bonessi, Director, Employment Services and Special Programs, Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services

Anita Mundy, Supported Employment Services & Long-Term Follow Along Services Manager, Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services

Join Donna Bonessi and Anita Mundy from the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) for an informative session on the services and supports DARS provides to individuals with disabilities seeking employment and independence. This presentation will offer an overview of DARS programs, how providers and community partners can collaborate with DARS, and the steps involved in becoming an approved DARS provider of Supported Employment or Pre-Employment Transition Services. Attendees will gain practical insights into the application process, expectations for service providers, and ways to build strong partnerships that support successful employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities across Virginia.

9:30 - 9:45 am

Networking Break

General Session: State Agency Leadership Panel: The Future of Services in Virginia
Sponsored by Moms in Motion

Donna Bonessi, Director, Employment Services and Special Programs, Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services
Mark Golden, Economic Assistance and Employment Manager, Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS)
Daryl Washington, LCSW, Commissioner, Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS)
Tammy Whitlock, Deputy of Complex Care, Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Service (DMAS)

We are pleased to welcome Commissioners and senior representatives from several of Virginia’s key state agencies for a special panel discussion at this year’s Provider Conference. Leaders from the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS), Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), Department of Social Services (DSS) and the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) will join us to discuss the future of services and supports for individuals with disabilities across the Commonwealth.

This panel will provide providers with a valuable opportunity to hear directly from state leadership about emerging priorities, policy developments, workforce challenges and opportunities for collaboration. Attendees will gain insight into how these agencies are working together to strengthen systems of care, improve access to services and support providers in delivering high-quality, person-centered supports to Virginians with disabilities and their families.

11:45 am - 1:00 pm

Lunch and Speaker

It's Not Comedy, It's a Movement

Team Fred, Comedian

1:00 - 2:00 pm

Break Out Sessions

Putting SUCCESS into Succession Planning

Kevin Paluszak, Chief Executive Officer, Pleasant View, Inc.

This session invites participants to rethink succession planning through a forward‑looking, future‑ready lens. Rather than treating succession planning as a reactive process or a routine HR exercise, we’ll explore how it can become a strategic opportunity to reimagine roles, strengthen organizational alignment and anticipate the evolving needs of both positions and the institution.

Participants will be introduced to a practical framework that emphasize redefining role expectations, building shared pools of expertise to minimize productivity gaps during transitions, and enhancing overall efficiency when key positions turn over. The session will also feature a case study that examines organizational structure, workflow patterns and job descriptions as a way to demonstrate a more holistic, systems‑level approach to preparing for long‑term success.

By the end of this workshop, attendees will walk away with actionable strategies to transform succession planning into a proactive, future‑focused driver of organizational resilience and excellence.

Navigating Social Security and Related Benefit Programs

Mack Eckenrode, Public Affairs Specialist, Philadelphia Region, Social Security Administration 
Tamishia Henry, Chief Executive Officer, Good Steward Business & Benefits Consulting, LLC
Angela Osby, Professional Relations Officer, Tidewater District Office, Disability Determination Services

Navigating Social Security and Related Benefit Programs provides an overview of Social Security disability benefits and other public assistance programs that support individuals with disabilities and low-income individuals. Participants will gain a clear understanding of eligibility requirements, application processes, common challenges, available work incentives and resources. This session is designed to equip professionals with practical knowledge and strategies to better assist individuals in accessing and maintaining critical benefits while promoting long-term stability and self-sufficiency.

2:00 - 2:15 pm

Networking Break

2:15 - 3:45 pm

Navigate, Prioritize, Lead: A Hands-On Leadership Simulation for Human Services Teams

Chip Dodd, President and CEO, Support Services of Virginia, Inc.
Kevin Paluszak, Chief Executive Officer, Pleasant View, Inc.

3:45 - 4:00 pm

Networking Break

4:00 - 4:30 pm

General Session: Navigate, Prioritize, Lead: A Hands-On Leadership Simulation for Human Services Teams Key Takeaways

Chip Dodd, President and CEO, Support Services of Virginia, Inc. 
Kevin Paluszak, Chief Executive Officer, Pleasant View, Inc.

8:00 - 11:00 pm

Social Event