102nd

Community Health

Advisory

Weekly Message from the Executive Director

Tony Anderson



By the Numbers



This week we recorded 2 cases of COVID, one consumer and one direct support professional. Soon we will be reporting less frequently on the surveillance of COVID because as of a March 14, 2022 directive amendment. We are now to only report if someone tests positive for a new case of COVID-19; or if someone dies of COVID-19. VMRC and our local providers will now only complete special incident reports for COVID in these instances above. A new reportable case reflects the first time someone becomes ill from COVID-19, or gets sick after after recovery from a prior COVID-19 illness. We are not to report every positive test result as someone tries to achieve a negative test to exit quarantine. This means we will report the number of COVID-19 cases that occur not the number of people who have been sick.

I hope you all have a great weekend and be sure to take in some of the great sites in our beautiful valley mountain region.

Tuolumne County Health and Human Services: Bringing Families Home

Bring Families Home is a program for housing stabilization and navigation, and housing-related case management and direct financial assistance to individuals/families.

This week we learned from our partners in our local safety-net in Tuolumne County, the Health and Human Services Agency that their Department of Social Services, Children’s Services will be receiving an important "Bringing Families Home" allocation from the state. "This funding will be used to provide housing stabilization and navigation, and housing-related case management and direct financial assistance to individuals/families who are 1) receiving child welfare services; 2) homeless, at risk of homelessness, or in a living situation that cannot accommodate the child or multiple children in the home; and 3) voluntarily agree to participate in the program."

Meeting Announcement:

Rate Model Implementation -

Focused Discussion for

Community Care Facility Providers

The Department of Developmental Services is host an important meeting for VMRC's local community care providers and others all over the state. The state intends to state making significant rate adjustments for services beginning in April 2022, and they are asking our providers to participate in a focused discussion with the department, regional center staff, and the providers across the state. VMRC is asking our local care home providers to please join in this conversation and help shape the direction of this process to better serve our consumers. This will take place on Monday March 28 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. via Zoom. 

DDS says "this will give us an opportunity to address questions related to April 1, 2022 rate adjustments for Community Care Facilities. Please share this invitation with individuals who will benefit from this conversation."  

Family Celebration

Saturday March 26, 2022

Congreso Familiar is one of our local community based organizations who has received funding from DDS to assist our VMRC community in reaching our to our growing Hispanic and Spanish speaking families to get them the information they need to support their family members.

Congreso Familiar is a conference dedicated to promoting education and leadership for Spanish-speaking families who have children or relatives with a disability.

On Saturday they are hosting a celebration where they talk about circles of support and self-care and they'll have a special Zumba session with Yulissa.

Also on the following Saturday they will be hosting an important session on Sexual Abuse Prevention.

Learn strategies to protect children from sexual abuse without scaring them, destroying their confidence, or explaining sexual abuse.

Case Management Update - Children

Tara Sisemore-Hester

Director of Consumer Services - Children

What is new in the Early Start Neighborhood?

In Developmental Stages of Social Emotional Development In Children you'll find definitions of important terms in social-emotional development, social-emotional milestones with descriptors, and a list of standardized screening instruments for social-emotional development. Check it out!

Also, be sure not to miss the panel discussion coming up next week on the topic of “Families and Child-Rearing” that’s part of the Early Start Cultural Humility series. Click here to register if you haven’t already. It’s easy, and it’s free! CEUs are available for purchase as well. Hear from stakeholders in the field and ask questions of the panel. Here’s a link to the flyer to read about this month’s module.

Visit Early Start Neighborhood at: https://earlystartneighborhood.ning.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

Early Intervention, Advocacy and the California Budget May Revise

with Teresa Anderson

Tuesday May 17, 2022

12:00pm-1:30pm (PST)

Virtual Event

·    Participants will learn how the CA Budget supports Early Intervention Services, Legislation related to ECE, Rate Adjustment process and Early Childhood Department focus

·     Participants will learn how to participate in the CA legislative process

Participants will learn about constituent involvement in the CA Budget process

Teresa Anderson is the Public Policy Director for The Arc and United Cerebral Palsy California Collaboration. Over the last 15 years and prior to becoming the Public Policy Director, Teresa worked on a variety of special projects for The Arc of California including; staffing the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Statewide Taskforce and Prevention Committee for the Board of Directors, research on poverty issues among people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), increasing advocacy and awareness of sexual assault and abuse of people with IDD, health advocacy and criminal justice issues. Read more here

Can't attend the event live? 

Register to receive access to the recording!

Non-Member: $35

IDA Agency/Individual Member: FREE (you must register)

IDA Parent/Student/New Clinician Member: FREE

(you must register)

ADA Request by May 3rd

REGISTER NOW

Spotlight on Miguel!

Miguel Saavedra



My name is Miguel Saavedra, and I am 5 years old. I live at home with my family, and I am very loved! I enjoy traveling with my family specifically to Mexico. I am very sensory oriented and prefer sensory toys and activities. They are so much fun!! I am musically inclined, and I love to listen to different types of music and instruments. I will be starting school next year and I will be going into kindergarten. I am so excited! I am continuing to work on my speech and communication with the support of my family and friends. I am learning to become a big kid by improving my independence as I learn. I can accomplish anything with the support from my loving family, friends, extended family, doctors, school, and VMRC.

VMRC will be participating in Amador Child Care Council’s 24^th Annual ‘Celebrate Our Children’ event! This year's event will feature exciting activities, lunch, Chewy the Tooth, a Car Seat Check, petting zoo, entertainment, and fluoride varnishes! Admission is free! April 9^th 11am – 2pm!

We are excited to announce the following self determination orientation opportunities:

Tuesday, April 19, 2022 9AM-12PM Spanish

Thursday, June 16, 2022 1PM-4PM English with Spanish Translation

Monday, August 8, 2022 1PM-4PM English with Spanish Translation

Self-Determination Program: Individual Budget Development and Certification Tool and Spending Plan Frequently Asked Questions-January 2022

English | Arabic | Japanese | Korean | Laotian | Russian | Simplified Chinese | Traditional Chinese | Spanish | Tagalog | Vietnamese | Hmong PDF

The ARC’s Virtual Program Library, On this site, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their caregivers can find and share on-demand activities that they can use whenever it is convenient for them in the comfort of their own homes. Service providers can also find and share resources that they can use to facilitate or deliver live, remote programming for people with IDD.

New Program – InFlight

Link: https://adjoin.org/our-work/catalysts/learn

Contact: Katie Ryan, Director of Curriculum and Instruction. Email: inflight@adjoin.org | Phone: 858-216-2760

Program Information: An innovative online skills training program, the InFlight Skills Academy teaches vocational, social, health, and safety skills to individuals age 16+ with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism.

Online learning has become common in education, and for good reason: it offers learners the flexibility to learn at their own pace, allows the learner to schedule class time around their busy schedules, provides access to those in rural areas or with limited access to transportation, uses technology to make the content more accessible (such as closed captioning, audio, visual, recorded seminars, multi-modal assignments and more), and provides the “quiet learner” the opportunity to be heard. Adjoin Catalysts is offering this unique post-secondary programming designed with neurodiverse learners in mind but open to all learners! Join us from anywhere in California and check out classes such as Healthy You, Employment Skills, Social Skills & Healthy Relationships, Personal Safety, and much more!

Check Out Our Upcoming Transition Fairs!

Click on Each Flyer for Details

Stockton

Modesto

San Andreas

SPOTLIGHT ON Alfredo Ayala – Friends, meet this amazing guy who has survived kidney failure!!! Alfredo didn’t know he had kidney failure right away. He was getting sick a lot and went to the doctor because he was sick. He had high blood pressure, he was overweight and he was drinking a lot and was diabetic. During this time when Alfredo was really sick, he was working with UCP supported employment in a landscaping and janitorial job. Alfredo had to catch the bus from Stockton to go to Lodi to work. He had to stop working because of the kidney failure and the need for the dialysis treatments. 

Alfredo lived with his sister when he found out he needed the kidney transplant. Unfortunately, he was denied twice for a transplant because the doctors wanted to make sure Alfredo had a primary support person to help with his care. Another reason is that he is a very independent guy, he likes to do things on his own. Sometimes his choices for independence interfered with his care for the kidney failure. For example, when he going to dialysis, he was riding his bicycle to and from these appointments. While living with his sister Alfredo went to church and found hope and gave up his worries. Alfredo said, “I like church, it keeps you close to the people you care for and close to your family. It helps you be thankful for what you have.”  Alfredo was determined and kept advocating for himself to get the kidney transplant throughout the years. He waited about 8 years for the transplant. He had dialysis three times a week, 5 hours each time. 

With the help of Alfredo’s IPP team, he moved to a care home in Stockton. The residential support staff helped him get his care for the kidney failure and supported him with his appointments.  We are so thankful for the medical team at UCDavis! They put Alfredo on the active kidney transplant list. The medical team said he had to quit riding his bike to dialysis so that he could be healthy. With the support of the care home staff, Alfredo had transportation and supportive staff to make sure he went to all of his appointments and followed the medical advice to support his kidney. Alfredo received his kidney transplant in October 2021. He had to stay at UCDavis for about 5 days when he received the transplant. Staff from the care home was there at the hospital with him and offered support and learned about the kidney transplant and what to do and not do as they support Alfredo with his healing and recovery from the transplant. Alfredo wants you to know that, “I prayed for my new kidney and I am so thankful.”

Right now Alfredo goes to UCDavis for treatment, checking on the new kidney and his medication. At first Alfredo went every week to UC Davis, now it’s every other week. His kidney is working well, with no issues. Alfredo shared he wishes he knew the donor but the medical team doesn’t tell you that information.

Alfredo wants you to know he has to watch his diet and eat healthy to support the new kidney. No cheese or sour cream right now in his diet. He needs to drink a lot of water, 2 liters a day. He exercises, walks, rides his bike around the neighborhood, and to the store. He is ablet o ride his bike to visit with his mom.

Alfredo’s advice, “take care of yourself and do not mess with your health. It’s hard to be on dialysis. Keep yourself healthy and be thankful for your good health. If you are working or going to school, keep doing what you are doing! I’ve learned a lot of new experiences because of the new kidney – it’s a new life, a different life. Don’t take advantage of your life. Kidney failure is hard. You aren’t free to do things you used to do, you have to take care of yourself. You never know what life is going to do. Don’t look back, keep looking forward. I’ve seen a lot of people with hope but they don’t get their dreams. Don’t give up. Work hard to accomplish your dreams and they might come true. If you have something in your mind that you want to do, go do it. don’t wait and then look back and wish, go forward, go for it! I’ve learned all of this from experience. There is always hope! I’ve never given up, I keep moving forward. There is always a way to get things accomplished and to take care of yourself. Go to church – He helps! Keep your head up, don’t give up! No matter how hard it gets, look up and keep going.” National Kidney Month, observed every March, brings awareness to kidney health and encourages people to support kidney disease research and take steps to keep their own kidneys safe and healthy.

Alfredo enjoys painting and coloring, listening to music on his stereo. He gardens – tomatoes, onions, peppers, and zucchini in the backyard of his home. He rides his bike to flea markets and buys plants. He can use the bus around town. He likes to read books about music. He keeps himself busy. His goal is to go back to work full-time! In the future, he would like to get his own place. Check out Alfredo’s picture that displays his original artwork!!

My name is Gabriela Lopez, Cultural Specialist and Program Manager for the New Enhanced Team. I have been with VMRC for nine years, seven years as a Service Coordinator for Children’s and two years as the Cultural Specialist.  

The Enhanced Team will carry caseloads of 40 Families and is made up of 5 Bilingual Service Coordinators and 1 Senior Services Coordinator, all fluent in Spanish. The focus of the Enhanced Team is to work with Families and Consumers who currently have $0 to low Purchase of Services and that are Spanish speaking. One of the many great things that the Enhanced Service Coordinators will be doing is helping and supporting Families, and Consumers accessing Regional Center Services, Generic Resources and provide trainings to families. The team will also have the opportunity to collaborate and interact with families through community outreach.

I’m very excited for this great opportunity and to be able to continue supporting and helping our VMRC Families.

Community Services Update

Brian Bennett

Director of Community Services

Monthly Community Services Department Provider Informational Session

Info-Sessions will occur 1x per Month on the FIRST FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH

Zoom Link to upcoming Monthly Session

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88548962379       

April 1st 2022, 9-10 am                        

May 6^th 2022, 9-10 am  

June 3^rd 2022, 9-10 am  

July 1^st 2022, 9-10 am   

August 5^th 2022, 9-10 am    

October 7^th 2022, 9-10 am  

November 4^th 2022, 9-10 am  

December 2^nd 2022, 9-10 am  

Home and Community Based Services (HCBS)

The HCBS Final Settings Rule applies to all vendors who provide services in a setting that serves more than one regional center consumer. The intent of the Final Settings Rule is to ensure that people with developmental disabilities receive services that integrate them fully into the community to the same degree as people without developmental disabilities. It ensures quality of life! They also ensure that the residential settings that services are received in are home environments rather than institutional environments. All settings must optimize and enhance choice rather than regimenting it. The HCBS Final Settings Rule protects consumers rights including the right to privacy, dignity, respect and freedom from coercion and restraint. The Final Settings Rule goes into effect March 17th, 2023, all providers with the service codes listed below, must be compliant by that date.

VMRC will continue hosting trainings for Residential Providers, Day Type Services Providers and Employment Services Providers. Service providers under the following service codes are strongly encouraged to sign up for one of the trainings provided. It takes time and effort to implement these requirements. Eligible service codes are Residential: 096, 113, 904, 905, 915, 910, 920; Employment Services: 950 and 954; Day Type Services: 028, 055, 063, 475, 505, 510, 515, 855

The attached flyers have registration links on them for the following trainings. You must register to take the training. Once you have registered you will receive a link for the zoom session on the date you have chosen. For attendance purposes please have each staff taking the training register with their own contact information including their email address. Any last-minute changes to the scheduled trainings will be communicated to the registered individuals by email at the email address they have provided.

HCBS Trainings for Residential Providers

April 5th, 2022, 10:00am – 11:00am

April 14th, 2022, 1:00pm – 2:00pm

May 3rd, 2022, 10:00am – 11:00am

May 17th, 2022, 1:00pm – 2:00pm

HCBS Trainings for Day Type and Employment Services

April 5th, 2022, 3:00pm – 4:00pm

May 4th, 2022, 3:00pm – 4:00pm

Contact Anna Sims, SCSL, HCBS Program Evaluator with questions: (209) 955-3353, asims@vmrc.net



HCBS for Day Program and Employment Providers March 2022 through May 2022

HCBS for Residential Providers March 2022 through May 2022

VMRC is seeking Qualified Commercial Transportation Service Providers to submit Letters of Interest

Valley Mountain Regional Center (VMRC) is seeking service providers to operate transportation services and transportation assistant services to serve people with developmental disabilities who reside in the counties of: Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Tuolumne, Amador, Calaveras. Developmental disabilities include intellectual disabilities, epilepsy, autism, and cerebral palsy.

The applicant selected to provide transportation services and transportation assistant services in the VMRC service region will work closely with R&D Transportation services, Inc. (R&D) a full-service transportation broker, who provides scheduling, routing, quality assurance, and oversight of all contract transportation billing invoices.



Transportation services include transporting individuals to and from their place of residence to day programs, generally between the hours from 6:00 am - 6:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Individuals may need supervision, assistance with wheelchairs, or assistance and monitoring while being transported. Currently, VMRC needs to expand its transportation routes to fulfill emergent service needs for individuals for round-trip travel to/from their respective program activities.

More Information about vendorization may be found on DDS’s website at https://www.dds.ca.gov/rc/vendor-provider/vendorization-process/ under

“Vendorization Process” or under California Code of Regulations, Title 17, and Sections

54310 through 54390, vendor application requirements; Sections 58500 to 58570,

Transportation Services; and Sections 54342(a)(81) and (84).

Interested Commercial Transportation service providers should contact R&D Transportation at

 (888) 695-8848 Ext. 242

RFPQuestions@rdtsi.com

Meeting Announcement: Rate Model Implementation - Focused Discussion for

Community Care Facility Providers Monday March 28, 2022,  3:30-4:30 p.m. via Zoom  

To facilitate rate adjustments beginning in April 2022, the Department of Developmental Services will host a focused discussion with community care facility providers and regional centers. This will offer an opportunity to address questions related to April 1, 2022, rate adjustments for Community Care Facilities. Please share this invitation with individuals who will benefit from this conversation.  

Registration Link:

https://cal-dds.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_R-4ehzdVTEeuBGOM-XyCcw



Questions: Visit the DDS webpage for rate implementation information Rate Study Implementation - CA Department of Developmental Services

Clinical Services Updates

Claire B. Lazaro, MSN, RN, NP, PHN, NP-C

Director of Clinical Services

Webinar:

The Basics About Advance Health Care Directives

Join us for a live webinar:

Many people with mental health disabilities do not know they have the right to an Advance Health Care Directive. An Advance Health Care Directive can help you make treatment choices and express your health care wishes before you experience a crisis when you may not be able to make these decisions yourself.

Join us to learn the basics about Advance Health Care Directives. Learn about how to start the conversation with medical professionals and your loved ones about the treatment choices you want in the event you are unable to make decisions for yourself.

*This training is presented from a peer perspective by people who have lived experience with mental health disabilities.

Live Caption and ASL Interpreter will be Available.

When:

March 30, 2022

1:00 PM

Pacific Standard Time

About this webinar:

Making your wishes known with an Advance Health Care Directive before you experience a crisis can help your doctors and loved ones know what choices to make in case you are unable to speak for yourself. It is an opportunity when you are feeling well to voice and specify what types of treatment you choose to receive during a crisis before it happens.

Please join us as we discuss:

• What is an Advance Health Care Directive?
• The benefits of having an Advance Health Care Directive
• What are the two types of Advance directives?
• What health care choices can you make?
• What does it mean to have an Agent?
• What will a Doctor do with your Advance Health Care Directive?



Register Today

North Valley Hills Update

   Dena Hernandez, Regional Manager (209) 473-6930

A community for adult siblings of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in California

Home | CaliforniaSibs

SCDD WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU!!! Think about how we can help people with disabilities who have jobs that pay less than minimum wage to people with disabilities who have jobs that pay at least minimum wage?

Can’t make it to our Community Conversation but would like to share your thoughts- just email chanel.murray@scdd.ca.gov

How to connect to SCDD through Social Media

Self-Advocacy Council 6 (SAC6)

Weekly Virtual Chat - DDS Consumer Advisory Committee (CAC)

WHEN: Friday, March 25, 2022

TIME: 11:00 AM -12:15 PM

WHERE: ZOOM - computer, tablet, cell phone

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 831 2718 5683

Passcode: 521410

PDF Version of the SAC6 Flyer Here

Family Resource Network (FRN) Update

Lisa Culley, Executive Director

Building Bridges: Transitioning Your Child from the Early Start Program

Is your child turning 3 soon? Join FRN for a parent workshop on Building Bridges: Transitioning Your Child From the Early Start Program! Learn about the process of advocacy, what's happening during the months leading up to your child's 3rd birthday, the Individual Education Plan (IEP) process, and ongoing services available through VMRC. You will walk away from this training with knowledge that will give you a great foundation for the next stage of parenting your child with special needs. Attendees will receive a Building Bridges workbook to complete as you prepare for your child's transition. Spanish interpretation will be available. Register by clicking the link on the flyer, calling the FRN office at 209-472-3674 or by email at FRNfamilies@frcn.org

FRN is excited to join with Lead4Tomorrow to present Family Hui-a Family Strengthening Program in San Joaquin County for families raising children with special needs and disabilities. A Hui (hoo’ee) is a group of people with common goals and interests.

The Family Hui Program provides time to meet others who are on similar journeys through:

• Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Trauma-Informed Peer-led Parenting Group

• Positive Parenting / Child-rearing Framework (Ages 0-5)

• Community Building with Leadership and Advocacy Skills

• Strengthening Families to Forge Resiliency

• Creating Safe, Nurturing Environments for Children and Families

• Sessions will start online, with the potential to transition to in-person meetings.

You will join 7-9 other families as you work through the sessions. Stipends and goody bags will be provided to families participating and completing the first Family Hui. You will receive valuable resources and a great toolkit of supplies and skills to strengthen and grow your family. Please click for more information or to complete the registration. You will be contacted as we schedule and plan the sessions. 

English - https://forms.gle/1NQAUDAv12DM5iwy6

Spanish - https://forms.gle/5gkgqQzbq2mYbXvg7