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114th
Community Health
Advisory
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Weekly Message from the Executive Director
Tony Anderson
By the Numbers
This was one of the worst weeks this year for COVID-19 positive cases. Our region reported 99 positive cases, 66 consumers and 33 direct support professionals which represents a 78% increase over last week and we have 14 VMRC staff out with COVID positive tests. Most concerning is that two of our consumers were hospitalized and even though they had previously received their vaccinations they did not receive their vaccine boosters. The state positivity rate is showing a slight increase at 9.1% and each of our counties are showing an increase in their positivity rates. The good news in all the data however is that the state's death rate continues to decline with the June 11th 7 day average finally dropping to zero.
Office Building Site Status (June 15th):
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San Joaquin 12.8% – Exceeds 5% - Remote Quarterly Visit Recommended, Masks in the Office required.
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Stanislaus 14% – Exceeds 5% - Remote Quarterly Visit Recommended, Masks in the Office required.
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Calaveras 14% – Exceeds 5% - Remote Quarterly Visit Recommended, Masks in the Office required.
Amador is at 11.2% and Tuolumne is at 10.6%.
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The Department of Developmental Services Offers $8000 for All Service Providers Who Complete the Direct Support Professional Survey | |
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The California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) is looking to have as many service providers as possible participate in a statewide data collection effort about their Direct Support Professional (DSP) staff who support children and/or adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, specifically, those employed between January 1 and December 31 of 2021.
This DSP Workforce Data Collection instrument is a California-specific version of the nationally recognized National Core Indicators (NCI) Staff Stability Survey tool developed by the Human Services Research Institute (HSRI). Data collection results will be aggregated (no individual agency information will be made public) and used as quantitative baseline information to inform future policy decisions. The more agencies that participate, the more comprehensive and useful the workforce data will be.
HSRI will be emailing each provider agency a unique link in May 2022. Please only provide data for your entire organization, even if you receive more than one email and/or operate more than one vendored service. Once you click on the data collection link, you can download a PDF copy of the data collection instrument for reference, and you can return to the on-line instrument as many times as needed before hitting “submit.”
Data must be entered into the online system by June 30th to be counted. All agencies who complete the entirety of the data collection instrument before June 30, 2022, will receive an incentive payment for their participation via their vendoring regional center. DDS will announce the amount of the incentive soon. Only one incentive payment will be paid to each participating agency.
Questions about the data collection initiative? Visit https://www.dds.ca.gov/rc/vendor-provider/dsp-workforce-survey/ or email DSPWorkforce@DDS.CA.gov.
More Details
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Upcoming Calendar of Important Events
Board of Directors Meeting (Hybrid)
June 22, 2022, 6:00 PM
Join Zoom Meeting
Webinar ID: 844 7797 7692
Passcode: 434801
Howard Prep HAL Informational Session (Virtual)
June 24, 2022, 9:30 AM
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 813 5197 1961
Passcode: 480553
California Mentor Family Home Agency Informational Session (Virtual)
June 29, 2022, 9:30 AM
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 821 5693 4857
Passcode: 451938
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Clinical Update
Claire Lazaro
Director of Clinical Services
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Health Fair Events at John Thurman Field & Banner Island Ballpark | |
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Case Management Update - Children
Tara Sisemore-Hester
Director of Consumer Services - Children
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He is in the Self-Determination Program. Kion is an independent thinker, sensitive to sound, lights, tastes, and smells. He is persistent, rule bound, and very friendly. Kion is currently on a children’s team in Modesto. Kion started the Self-Determination (SD) program 5/1/22. Kion has begun to attend a home daycare where he gets the opportunity to socialize with typical peers. Through his generic resources his daycare provider is provided training on ways she can handle situations when Kion gets overwhelmed. Kion is also receiving support through his generic resource working on socialization skills with peers.
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For the first time in Kion’s life, he was able to get a complete vision examination. With supports from his ABA support staff and his SD support staff, Kion was able to make it through the appointment and I was able to be MOM!! This was one of the first times I got to participate as a parent; I was able to talk to the doctor, while the support staff stayed with Kion and provided him with the support he needed to be calm throughout the appointment. Kion has begun to attend local community events . He was able to attend a free sensory movie at the movie theater. Kion and his support staff began to visit the movie theater two weeks before the movie date. This gave Kion time out in his community , while allowing me time for myself! Kion knew what to expect on the BIG MOVIE Day. Each visit to the movie theater Kion’s support staff would introduce Kion to something new at the movie theater. Thank you VMRC and thank you Self-Determination team!
Kion’s mom
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Infant Development Association is committed to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging and in support of this mission we are launching these events.
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Family-Centered Approach for Cultural and Linguistic Diversity: Considerations for Early Intervention
with Cindy Esquivias MS, CCC-SLP
Tuesday June 21, 2022
12:00pm-1:30pm (PDT) | Virtual Event
As early intervention providers, we recognize that the family is the cornerstone for a child’s overall development. We understand the importance of providing family-centered care and the critical role this has on a child’s progress in therapy. But what happens when a family’s values differ from the providers? What do we do when we are faced with customs and child-rearing practices that differ from mainstream American practices? Integrating culturally and linguistically responsive practices in early intervention not only reduces harm caused by our own biases, but also ensures we center the family in our service delivery.
More information
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Summer Book Club
Saturday June 25, July 23 & August 27, 2022
9:00am - 10:00am | NO FEE
We will be meeting on the fourth Saturday morning, June 25, July 23, and August 27, from 9:00 to 10:00 am to discuss the book What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience and Healing by Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey.
As we come out of the COVID 19 Pandemic, it is a perfect time to discuss Perry and Winfrey's insights on shifting our approach to trauma and understanding how adversity in children affects the brain and behavior. We will explore how to use this information to promote resiliency and healing for the early intervention families we serve.
More Information
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Implementing Neurodiversity-Affirming Care for the 0-3 Population ~ 2 Day Event
with Hillary Crow, M.A., CCC-SLP
Tuesday July 12, 2022
Thursday July 14, 2022
1:00pm-3:00pm (PDT) | Virtual Event
Hillary will use her unique perspective as both an Autistic individual and a professional speech-language pathologist to shed light on the foundational elements of neurodiversity. Attendees will learn about neurodiversity both as a paradigm and a social justice movement, the importance of developing cultural competence in neurodiversity to provide client-centered care, the influence of gender on autism diagnoses, the harms of promoting Autistic masking, and the importance of supporting Autistic neurology in children 0-3 years old.
More Information
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Chaos and Instability in the Lives of Children
with Stacey N. Doan, PhD
Tuesday, July 26, 2022
11:00am-12:30pm (PDT) | Virtual Event
Early intervention providers often have a unique opportunity to provide support to parents who are facing multiple challenges that can result in a more chaotic home environment. Chaos can have a significant negative impact on a child’s development. In the current talk, I will discuss the dimensions of chaos, analyze it at multiple levels, and provide strategies that early intervention providers can consider to mitigate the impact of chaos.
More Information
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Being a Welcome Guest in Prismatic Homes: Understanding and Supporting LGBTQ+ and Other Marginalized Families
with Linda Banks and Julie Stansbury
Wednesday, August 3, 2022
1:00pm-2:30pm (PDT) | Virtual Event
To provide early care services in homes and offices where all kinds of families experience partnership, belonging, and optimal outcomes, ongoing self-examination and healing of the negative impacts of providers’ socialization is essential. This presentation introduces adults that provide services to LGBTQ+ families to self-healing strategies to create psychologically safe service spaces for LGBTQ+ families. Prismatic people have always been a part of the human family. Learn ways to show them you value their family experience to create dynamic partnerships for optimal youth outcomes.
More Information
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The Importance of Parent/Child Attachment in the Latino Community
with Edgar Sierra, LMFT &
Leslie Manriquez-Jimenez, LMFT
Monday August 15, 2022
12:00pm-1:30pm (PDT) | Virtual Event
Session will describe the basic concepts of attachment theory. Attachment theory emphasizes the importance of having a healthy early attachment between a child and their main caregiver(s) during the first five years of life. We will also discuss the overall negative ramifications on the child’s behavioral health due to poor attachment patterns.
Presenters will characterize how healthy attachments look within the Hispanic/Latino community. Lastly, we will present examples of how to incorporate cultural factors while implementing attachment theory as a therapeutic approach with Hispanic and Latino families.
More Information
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Emergent Feeding Strategies: Equity in Feeding Approaches for Early Intervention
with Cindy Esquivias MS, CCC-SLP
Friday August 26, 2022
12:00pm-1:30pm (PDT) | Virtual Event
This presentation will discuss ways to increase equitable feeding strategies in early intervention. We will cover common western feeding practices as they compare and differ from other cultural practices. No two children are the same, and every family has their own cultural values for feeding and mealtimes that need to be considered. Therefore, a critical component to each plan of care should address the values and goals each family has for their child’s feeding.
More Information
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Case Management Update - Adults
Christine Couch
Director of Consumer Services - Adults
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Smart AT Home: Customization (Part 2)
Ability Tools Smart AT Home series, Smart AT Home: Customization (Part 2), will occur on Tuesday, June 28th, 2022, from 2:30-3:30pm PDT.
This installment, presented by smart home expert Forrest Holleman from Bay Area Smart Homes, will cover the process of setting up routines, scenes and triggers. Ability Tools plans to expand into many disability related topics such as, programming your smart home hub to interact properly with your AAC devices, security and environmental controls. This series occurs every other month and will always be free and available to professionals and the general public alike.
Register for this free event at: https://tinyurl.com/SmartATHome0628.
Register here!
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In Case You Missed It:
Smart AT Home: Customization (Part 1)
Ability Tools presented Smart AT Home: Customization (Part 1). This session covered the process of setting up routines, scenes and triggers. Ability Tools plans to expand into many disability related topics such as, programming your smart home hub to interact properly with your AAC devices, security and environmental controls.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel!
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Community Services Update
Brian Bennett
Director of Community Services
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HCBS Compliance Assessments – Validation and Remediation Process Announcement
DDS in cooperation with Regional Centers is preparing for the implementation of the HCBS Final Settings Rule by assessing vendor settings that provide services to more than one individual in the same setting. This includes providers of residential, day program and employment programs. Between January and August of 2020 vendors were asked to complete an HCBS compliance self-survey. Then in 2021 DDS contracted with Public Consulting Group (PCG) to complete a full HCBS assessment for a representative sample of regional center vendors. VMRC had 60 providers who received this full assessment. Those reports have been received back from DDS and were emailed to providers on May 2nd, 2022.
DDS has released a directive to regional centers on the validation and remediation process that our vendors with eligible service codes will need to complete. Emails will be sent to providers to advise whether they are to complete the validation process or the remediation process. Vendors will have 30 days to complete the process that they are assigned to complete. Validation and Remediation forms and all supporting documentation are due back to VMRC no later than June 30th, 2022.
DDS Assessment Validation and Remediation Forms
VMRC will also be hosting virtual office hours for our vendors to drop in via Zoom to ask questions related to the validation and remediation process.
June 13th -17th every day from 9:00-10:30am
June 21st – 24th every day from 1:00-2:30pm
Please do not wait to get started on your validation and remediation plans. An email will be sent to providers advising them of what step of the process, validation or remediation, they will be starting on. All documentation must be submitted electronically through email. Paper copies and handwritten documents will not be accepted. Your vendor # must be included in the file name of every document you submit, documents that are not named with the vendor number will be rejected.
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VMRC Needs Your Help!
VMRC needs your input on the implementation of the HCBS Final Settings Rule and Person-Centered Practices! Please share your feedback with us through our new survey. This survey is open to all VMRC stakeholders, including persons served and their families, vendors and their staff, VMRC staff, VMRC Board Members and local advocacy groups. DDS has offered a new HCBS grant funding opportunity meant to encourage HCBS and Person-Centered Planning implementation for our catchment area and your input is vital to the planning process for this grant opportunity!
VMRC's HCBS/PCP Grant Funding Survey
Additional information about the HCBS Final Settings Rule can be accessed here:
VMRC's HCBS Page
California Department of Developmental Services - HCBS Page
HCBS Advocacy Coalition
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Upcoming Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Trainings for Vendors
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
July 7th, 2022, 1:00pm – 2:00pm
July 12th, 2022, 10:00am – 11:00am
HCBS Trainings for Day Type and Employment Services
July 12th, 2022, 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Contact Anna Sims, SCSL, HCBS Program Evaluator with questions: (209) 955-3353, asims@vmrc.net
HCBS for Residential Providers April through July
HCBS for Day Program and Employment Providers May through July
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Electronic Visit Verification (EVV)
DDS is hosting an EVV webinar on June 28, 2022, from 3pm-4pm. The webinar will provide information on resources available to providers and will begin an introduction to the next phase of EVV implementation.
Spanish and ASL interpretation will be provided. For additional accommodations, please email EVV@dds.ca.gov two weeks prior to the webinar.
Please click the link below to register.
Register Here: https://cal-dds.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_HMqWSynfQSmqUQtkcDi0Og
DDS is hosting Office Hours during the month of June focused on the topic of how staff/caregivers record visits in CalEVV.
Please join us during any of the designated dates and times below for this topic.
June 21, 2022, from 3:00pm-4:00pm
Join Zoom Meeting (only available at the time/date above)
June 23, 2022, from 5:30pm-6:30pm
Join Zoom Meeting (only available at the time/date above)
June 25, 2022, from 10:00am-11:00am
Join Zoom Meeting (only available at the time/date above)
Office Hours are a time to join a Zoom call to ask questions regarding identified topics. Each Office Hour date, time and topic will be posted to the DDS EVV webpage under the ‘Meetings’ tab, https://www.dds.ca.gov/services/evv/ , and notifications will go out when new dates, times and topics are available. Advanced registration is not required. People may join the link at any time during the call to ask questions and do not need to remain on the call the whole hour.
For questions, please email EVV@dds.ca.gov.
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North Valley Hills Update
Dena Hernandez, Regional Manager (209) 473-6930
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Every thought about becoming a volunteer on the
SCDD North Valley Hills Regional Advisory Committee (RAC)?
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We meet 5 times a year, on a Tuesday evening from 6pm-8pm. We do travel to Amador, Calaveras, San Joaquin, Stanislaus & Tuolumne Counties and currently meeting on zoom.
We are an advisory committee that works with SCDD on Systemic Change, Advocacy and Capacity Building within California. We follow a State Plan.
Check out our website to find out more about SCDD & the 2022-2026 State Plan at www.scdd.ca.gov
We are looking for self advocates and familiy advocates to join our RAC!
You can apply on line here or call Dena at 209-473-6930
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepqt80u578ELHgcPJNzsjO71PPvxZ1txZn77P5Cm6iVbvBzg/viewform?c=0&w=1
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How to connect to SCDD through Social Media | | |
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Family Resource Network (FRN) Update
Lisa Culley, Executive Director
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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 | |
Local County, State and National Public Health Resources | | | | |
