|
121st
Community Health
Advisory
| |
|
Weekly Message from the Executive Director
Tony Anderson
By the Numbers
Last week I accidently reported increases in COVID positive cases when in fact we saw a decrease in cases. It must have been confusing because I reported an overall decrease in our our cases but reported increases for consumers and direct support professionals in the week to week totals. Just to be clear there was an overall decrease in the numbers. The good news this week is that we saw another decrease in the numbers with 33 people testing positive (a 35% decrease) and 18 direct support professionals testing positive (14% decrease). Unfortunately, we did report one 2 year old child who could not be vaccinated, tested positive and was hospitalized and was reported as too young be vaccinated.
Office Building Site Status (August 4th):
-
San Joaquin 14.7% (up .2%) – Exceeds 5% - Remote Quarterly Visit Recommended, Masks in the Office required.
-
Stanislaus 18.4% (down .1%) - Exceeds 5% - Remote Quarterly Visit Recommended, Masks in the Office required.
-
Calaveras 15.2% (down 1.3%) – Exceeds 5% - Remote Quarterly Visit Recommended, Masks in the Office required.
Amador is at 6.3% (down 1%) and Tuolumne is at 16.6% (down 4%).
| |
|
Clinical Update
Claire Lazaro
Clinical Director
| |
Health Opportunities
Modesto: Vaccine Clinic on September 29, Thursday, 10 am to 2 pm, inside the VMRC Modesto office.
Vaccines available: Flu, COVID-19, Shingles. More information coming soon and how to register. Mark your calendars!
Stockton: Health Faire with UOP
October 29, Saturday, 9 am, inside the VMRC Stockton office.
There will be health screenings for blood sugar/diabetes screening, cholesterol, and blood pressure checks. Vaccines will be available (Flu, COVID-19, Shingles). Pharmacists will be available to help in medication reconciliation or checking medicines for interaction. More information coming soon and how to register. Mark your calendars!
| |
|
Update on Monkeypox
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Monkeypox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.[1] With more than 21,000 from 78 countries worldwide, the goal is to stop the outbreak through increased awareness of the public by decreased exposure.[2] In San Joaquin County, there are now 6 confirmed cases while there has been 2 cases at Stanislaus County.[3],[4]
Precautions to Monkeypox is similar to covid: good hand hygiene, wear mask, face shield, gloves, disposable gown (contact precaution). Important to note that transmission is through direct contact and indirectly through things that has been used by someone infected. There is a vaccine and medicine for Monkeypox.
Information from Stanislaus County Public Health:
Transmission
Monkeypox commonly spreads through direct contact with sores, scabs, or bodily fluids. Some ways this can happen include:
- Direct skin-to-skin contact with the Monkeypox rash or sores;
- Intimate contact with someone with a monkeypox infection, including sex, kissing, hugging, etc.;
- Sharing a bed with someone;
- Touching unwashed materials used by someone with Monkeypox, such as towels, clothes, or bedding;
- Respiratory fluids passed through prolonged face-to-face contact, such as when living with or caring for someone with Monkeypox.
Prevention
There are many ways to help prevent the spread of Monkeypox:
- Speak with your sexual partner(s) about recent illness and be aware of any new rashes or sores on your bodies;
- Avoid close contact with people that have symptoms;
- Practice good hand hygiene;
- Use personal protective equipment; including a mask, gown, and gloves, when caring for people who are sick;
- Avoid contact with infectious materials such as dirty clothes or bedding;
- Avoid contact with infected animals.
What to do if you have symptoms:
If you start having any of the symptoms described above or suspect you may have Monkeypox, follow these tips:
- Stay home;
- Isolate from others. If you must be around others, wear a mask;
- Practice good hand hygiene;
- Cover any blisters, rash, or lesions;
- Avoid contact with animals, including pets, domestic animals, and wildlife;
- Wash surfaces and materials you may have touched while you had symptoms, including bedding, towels, clothing, sex toys, and surfaces such as door handles or countertops;
- Avoid sex or being intimate with anyone until all your sores have healed and you have a fresh layer of skin formed;
- Contact your health care provider to talk about diagnosis, testing, and treatment options.
California Governor Proclamation of a State of Emergency regarding Monkeypox
Advisory from Dr. Park of San Joaquin County
First case of Monkey pox in Stanislaus County
[1] WHO. July 23, 2022. https://www.who.int/news/item/23-07-2022-second-meeting-of-the-international-health-regulations-(2005)-(ihr)-emergency-committee-regarding-the-multi-country-outbreak-of-monkeypox
[2] CDC. July 28, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/response/2022/world-map.html
[3] San Joaquin County. August 03, 2022. https://www.sjgov.org/press-releases/press-release-detail/2022/08/03/san-joaquin-county-confirms-six-monkeypox-(mpx)-human-cases
[4]
| |
|
Case Management Update - Children
Tara Sisemore-Hester
Director of Consumer Services - Children
| |
|
How to Manage the Intensity of Early Intervention Work
with Stephanie Gomez, LCSW, IFECMHS
| |
|
Friday Sept 23, 2022
12:00pm-1:30pm (PDT)
Virtual Event
Can't attend the event live?
Register to receive access to the recording!
| |
|
"Nobody ever told me it was going to be this hard!" This is a common phrase we hear from new home visitors once they enter the field of Early Intervention. Yes, it is true that this work can be incredibly fun and rewarding at times. It is also true that when we are engaged in an empathic relationship with a child and family, that it can feel challenging to "be with" others if we witness their suffering such as pain, grief, toxic stress, trauma and racism.
In this brief workshop, we will review the symptoms and risk factors for Compassion Fatigue, Burnout, and Vicarious Trauma. We will have time to reflect on how our work may be impacting our own wellness while learning concrete strategies and developing a self-care plan to sustain our work.
|  | |
Participant Objectives:
1. Be able to differentiate between Compassion Fatigue, Burnout and Vicarious Trauma.
2. Identify their own risk factors for Compassion Fatigue, Burnout and Vicarious Trauma.
3. Develop a self-care plan to buffer risk-factors of Early Intervention work and begin to integrate Compassion Satisfaction as a strategy for maintaining balance.
| |
|
Stephanie Gomez is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with the Sacramento County Office of Education. As Coordinator of Staff & Family Support, she provides Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation and Reflective Supervision across the Infant Development Program, Inclusive Preschool Program and Help Me Grow Sacramento. She received her Master's in Social Welfare from UC Berkeley in 2002, and maintains a Pupil Personnel Service Credential in School Social Work.
Ms. Gomez is endorsed by the California Center at WestEd as an Infant-Family Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist. She is an authorized Zero to Three trainer, Circle of Security Parenting facilitator and a Teaching Pyramid coach. Ms. Gomez is a current Napa Infant Mental Health Fellow at UC Davis. She is a frequent keynote speaker and consultant in the field of early childhood throughout Northern California.
| | |
|
Non-Member: $50
IDA Agency/Individual Member: $35
IDA Parent/Student/New Clinician Member: $25
IDA CE Hours: Nursing, PT, Speech and Language* $15 (1.5 hour)
*CEUs for SLPs can be used to fulfill California’s licensing board. They are not sent to the ASHA registry. Participants should retain their IDA certificates and submit a Certification Maintenance Compliance form with ASHA.
CDI CE Hours: LCSW, LMFT, LEP, LPCC
(you will be invoiced)
ADA Requests: Contact IDA @ mail@idaofcal.org
with ADA request by Sept 9
Limited number of scholarships available
REGISTER NOW
| |
|
Case Management Update - Adults
Christine Couch
Director of Consumer Services - Adults
| |
|
SPOTLIGHT ON Paul Moua
Farewell to Paul! Paul is retiring from the agency after celebrating 25 years with VMRC. Since Paul started his career as a Service Coordinator, he has been providing services for adults who receive VMRC services. Another unknown fact, Paul has been on the same team, with the same caseload for the whole 25 years. During Paul’s retirement speech, Paul stated that, he started in this line of work to give back. He stated that when he was in his homeland of Laos, he was not able to help his older sister and an uncle with a developmental disability come to America. He wanted to help others because he couldn’t help them. We would like to thank Paul for all his hard work and dedication for the past 25 years. Happy Retirement Paul!!
| |
Stanislaus County Friends!!! Have any old StaRT or MAX fares? Come into the customer service office at the Modesto Transit Center and exchange them for new fares! | Do you need access to a cell phone? Eligible CA residents get FREE data+talk+text & a smartphone with Assurance Wireless, part of the T-Mobile family. Restrictions apply. | Do you have an event or success story you would like to share? Please email me at ccouch@vmrc.net! I look forward to meeting you, attending your event and sharing your stories!! | |
If you’re concerned about yourself or someone else, please call the Lifeline at 988. They are available 24/7, and they are free and confidential.
Learn more about suicide and suicide prevention with the resources below. Learn about each step and why the steps are effective here.
| |
Community Services Update
Brian Bennett
Director of Community Services
| |
|
|
VMRC has the need for American Sign Language Interpreters!
Contact Nick Bolger at nbolger@vmrc.net if you are interested in becoming an interpreter to help support deaf consumers and families.
| |
|
Important Changes to VMRC Special Incident Reporting!
Beginning August 1, 2022, VMRC will accept Special Incident Reports via email or fax. If you choose the email option, you must submit to the dedicated email group for the respective office.
Stockton: SIRStockton@vmrc.net
Modesto: SIRModesto@vmrc.net
San Andreas: SIRSanAndreas@vmrc.net
SIR submission by fax will continue to be accepted to the dedicated fax number for the respective office.
Stockton: (209) 955-3673
Modesto: (209) 557-2111
San Andreas: (209) 754-3211.
Special Incident Reporting guides can be located on the VMRC website
https://www.vmrc.net/special-incident-reporting/
If you have any questions regarding this information, please feel free to contact me.
Kindest regards,
Katina Richison, Division Manager – QA
| |
|
Community Care Licensing Children’s Residential Program is hosting a Statewide Residential Program Provider Meeting via ZOOM on August 25, 2022.
Direct care staff, Licensee’s are encouraged to attend. You must register for this presentation in advance.
| |
|
August 23, 2022
Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) Meeting
DDS is hosting an Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) webinar on August 23, 2022, from 3:00pm to 4:00pm. The webinar will build upon previously communicated information regarding the importance of data maintenance in the CalEVV System and the next phase of EVV implementation for home health care services and the Self-Determination Program.
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.
Tuesday, August 23, 2022
3:00-4:00 pm
Via Zoom
Register
For questions, please email EVV@dds.ca.gov.
Thank you.
California Department of Developmental Services
EVV@dds.ca.gov
EVV Homepage
| |
|
On Wednesday August 24, 2022, from 2:00 pm to 3:15
California Association for Adult Day Services presents a webinar for Direct Support Providers focused on “Reframing the Roles of Leaders and Front-Line Staff to Strengthen Employee Retention & Engagement.
Registration Flyer Here
| |
|
Employment Update
Enos Edmerson, Jr.
Employment Specialist
| |
|
Community Outreach 2022
Greater Valley Conservation Corps (GVCC)
VMRC Community Outreach is slowly returning to pre-pandemic levels. Community Outreach is a fantastic way to provide information to the public and network with other agencies in the community. Chanel Murray with State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD) was at a community outreach event and met Steve Kieffer with Greater Valley Conservation Corps (GVCC). A simple conversation between the two and Chanel instantly referred Steve to VMRC.
And just like that I am happy to announce a new partnership between GVCC and VMRC. Steve presented information to our Employment Focus group, which consist of our Supported Employment Providers on August 2, 2022. GVCC provides job opportunities for individuals ages 18-26. GVCC is currently hiring in the Stockton and Sonora areas. Please click the link below and check out the GVCC website if you are interested in applying.
Classified Conservation Corpsmember (Temporary Pool), Greater Valley Conservation Corps, County Operated Schools and Programs at San Joaquin County Office of Education | EDJOIN
Special thank you to Chanel Murray SCDD for the referral and thank you to Steve for presenting on short notice to our Employment Focus Group. Looking forward to growing the referrals between our agencies.
| |
|
North Valley Hills Update
Dena Hernandez, Regional Manager (209) 473-6930
| |
|
How to connect to SCDD through Social Media | | |
|
|
Family Resource Network (FRN) Update
Lisa Culley, Executive Director
| |
|
Would you like to share what you’ve learned as a parent of a child (or adult) with disabilities or special needs with other families who are just starting the journey, or those who are faced with challenges who have been on their journey for years? FRN is looking for staff to fill a variety of roles working with families. Current positions require applicants who speak, read, and write Spanish!
Family Resource Network (FRN) is the family resource center for the Valley Mountain Regional Center catchment area. All staff at FRN are the parent or close family member of someone with a disability or special need. FRN staff provide parent-to-parent or peer-to-peer support, information, referrals, and training to families and professionals, transition assistance, systems navigation, and much more to families raising children with disabilities and special needs.
Positions are flexible, bachelor’s degree not required, and every day is different and an opportunity to learn! Please email lisaculley@frcn.org for more information or to apply today!
| |
Local County, State and National Public Health Resources | | | | |
