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122nd
Community Health
Advisory
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Weekly Message from the Executive Director
Tony Anderson
By the Numbers
This week we reported 22 positive COVID cases of people with disabilities and 17 direct support professionals. This is a combined reduction of 12 less cases than last week. Unfortunately, two consumers were hospitalized and while both received their initial vaccination neither had received their vaccination booster.
The latest COVID positivity rate for the state has now dropped to 12.7% and for the first time in a while every one of our counties in the VMRC catchment area saw a decrease in the positivity rates.
Office Building Site Status (August 4th):
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San Joaquin 13.1% (down 1.6%) – Exceeds 5% - Remote Quarterly Visit Recommended, Masks in the Office required.
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Stanislaus 16.9% (down 1.5%) - Exceeds 5% - Remote Quarterly Visit Recommended, Masks in the Office required.
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Calaveras 15.2% (down 2.5%) – Exceeds 5% - Remote Quarterly Visit Recommended, Masks in the Office required.
Amador is at 5.7% (down .6%) and Tuolumne is at 13.6% (down 3%).
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Notice of the Change in Appeal Rules
Yesterday regional centers received notice from the Department of Developmental Services regarding new rules for the appeals process. The notice talks about a new law for regional centers and DDS prohibiting us from using attorneys in informal appeal meetings, mediations, or fair hearings, unless the claimant is an attorney or hires one.
It also says that if the consumer or representative is an attorney or hires one then there is a requirement for 5 days notification, but as long as the attorney is not in the meeting, either can get help preparing to present their position.
If a hearing officer allows an attorney to be present the officer will let everyone know. The letter ends with the direction for regional centers to "adjust their internal procedures and practices to comply with the statute by October 1, 2022. All appeal process informational materials provided by a regional center shall be updated accordingly, no later than September 30, 2022." Valley Mountain Regional Center used to use an attorney to represent us in hearings and has transitioned away from this practice in anticipation of this rule change and in response to requests from advocates. Formal clarification to our policy will follow.
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You can also sign up to be an event sponsor or register for your resource table through our Disability Resource Fair page of our website.
https://www.vmrc.net/disability-resource-fair/
Thank you to Platinum Sponsor Pacific Homecare Services!
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And Platinum Sponsor Family Resource Network! | |
Thank You to Silver Sponsor Kavere Services, Inc! | |
Thank You to Bronze Sponsor B.E.S.T. (Behavioral and Educational Strategies and Training! | |
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Clinical Update
Claire Lazaro
Clinical Director
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Lead Service Line Replacement Campaign | |
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Case Management Update - Children
Tara Sisemore-Hester
Director of Consumer Services - Children
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A Letter from Mom
My name is Daisy Ortiz, mother of Bella Ortiz. I wanted to provide an overview of our experience and share the benefits we received during our time with VMRC. We believe Bella significantly improved in her speech versus when she started her services. She began with only speaking less than 5 words, to now speaking around 50+ words, including 2 word phrases. We have learned techniques and ways to help her develop better communication skills.
Our experience with speech therapy was great, and it helped with learning how to encourage correct pronunciation and learn activities to help continue with speech. Bella enjoyed all the activities that were presented to her. We also as parents learned ways to help guide her along the way with the exercises presented to her. I believe she gained confidence with each activity and session. For example, she went from not knowing her farm animals names to mastering names and sounds.
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I also wanted to speak about the experience with the weekly teacher sessions, this experience by far was the most beneficial. Again, we learned very creative ways to help guide Bella to improving her speech and learning skills. Bella's teacher was always very insightful when it came to new activities and or new ways to help teach Bella. For example, Bella went from not knowing her colors and or color coordination, to being able to say the names of the colors and arranging the colors in order. We appreciate the creative ideas that were presented to Bella, from books to DIY projects at home.
Overall, we are very thankful to the help and resources we received with this program. We are very thankful to Julian, Amy and Jasmine, for helping us along the way with Bella. I really appreciate the time we have been given and we will forever be thankful to everyone that participated. Once again, thank you ! Like the saying goes, "it takes a village to raise a child."
Blessings, Daisy Ortiz
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Emergent Feeding Strategies:
Equity in Feeding Approaches for Early Intervention
with Cindy Esquivias MS, CCC-SLP
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.
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Friday August 26, 2022
12:00pm-1:30pm (PDT)
Virtual Event
Can't attend the event live?
Register to receive access to the recording!
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Learning Objectives:
· Understand the types of challenges you may face when working with a family whose cultural or linguistic background differs from yours
· Describe how to support caregivers from diverse backgrounds as they navigate feeding difficulties
· Identify at least 2 ways you can demonstrate respect for the client/family’s cultural background
· Discuss the impact of your own internalized biases and values as they relate to feeding and service delivery
Identify at least 2 environmental limitations to feeding that can impact a child’s ability to be a successful feeder
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Presenter:
Cindy Esquivias graduated from Mount St. Mary’s University in Los Angeles with a Master of Science in Education, and CSU East Bay with a Master of Science in Speech and Language Pathology.
Following a short career as a high-school English teacher, Cindy was inspired to pursue a career in Speech-Language Pathology, as she realized how important early intervention was—especially when working in low-SES communities. She has a strong passion for working with pediatric populations with speech, language, feeding, and swallowing disorders. Read more here
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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 a series of events
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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)
CDI CE Hours: LCSW, LMFT, LEP, LPCC
(you will be invoiced)
ADA Requests: Contact IDA @ mail@idaofcal.org
with ADA request by August 12
Limited number of scholarships available
REGISTER NOW
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ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (ADR) SERVICES
The Stanislaus County SELPA offers ADR services to assist school districts and parents in proactively resolving special education disagreements and disputes. These ADR services aim to provide parents and school districts within Stanislaus County SELPA with a continuum of dispute resolution processes and practices to engage in different levels of intervention – prevention, disagreement, and conflict.
Click here to read more about ADR Services
Parents Guide to the Alternative Dispute Resolution Continuum
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VMRC is Happy to Announce That We Have Added Another Person Centered Thinking Training Class! | |
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Case Management Update - Adults
Christine Couch
Director of Consumer Services - Adults
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Community Services Update
Brian Bennett
Director of Community Services
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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.
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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
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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
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Employment Update
Enos Edmerson, Jr.
Employment Specialist
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Emergency Services Update
Aaron McDonald
Emergency Response Coordinator
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EVACUATION TERMINOLOGY & NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS
California Evacuation Terminology
- Evacuation Order: Immediate threat to life. This is a lawful order to leave now. The area is lawfully closed to public access.
- Evacuation Warning: Potential threat to life and/or property. Those who require additional time to evacuate, and those with pets and livestock should leave now.
- Sheller in Place: Go indoors. Shut and lock doors and windows. Prepare to self-sustain until further notice and/or contacted by emergency personnel for additional direction.
- Evacuation Order(s) Lifted: The formal announcement of lifting evacuations in an area currently under evacuation.
- Hard Closure: Closed to all traffic except Fire and Law Enforcement.
- Soft Closure: Closed to all traffic except Fire, Law Enforcement, and critical Incident resources (i.e., Utility, Caltrans, City/County Roads etc. or those needed to repair or restore infrastructure).
- Resident only Closure: Soft closure with the additional allowance of residents and local government agencies assisting with response and recovery.
Alerts & Evacuation Notifications
Sign Up for alerts in your county. Each county in California has an alerting program that you can sign up for to receive alerts if an emergency were to arise in your county. If you work in one county, but you live in another, you can sign up for both. Just find your county to sign up! In most cases you will need to provide a cell phone number and an email address. Here is the link to sign up: http://calalerts.org/signup.html
Each county uses it own issuance of evacuation recommendations. When evacuations do occur, it is best to check with local law enforcement to verify if you are under evacuation orders. When order to occur Amador, San Joaquin, Stanislaus & Tuolumne County residents can use the ArcGIS system to verify evacuation status. Once an evacuation is occurring you can search ArcGIS and then our geographical location on the name of the emergency occurring. Counties are also divided into zones; you can check with local county officials to learn of your zone number so that when evacuation orders are issued you will know if they impact you. A new system that is being implemented in several counties, including Calaveras County, is Zonehaven. You can visit their website at www.zonehaven.com . To learn your Zonehaven area number visit http://insidexchange/sitepages/home.aspx and enter your address in the search field.
For example, Valley Mountain Regional Center's Amador, Calaveras, and Tuolumne Counties Branch office is located at 704 Mountain Ranch Rd, Ste 203, San Andreas, CA 95249, which places it in zone: CCU-E143. If during evacuation orders, we see this area listed, we know that there is an emergency impacting the area. It is always safest to prepare yourself to evacuate at the first sign of an emergency, especially it you know you will need extra time and/or assistance to evacuate.
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North Valley Hills Update
Dena Hernandez, Regional Manager (209) 473-6930
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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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With the school year starting, it is a great time to review your child's Individualized Education Plan (IEP) to know what services and/or accommodations your child should be receiving. Family Resource Network can assist you by reviewing documents, answering your questions, providing before and after meeting consultations through Zoom, in person at our office in Stockton, or by phone. Call (209-472-3674) or email (FRNfamilies@frcn.org) today to schedule an appointment or speak to one of our helpful staff. | |
Local County, State and National Public Health Resources | | | | |
