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123rd

Community Health

Advisory

Weekly Message from the Executive Director

Tony Anderson

By the Numbers

This week we reported 50 COVID positive cases (38 people with disabilities and 12 direct support professionals).This is a combined increase of 10 more cases. In spite of our regional center increase this is the second week in a row where all our five counties saw some percentage of a decrease and the state positivity rate also dropped again this week to 11.4 (1.3% reduction).

The state is preparing to discontinue the rule allowing remote quarterly monitoring visits for our staff in reviewing our licensed programs

Office Building Site Status (August 16th):

San Joaquin 12.8% (down .3%) – Exceeds 5% - Remote Quarterly Visit Recommended, Masks in the Office required.
Stanislaus 15.5% (down 1.4%) - Exceeds 5% - Remote Quarterly Visit Recommended, Masks in the Office required.
Calaveras 9.9% (down 5.2%) – Exceeds 5% - Remote Quarterly Visit Recommended, Masks in the Office required.

Amador is at 5.5% (down .2%) and Tuolumne is at 13.4% (down .2%).

Self-Advocates: Earn $200 for telling your "Medi-Caid Story".

The Arc of California is participating in the 2022

Medicaid Monitoring and Story Collection Grants. This project aims to collect the experiences of people with disabilities in applying for, maintaining eligibility for, and accessing services that are funded by Medicaid. This project will seek to better identify, elevate, and evaluate barriers and issues individuals and families face in accessing this critical program.

We are reaching out to you to see if you are interested in participating or know somebody who would be interested in participating? People chosen to participate will receive a $200 stipend!

We are looking for people with disabilities who use Medicaid funded services, such

as Medi-Cal, regional center services, In Home Supportive Services (IHSS), and

home health, or are a caregiver or family member of that person. This

grant requires the participant to submit a written story or record a video

statement about your experience with Medicaid funded services. Your

participation will help The Arc start to identify the issues that the

disability community continues to face in our Medicaid system. We will

require a 30-60 minute preparation meeting prior to submitting the video or

written response.

If you or someone you know is interested in participating, then please complete

this very short questionnaire by clicking the box below. Please reach out to Mariah Bickham if you have any questions at mariah@thearcca.org or 916-913-7633.

Tell Your Story to The Arc

Three More Weeks to the Deadline to...

Above Flyer in PDF Here

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 Our Platinum Sponsors

Thank You to our Silver Sponsors

Thank You to our Bronze Sponsors

Malonzo Eldercare

Clinical Update

Claire Lazaro

Clinical Director

Vaccination Clinic

VMRC Vaccination Clinic Flyer in PDF

Consent Form English Consent Form Spanish

Information from the California Department of Public Health, California Tobacco Control Program.

Above Flyers in PDF Here

Case Management Update - Children

Tara Sisemore-Hester

Director of Consumer Services - Children

Above Flyer in PDF Here

Above Flyers in PDF Here

Above Flyer in PDF Here

VMRC is Happy to Announce That We Have Added Another Person Centered Thinking Training Class!

Above Flyer in PDF

Case Management Update - Adults

Christine Couch

Director of Consumer Services - Adults

SPOTLIGHT ON Kenneth Huntley

Friends, I am so excited to share this SPOTLIGHT ON Kenneth! Kenneth reached out to me and offered to share his story. Meet Kenneth!

“Hi, my name is Kenneth Huntley, and I wanted to let you know about me. When I was about 3 years old, I was diagnosed with Chromosome 18 Ring. According to my mom, the doctors at Oakland Children’s Hospital said I was the 33rd reported case. My mom calls me her miracle child. There were many doctors who said I would not be able to talk, think or even walk. Also, when I was three years old, I surprised my mom on Mother's Day. I stood up for the first time ever and changed the TV channel, my mom said. Again, she called me her miracle child.

The most important thing in my life is my walk with God. After putting my faith in Him, he has shown me truly how much I am loved, by the life He gave me. He has put great teachers in my life and blessed me with a church family. I am forever blessed. Currently I attend services on Saturday evenings at Gravity Church in Lodi. Once a month I volunteer with another church, New Day, doing outreach in Stockton.

Usually two times a week, I go to Service First of Northern California for their Wellness Program. I love getting into the warm water as it reduces the pain from my osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. After a year of attending the program, I’m finally getting comfortable enough with the staff where I am wanting to learn to swim and take swimming lessons there. I am also getting to know some of the people who are also there for the Wellness program.

In my spare time I like to spend time with my dog, Chester, I also like to watch the Green Bay Packers playing football, Antique item restoration videos on YouTube, I also like to occasionally go bowling when my arthritis does not hurt. Thanks to my dad, I love seeing old cars being restored.

This year thanks to my service coordinator, Anita Vodden’s suggestion, I am transitioning to the Self Determination Program. I am excited to start the program, and I must thank my Self Determination team at VMRC and my Independent Facilitator, Samantha Husman for walking me through the steps.”

Do you know the differences between exclusion, segregation, integration, and inclusion?? An excellent visual graphic from the United Nations Committee helps to explain.

Let's talk more about INCLUSION here: https://bit.ly/3btfD1F

As we look to Suicide Prevention Month and Suicide Prevention Week (9/4-9/10) in September, the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention (Action Alliance)—the nation’s public-private partnership with 250+ partner organizations—wants to remind you about the important role we all play in suicide prevention.

If you have a story to share, information to share or an invitation to an event, please let me know about it!! You can email me at ccouch@vmrc.net or you can call me, 209-955-3615.

Community Services Update

Brian Bennett

Director of Community Services

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

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

Norcal Services for Deaf & Hard of Hearing will be hosting a Pizza Social in Stockton on the 1^st Thursday of each month from 6-9 pm at Mountain Mike’s Pizza 1000 W. Robinhood 95209.

VMRC START Program Launch - Monday October 3, 2022

CA START is a crisis prevention and response program for individuals with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities and behavioral health needs. This program launch will provide an overview of the START Model, information regarding implementation, and specifics about the program’s current progress and plans. It will also include a START model-specific training called a Clinical Education Team conducted by leaders in the field of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. The Center for START Services provides two free UNH CEUs for attending this training.

PDF Version of Above Flyer Here

VMRC Community Resource Development Plan Request for Proposal

Service Provider needed to implement supports and services in a licensed Enhanced Behavior Supports Home for Children, to be located in Stanislaus County.

Children’s Enhanced Behavior Supports Home – Service Provider RFP – Stanislaus County – August 18, 2022

Emergency Services Update

Aaron McDonald

Emergency Response Coordinator

All About Flex Alerts

A Flex Alert is an urgent call to Californians to immediately conserve electricity and to shift demand to off-peak hours (after 9:00 PM). The Flex Alert campaign is an educational and emergency alert program that informs consumers about how and when to conserve electricity. The public awareness campaign is critical to achieving high levels of conservation during heat waves and other challenging grid conditions such as wildfires or when major power plant or power lines are unavailable. During a Flex Alert, always remember to:

Turn off all unnecessary lights, computers, and appliances.
Postpone using major appliances until after the flex alert has passed.
Precool your home prior to the flex alert to 72 degrees Fahrenheit and keep heat from entering you home by closing doors and window coverings.
Turn up your air conditioning thermostat to 78 degrees Fahrenheit or higher if health permits.
Use a fan when possible.

For more energy saving tips visit: http://www.flexalert.org/save-energy . To sing up for Flex Alerts visit: https://www.flexalert.org .

So, you may ask why wasn't California's Flex Alert canceled when temperatures did not top out above 100 degrees Fahrenheit this past Wednesday?

Wednesday was predicted to be another day with temperatures well above 100 degrees in many parts of California, prompting the state's grid operators to call on residents to conserve energy. Yet it wasn't as hot as anticipated, and it was instead cloudy for much of the day. Regardless, California Independent System Operator(Cal ISO) kept its call to action to save power in effect. That call to action for Californians is known as a Flex Alert. Cal ISO issues these when it expects a strain on its power grid because of increased energy demand when temperatures get hotter. And Cal ISO anticipated that for Wednesday, which was expected to be hot like it was on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, the San Joaquin Valley saw one of the hottest days of the year so far at 108 degrees, and many areas in the Northern California region had similar temperatures. Wednesday's high temperature was recorded at 92 degrees for the San Joaquin Valley a major change in temperature from what was initially predicted. Despite the noticeable drop in heat, Cal ISO did not cancel its Flex Alert. Many asked why the Flex Alert was issued and why it was not canceled when temperatures did not get as hot as expected. Cal ISO explained that it called the alert "because of supply uncertainty, and the conservation will help protect grid reliability." Cal ISO also said it does not have any other Flex Alerts currently planned at this time.

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

NEVER leave your child alone in a car, even for a few minutes to run into a store or because you've forgotten something in the house. It takes only a minute to be interrupted by someone or something and forget your child is still in the car.

The summer heat is still with us, please make sure your child does not become a statistic:

Eighty-seven percent (87%) of children who have died in a hot car are age 3 and younger.
Fifty-four percent (54%) of heatstroke deaths in vehicles involve children age one and younger.
Rear-facing child safety seats do not look any different to the driver if they are occupied or empty, which can cause a parent to think the child is no longer in the car with them.
Sixty-eight (68%) of children who get into vehicles on their own are male and most are age 1-4.

~from Kids and Car Safety