Seventy-First

Community Health

Advisory Coronavirus (COVID-19)

By the Numbers

This week three consumers reported positive for COVID-19 and four direct support professionals tested positive for COVID-19. While most are reported recovering at home with family, one of our consumers was hospitalized and recently transfered to another out of area hospital because of the nature and severity of the infection and already compromised immune system. As of today, most of the VMRC staff are primarily working at home and our plans anticipate that half the staff will return to the building by September and the rest by October. We have monthly testing available for our staff and they are all required to wear their masks in the building (except at their desks) and all visitors will be required to wear their masks while in our buildings (we'll have free masks available if guests forget). This rules are changing rapidly and we'll inform everyone as changes occur.

New PINs from CCL

This week Community Care Licensing sent out three Provider Information Notices to our provider networks. The first was a notice to Child Care Care providers about a upcoming call to give information about: the Compliance and Regulatory Enforcement (CARE) Tools, Safe Sleep, and Updated Child Care Guidance. The next two were notices about the new rules for day programs and licensed adult homes. The notice says (click the links for details) that by August 9, 2021 (when no COVID-19 cases are present for at least 14 days) providers must do a weekly COVID-19 test for their staff who are not vaccinated but this is not required for their vaccinated staff. The residential notice also states the following:

Effective August 9, 2021, this PIN supersedes and updates testing guidance in PIN 21-28- ASC, as follows:

• Removes the 70% vaccination level minimum among residents and staff to determine routine diagnostic screening testing schedule;
• Requires licensees verify vaccine status of all facility staff;
• Requires all facility staff who are unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated undergo diagnostic screening testing at least once per week and for licensees to verify a negative COVID-19 test;
• Requires licensees have a plan in place for tracking facility staff vaccination status and make records of vaccine verification available to the local health jurisdiction for purposes of case investigation; and
• Requires unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated facility staff to wear an FDA cleared surgical mask in indoor settings anywhere they are working with another person.

Directives Extended

This week the Department of Developmental Services published amendments and extensions for several state of emergency directives. The first allows for remote meetings through July 29, 2022 and references current year budget language, but this does not supersede the April 21, 2021 directive for in-person monitoring visits for people living in licensed care, supported and independent living, and family home agency settings. The next directive that covers Lanterman Act Remote Services or Alternate Locations, Supplemental Staffing for Residential Providers, Day Program Services, Public Meetings, Consumers’ Rights Complaints, etc., and extends to September 9th. Also extended this week was the directive for expanding Participant-Directed Services, Half Day Billing, Waiving the FMS Fee for Self-Determination, and various directives for Early Start highlighted below in Tara Sisemore-Hester section. To view these click here: DDS Directive Extensions July 29, 2021

Remembering Dave Hingsburger



Recently our community lost one of our most important voices, Dave Hingsburger, a powerful advocate, author, international keynote speaker, and inspirational thought leader for many years. He taught so many self-advocates about the power of their own voices and inspired many to keep themselves safe by standing up for themselves. Dave Hingsburger was a force, not an angel as he expressed clearly, but a true powerful force that you wanted in your corner, especially if you were a self-advocate taking on life’s challenges. Last year at the virtual National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals Dave gave a wonderful touching keynote, check it out on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/lAy_ZvAZI5M

Tony Anderson

Executive Director

Are you a resident of Stanislaus County who is 60 and over, legally disabled or a Veteran? Contact the Senior Advocacy Network (SAN) of Stanislaus County if you need a list of affordable housing options or help selecting housing that meets your needs. SAN can guide you through the application process and support you during the wait list period. 

SAN also matches people seeking housing with those who have a room to rent! They offer free personalizeed matching services, background checks, introductions and mutual agreements and follow-up support!! 

Contact the Senior Advocacy Network at the Senior Law Project, 209-577-3814!!

California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation (CRLAF) announced on Friday, July 16, 2021, a Federal District Court in Texas issued a decision limiting the #DACA program, ruling it unlawful. This decision does NOT impact current DACA recipients, who retain their status and work authorization, and remain eligible to continue renewing their DACA status. 

CRLAF encourages you to talk with a legal service provider to better understand how this decision may impact your case. To find a legal expert in your area, check out this link:

https://www.immigrationadvocates.org/nonprofit/legaldirectory/

Research Participation Opportunity

Are you a young adult with a developmental disability and mental health condition (IDD-MH)? Are you a family member of a young adult with IDD-MH?

Would you like to learn more about how people with IDD-MH, their families, and researchers learn and do research together?

Researchers at START/UNH, the University of Florida, and Georgetown University are inviting you to attend a "Truth and Reconciliation" activity. Reconciliation means to make things better.

The activity will help people with IDD-MH and their families:

• Learn about some of the bad things that happened during research in the past
• Forgive past research mistakes
• Figure out how to make research better
• Connect people with IDD and their families to researchers
• Hep make sure no one feels left out of research

The activity will be held virtually on August 10th and August 17th OR August 16th and and August 18th.

Participants will receive a $25 Gift Card at the end of the activity.

To learn more about the research study and sign up for the activity, please contact: Andrea Caoli (Andrea.Caoli@unh.edu) at UNH/Center for START services or Jessica Kramer (yell@phhp.ufl.edu or 323-273-9365) at the University of Florida.

Christine Couch (she, her, hers)

Director of Consumer Services - Adults

Clinical Update

Back to Masking Again

On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated the mask guidance and advised the public to wear masks indoors in public places even if you are vaccinated when in areas of substantial or high transmission risk.[1] Last week, I showed you the date that our counties have low vaccination rate and high COVID-19 rates or transmission risk. There is an increased need for the non-vaccinated individuals in the community to get vaccinated in order to be protected from the highly transmissible Delta variant. The more we give a chance for the virus to spread, the more it will have the chance to mutate and have other variants. We need to get vaccinated! In line with this, various healthcare, nursing, and medical organizations have released a joint statement calling for COVID-19 vaccination mandate for health care workers. Here is their message:

Joint Statement in Support of COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates for All Workers in Health and Long-Term Care[2]^,[3],[4]

Due to the recent COVID-19 surge and the availability of safe and effective vaccines, our health care organizations and societies advocate that all health care and long-term care employers require their workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. This is the logical fulfillment of the ethical commitment of all health care workers to put patients as well as residents of long-term care facilities first and take all steps necessary to ensure their health and well-being.

Because of highly contagious variants, including the Delta variant, and significant numbers of unvaccinated people, COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths are once again rising throughout the United States.¹ Vaccination is the primary way to put the pandemic behind us and avoid the return of stringent public health measures.

Unfortunately, many health care and long-term care personnel remain unvaccinated. As we move towards full FDA approval of the currently available vaccines, all health care workers should get vaccinated for their own health, and to protect their colleagues, families, residents of long-term care facilities and patients. This is especially necessary to protect those who are vulnerable, including unvaccinated children and the immunocompromised. Indeed, this is why many health care and long-term care organizations already require vaccinations for influenza, hepatitis B, and pertussis. 

We call for all health care and long-term care employers to require their employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

We stand with the growing number of experts and institutions that support the requirement for universal vaccination of health workers.^2,3 While we recognize some workers cannot be vaccinated because of identified medical reasons and should be exempted from a mandate, they constitute a small minority of all workers. Employers should consider any applicable state laws on a case-by-case basis.

Existing COVID-19 vaccine mandates have proven effective.^4,5 Simultaneously, we recognize the historical mistrust of health care institutions, including among many in our own health care workforce. We must continue to address workers’ concerns, engage with marginalized populations, and work with trusted messengers to improve vaccine acceptance.

As the health care community leads the way in requiring vaccines for our employees, we hope all other employers across the country will follow our lead and implement effective policies to encourage vaccination. The health and safety of U.S. workers, families, communities, and the nation depends on it.

SIGNATORIES



(Listed Alphabetically)

Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP)

American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing (AAACN)

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP)

American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)

American Academy of Nursing (AAN)

American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)

American Academy of PAs (AAPA)

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

American Association of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI)

American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE)

American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP)

American Association of Neuroscience Nurses (AANN)

American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP)

American College of Physicians (ACP)

American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM)

American College of Surgeons (ACS)

American Epilepsy Society (AES)

American Medical Association (AMA)

American Nurses Association (ANA)

American Pharmacists Association (APhA)

American Psychiatric Association (APA)

American Public Health Association (APHA)

American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)

American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO)

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)

American Society of Hematology (ASH)

American Society of Nephrology (ASN)

American Thoracic Society (ATS)

Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO)

Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC)

Association of Academic Health Centers (AAHC)

Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)

Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN)

Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS)

HIV Medicine Association

Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA)

LeadingAge

National Association of Indian Nurses of America (NAINA)

National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP)

National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)

National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA)

National League for Nursing (NLN)

National Medical Association (NMA)

National Pharmaceutical Association (NPhA)

Nurses Who Vaccinate (NWV)

Organization for Associate Degree Nursing (OADN)

Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS)

Philippine Nurses Association of America, Inc (PNAA)

Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO)

Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA)

Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM)

Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists (SIDP)

Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR)

Texas Nurses Association (TNA)

The John A. Hartford Foundation

Transcultural Nursing Society (TCNS)

Virgin Islands State Nurses Association (VISNA)

Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN)

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Covid Data Tracker Weekly Review. July 16, 2021.  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-data/covidview/index.html [Accessed 22 July 2021].
2. Weber, D., Al-Tawfiq, J., Babcock, H., Bryant, K., Drees, M., Elshaboury, R., et al. (2021). Multisociety Statement on COVID-19 Vaccination as a Condition of Employment for Healthcare Personnel. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 1-46. doi:10.1017/ice.2021.322
3. American Hospital Association. AHA Policy Statement on Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination of Health Care Personnel. July 21, 2021. https://www.aha.org/public-comments/2021-07-21-aha-policy-statement-mandatory-covid-19-vaccination-health-care
4. Bacon J. ‘Condition of employment’: Hospitals in DC, across the nation follow Houston Methodist in requiring vaccination for workers. USA Today. Available from: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2021/06/10/dc-hospitals-others-follow-houston-methodist-requiring-vaccination/7633481002/ [Accessed 22 July 2021].
5. Paulin E. More Nursing Homes Are Requiring Staff COVID-19 Vaccinations. AARP. Available from: https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/health/info-2021/nursing-homes-covid-vaccine-mandate.html [Accessed 22 July 2021].

[1] CDC. July 27, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html

[2] ACP. July 21, 2021. https://www.acponline.org/acp_policy/statements/joint_statement_covid_vaccine_mandate_2021.pdf

[3] AMA. July 26, 2021. https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/press-releases/ama-support-covid-19-vaccine-mandates-health-care-workers

[4] ASHP. July 26, 2021. https://www.ashp.org/news/2021/07/26/Joint-Statement-Support-of-COVID-19-Vaccine-Mandates-for-Healthcare-Workers?loginreturnUrl=SSOCheckOnly

SANDIS COVID-19 Tracking Data

Please continue to stay safe and healthy.

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

Director of Clinical Services

Community Services Department Updates

Friday July 30^th Weekly Service Provider Informational Session hosted by VMRC’s Community Services Department EVERY FRIDAY at 9:00 a.m. to learn about important changes and trends:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/99862863596

Meeting ID: 998 6286 3596

Topics of Discussion Include

State Public Health Officer Order of July 26, 2021 

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Order-of-the-State-Public-Health-Officer-Unvaccinated-Workers-In-High-Risk-Settings.aspx

Adult and Senior Care Program CDPH “BINAXNOW ANTIGEN Testing Program

https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CCLD/PINs/2021/ASC/PIN-21-30-ASC.pdf

_______________________________________________________________________________

Reminder to all direct care service providers, in accordance with VMRC Best Practices and VMRC Board Policy of July 10, 2006

All staff persons providing care and supervision to consumers must complete an approved course in First Aid and CPR such as through the Red Cross or other agencies that meet Red Cross standards and maintain current certification. Internet training will not suffice because these trainings do not allow for practical demonstrations of competency.

See Full Policy here:

____________________________________________________________________

SAVE THE DATE

FOR RESIDENTIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS

Quality Assurance Staff will provide an overview -information session related to the Annual Quality Assurance Review process using the Annual QA Review Tool- it is recommended that all ARF, Children’s , RCFE providers attend

This workshop will replace the regularly scheduled Friday Info Sessions.

Friday, August 6^th , 2021 from 9:00 am - 10:30 am

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/93279448284

Meeting ID: 932 7944 8284

HCBS for Day Program and Employment Providers Training

HCBS for Residential Providers Training

Brian L. Bennett

Director Of Community Services

North Valley Hills Update

Dena Hernandez, Regional Manager (209) 473-6930

ADA 31^st Anniversary



Check out this Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) anniversary video from our Councilmembers!  SCDD's Councilmembers are proud to support ADA's 31st Anniversary this month.  We celebrate this important civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in all areas of public life including jobs, schools, and transportation.

The purpose of the law is to make sure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. #ADA31 #ThanksToTheADA Special Speaker Nicole California Department of Health Care Services

How to connect to SCDD through Social Media

Family Resource Network Update from

Lisa Culley, Executive Director

Family Resource Network is hiring-current opening is for a Bilingual (Spanish) Family Resource Specialist. Assist other parents with your knowledge about IEPs, Regional Center services and more to provide parent-to-parent support in a well established, community-based organization. Please click here for more information.

PDF Version Here

Learn about

Microbusiness/Self Employment

Presented by:

VMRC Microbusiness/Self Employment Committee

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84268085812?pwd=enByait3VU9XeUx6UmcrWHZPTnpWdz09

Meeting ID: 842 6808 5812

Passcode: 392274

You must enter the Password

OR you can call in:

TOLL FREE NUMBER TO CALL IN

888 475 4499 US Toll-free

877 853 5257 US Toll-free

Also–VMRC Update by Tony Anderson and Mental Health Tip of the Day by Dr. Dave Demetral 

PDF Version of the SAC6 Flyer Here

COVID-19 Update

Valley Mountain Regional Center



·    753 positive consumer cases and 29 deaths

·    34 positive VMRC staff cases

·    4 positive volunteer cases

·    311 positive provider cases and 1 death