Imagine That... October 2024 | |
In Loving Memory of Cindy Cooper and Damien Tucker-Beck | | |
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My dear friends, here is the financial audit for the year that ended June 30, 2023. We are waiting for our accountants to complete a restatement of our past tax filings to reflect completed audits for all years, after which we will begin the process of re-establishing our non-profit status for the state. Our federal non-profit status stayed healthy.
The next board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 16. There will be a proposal for a mid-year budget change to include one and a half new positions and to increase caregiver compensation. That proposal may be tabled to the December meeting as there is a lot of complexity to our new financial structure and to the proposals.
Our board meetings are open to all and if you email Maggie she'll make sure you get in and fed and heard. The agenda for the meeting will include a proposed budget change to recognize and make good, prudent use of good fortune.
We are still recruiting board members. We are working to diversify the board and to add a GAAP-trained treasurer. An attorney wouldn't be bad either. Neither would you. If you know someone with a passion for our mission who might like to volunteer, please write to me.
-Submitted by Doug
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The 2024-2025 California State Budget Act has the third and final phase of rate reform set to take place January 1 and there has been a flurry of detail released by the Department of Developmental Services in late September.
Under Phase 3, service providers, including Supported Living Agencies, are to receive a baseline rate equal to 90% of the Burns and Associates Rate Study recommendation and lose any "unbundled funding" (in the case of Imagine, this means mileage reimbursement and administrative fees.) Additionally, agencies will have the opportunity to earn the remaining 10% by hitting certain quality goals, through a program called Quality Incentive Payments or QIP.
The rate study is also helpful in benchmarking caregiver compensation. Today, Imagine's rates are below 85% of the recommended rate, and our average caregiver wage exceeds 90% of those recommended. It is proposed to the board of directors that when our revenues are at 90% of the modeled rate, that we can exceed 100% of the caregiver compensation.
The QIP program, for the first 18 months of its existence, is going to be a little funny. Because the work of designing good and valid outcome measures is not complete (the workgroup is still adjusting its vision statement after two years,) the QIP through June 2026 will be earned through administrative activities, half of which I completed in August and the other half of which I plan to finish as soon as it goes live in October. As a consequence, Imagine should receive 100% of the recommended rate from January 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026.
An important think to note about this, is that the QIP portion of our rate is temporary and if everything goes to plan, a person-centered agency should expect to receive less than the full rate once it is based on outcomes. Part of that is recognition that the outcomes sought by the state will not always match up with those appreciated by every client. We want to be careful not to put the State's well-intended but generalized goals for those we serve above theirs. That's one reason to expect the January 1 funding to represent a peak, rather than a plateau.
The other is that California's State Budget is running at a deficit. There is a rainy day fund to help us through if that deficit turns out temporary. In the event that decisions have to be made eventually, regional center providers and other systems and organizations funded by the state may face reductions.
Based on this, expect Imagine's spending to climb slower than our funding. Management's goal is that our operations stay sustainable without the QIP program.
As always, thanks to Marty Omoto of CDCAN for amplifying the transparency and circularity of information between the community and policy-makers. If you would like to receive CDCAN's extensive reporting, write to Marty. CDCAN's work is entirely funded by the donations of those of us who benefit. Write to me or to Marty if you'd like to kick in. In the photo is Alex Omoto, Marty's son and my friend, at the Master Plan kickoff meeting, giving events their due.
-Submitted by Doug
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First off, Happy 71 Years Young Malcom!
We had a really great time celebrating Malcolm on the 20th. The attendance was heartwarming and such a great day of celebration. Malcolm was super happy with his carrot cake! Thank you all that came!
Malcolm has overcome some outstanding hardships the last few years/months. Malcolm has not let these things redefine who he is, on the contrary! He took life by the horns and is living life the way he has always wanted to. Malcolm is in the year of self-growth.
Malcolm is at a stage that he could retire if he wanted to, but no, he finds great personal gain and value from working. Malcolm serves all of Santa Cruz by dedicating 2 days of his week at the Dimeo Recycling Center and is proud of his helping hand to help keep the world and our community clean and safe.
On Malcolm’s days off, he is very routine oriented and uses that routine to manage his home and personal chores well. He has branched out his tastebuds and has learned by the help of his staff to cook new foods. Malcolm used to rely on frozen meals but now is proud to tell me he meal prepped his chorizo and eggs for his morning breakfast, or that he made his sandwiches for the next few days. When I stop by, he is usually enjoying a top of the line meal prepared by his staff. Malcolm has been determined to keep busy and not become a couch potato. He wanted to restore and refinish his outdoor table. He day in and day out sanded his table and chairs to prep it for staining. He enlisted his Saturday staff to help him with this project. It sure is beautiful and ready to have people over for a BBQ. Saturdays are also a non-routine day, where he and his staff will explore different areas in Santa Cruz. Malcolm has gone to the Strawberry Festival, Camp Harmon, County Fair, Natural History Museum Festival, and much more. On Sundays he gives his time to his church first thing in the morning before anyone arrives, by setting up the tables, chairs, makes the coffee, and raises the flags. He attends the service he then does everything in reverse, bringing down the flags, breaking down the tables, and stacking the chairs. Once he gets home, he tends to his garden and prepares for the next week.
Malcolm has lovely routines such as going for ocean sidewalks, listening to oldies and asking Alexa what the weather is going to be. He talks to his family almost daily after reconnecting and has been spending a lot more time with his sister Janet.
Malcolm, you are one of a kind and I adore you and love being your Facilitator. Keep being the amazing person that you are!
Submitted by Jessica O(g)
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Spotlight on Change: Chats with Zach | |
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At the core of person-centered thinking is the recognition that communication is foundational but not basic. However you are used to hearing and seeing everyone is not the best way to hear and see everyone.
In my nearly quarter-century in this field, my friend Zach has taught me that better than any other person, and I appreciate him. When I first got to know Zach, years before I came to Imagine, I read his body language through the filter of my traditional client and the message I understood was "If you can pretend I'm not here, I'll do you the same favor. That would be great. Thanks. Bye." In my eagerness to be respectful and person-centered, I honored the request I had received.
Several years later, he expressed to someone else that I never show much interest in him. It was only then that I realized that rather than being person-centered, I was instead showing prejudice. I started making a point of asking him about himself and processing the expression of violation through earlier failures to understand him.
With coaching from his mother, I learned new ways of asking him about himself without putting him on the spot. I'm currently taking, along with other caregivers in his life, a course in communication that was funded through his self-determination program.
Every other week, barring the sorts of things that mess up my regular schedule regularly, Zach and I go for a walk together. A lot of the time we walk in silence. A lot of the time, he or I struggle with communication. But often he tells me stories, something that never used to happen. And sometimes, out of a clear blue sky, he shares a goal he has or hasn't.
Just getting to good information can be life-changing for caregivers and for the people served. It can be a big job, and it can be a big job that resists shortcuts. But it's fun, enormously helpful professionally and really helps get your steps in.
-Submitted by Doug
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We bid a happy sad farewell to Alina, which is the perfect kind of farewell to bid Alina. In her almost four years with Imagine, Alina has been a caregiver, a Facilitator, a caregiver and then another caregiver. She is so kind, and always wants the best for everyone from big clients to tiny dogs.
Alina is moving back to Southern California with her partner, nesting and getting ready for her first furless baby.
Because her kindness carries so much force, you really have to see and hear her to know how smart and thoughtful, competent and funny she is. She has deep thoughts on many topics and deep feelings on every topic. We will miss her but really want to hold the baby.
Best wishes, Alina
-Submitted by Doug and Jessica R
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Birthdays & Anniversaries | |
Staff and Client Birthdays:
BIRTHDAYS:
Charlie T.!!
Ashlee D.!!
Charlie H.!!
Karen C.!!
Noelia C.
Janeth A.
Janet P.
Gilberto C.
Patty L.
Micaiah H.
Nataly D.
Jamie L.
Cloe H.
Wendy T.
ANNIVERSARIES:
Raquel N. 10yrs!!!!!
Vanessa M. 7yr!!!!
Kenia P. 4yrs!!!
Silvia M. 2yrs!!
John B. 2yrs!!
Jessica B. 2yrs!!
Tlayeli N. 2yrs!!
Kennon C. 2yrs!!
Kelly B. 2yrs!!
Noelia B. 2yrs!!
Alexa G. 2yrs!!
John A. 2yrs!!
Melani S. 2yrs!!
Jazleen J. 2yrs!!
Brian L. 1yr!
Cloe H. 1yr!
Kaylie C. 1yr!
Linda T. 1yr!
Raquel P. 1yr!
Thank you for your commitment!
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Imagine Supported Living Services
9065 Soquel Drive
Aptos, Ca 95003
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coffee
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and choose Imagine as the charitable organization to receive a donation of 0.5% of each purchase!
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