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"The VMRC Newsletter"
Friday, September 1, 2023
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Message from the Executive Director
Tony Anderson
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Updates on the Place Where Everyone Belongs
As of Thursday evening, we have not received any updates from the authorities about the threat we received earlier this week, but we fully expect to hear back tomorrow. The threat is being thoroughly investigated by a Modesto Detective and their Threat Team. While VMRC receives daily heartwarming gratitude and appreciation from the families and individuals we serve, on very rare occasions we are the target of anger and threats from community members. This recent threat is too close in time to actual attacks in the country and authorities felt there were enough circumstances surrounding the threat that this one was determined a viable threat. We have increased security presence, and our staff are alerted to follow the safety procedures to keep everyone safe in our buildings.
We plan to return to our buildings on Tuesday and reclaim our spaces that are set aside in our five counties for the sole purpose of supporting people with developmental disabilities and their families. These buildings are places where everyone belongs, where you’ll see a diversity of disabilities, and the full spectrum of ages and generational diversity of everyone in the buildings. Where we come together and ensure people get the services they need to be fully included in their communities and treated equitably regardless of any of their differences. Our office sites host employees with family backgrounds from all over the world and the local cultures surrounding each of our sites are full of wonderful histories and traditions. Check out this fun video we put together, with the film making talents of people with disabilities from Inclusion Films, highlighting VMRC as a place where everyone belongs and celebrating the richness of our diverse region.
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Do you, or someone you know operate a Micro Business? Would you like to showcase your Micro Business at the Disability Resource Fair on October 7th? If you are interested, please contact Doug Bonnet at 209-955-3656, or DBonnet@vmrc.net. Limited spots are available for a select amount of Micro Businesses at the Disability Resource Fair. | |
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VMRC Consumer Services Committee Meeting (Hybrid)
Wednesday, September 6, 2023, 5:00 PM
702 N. Aurora Street, Stockton, CA 95202, Cohen Board Room
Click Here for Zoom Information
VMRC Executive Committee Meeting (Hybrid)
Wednesday, September 13, 2023, 6:30 PM
702 N. Aurora Street, Stockton, CA 95202, Cohen Board Room
Click Here for Zoom Information
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Don't Wait Until the Last Minute to Register for the Premier Service Provider Conference in the Area! Spots are Filling up Fast! | |
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Announcing Our Provider Community's Third Professional Conference, Moving Forward
We are so excited to announce that our local provider coalition, the Coalition of Local Agency Service Providers (CLASP), has been hard at work to put together their third provider conference. This one will be called “Moving Forward” 2023 and will be their first major provider conference in three years. This is an opportunity for our provider community to come together to learn about policy issues and innovations in providing person-centered services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families.
The event includes one of the national thought leaders on Person-Centered Thinking, Carol Blessing of Cornell University and John Raffaele and Joe Macbeth from the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals, talking about the important role of Direct Support Professionals in connecting people with disabilities to their communities. We were also very excited to learn that one of our most popular speakers on creative approaches to person-center supports for people with complex needs, Lynn Seagle, will be one of the featured morning keynotes and our DDS Director Nancy Bargmann will cap off our morning with a lunch keynote.
CLASP does so much to support the provider community and it’s an honor to work with these leaders who have dedicated their careers to serving people with IDD and their families in our region. This conference is an excellent example of how our providers focus on continuous improvements in service delivery in our community. Special thanks to Candice Bright and Liz Herrera Knapp for their leadership in making this happen.
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Clinical Update
Dr. Claire Lazaro
Clinical Director
Free Vaccination Clinic!
FREE vaccination clinic at the VMRC Modesto Office
What: Flu Shots for 3 years and older (regular and senior formulation) and COVID vaccine
When: October 7th, 2023 at 11 am – 2 pm
Where: 1820 Blue Gum Avenue, Modesto, CA
Register here:
https://www.safeway.com/vaccinations/group-clinic/VMRCModesto
Bring your Medical and Prescription card.
Members not covered or not insured (e.g. Kaiser Members) will have to pay out of pocket at point of service. Please see price below:
· We will accept check or credit card for payment
COVID Vaccine = TBD (price will be released when vaccine becomes commercial)
Quadrivalent Flu vaccine (<65 years old formulation) = $40
Senior Dose Flu Formulation (>65 years old) = $72
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SAVE the DATE!
FREE Vaccination Clinic at the VMRC Stockton Office
What: Flu Shots, and other vaccines such as Hepatitis B, TDaP, Shingles, and Pneumococcal. And Health Fair with Medicare Part D Enrollment, medication review, Naloxone nasal spray, Health screenings and health supplies such as blood glucose monitor, blood pressure monitor, etc (while supplies last.).
When: October 27th, 2023 at 1 – 5 pm
Where: 702 N Aurora Street, Stockton, CA
Make an appointment: call (209) 687-4014.
Bring your Medical and Prescription card, Medicare Card (if you have one), and ALL your medications.
Members of Kaiser will have to go to Kaiser as UOP don’t have the ability to bill Kaiser.
| UOP and Abbott Diabetes Prevention Program | |
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DHCS All Plan Letter re: Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
The California Department of health Care Services (DHCS) has released an All Plan Letter (APL) to Managed Care Plans regarding the Intermediate Care Facilities (ICF) that care for individuals with developmental disabilities. Here is a link to that APL: APL 23-023 (ca.gov).
Below is an excerpt of the notice:
SUBJECT: APL 23-023: INTERMEDIATE CARE FACILITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES -- LONG TERM CARE BENEFIT STANDARDIZATION AND TRANSITION OF MEMBERS TO MANAGED CARE
The Medi-Cal Managed Care area on the DHCS Website now includes the above All Plan Letter (APL).
The APL is available at:
https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/formsandpubs/Documents/MMCDAPLsandPolicyLetters/APL2023/APL23-023.pdf
The website link for all letters is:
http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/formsandpubs/Pages/MgdCarePlanPolicyLtrs.aspx
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Case Management Update - Adults
Christine Couch
Director of Consumer Services - Adults
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Your Way Registry
The purpose of the Your Way Registry is to compile and maintain records of individuals who have mental or neurological disabilities, who reside or frequently visit the City of Stockton, and who may require special assistance in an emergency or during interactions with Stockton Police Officers. Residents and visitors are invited to proactively provide responding officers with the information needed to successfully interact and communicate with your loved one, as well as provide our officers with your emergency contact information.
http://ww1.stocktonca.gov/en/Departments/Police/Programs-and-Services/YES-Program
Tami Marsh, mother of Jordan Page, felt this registry was important because she doesn't want a parent or family to think that the Stockton Police Department is not here to help those with mental health challenges, autism, or intellectual disabilities. It is important for everyone supporting these individuals to be on the same page. It takes a village and she is so happy that she has been heard.
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Case Management Update - Children
Tara Sisemore-Hester
Director of Consumer Services - Children
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NEWS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD
ICYMI: Last week we highlighted an NAEYC article on “Promoting Inclusion in Infant and Toddler Settings.” It included all kinds of ideas to consider and questions to ponder as you welcome a child with a delay or disability into your inclusive classroom. This information is also useful for Early Start providers who consult to and support staff working in inclusive settings. It’s a great read!
Please be advised that registration for the Fall session of Early Start Online closes THIS FRIDAY, September 1, 2023. Visit cpeionline.net before you miss the deadline!
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BITES (A Behavioral Integrated with Speech Approach to Feeding Therapy) is back this Fall!
Friday, September 29th and Saturday, September 30th, 2023
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM EST both days
Pediatric feeding problems are complex and often require a multi-disciplinary approach to assessment and treatment. The Behavioral InTEgrated with Speech approach, known as BITES®, focuses specifically on how cross-disciplinary collaboration among speech-language pathologists (SLPS) and Psychologists and/or Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) can look when assessing pediatric feeding problems and developing interventions for them. Each discipline has a distinct and valuable role in the assessment and treatment process.
With over 30 years of combined experience in the field of pediatric feeding disorders, Dr. Laura Seiverling, Psychologist and BCBA-D, and Elise Jusko, CCC-SLP, draw from their own experiences working on a multidisciplinary feeding team together. In each BITES® presentation, they discuss the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration, provide an overview of typical feeding development, the mechanics of eating, factors that contribute to feeding problems, discuss when and when not to use the BITES® approach, and detail the SLP and Psychologist/BCBA role in the assessment and treatment process. Case examples are provided for each of the feeding problems discussed.
This course is appropriate for the following clinicians working with children with feeding disorders: Psychologist, BCBA, SLP, OT, COTA, RD, RN and CSW.
For additional details and registration information, please visit www.bitesfeedingtherapy.com
Contact email: Bitesfeedingtherapy@gmail.com
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Community Services Update
Brian Bennett, Director of Community Services
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Social Recreation Opportunities! (Ceres, CA) | |
Made possible by a Grant from the Department of Developmental Services | |
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VMRC’s community partner, the YMCA of San Joaquin County cordially invites everyone to attend our 2nd annual Trunk or Treat.... This year, By the Water! In collaboration with the Stockton Sailing Club.
https://givebutter.com/JofwAD
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Stay Prepared!
QA Quick Tip
As a Licensee/Administrator, are you fully prepared for ANY emergency and/or natural disaster?
California is now entering into fire and rolling-blackout-power-shutoff season. You can take action now to protect persons supported and yourself: Contact your regional licensing office immediately if your facility cannot withstand lasting 2-5 days and/or if your facility has residents that depend on electricity such as ventilators, oxygen, refrigerated medications or mobility devices.
VMRC and Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD) reminds providers:
• To review their facility’s emergency/disaster plan to ensure the facility is properly prepared and updated. It is vital to develop a plan of action for each emergency situation, i.e. sheltering in place or evacuating if necessary.
• If there is an extended power shutoff to your home or facility, check battery, food, and medication supplies and expiration dates.
• Plan for getting extra supplies, help, or evacuating if necessary.
As a reminder, Incidents/occurrences such as injuries, illnesses or deaths shall be reported to Community Care Licensing and to VMRC.
TAKE ACTION NOW
A licensee is required to have emergency and disaster plans. For specific regulations, please refer to the California Code of Regulations Title 22, Section 87212 – Emergency Disaster Plan; Title 22, Section 80020 – Fire Clearance; Title 22, Section 80023 – Disaster and Mass Casualty Plan; and T17, Section 56054 (a)(1) – Substantial Inadequacies.
Are your disaster and emergency plans current, when considering the closure of numerous buildings and businesses during the Pandemic? UPDATE NOW – before you need them.
Any significant updates made to your Program Design/Disaster or Emergency Relocation Plans must be submitted to VendorChangeRequest@vmrc.net (email) for Regional Center approvals, prior to implementation. For example, if you change the location of your re-location or evacuation site, you will need Regional Center approval.
If you have questions, please contact your QA Liaison. If you do not know who your Liaison is, contact Kioti Fleming at (209) 955-3287 or Kfleming@vmrc.net.
Thank you all for your ongoing effort to plan ahead!
Sincerely,
VMRC’s Community Services Team
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Emergency Services Update
Aaron McDonald, Emergency Response and Safety Specialist
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September is National Preparedness Month!
National Preparedness Month is an observance each September to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time.
In 2021, FEMA’s Ready Campaign and the Ad Council broke ground by producing the first-ever national preparedness campaign specifically targeting the Latino community for National Preparedness Month. Released during Hispanic Heritage month, the advertisements centered around the Latino community’s commitment to personal planning for occasions and family milestones as a bridge to also planning for disasters.
This year’s national public service announcements are being developed and will be released throughout the country this September, to help get preparedness information into the hands of those who live in underserved communities.
2023 Theme: Take Control in 1, 2, 3
The Ready Campaign’s 2023 National Preparedness Month theme is “Take Control in 1, 2, 3”. The campaign will focus on preparing older adults for disasters, specifically older adults from communities that are disproportionally impacted by the all-hazard events, which continue to threaten the nation.
We know older adults can face greater risks when it comes to the multitude of extreme weather events and emergencies we now face, especially if they are living alone, are low-income, have a disability, or live in rural areas.
Emergency managers and all those who work with and support older adult communities to access the new webpage available in English and Spanish languages at www.Ready.gov/older-adults and www.Ready.gov/es/adultos-mayores for initial messaging, graphics and resources. For more information on preparing with disabilities visit www.Ready.gov/disability or www.Ready.gov/es/discapacidad in Spanish.
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The DEI Corner
Mark Crear, DEI Manger
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North Valley Hills Update
Dena Hernandez, Regional Manager (209) 473-6930
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3rd Annual There Should Be a Law Contest
If you have ever had a problem in your daily life and thought—there should be a law to fix this! Here is your chance to be the change you want to see.
Enter the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities' (SCDD) 3rd Annual There Should Be a Law Contest! Send your problem and solution to SCDD to have your idea considered as a future legislative priority for the Council.
The contest will run for one month, beginning September 1, 2023, and ending September 30, 2023.
The idea(s) chosen by the Legislative and Public Policy Committee (LPPC) may become a future legislative priority for SCDD and could become a state law!
Please submit your ideas here: https://bit.ly/BillIdeas.
Winners will be announced at the October 2023 LPPC Meeting.
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CHOICES Institute
Save the Date!
CHOICES Institute will be holding its 36th ANNUAL Conference on FRIDAY, April 12, 2024
Our planning team met on August 16 and is working on all the details for the conference. CHOICES wants to hear from YOU!
Theme:
We need your help!!!! Share your idea(s) for a theme!!
Email or call Dena Hernandez before 9/20/23
Dena.hernandez@scdd.ca.gov
209-473-6944
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