Valley Mountain Regional Center NEWSLETTER
February 2025
Leinani Walter, Executive Director
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As we begin a new year, I would like to express my gratitude to Valley Mountain Regional Center staff for your dedication and unwavering commitment to serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Thank you for being a source of strength and stability in these uncertain times.
To our consumers and families served and community partners, all information and records VMRC obtains in the course of providing intake, assessment and services is confidential under the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act. VMRC will not disclose any information about the individuals we serve and/or their families to anyone who might call and ask about them. Disclosure of confidential information and records by the regional center requires written consent by individuals served or someone with legal authority to provide consent on their behalf. VMRC is here to help and support our families to provide information, and resources in our community.
“Everywhere immigrants have enriched and strengthened the fabric of American life.”
-President John F. Kennedy
Please join me in welcoming new members of our VMRC Executive Team: Mayra Ochoa, Director of Equity and Engagement, Aiko Blancaflor, Chief Financial Officer, Amanda Verstl, Director of Human Resources and Lizzie Valerio, Executive Assistant. Together, they have decades of experience and I am grateful for their leadership in supporting all of the dynamic work we do for people with developmental disabilities and their families. I am excited about the fresh perspective and expertise each of these amazing leaders bring to VMRC.
"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." - Helen Keller
-With gratitude and aloha, Leinani
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Meet Our New Executive Leadership Team | |
Mayra Ochoa, Director of Equity & Engagement
Mayra will lead VMRC efforts to engage our diverse communities and prioritize equity and language access. Mayra will manage and support the Enhanced Team, Self-Determination Program, Language Access and Cultural Competency Program, Tribal Engagement, Foster Grandparents, Implicit Bias Training, Annual Cultural Fair and community-based activities.
Prior to joining VMRC, Mayra worked at the California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) for 4 years as the Service Access and Equity Division Manager leading statewide equity-focused grant programs, language access policy efforts, coordination of community-based organizations, cultural competency work and started the first DDS Hispanic Focus Group. Mayra was a Service Coordinator and later the Cultural Specialist at Redwood Coast Regional (RCRC) for 5 years.
Mayra has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Masters Degree in Public Health Administration from California State University Chico.
Mayra enjoys traveling with her husband Jorge, learning about other cultures, practicing yoga, running and spending time with her family and her dog Cooper.
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Aiko Blancaflor, Chief Financial Officer
Aiko is a seasoned leader with over 14 years of experience in accounting and auditing, specializing in healthcare and regional center sectors. A cum laude graduate of California State University, Sacramento, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Business with a double major in Accounting and International Business. She is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), certifications that reflect her dedication to maintaining the highest ethical and professional standards.
Recognized for her collaborative approach, she fosters strong relationships within her teams and with stakeholders, promoting a culture of transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement. Her leadership style is characterized by a focus on developing efficient processes, driving team success, and commitment to excellence. She is passionate about making a positive impact within her field, combining technical expertise with a commitment to nurturing talent and building high-performing teams.
Aiko loves spending time with her family and practicing yoga.
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Amanda Verstl, Director of Human Resources
Amanda joins VMRC as our new Human Resources Director, bringing extensive experience in public sector and financial institution HR management. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Behavior from the University of the Pacific (Go Tigers!) and maintains her SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) certification, demonstrating her expertise in strategic human resources leadership.
Prior to VMRC, Amanda served as the Deputy Director of Human Resources for the City of Stockton, where she helped guide the organization's workforce initiatives. Her career includes valuable HR leadership roles at Cosumnes Community Services District and Financial Center Credit Union, giving her a well-rounded perspective on human resources management across different sectors.
Amanda enjoys spending quality time with her husband Jeff and their rescue dogs Izzy and Penelope. She's also passionate about traveling and reading in her leisure time.
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Lizzie Valerio, Executive Assistant
Lizzie Valerio joined Valley Mountain Regional Center as Executive Assistant in late summer. She brings nearly a decade of experience from La Familia, a community-based organization in the Bay Area. Lizzie spent three years as a case manager in the developmental disabilities department, working under a subcontract with the Regional Center of the East Bay (RCEB). In this role, she served Spanish-speaking individuals with developmental disabilities and their families in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Most recently, she worked as the Executive Assistant to the Chief Strategy Officer.
Lizzie holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies with a minor in Early Childhood Education from California State University, East Bay.
Beyond her professional experience, Lizzie is a dedicated mom of three. Her oldest, Nico, has Autism and is served by VMRC, giving her a personal connection to the work she supports. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and supporting her children in competitive soccer.
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VMRC Community of Practice - Black Community Summit | |
On January 24, 2025, VMRC Community of Practice participated in the first Black Summit hosted by East Los Angeles Regional Center (ELARC) Family Resource Center and the Family Resource Center in Stockton. We valued the meaningful discussions about addressing the challenges accessing regional center and other disability services for the African American and Black families. VMRC will continue to strive for equitable and inclusive practices to ensure access to services for our black and African American families. This was a wonderful new beginning for collaboration and partnership. | |
VMRC is thankful for our partnership with local law enforcement, child welfare agencies, behavioral health, and multiple partner agencies. On February 5, 2025, VMRC hosted its first training session for Stockton Police Department focusing on awareness of regional center services and fostering collaboration. VMRC’s Rebecca Gile and Neidra Clayton joined in the photo. | |
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VMRC Foster Grandparents Training - January 31, 2025
The DDS Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) engages volunteers, ages 55 and over, to serve as role models, mentors, and friends to children with developmental disabilities and exceptional needs. Foster grandparents volunteer in community schools, Head Start centers, and pre-schools.
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Sara Darby, Program Manager
Sara, with the Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Program volunteers in their in-service training on how kindness is contagious and has benefits for everyone involved, often creating a cycle of positivity that improves mental health and overall well-being.
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Purchase Of Services Meeting | |
Case Management - C.A.P.T.A.I.N. 2024 | |
The VMRC C.A.P.T.A.I.N. (California Autism Professional Training and Information Network) CADRE team had the pleasure of attending the CAPTAIN Summit in December in Riverside, CA. This is a wonderful statewide event to collaborate on Evidence Based Practices (EBPs) and learn how other cadre members are implementing strategies in their regions. Our region had the honor of receiving the Award of Excellence for excellent work cadre members in our 5 counties have done over the last year to disseminate and implement EBPs with fidelity in supporting those in our community with ASD. This achievement was a great effort between our region’s Districts/SELPAs, Regional Center, and FRN cadre to accomplish our goals as CAPTAIN members. VMRC cadre also received a Certificate of Achievement for meeting their specific regional center goals to increase knowledge on EBPs. If you would like to learn more about CAPTAIN, please visit https://www.captain.ca.gov/index.html. | |
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Jennifer Stone
Jennifer serves as the VMRC Housing Specialist to increase housing access for consumers and support efforts to address immediate housing insecurities and to collaborate with community partners and agencies to develop low income and affordable housing units throughout our five-county catchment area. Jennifer developed the Housing Generic Resources Guide to support case management in accessing generic resources in housing. There is a direct referral process to the 211/Coordinated Entry System agencies for VMRC homeless individuals and families.
Jennifer represents VMRC at multiple housing-focused committees to advocate for housing resources for people with I/DD. With Jennifer's advocacy, San Joaquin County revised their Homeless Assessment Tool for CES to include the ID/DD community access to homeless and housing services. We are working with local Housing Authorities to identify opportunities for increasing housing inventory in our local communities. VMRC was awarded GAP Funding through DDS to partner with Stanislaus Regional Housing Authority on a project in Modesto!
With Jennifer's leadership, VMRC is building relationships with city and county planning and economic development departments to advocate for more affordable housing, as well as educate our community leaders on the needs of the ID/DD community’s housing needs.
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Community Events/Resources | | | | |
