Seventy-Fourth

Community Health

Advisory Coronavirus (COVID-19)

By the Numbers



This week we reported 15 consumers and 16 direct support professionals tested positive for COVID-19. We are very sad to report that another consumer died this week after being hospitalized for the past 3 weeks. She was a young woman in her mid-twenties and lived at home with her family. Our hearts and prayers go out to this family who suffered this terrible loss. So far in August we have reported a total of about 100 consumers, direct support professionals, and VMRC staff testing positive for COVID-19. This is a dramatic increase for us compared to July (10 cases) and June (no cases).  This week we have begun a new major effort to find out the vaccination status of the consumers who are showing we have no vaccine record for them, which makes up 47% of our vaccine eligible caseload. Hopefully this new effort will help us find out who has not taken the vaccination and make sure it is because of a choice they are making and not any barrier to getting the vaccine.

In the News

This week I came upon two articles focused on the vaccinations and people with disabilities. This first article, "COVID-19 Vaccinations Lag Among Those With Disabilities, Census Finds" highlights a finding we published recently stating that the CDC is reporting people with disabilities are vaccinated at a much lower rate in every age category. There is no logical reason why our community should experience this disparity of accessing a treatment critical to their survival, especially when so many have vulnerable health conditions. VMRC is doing everything we can to find out why this is happening so we can remove these barriers for our consumers. Read more. The second story, Governor Newsom Is Mandating Vaccines For Teachers, Health Care Workers. Disability Advocates Say It Should Apply To Caregivers, Too, features several California parents, self-advocates, and SEIU labor union, supporting the mandatory vaccination of all those who work with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Currently there is no state mandate to require vaccinations for people who work in the IDD field but mandatory weekly COVID-19 testing for unvaccinated employees is now practically universal. (While not required by the state at this time, four regional centers have instituted a mandated vaccination policy). Read more.   

DDS Communications

The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) really needs your input on two very important documents meant to help our community understand the community services and supports in the regional centers. DDS is currently putting together two draft information packets that will be given to all families entering the regional center system. One packet will be specific to services for babies and toddlers, ages birth to 3 years, and the other will be related to services provided under the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act.

DDS is working closely with the USC University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (USC UCEDD CHLA) to get your thoughts about these draft packets. It is very important to get the whole community's input. Please let them know your thoughts on how this should be developed and used:

USC and DDS SURVEY ON SERVICES and SUPPORTS

(apply to be in a focus group and view the same survey in different formats here)

And Finally



Don't forget that licensed residential programs and licensed day programs are operating under approved mitigation plans authorized by the state's licensing authorities. Each visitor and participant of any type of residential or day program must be aware of the mitigation plans for that program and must comply with their rules under their plan. Violators are jeopardizing not only the viability of that residential or day program provider but also the health and safety of people with disabilities. If you or someone you support, is sick, has a fever, etc., or been exposed to Covid-19 stay at home and follow the safety and mitigation procedures. Here is a sample of exposure protocols we developed for our staff.

Tony Anderson

Executive Director

Amador County Friends and Emergency Evacuation Preparation



An Emergency Evacuation means that you MUST leave the area IMMEDIATELY; your life is in danger. An Emergency Evacuation notice is issued when a hazard is moving towards an area and there is an immediate threat to life and property. You may receive notice of an Emergency Evacuation in several different ways. You may be notified in person by a law enforcement officer, by a vehicle with a public address system traveling roads in your neighborhood, by telephone using the CodeRED Emergency Notification System, or by listening to your local Emergency Alert Radio station of KFBK 1530AM or the local Hometown Radio. Under these circumstances the situation is severe and you may not have time to gather special belongings or paperwork, every minute you delay could increase your danger.  Please do not take this order lightly; it is for your safety. Remember to follow any instructions you receive from a law enforcement officer.

VOLUNTARY EVACUATION



A Voluntary Evacuation means that we think the area is going to be impacted and we encourage those residents willing and able to leave the area.  The medically fragile or those with livestock or large pets may want to begin making transportation arrangements. Under this evacuation order you do not have to leave the area. We recommend that you begin making arrangements to leave. Conditions can change rapidly creating a threatening situation to occur and this may be your only notice to evacuate the area. We hope that many of the evacuees could go to either a friend or relatives home temporarily while the emergency situation is abated. If necessary, an American Red Cross shelter will be opened. 

SHELTERING IN PLACE



Sheltering in your home or place of business means that you should NOT leave the safety of the building you are currently in to leave the area. In a number of instances residents are safer staying indoors, closing the windows, shutting off the heating and air systems and staying inside the building than they would be traveling through the disaster area. Under certain circumstances gases or vapors will dissipate to the point where they are no longer harmful. Try to understand that we have your safety and security in mind when issuing this type of an order. Information on the nature and duration of shelter in place order will be disseminated on your local Emergency Alert station of KFBK 1530 AM, the local Hometown Radio KVGC 1340 AM or other local media outlets.

For detailed information with illustrations on Sheltering-In-Place, click here.

Call your Service Coordinator if you need support during this fire season.

2021 Young Mental Health Leaders Council Application

YMHLC identifies young adults (18-25) who have created programs and initiatives that fill gaps in mental health resources in their communities. From policy to apps and peer support to sports, MHA’s young adult leaders are making a difference to meet the needs of their peers. Selected applicants participate in a six-month cohort to connect and share ideas with other leaders from across the US. Learn more about the program here.

In addition to attending monthly 90-minute meetings over the six-month term, YMHLC members will:

Receive one-on-one mentoring for their programmatic and professional growth

Gain leadership opportunities at MHA and with MHA partners

Highlight their work and ideas via MHA’s social media and young adult mental health resources

Present at MHA local and national events and with MHA partners

Join a network of young mental health leaders and MHA affiliates

Receive a $1,000 stipend

Please complete and submit the form on the website, https://mhanational.org/get-involved/2021-young-mental-health-leaders-council-application?eId=5930b591-a358-4e0f-a45e-e9659c477593&eType=EmailBlastContent&sl_gr=grp_youthandyoungadultissues, to submit your application for the 2021-2022 Young Mental Health Leaders Council.

Applications are due by August 20, 2021.

National Good Neighbor Day is Sept. 28th - In 1978, United States President Jimmy Carter issued Proclamation 4601:

“As our Nation struggles to build friendship among the peoples of this world, we are mindful that the noblest human concern is concern for others. Understanding, love and respect build cohesive families and communities..."

Now, more than ever we need to come together and Embrace and Celebrate those differences (political, religious, color, cultures, sexuality). America IS the "melting pot" of the World and we were given Freedoms by the Great Leaders that founded this Nation that many other countries do not have! Further and further we are being pushed into isolation and live in fear. I want to encourage everyone to Step Out of your isolation box and Embrace your neighbor!



What is something You Can Do to show some Love and Acceptance to your neighbor - Or what is something your neighbor could do for you? Please send me your ideas for Sept. 28th, National Good Neighbor Day. I’ll share the ideas you send to me in future Health Advisories! My email is ccouch@vmrc.net

Have you been to https://www.selfadvocacyinfo.org/ lately? It is a great website with hundreds of resources about self-advocacy. Just go to the search engine and type is what you are looking for! Also, there is a drop-down menu where you can pick a topic about how to make your self-advocacy group stronger. For example – here is one of the resources available.



https://www.selfadvocacyinfo.org/resource/2021/

Christine Couch (she, her, hers)

Director of Consumer Services - Adults

Clinical Update

How contagious is the COVID-19 Delta Variant?

It has been in the news that the Delta variant is very contagious, meaning it spreads very quickly from one person to another. But how quickly is it? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is more than twice the previous strain.[1] But how exactly is it? It turns out that scientists can identify how many vulnerable individuals can be infected by a sick person by computing for it’s “R nought” or “Ro.”[2]

In the image below, it is showing that a sick person with the Delta variant can infect 5 other individuals, while the original COVID-19 strain can only infect 2 other.¹

[1] CDC. August 19, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/delta-variant.html

[2] NPR. August 11, 2021. https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2021/08/11/1026190062/covid-delta-variant-transmission-cdc-chickenpox

When compared to one of the most contagious virus, the measles, the Delta variant can infect 5-8 other individuals while measles can infect up to 18.[1]

[1] University of New South Wales, Sydney. July 26, 2021. https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/health/what-we-know-about-sars-cov-2-delta-variant

On the other hand, in answering the question that the public is asking, is it really as contagious as the chicken pox, the image below would show us that it is not as much but close to it. Chicken pox can infect up to 10 people while the Delta strain, 7, with Measles still the most contagious among the compared viruses below.[1]

[1] NPR. August 11, 2021. https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2021/08/11/1026190062/covid-delta-variant-transmission-cdc-chickenpox

Booster, anyone?

The United States Health and Human Services (HHS) released a statement on Wednesday with plans to begin offering booster shots of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna “for all Americans beginning the week of September 20 and starting 8 months after an individual’s second dose.”[1] The statement came from public health and medical experts such as:

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC);

Dr. Janet Woodcock, Acting Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration (FDA);

Dr. Vivek Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General;

Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH);

Dr. Anthony Fauci, Chief Medical Advisor to President Joe Biden and Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID);

Dr. Rachel Levine, Assistant Secretary for Health;

Dr. David Kessler, Chief Science Officer for the COVID-19 Response; and

Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, Chair of the COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force:

This plan is subject to the FDA review of it’s safety and effectiveness, and CDC’s independent advisory committee, the Advisory Committee of Immunization Practices (ACIP) providing booster dose recommendations based on thorough review of evidence.

This came after the ACIP recommended a third COVID-19 vaccine dose for individuals who are immunocompromised.[2] As of now, the CDC is only recommending a third dose to immunocompromised individuals. “CDC does not recommend additional doses or booster shots for any other population at this time.”⁶

[1] CDC Newsroom. August 18, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s0818-covid-19-booster-shots.html

[2] CDC. August 19, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/immuno.html

SANDIS COVID-19 Tracking Data (Prepared by Jessica Pate):

Please continue to stay safe and healthy.

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

Director of Clinical Services

Community Services Department Updates

VMRC’s is pleased to announce that Linda De Laurenti has been promoted to the Family Home Agency Coordinator (FHA) position and will begin her new role as VMRC’s FHA Coordinator on September 1, 2021. (The FHA Coordinator will support Family Home Agency providers and Case Management staff with coordination of Family Home Agency service supports as it relates to Home and Community Based Services Final Settings Rule requirements and FHA provider support and training. The FHA Coordinator will serve as the primary Quality Assurance Liaison for FHA providers, will offer technical assistance and training; will mitigate potential service or performance disagreements and will support new FHA providers with placement referral opportunities)

Please see the following revised alert assignments:

• Joshua Richmond (SCSL) & Katie Murphy (CSL) – Residential Alerts
• Wanda Johnson (SCSL) & Erick Hernandez(CSL) - Day Program Alerts
• Rukaiyah Jones (CSL) & Jennifer Stone (CSL) - Supportive Living Services Alerts

Community Services Department Provider Informational Session- please join VMRC staff and other partner agencies; Question and Answer session and opportunities to hear about important vendor changes.

 Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/96168842952

Meeting ID: 961 6884 2952

______________________________________________________________________

Quality Assurance continues to monitor the Caldor Fire as it has the potential to impact our catchment area. You can follow the U.S. Forest Service – Eldorado National Forest Facebook page for updates.

Amador County Fire Safety and Evacuation Information:

If you or a loved one lives in Amador County, use this link to sign up to receive MANDATORY EVACUATION NOTIFICATIONS – related to the Caldor Fire

https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/enUS/BFF76B488C09?isMobile=true

To receive Alert Notifications related to Fires, Floods , Earthquakes, or other potential Natural Disaster’s

Calaveras County: https://oes.calaverasgov.us/Notifications

Tuolumne County: https://www.tuolumnecounty.ca.gov/list.aspx

When reporting Special Incidents (SIR) for STAFF / Service Providers who have tested POSITIVE for COVID-19 please include the following information:

·       Include the staff’s first and last initials (ONLY)

·       Include the date symptoms appeared, date tested and date you received results.

(What is available at time of reporting)

·       Include the date the staff last worked

·       Include any steps you will be taking which may include testing all staff and consumers,

adhering to safety protocols, contact tracing, etc.

·       Please include if you have a sufficient supply of PPE

·       Please include which outside agencies have been notified. (For Covid – 19 cases VMRC requires notification to CCL and the local DPH)

·       Indicate whether the staff provides supports for any other VMRC service provider

·       Indicate if/ when/ how the SC has been notified

·       Indicate whether Conservator/ Guardian/ Family of exposed consumers has been notified

                 SIR Form

COVID continues to Surge – Community Care Licensing has provided an updated Provider Information Notice (PIN) regarding the use of face coverings in licensed residential settings:



https://www.cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CCLD/PINs/2021/ASC/PIN-21-38-ASC.pdf

Brian L. Bennett

Director Of Community Services

North Valley Hills Update

Dena Hernandez, Regional Manager (209) 473-6930

From our SCDD Orange County Regional Office- Open to ALL! 

PDF Version of the above Flyer Here

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

PDF Version of Flyer Here

COVID-19 Update

Valley Mountain Regional Center



·    788 positive consumer cases and 30 deaths

·    37 positive VMRC staff cases

·    4 positive volunteer cases

·    350 positive provider cases and 1 death