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Eighty-Sixth

Community Health

Advisory Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Weekly Message from the Executive Director

By the Numbers

This week we reported about the same positive covid-19 tests with 24 positive tests for consumers, and 4 positive tests for direct support professionals, however sadly we're reporting another two deaths of consumers. Four of the cases were children too young to receive vaccinations, ten were consumers 55 years and older, and 84% of the consumer cases were consumers living in licensed settings. As of today 85% of our staff are vaccinated, we have 28 religious exemptions, one medical exemption, and 30 employees have yet to tell us if they will still be working with us come December 1st. According to the Department of Developmental Services (DDS), VMRC's vaccination rate is ranked number two in the state for consumers 65 and older, ranked two for those 50-64 years old, ranked fourth for consumers 16-49 years old, and for consumers 12-15 years old we are ranked right in the middle. We are now at 50% capacity in the building, still on track to be fully opened by January and we have begun to have some meetings in our building now and appointments with vaccinated consumers. All staff continue to wear face masks and practice one way directional routes in the buildings and other safety precautions to keep our employees, our consumers, and other visitors safe as they begin to return to work in our buildings. In our region four out of five counties have reported a decrease in their positivity rate:

· San Joaquin .6% decrease in positivity rate

· Amador .7% decrease in the positivity rate.

· Calaveras 1.2% increase in the positivity rate.

· Stanislaus .7% decrease in the positivity rate.

· Tuolumne 1.5% decrease in the positivity rate.

Veteran's Day

I hope you all enjoyed the Veteran's Day holiday this year as Americans came together to celebrate and honor all military personnel who serve and served our country. The holiday was originally called Armistice Day and honored the veterans who served in World War II but today it is a time to honor all who served our country in the military regardless of which war or even if they served in a war or not. One issue not often discussed is that many of these veterans are also the parents of about 400,000 children with developmental disabilities or other special needs. As noted in a 2014 report sponsored by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the HSC Foundation, military families are faced with unique stressors and challenges not felt about many civilian families. "The realities of military life can put children at increased risk for behavioral or social problems. The coordination of services can be difficult, and one duty station might not offer the same services as another". Many families we support at VMRC work hard to navigate a complex system of care and support for their children but military families are faced with having to coordinate and access this complex system of care over and over again in different communities depending on their assignments. They often have "unmet needs associated with a child’s developmental outcomes, and… between 13% and 18% percent of these children have health care expenditures that are three times greater than those of a typical child." This year as we honor all those veterans so deserving of our thanks and gratitude let's take an extra minute to appreciate the extraordinary service of our veterans who are parents of children with developmental disabilities. (Military-Connected Children, with Special Health Care Needs, and Their Families: April 14–15, 2014, Natcher Conference Center, National Institutes of Health (NIH) Main Campus, Bethesda, Maryland: https://www.militaryonesource.mil/family-relationships/special-needs/special-needs-benefits/

Tony Anderson

Executive Director

Case Management Update - Children

Early Start

From our partners at the Early Start Neighborhood:

Happy Friday, Neighbors!

From the Blog: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has provided a resource that supports early intervention and early education professionals in anti-bias settings. To read the full article, check out our blog post!

Early Start Neighborhood on Social Media: We are launching the Early Start Neighborhood Facebook page; this will be a discussion forum for our blog articles. If you would like to become a member of our group, click this link.

Once you visit the page, please give us a like and join the group that corresponds to you. If you are a parent, we have a group for you, and if you are one of our Early Start Professionals, we have a group for you too!

These groups will discuss the resources we post on the neighborhood, and we will facilitate the discussion. Come in and say hello to the other members of the Early Start community!

The Early Start Neighborhood is also on Twitter! Follow us at this link.

Visit Early Start Neighborhood at: https://earlystartneighborhood.ning.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

EARLY START PARTNERS SYMPOSIUM 2022

CALL FOR TOPICS

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: NOVEMBER 19, 2021

The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) in partnership with WestEd seeks input from Early Start community stakeholders for the Early Start Partners Symposium (ESPS) 2022 via this Call for Topics.

The ESPS (May 10-11, 2022 in San Diego, CA) will address the needs of early intervention service providers, service coordinators, and family support professionals across Early Start partner agencies. ESPS offers a comprehensive, in-person professional development and networking opportunity for the entire Early Start community, including new and seasoned Early Start personnel.

Please use and share the survey link below to submit suggestions for topics and speakers for the ESPS 2022 professional development event.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ESPS2022callfortopics

The deadline to submit the ESPS 2022 Call for Topics survey is November 19, 2021.

DDS is committed to offering compelling and thought-provoking speakers and topics, and we look forward to your input.

Self Determination

Who is eligible for the Self-Determination Program?

A:Any eligible regional center consumer may participate in the Self-Determination program on a voluntary basis. The consumer must meet the following eligibility requirements:

Has a developmental disability as defined in Welfare and Institutions Code 4512.
Agrees to specific terms and conditions, which include but are not limited to, participation in an orientation for the Self-Determination Program, working with a Financial Management Services entity, managing the Self-Determination Program services within an individual budget; and only purchasing services which are eligible for federal financial participation and not available from a generic agency.
Does not live in a licensed long-term health care facility (i.e., a Skilled Nursing Facility or Intermediate Care Facility or State Developmental Center). If an individual living in one of these facilities expresses interest in the Self-Determination Program, through the person-centered planning process, he or she can request that the regional center begin making arrangements for their transition to the Self-Determination Program, provided that he or she is reasonably expected to transition to the community within 90 days.
Q:
What is Orientation for the SDP? What is the difference between an Informational Meeting and the Orientation?
A:The Informational Meeting is an introductory overview of the SDP. After attending an Informational Meeting, people interested in the SDP can have their name added to the list from which the Department selects participants for the SDP.
The SDP Orientation is a requirement for selected individuals where they will receive more detail about what’s needed to enroll into the SDP.
Q:
How do I find out when and where Orientations are scheduled?
A:Individuals should contact their regional center or Local Advisory Committee regarding where, when, and in what languages SDP Orientations are scheduled.
Q:
Is the Orientation available in languages other than English?
A:Yes. Individuals should check with their regional center or Local Advisory Committee representative regarding where, when, and in what languages SDP Orientations are available.

VMRC held its last Self Determination orientation in English and Spanish for the year 2021. Stay tuned for the 2022 Self Determination orientation dates!

VMRC is also excited to announce that we are hiring 3 additional Participant Choice Specialists to our current team!

PARTICIPANT CHOICE SPECIALIST

Join the team to learn about this great new position

Tuesday November 16, 2021 3PM-4PM

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/7471199792?pwd=R095SFArTENTRjRqT2VVSkZ2Wmh6dz09

Meeting ID: 747 119 9792

Passcode: 516169

This is a non case carrying position but still involves supporting families and individuals receive servies in a way that works for them

In this position you will also support VMRC Service Coordinators in referring families for a service delivery model that works for them.

Tara Sisemore-Hester

Director of Consumer Services - Children

Case Management Update - Adults

SPOTLIGHT ON Kristina Pierce!

Meet my friend Kristina Pierce! In honor of Diabetes Awareness Month, Kristina spoke to me about living with diabetes. Kristina shared with me that it is not easy having diabetes. She has to watch what she eats every day. If she doesn’t eat right, she doesn’t feel good. She has to be extra careful when she eats sugar and carbs. She said her advice for others who have diabetes is to keep track of your blood sugar and make sure you exercise and drink a lot of water. If you need to, lose some weight, it helps. She encourages everyone to find someone they trust and talk about how you feel living with diabetes!

Kristina says it is a struggle but things get better. Sometimes she makes choices that she knows aren’t the best decisions. It’s really hard when people that love you and care about you, give you advice but you don’t want to follow their advice. There are good days and bad days. It’s ok to have a bad day, just don’t let it get you down. Start the next day by making good decisions and know you can make it a better day.

Kristina says her favorite drink is diet coke, but she knows it’s a bad choice for diabetes, so she drinks a lot of water! Kristina likes to bowl – she has been bowling for about 28 years! Bowling is exercise and helps Kristina stay healthy. She likes to help others and she loves to volunteer. Kristina likes to attend bible study with Christine Couch (that’s me friends!). It is helpful to stay connected and interact with your friends. This helps Kristina stay happy and when she is happy, it’s easier to make good choices. Good choices help her stay healthy!

ASAN (Autistic Self Advocacy Network) is asking for videos of self-advocates talking about getting the COVID-19 vaccine!

COVID-19 changed the way we live. We do things differently to stay safe from COVID-19. We stay in our homes a lot. We have to wear masks when we go out. It can be harder to get the services we need.

The COVID-19 vaccine is our best way to stay safe from COVID-19! The COVID-19 vaccine is a shot that keeps people from getting sick with COVID-19. Learn more about the vaccine here!

The vaccine helps protect us from Covid-19. The vaccine helps protect our family, friends and communities. Some people can’t get the vaccine because of their disabilities. Kids under 12 can’t get the vaccine yet. People who can’t get the vaccine are counting on everyone else to get vaccinated to keep them safe.

COVID-19 is especially dangerous to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities — but too often, the facts about COVID-19 are not shared in ways that are accessible to us.

Our community needs resources that everyone can understand about the vaccine. The vaccine can seem scary. Sometimes it is hard to find a place to get the vaccine. Stories about self-advocates getting the vaccine can help! You can learn what getting the vaccine is like.

We are asking self-advocates to tell us about getting the vaccine. These stories will help other self-advocates! You can record a short video telling us about getting the vaccine. You can also tell us about signing up for the vaccine.

We will combine the videos together and share with our community! Getting the vaccine can seem scary, but by helping our community learn more, we can help each other to stay safe!

How to participate:

You can record on your phone or computer! You can record yourself or ask someone to record you.
Talk about your vaccine experience for 1-3 minutes

If you are struggling to know what to talk about, here are some questions you can answer –

Why is it important to get the vaccine?
What steps did you take to get vaccinated?
What was the day you got vaccinated like?
Where did you go?
Who gave you the shot? A doctor or nurse?
How did you feel after receiving the vaccine?

For help with filming you can refer to our tip sheet!

Send your video to info@autisticadvocacy.org

The Stanislaus Council of Governments

Invites You to Our Upcoming Workshops

JOIN US as we explore future transportation investment options to improve traffic, air quality, and more during our interactive

Zoom workshops! A certified Spanish to English translator will be available for both workshops

More information on the public workshops can be found on the project’s website: www.valleyvision2046.com.

Christine Couch (she, her, hers)

Director of Consumer Services - Adults

Clinical Update

Why should kids get vaccinated for COVID-19?

Here is a nice informational graphic from Johns Hopkins University:[1]

[1] Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. October 27, 2021. https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2021/10-reasons-your-child-should-get-vaccinated-for-covid-19-as-soon-as-possible

Why is it important to continue practicing safety precautions after getting COVID-19 Vaccine?

The World Health Organization explain it:[1]

[1] World Health Organization (WHO) FB page. November 7, 2021. https://www.facebook.com/WHO/photos/a.167668209945237/4837291606316184/?type=3&theater

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

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

Director of Clinical Services

Please continue to stay safe and healthy.

Community Services Training Opportunities and Service Provider Information

Training Opportunities

Weekly Community Services Department Provider Informational Session

Please join VMRC staff and other partner agencies via ZOOM every Friday morning at 9:00 AM! Question and Answer session and opportunities to hear about important vendor changes!

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 961 6884 2952

https://zoom.us/j/96168842952

Dear Community Partner,

This survey is being conducted by the Center for START Services (CSS) at the University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability/UCED in partnership with the State of California Regional Centers as part of the expansion of START services in California. Part of this process is an evaluation of the current service system for individuals with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD) and mental health needs (IDD-MH). The goal is to determine what services are currently working well in your region and where improvements are needed. This list of questions is intended to learn from you about existing services in your community for people with IDD-MH, including persons with autism. This survey includes services that may be funded by regional centers, county mental health/behavioral services or insurance.

Please rate each question listed using the scale found below and put additional explanations in the space provided. When responding about service availability in your community, please think about community as the area in which you or the people that you serve can realistically access needed services. At the end of the survey, we welcome you to identify any additional gaps in service effectiveness that you would like us to be aware of.

We are hoping to collect as many responses as possible from individuals working in or using any aspect of the service system (mental health, ID/DD services, education, drug/alcohol treatment, hospitals, justice, etc.), so please take a few minutes to both complete this survey by clicking on the link below, and then to forward this link to as many people within your organization and/or contact list as possible and ask them to complete it and forward it as well. The survey can be completed in a variety of languages by using the drop-down language field in the top right-hand corner.

CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY

https://unh.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9QzlwrAHLMgEnvE

(Right click and select Open hyperlink)

If you have any problems with the link, please feel free to email me at ann.klein@unh.edu and I will be happy to assist.

We sincerely appreciate your help as we work together to enhance services in California for individuals with IDD and their families. Thanks for your time.

The CSS Team

Watch the film and learn more about START at

http://www.centerforstartservices.org/

VMRC is seeking a qualified service provider to implement the START Services model to consumers 6 yrs. of age and older. This is a crisis support service model, for all five counties (Amador, Tuolumne, Calaveras, San Joaquin, and Stanislaus)

VMRC and the Center for Start Services will host an informational session for interested providers via zoom on Friday December 3^rd from 1-2 (see link for RFP and zoom session information)

Center for START Services RFP

PDF Version of Flyer Here

Brian L. Bennett

Director Of Community Services

VMRC is happy to be an event sponsor of the upcoming Special Needs in my City Educational Conference!

Don't miss 2021 Health and Wellness Conference

Saturday, November 13th, 10am-2pm.

It's FREE.

Registration & Agenda Link: https://bit.ly/hwd2021

Special Needs in My City Event Flyer.jpg

North Valley Hills Update

Dena Hernandez, Regional Manager (209) 473-6930

From the World Health Organization (WHO)

Not all information you find on social media is true. Some use it to spread misleading news and content. Protect yourself and your friends from false information about COVID-19, vaccines and more: Check Before You Share!

⚠️ https://bit.ly/CheckBeforeYouShare