Thirtieth
Community Health Advisory Coronavirus (COVID-19)
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weekly message from the director... |
This past Monday was the 18th Annual California Remembrance Day. It was different this year, like so many things are these days, but no less important. Every year in Stockton and Manteca we come together commemorating a day of respect and honor and dignity to those with mental health and intellectual and developmental disabilities who died while living at the Stockton Developmental Center and Modesto State Hospital.
This year Disability Rights California held a statewide Remembrance Day Ceremony virtually and recognized our fellow citizens from Stockton, Manteca, Ukiah, Porterville, Santa Clara, Napa, Sonoma, Patton, and Norwalk, to honor those who died in California’s state institutions and developmental centers.
The Day of Remembrance memorial is a reminder that though many were once buried in unmarked graves and often unkempt grave sites to be forgotten, our presence and acknowledgement shows they will not be forgotten, but honored as individuals with their own uniqueness and humanness.
In thinking further about the significance of this memorial, I wondered "what would be the worst that could happen to a memorial site?" I think the worst would be for a memorial to become forgotten, and for its significance to be lost to future generations.
Perhaps it is a good thing that future generations will listen in disbelief when told there was once a time when people were institutionalized in large state facilities because of their diagnosis of a mental health disorder and or a developmental disability. These generations may think this is ancient history, but as recent as November 2005 the remains of people who lived at Stockton Developmental Center were discovered, accidentally, by construction crews next door to the Valley Mountain Regional Center. But, let us never forget good people once lived in these institutions, and that we all failed them once by not properly memorializing their lives in passing.
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The lesson here is that it is not adequate that we memorialize by simply rendering the past into stone. It is up to communities and people like us who consider this past important to sustain the memory of an injustice, and simultaneously bestow the respect we should have placed on them in the first place. The act of remembering in memorial is a uniquely human activity that acknowledges the past to make sense of the present, and serves as the basis for the aspirations of our collective futures.
So, Let Us remember, in the words carved into stone at the sites, “Let no person ever again be removed from the community by reason of disability…. Let us honor their memory by reclaiming and healing our past… Let no person ever be laid to rest without recognition.”
To watch the 18th Annual California Remembrance Ceremony organized by Disability Rights California click here:
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Tony Anderson
Executive Director
Valley Mountain Regional Center
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Case Management Update
New Adolescent Team Created
VMRC is developing a new case management team, initially serving 14, 15 and 16 year old consumers. This is a formative time in a person’s life and we want to have a team in place that specializes in specific adolescent concerns. The age group may expand in the future, depending on necessity.
Cindy Jimenez has returned to VMRC and has been assigned as Program Manager. We are currently in the process of building the team which will also include a Senior Service Coordinator and six Service Coordinators.
The dynamics involved in working with adolescents will require a different expertise and skillset. VMRC will support the team in gaining the knowledge necessary and in providing the resources to focus on the needs of this age group.
Musician Living His Dream
George Doman (otherwise known as “georgetragic”), a musician receiving services from VMRC, is featured in the credit scene of the Netflix documentary “Rising Phoenix”. The documentary, released on August 26, is about the journey of nine Paralympic athletes. Gary Welch and Daniel Pemberton were searching for artists with disabilities and they came across three rappers, all from different backgrounds. They reached out to Toni Hickman, from Houston; Keith Jones, from Boston; and George Doman, from Modesto, California to write their verse for the single “Rising Phoenix”. The three rappers were provided early access to the film. George and the other two rappers recorded their verse at their home studio. The song was recorded and finalized within four to five days.
Currently, George is attending Full Sail University and has a 3.94 GPA. He will be graduating in December 2020 with a Master’s Degree in Digital Marketing. Once George completes his degree he would like to find employment at a record label and start a podcast. He hopes to one day make a collaboration with Kendrick Lamar and Dr. Dre.
George has been creating music since 2001 and his songs can be found on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music under the name “georgetragic”. George also recorded the song “God-Like” for the Sony video game God of War II. This song was recorded in his friend’s dorm room at California State University, Stanislaus. George would like to thank everyone involved in the film and to remind people to not give up on their dreams because of a disability.
George is getting through COVID-19 and being sheltered-in-place by focusing on his school work and music. -Jose Arriaga, Service Coordinator
Sesame Street Addresses Mask Wearing
Sensory challenges can be difficult for kids who have autism. So, wearing a mask to prevent the spread of COVID-19 can cause uneasiness. Also, children may not be able to understand why they need to wear a mask. Now that all children have to adapt to wearing a face mask (children over 2 years of age are expected to wear them when out), it can prove to be even more of a hardship.
Sesame Workshop, the non-profit organization behind “Sesame Street”, is hoping to help through a new collection of videos designed to help children with autism and their families cope with adjusting to life during the pandemic.
The collection, released on September 21, stars Julia, the 4-year old Sesame Street Muppet with autism, and helps autistic children work through difficult concepts like social distancing, disrupted routines, and mask wearing.
Shriners Hospital Presents to VMRC Staff
Katina Richison, our Special Projects Manager, coordinated a presentation for staff to receive information from Shriners Hospital for Children—Northern California. The zoom presentation, which occurred on September 17th, included vital facts about their services, as well as the referral process necessary to receive services. The hospital provides pediatric medical services for patients 18 and under and is ranked as one of the nation’s top 50 best children’s hospitals according to U.S. News and World Report.
Service Coordinators expressed their appreciation for the presentation, with one stating, “Shriners is an invaluable resource and hospital. My daughter was privileged to utilize their services in Sacramento, as a teenager. Shriners was able to help more than any other medical facility. I will always be grateful for their fabulous care that was always a positive trip. You never know who in your life may encounter a need by an accident, injury or birth. Once you meet eligibility, they continue to provide services through age 21”.
For information regarding the conditions they serve or learn more about this invaluable resource, please access this link:
VMRC Seeks Input for 2021 Performance Contract
VMRC held a public meeting on September 23rd to provide the outcomes of the National Core Indicators (NCI) from the 2017-18 Fiscal Year, along with its annual meeting to discuss the activities needed in the upcoming year’s Performance Contract. If you were unable to participate in the public meeting, you still have time to let us know of your ideas to help us meet our goals. The link below can be accessed to review the 2020 plan. The measures listed are our mandates and the activities noted demonstrate how we can meet those objectives. Please provide your feedback to cmix@vmrc.net by October 5.
Cindy Mix
Director of Consumer Services
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Clinical Update
With over 200,000 individuals who died from COVID-19, we should remember that each one is a life, a loved one that is survived by their families and friends. Let us help restore our communities by continuing to wear masks when we are out of our homes and with people we don’t live with, wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer, and stay more than 6 feet away from each other.
Latest updates related to COVID-19 are as follows:
· Janssen COVID-19 vaccine (JNH-78436725) is the fourth large-scale vaccine trial that has entered its Phase 3 clinical trial here in the United States.[1] They are expecting to enroll up to 60,000 volunteers across the country in nearly 215 clinical research sites. This vaccine is expected to be administered in a single dose only and is a recombinant vector vaccine that uses a human adenovirus to express the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in cells.
· The use of low dose hydrocortisone (200 mg IV daily for 7 days, then 100 mg IV daily for 4 days, and 50 mg IV daily for 3 days) failed to show significant reduction in treatment failure in COVID-19 patients.[2] This means it has failed to show benefit in the COVID-19 trial.
· The American Academy of Pediatrics has released an interim guidance on return to sports after SARS-CoV-2 infection.[3] Those who had severe infection will have to wait 3-6 months, while those with moderate symptoms and had exposure has to be asymptomatic for at least 14 days and require a clearance from their PCP.
· Scientists have developed BAS2IC – a scoring system to help identify hospitalized patients who are at high risk of developing early severe COVID-19.[4] The score is based on BMI, age, sex, shortness of breath, and inflammatory parameters.
· The CDC has again revised its testing recommendations for COVID-19, reinforcing the need to test asymptomatic individuals, including those with close contact of a person with documented SARS-CoV-2 infection.[5] They also emphasized that test-based strategy is no longer recommended to determine when an individual with SARS-CoV-2 infection is no longer infectious.
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Please continue to stay safe and healthy.
Claire B. Lazaro, MSN, RN, NP, PHN, FNP-C
Director of Clinical Services
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Early Start/Intake/Education Update
During this intense time for all of our community the Early Start case management staff have been reaching out to families to check on services and individual well-being. We have also continued to participate in trainings to broaden expertise and experience to serve our consumers and families.
We have participated in trainings on a new assessment tool, the DAYC-2, have upcoming trainings for vision screening and MCHAT R/F in process. We have become proficient running zoom meetings with families and for training purposes and using panda doc to gather consent for services from our families. In the spirit of continued growth and learning in these difficult times, here are some helpful sites for COVID resources and child development:
As we pass our 6 month benchmark of sheltering in place, Intake Coordinators are impressed with all of the hard work that our comprehensive programs have put into place to continue to provide Early Intervention programs for our Early Start consumers. We continue to complete assessments remotely by using Zoom. Our referral numbers in San Joaquin County have fluctuated week to week, seemingly mirroring the shelter in place orders in our county. Early Intervention is key to promoting a child's development. With the shelter in place in effect, we are relying more on parents to share information about their child. This has been very beneficial in empowering parents and making them a more active partner in our intake process. We are looking forward to the upcoming Early Start Symposium which will be held remotely this year.
The Early Start intake process is relatively simple. Intake Coordinators contact the parent to schedule an appointment and paperwork is completed using an app that allows parents to sign paperwork agreeing to the assessment and services. The assessments are done remotely with a skilled team of specialists. If the child is determined eligible, the team discusses goals, the IFSP is written and services usually start within 2-3 weeks.
If you know of a child that would benefit from Early Start, please contact VMRC at 473-0951 to speak with a referral specialist.
Please see the below article from The Record, which talks about the 29 schools in San Joaquin County that have opened up in some sort of fashion for in person learning.
Tara Sisemore-Hester
Assistant Director, Clinical Services
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North Valley Hills Update
Dena Hernandez, Regional Manager
Complete your 2020 #Census online today before it's too late!
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October Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Distribution
VMRC will once again partner with the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD) North Valley Hills Office and the Self-Advocacy Council Area 6 (SAC6) for PPE distribution.
VMRC Stockton Office
702 North Aurora Street, Stockton, CA 95202
Wednesday, October 7th, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
VMRC Modesto Office
1820 Blue Gum Avenue, Modesto, CA 95358
Friday, October 9th, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
VMRC San Andreas Office
704 Mountain Ranch Road, Suite 203, San Andreas, CA 95249
Wednesday, October 14th, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
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Any and all VMRC families and vendors are open to come to receive PPE. No prior registration or RSVP is necessary. These are non contact, drive through, distribution events.
In the event that you are not able to come to any of the three days, please contact your Service Coordinator or Community Services Liaison to arrange for delivery.
With election day quickly approaching on November 3rd, we also will have Voter Registration tables set up and staffed on each of these days.
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The deadline to mail in your voter registration ballot is Monday, October 19th. VMRC wants to help you register to vote. So if you have not yet registered and would like to, or need assistance filling out your registration form and sending it in, come by and our staff will be happy to assist you! |
Self-Advocacy Council 6
Lisa Utsey - Self Advocacy Council 6 chairperson invites you to join the SAC6 Friday CHATS!
With so much happening because of the virus SAC6 wants to hear how you are doing and share information so we can all get through this together!
Health and Wellness
Join us on a SAC6 ZOOM CHAT!!
Let’s Check In with each other!
WHEN: Friday September 25th, 2020
TIME: 11:00am-12:00pm
WHERE: ZOOM- computer, tablet, cell phone
The next SAC6 CHAT:
· Friday, September 25, 2020 - Disability Culture - What is important to you? What do you need to know?
Speakers - Robert Balderama (SCDD Statewide Self Advocacy Network & SAC6), Christina Mills (Executive Director of CA Foundation for Independent Living Centers, CFILC), and Andrew Imparto, (Executive Director of Disability Rights CA, DRC)
Join Zoom Meeting on your computer, tablet or phone
Meeting ID: 977 7551 8074
Password: 186437
You must enter the Password or you can call in:
TOLL FREE NUMBER TO CALL IN:
· 877 853 5257 US Toll-free
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Five County Data Update
as of September 24, 2020
San Joaquin County
- 20,126 total positive cases and 437 deaths
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6.7 new cases per 100,000 people and 5.5% positivity rate (Widespread/Purple....Most Restrictive)
Stanislaus County
- 16,436 total positive cases and 345 deaths
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7.6 new cases per 100,000 people and 5.5% positivity rate (Widespread/Purple....Most Restrictive)
Tuolumne County
- 227 total positive cases and 4 deaths
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1.6 new cases per 100,000 people and 0.9% positivity rate (Moderate/Orange....2nd Least Restrictive)
Calaveras County
- 314 total positive cases and 14 death
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1.3 new cases per 100,000 people and 1.9% positivity rate (Substantial/Red....2nd Most Restrictive)
Amador County
- 253 total positive cases and 15 deaths
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1.5 new cases per 100,000 people and 0.7% positivity rate (Substantial/Red....2nd Most Restrictive)
State of California
- 799,479 total positive cases and 15,393 deaths
Valley Mountain Regional Center
- 177 positive consumer cases and 11 deaths
- 11 positive VMRC staff cases
- 1 positive volunteer case
- 70 positive provider cases and 1 death
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Local County, State and National Public Health Resources |
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