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133rd
Community Health
Advisory
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Weekly Message from the Executive Director
Tony Anderson
By the Numbers
This week we reported a total of 11 positive COVID cases. Three of the cases were direct support professionals and the remaining eight were consumers. Of the consumer cases we regrettably reported one hospitalization of a one year old young toddler. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family during this stressful time as we hope for a fast recovery.
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Valley Mountain Regional Center Performance Contract Goals
It’s that time of year again when we hold public hearings to tell you what we’re doing to achieve the goals in our performance contract with the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) and get your thoughts on what we could do to be successful. Our first public hearing will be on Wednesday November 30, 2022 from 5 pm to 6:30 pm via Zoom:
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 811 6048 2318
Passcode: 001584
One tap mobile
+16694449171
(https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81160482318?pwd=T0tXcG9lQUFzNHNUVnFIM2hUcWVRUT09&from=addon)
After that meeting we’ll hold another one that will include some of the input we have received from the surveys and the public meeting. The second meeting will be inside the board of directors meeting (it’s a trick we use to try and increase public participation in our board meeting) on December 14, 2022 from 6 pm to 7:30 pm at 702 N. Aurora street, Stockton CA. The meeting is actually a hybrid meeting and we’ll publish the Zoom link on a later date.
Another great way to participate is to let us know your thoughts on what we could do to improve our efforts in meeting our goals for Home and Community Services, Equity in Service Access, and Employment of People with Developmental Disabilities. Please click on the buttons below for the English Survey or the Spanish Language Survey and if you need another language email me and let me know.
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Home and Community Services
- decrease the number of people in institutions
- increase the number of children living with their families
- increase the number of adults in independent living
- increase the number of adults in supported living
- increase the number of adults in Adult Family Home Agency homes
- increase the number of adults living with their families
- decrease the number of kids living in facilities serving more than 6 children
- decrease the number of adults living in facilities serving more than 6 people
Measures Related to Reducing Disparities and Improving Equity in Purchase of Services Expenditures
1. Percent of total annual purchase of service expenditures by individual’s ethnicity and age:
- Birth to age two, inclusive.
- Age three to 21, inclusive.
- Twenty-two and older.
2. Number and percent of individuals receiving only case management services by age and ethnicity
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Public Policy Performance Measures Related to Employment
- Increase the number of people getting paid for work.
- Increase the yearly wages of people with disabilities.
- Decrease the difference in wages between people with developmental disabilities compared to people with all other disabilities in CA.
- Increase the number of adults who got regular jobs after being in the Paid Internship Program.
- Increase the wages and weekly hours worked a year after being in the Paid Internship Program.
- Increase the wages and hours worked in regular jobs as a result of incentive payments made on their behalf.
- Increase “30-day”, “6 month” and “12 month” incentive payments to encourage employment.
- Increase the number of working aged adults with an IPP goal of getting a job.
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Thank You to Our Platinum Sponsors | |
Thank You to Our Gold Sponsors | |
Thank You to our Silver Sponsors | |
Thank You to our Bronze Sponsors | |
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Clinical Update
Dr. Claire Lazaro
Clinical Director
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Be Protected! Get Immunized!
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends the updated (bivalent) COVID-19 booster can be given to children 5 – 11 years for Pfizer, and 6 - 17 years for Moderna.[1] The bivalent booster covers the Omicron variant BA.4 and BA.5, giving added protection.
[1] CDC Newsroom. October 12, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/s1012-COVID-19-Vaccines.html
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Health Fair at Stockton: October 29, 2022, together with the Disability Fair
Health Fair offers:
· Dental Screening
· Vaccinations: Flu
o COVID bivalent booster available to the following:
§ Have had COVID-19 more than 90 days ago
§ Pfizer for 12 years and older, and last booster was 2 months ago
§ Moderna for 18 years and older, and last booster was 2 months ago
· Bone Density Testing
· Blood Pressure testing
· Cholesterol testing
· Diabetes testing
· Opioid Risk Assessment/Narcan distribution
Give away FREE:
o Diabetes testing supplies (e.g., Blood glucose monitor, test strips, lancets)
o Blood pressure machine
Need to register for:
· Medicare Part D Plan Review
· Comprehensive Medication Review
· Contact VMRC to register
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Case Management Update - Children
Tara Sisemore-Hester
Director of Consumer Services - Children
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Bring your family to experience a safe trick-or-treat event this Friday from 3 pm to 7 pm. We will have raffles, prizes, a haunted alley, candy, and more. | |
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Case Management Update - Adults
Christine Couch
Director of Consumer Services - Adults
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NIGHT TO SHINE 2023 IS IN PERSON!!
Friday, February 10th!
The Tim Tebow Foundation has a great passion
for people with special needs. In 2014 they launched an initiative to
create “Night To Shine”, an unforgettable prom night experience, centered on
God’s love, for people with special needs at host churches across the
World. This event is 100% FREE to our Honored Guests.
Friends, we have shared Night to Shine information for Modesto at Shelter Cove Community Church and Manteca at Crossroads Grace. We are excited to announce information for Lodi!
NIGHT TO SHINE | NOR-CAL
NTS 2023 will be at Hutchins Street Square in Lodi:
125 S. Hutchins St. Lodi, CA 95240
NTS@Horizonweb.org (209) 745-0700
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This lively Mexican celebration helps families honor their ancestors.
Skeletons are scary, right? Not if you're celebrating Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.
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Day of the Dead combines the ancient Aztec custom of celebrating ancestors with All Souls' Day, a holiday that Spanish invaders brought to Mexico starting in the early 1500s.
The holiday, which is celebrated mostly in Mexico on November 1 and 2, is like a family reunion—except dead ancestors are the guests of honor. Day of the Dead is a joyful time that helps people remember the deceased and celebrate their memory.
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Community Services Update
Brian Bennett
Director of Community Services
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The Community Services Team will host Informational Sessions for all service providers of VMRC on the first Friday of each month- topics will be generated based on any recent DDS directive changes or other “hot button” topics related to the delivery of services and supports. The next meeting will be on Friday November 4, 2022.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88548962379
Meeting ID: 885 4896 2379
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DDS is hosting Office Hours during the month of November focused on electronic visit verification (EVV) in the Self-Determination Program.
Office Hours are a time to join a Zoom call to ask questions regarding the identified topic. Each Office Hour date, time and topic will be posted to the DDS EVV webpage under the ‘Meetings’ tab, linked here, and notifications will go out when new dates, times and topics are available.
Advanced registration is not required. People may join the link at any time during the call to ask questions and do not need to remain on the call the whole hour.
Please join us during any of the designated dates and times below to learn about and discuss these topics.
- November 1, 2022, from 2:00pm-3:00pm
Join Zoom Meeting (only available at the time/date above)
- November 4, 2022, from 2:00pm-3:00pm
Join Zoom Meeting (only available at the time/date above)
- November 9, 2022, from 2:00pm-3:00pm
Join Zoom Meeting (only available at the time/date above)
- November 17, 2022, from 5:30pm-6:30pm
Join Zoom Meeting (only available at the time/date above)
If you have any questions, please email EVV@dds.ca.gov.
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Community Integration (Social Recreation) Grant opportunity- this Request for Proposal is subject to change-
There will be an information session for interested parties on November 9th from 3-4 (registration information is in the RFP)
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Employment Update
Enos Edmerson Jr
Employment Specialist
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October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)
Honoring The late Wilma Murray Supported Employment Manager (2000-2020).
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October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). For the final week, I want to honor the late Wilma Murray, VMRC Supported Employment Manager (2000-2020) for her incredible contributions of assisting our individuals with achieving their employment goals
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Wilma Murray was part of the hiring team that interviewed me and offered me the position of Employment Specialist in 2017. It was truly an honor, and I was extremely excited for two reasons. One, I enjoy assisting individuals with achieving their employment goals. And two, Wilma Murray was to be my direct supervisor, which was awesome because it meant I got to work with Wilma’s positive energy and enthusiasm daily.
One of my greatest memories of working for Wilma was her approach to my position. Wilma’s first instructions to me were “Go find our individuals jobs”. For years Wilma handled the DOR referrals and communicated with our Supported Employment Providers about consumer employment goals. Wilma understood Job Development in each of our catchment areas was an unmet need and VMRC needed someone to go directly to the businesses and employers. Well off I went, and that approach couldn’t have worked out any better.
VMRC just finished Fiscal Year 21-22 with a new consumer record for Competitive Integrated Employment. I can’t help but think about Wilma’s first instructions to me back in 2017 “Go find our individuals jobs”. Wilma wanted to help our individuals in anyway she could, and hopefully I can continue to help our individuals achieve their employment dreams with as much of Wilma’s enthusiasm and positive energy I can duplicate.
In tribute to the Late Wilma Murray who will be forever missed by VMRC Family and Community!!!
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Emergency Services Update
Aaron McDonald
Emergency Response Coordinator
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Flood Preparedness Week: October 22-29, 2022
It is challenging to think about flooding as a threat as changes in climate continue to keep California in record drought conditions. Did you know that every county in California has been declared a federal flood disaster area at least once in the last 20 years? California experiences many types of flooding: alluvial fan, debris flow, riverine, coastal, tsunami, flash, and localized floods:
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Alluvial Fan Flooding: The most damaging alluvial fan floods happen when heavy rains fall on soil that is already saturated triggering landslides. A landslide may flow directly down the stream channel, or it may form a temporary dam, which can later fail sending a surge of water and sediment onto the valley bottom below.
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Debris Flow Flooding: Debris flows are fast-moving landslides that are particularly dangerous to life and property because they move quickly, destroy objects in their paths, and often strike without warning. They occur in a wide variety of environments throughout the world, including all 50 states and U.S. Territories.
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Riverine Flooding: Riverine Flooding is when streams and rivers exceed the capacity of their natural or constructed channels to accommodate water flow and water overflows the banks, spilling out into adjacent low-lying, dry land.
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Costal Flooding: Simply put a coastal flood is when the coast is flooded by the sea. The cause of such a surge is a severe storm. The storm wind pushes the water up and creates high waves. A storm is formed in al low-pressure area, as you may know. An interesting fact is that beneath a low-pressure area the sea level is higher.
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Tsunami Flooding: A tsunami arrives at a coast as a series of successive crests (highest parts of the wave) and troughs (lowest parts of the wave). It may look like a fast-rising flood or a wall of water. It will not look or act like a normal wind wave. Tsunamis rarely become great towering breaking waves.
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Flash Flooding: A flood caused by heavy or excessive rainfall in a short period of time, generally less than 6 hours. Flash floods are usually characterized by raging torrents after heavy rains that rip through riverbeds, urban streets, or mountain canyons sweeping everything before them.
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Localized Flooding: Localized flooding often happens as a result of overloaded, blocked or inadequate stormwater drainage systems that cause sheet flow into streets and low-lying areas, ponding in yards, sewer backups and basement or first-floor flooding.
Not every part of California experiences every type of flooding, but the results of each is the same: without proper preparedness, lives, homes, infrastructure and agriculture are lost, and damage to the environment and economy is likely. Here on the Sacramento - San Joaquin – Delta valley floor are greatest threat of flooding comes from failing levees and dams
It is crucial for people to prepare for flooding by following three basic steps:
- Be aware of your risk: Know whether your home is in a flood zone; pay attention to weather forecasts; and listen to local authorities.
- Be prepared: Always have an emergency evacuation kit ready; be prepared to evacuate early; have a household inventory with copies of critical documents; and have a plan for where you will go in an emergency and what to do with your pets.
- Take action: Evacuate immediately when advised to. Also, homeowners’ insurance does not cover damage due to flooding; consider purchasing flood insurance.
At Home:
- Look up your address on MyHazards to discover hazards in your area and learn steps to reduce personal risk.
- Share flood preparedness information with neighbors, students, family, and friends.
- Teach them how to prepare an emergency supply kit and evacuation plan.
- Establish a family communication plan for emergencies. Your family may not be together during an emergency so think about how you will communicate and where you will meet following an evacuation. Periodically review your plan.
- Keep storm drains clear. If your property is prone to flooding, have sandbags, plastic sheeting, and other flood-fighting materials on hand.
- Learn how to turn off water, gas, and electricity connections to your home in the event that your home is flooded. Contact your local utility companies for their help.
- Do not try to escape rising floodwater by going into the attic unless you have roof access or unless it’s your only option.
- Consider flood insurance. Most homeowners’ insurance policies do not cover flood damage. Ask your insurance agent about obtaining flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program. Typically, a 30-day wait period is required before a flood insurance policy takes effect. Contact your insurance provider for more information.
In Your vehicle:
- Driving through flood waters is extremely dangerous; more people are trapped and die in their vehicles than anywhere else during a flood.
- It’s important to be prepared and aware of potential hazards when you’re away from home.
- For more tips on vehicles and flood waters, see NOAA’s Flooding Safety Card (PDF), which can be printed and stored in the glovebox. “Turn around don’t drown!”
Maintain awareness:
- Be aware of the possibility of flooding to make sure you and your family have adequate time to prepare for an evacuation. Maintain awareness of incoming storms, weather watches, warnings, and evacuations issued by the National Weather Service.
- Television and radio stations are a source of weather forecasts and emergency messages before and during a severe weather event.
- Consider purchasing a radio capable of picking up National Weather Service broadcast frequencies.
Smartphone Apps:
The Red Cross has developed applications for your smartphone to help you understand and prepare for emergencies, including flooding. Download these applications from iTunes and Google Play app stores.
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
The FEMA Mobile App helps you plan for and respond to natural disasters.
- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Weather Radio App provides up-to-date weather information and alerts.
The ReUnite app from the National Institute of Health helps connect lost family members and friends in a disaster situation.
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North Valley Hills Update
Dena Hernandez, Regional Manager (209) 473-6930
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How to connect to SCDD through Social Media | | |
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Family Resource Network (FRN) Update
Lisa Culley, Executive Director
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Family Resource Network (FRN) has several new & exciting projects in development. Join a team of fantastic parents who assist families as they navigate different systems of care, including: regional center, education, social services, and more. Use your skills and experiences as a parent, or close family member of a person with disabilities, to share that information with other parents and family members throughout our network. Every day is different and we encourage diverse individuals to apply. Flexible schedules and full and part-time positions available. See flyer for more details and how to apply! | |
Local County, State and National Public Health Resources | | | | |
