Twenty-First Community Health Advisory Coronavirus (COVID-19)
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weekly message from the director...
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So, the most common questions we continue to get are (1) When will my day program open? (2) Can I visit my loved one in the licensed home? (3) What are the day programs doing to make sure there won't be a spread of COVID-19 in their programs? and (4) How are the homes going to prevent the spread and sustain their workforce?
Since our last Health Advisory #20, we have had a few important and significant developments that help us answer some of our community's most pressing questions, but also left some questions unanswered at this time. The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) released a directive that provides our community nonresidential providers with an extension of another 30 days to bill the regional centers for retention payments for consumer absences in their programs. This move essentially avoided major layoffs from day programs and others who anticipated no retention procedures and no return to onsite services policies making layoffs inevitable. Another important move from DDS was that it provided examples of how providers would bill for services in person at a consumer's home, at a community setting, at their facility, or in some other forum such as remote, self-determination, delivering supplies, etc. (be sure to read the Resource Development section below for details).
The big news we're still awaiting is the directives or guidance that will be coming to the community on how to safely return to in facility services. Eleven different advisory groups are working with DDS to come up with this guidance. The reason this guidance is important is that it will give us some direction of what can be expected of day programs, other nonresidential programs, and several other services in relation to maintaining health and safety and moving forward.
Another unanswered question has to do with how to implement advisories on what constitutes a "visitor" in licensed homes. VMRC and other monitoring agencies have to monitor or approve or acknowledge each home's visitor policy that they create specific to their home and within the guidance of the Department Social Services and the California Department of Public Health.
DDS and other state departments continue to work tirelessly to get us the personal protective equipment our community needs to stay safe and provide us with the policies and flexibilities we need to sustain our developmental services system. We are closer each week to having everything we need and hopefully next week we continue to make this kind of progress.
Sincerely,
Tony Anderson
Executive Director
Valley Mountain Regional Center
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Case Management Update
Food Donations Continue During COVID-19
VMRC staff delivered bags of groceries this past weekend to 68 more consumer families. The food was a generous donation from the local Presentation Food Pantry. This organization has provided needed nutrition to nearly 300 of our consumers and families over the past few months. Much thanks to them and to the volunteer staff who assisted with deliveries.
VMRC Transportation Update for August
Many of the transportation companies in the five-county area have adjusted to the pandemic needs. Services in our area throughout the month of August will be available as follows:
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Amador County—
Amador Transit will be charging as normal.
·
Calaveras County
—Calaveras Transit is providing all
free
rides in August.
·
Stanislaus County
—All modes of transportation will be
free
in August including Modesto MAX, Modesto Dial-A-Ride, Stanislaus Regional Transit (START), Ceres Dial-A-Ride, and Turlock Transit.
·
San Joaquin County
—San Joaquin RTD bus system is
free
. Dial-A-Ride and VanGo in Stockton continue to charge, as do other cities in San Joaquin County.
·
Tuolumne County
—Tuolumne Transit is providing all
free
rides in August.
Self-Determination Webinar
Valley Mountain Regional Center invites you to a free Self-Determination (SD) Informational Gathering Meet and Greet session on July 31
st
via Zoom from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
This is an opportunity for the families in our area to get to know Financial Management Service (FMS) vendors, Person-Centered Planners, and Independent Facilitators.
This will be in webinar format with our SD managers, Elizabeth Diaz and Angie Shear, facilitating. SD Service Coordinators will also be in attendance for all to meet. The panelists involved will present information and will be available for questions after information is given. Those presenting include:
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Yvette Torres—Acumen Fiscal Agent, LLC (FMS)
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Terrasel Jones—GT Independence (FMS)
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Tran Tran—Aveanna Healthcare (FMS)
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Mark Altieri—Public Partnership, LLC (FMS)
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Carlos Hernandez—(Independent Facilitator/Person Center Planner)
·
Will Sanford—Sanford Creative and Consulting Services, LLC (Person Centered Planner)
·
Elizabeth Barrios Gomez—Integrated Community Collaborative (Person Center Planner)
The Self-Determination Program is well underway for those participants selected and will be available to all in June of 2021. Please join us on July 31.
Password: 864928
HCBS Settings Rule Deadline Extended
The final compliance deadline for the Settings Rule is now March 17, 2023 extended by one year. It is after this point that federal reimbursement for HCBS providers will be dependent upon compliance with the Settings Rule.
The extension occurred in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued guidance to state Medicaid agencies on July 14 informing them that the agency will be extending the deadline for ensuring compliance with the Home and Community-Based Settings Regulation. In their guidance they stated, "States have faced significant challenges and delays in their implementation activities, and that service provision and community integration approaches have been disrupted. Due to these unprecedented challenges, CMS has extended the compliance deadline for this regulation to March 17, 2023. CMS is committed to continuing its work with states, advocates, and other stakeholders to continue to improve HCBS options.”
There is much work to be done to bring about needed compliance. VMRC will continue to work with local vendors to assist in HCBS compliance efforts.
Emergency Resources Available
Please stay safe and healthy!
Cindy Mix
Director of Consumer Services
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Clinical Update
People are asking when we can have a vaccine available to combat COVID-19. Recent studies show promising results of two vaccines. One of them is the vaccine trial from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre. The report of its phase ½ result showed that it was safe and was able to elicit immune responses among the participants.
[1]
,
[2]
The second one is from the National Key R&D Programme of China likewise showing significant immune response among the participants.
[3]
Every day, we learn something new about SARS-CoV-2 virus. Just over a month ago, a previous study
[4]
said your blood type might have a factor in the severity of COVID-19. Now a recent study says not really. This new study from the Annals of Hematology said that blood type is not associated with the risk of intubation or death, while blood type B and AB have higher chance of getting positive result, Type O less likely, and Type A has no correlation at all.
[5]
We’re also learning that older children, 10-19 years old, could more likely be transmitting SARS-CoV-2 among their household members.
[6]
And that survivors of CVOID-19 could have cognitive impairment after recovery.
[7]
Scientists also think that the actual CVOID-19 cases here in the United States were estimated to be 6-24 times the number of reported cases; and that in Connecticut, Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, New York City, Utah, and western Washington State, it could be greater than 10 times the reported cases.
[8]
Specifically for the people we serve, the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (AADMD) has released the
COVID-19 Support Guidelines for Individuals with IDD during the pandemic
. Their goal is to provide clear guidelines to be applied nationally in order to reduce the impact of COVID-19 to individuals with intellectual and developmental disability.
Throughout this week, our state and our country has continued to show increases in cases of COVID-19 and hospitalization rate. This will soon deplete our healthcare resources such as hospital beds, ICU capacity, healthcare workers, and personal protective equipment to name a few, if the rate of increase continues. Let us all do our part, each one of us, by wearing mask or face covering when outside our home, stay at least 6 feet away from people we do not live with, wash our hands frequently for 20 seconds with soap and water, or use hand sanitizer when soap and water is not available. Your action affects the community around you, and the same way that their action affects you. Together, we can all get through this.
Claire B. Lazaro, MSN, RN, NP, PHN, CCRN, FNP-C
Clinical Director
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Behavior/Early Start/Education Update
Behavior Services
With all the challenges during the last few months, our Coordinator of Autism Services, Melissa Claypool, has been working hard to adapt and provide supports to our families. Our parent training classes, which are offered in English and Spanish have been moved to an online platform. These classes are taught by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and provide an overview of basic behavioral terminology and techniques aimed at helping to provide parents with the knowledge to actively participate in their child’s programming. If you are interested in attending the class, please contact your child’s Service Coordinator for registration information.
Early Start
VMRC Early Start Service Coordinators have contacted families to determine technology needs and to check in on them regarding needs during this time of shelter in place.
Services - we continue to work with Resource Development to obtain intensive ABA services, Comprehensive Program services, Vision Therapist and other services.
The following waivers were extended:
Early Start In-Person Meetings
: Any requirements of the California Early Intervention Services Act or Title 17 requiring in-person meetings for determining eligibility or service coordination are waived. The regional center may continue to conduct evaluation and assessment activities and provide Early Start coordination by remote electronic communications, including Skype, Facetime, video conference or teleconference. The new expiration date for this waiver is August 9
th
, 2020.
Early Start Remote Services
: The requirements of the California Early Intervention Services act, Title 17 or a child’s Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) requiring the delivery of services in-person are waived. A service provided to a child in-person may be provided may be provided by remote electronic communications, including Skype, Facetime, video conference, or telephone conference. The new expiration date for this waiver is August 9
th
, 2020.
Extension of early intervention services
: Any requirements of the CEISA, including Government Code section 95014(a), mandating early intervention services end at age three are waived. Regional centers must continue to work with local schools to transition children to educational service pursuant to existing regulations. The new expiration date for this waiver is August 14
th
.
Education
Back to School During a Pandemic-Strategies for Success is a webinar that will be put on by Autism Ready Communities. This valuable webinar will be held on July 28
th
at 3:00. Click on this link to register:
U.S. Department of Education releases two IDEA (Individual Disability Education Act) Question and answer documents.
The VMRC Education Specialist, Olivia Held, is working with our community partners including FRN, SCDD, Local Education Agencies and others to put together a forum regarding distance learning. This will be a zoom webinar. Stay tuned for the details of this exciting event!
Tara Sisemore-Hester
Assistant Director, Clinical Services
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Employment Update
COVID 19 EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
During these difficult times caused by the COVID-19 global pandemic many individuals have lost their jobs in the retail, hospitality, and food service industries (dine-in restaurants). Despite the bleak outlook on the economy there are several companies that are increasing their hiring due to COVID 19 which include; Amazon, Safeway, Wal-Mart, Target, and Costco, and many fast food companies. Remember to follow Valley Mountain Regional Center on LinkedIn for more updates regarding employment opportunities for individual with developmental disabilities, below is a link to the updated list of companies that are currently hiring!!!
Enos Edmerson, Jr.
Employment Specialist
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North Valley Hills Update
Dena Hernandez, Regional Manager
The 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is this
Sunday, July 26, 2020!
We are excited to celebrate this incredible milestone even during a world pandemic! The ADA has been life changing for many and is just as important today as it was when it was enacted 30 years ago! Check this information out from the ADA Network! Share YOUR story!
Celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with the ADA National Network! We are asking everyone to share a moment in their lives when they were thankful for the ADA.
On a social media platform of your choosing use #ThanksToTheADA to share what the ADA means to you. This will look different for everyone, so have fun and be creative! Share any media of your choosing, (video, picture, written word, or other) and include #ThanksToTheADA.
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Disability Rights/Office of Clients' Rights Update
Summary of ACL No. 20-75 Extension of COVID 19 Related Exceptions to IHSS Regulations
The July 6,2020 ACL with a number of
extensions for COVID related IHSS is available here
Here is a summary:
Initial Assessments
1. Counties
may
conduct initial assessments via videoconferencing for applicants who have known exposure to, present symptoms of, or test positive for COVID-19
from August 4, 2020 until the end of the National Emergency
.
2. Before August 4, 2020, counties may use videoconferencing to conduct initial assessments as permitted in ACL 20-42.
Reassessments
3. Counties can no longer suspend reassessments. Counties that chose to suspend reassessments
must
complete all outstanding reassessments
by December 31, 2020
.
4. Extension allowing reassessments via telephone or videoconference until the end of the National Emergency. ACL 20-75.
Health Care Certification (SOC 873)
5. Extension allowing applicants an additional 45 days (90 days in total) to get
Health Care Certification
(SOC 873) signed by health care provider
until December 31, 2020
.
Paid Parent Provider Reevaluations
6. Extension allowing IHSS parent providers in two-parent households to continue to be paid if the second parent is no longer “unavailable” because the parent is not working or attending a school or vocational program due to COVID-19.
Extension expires on
August 3, 2020
.
Emergency COVID-19 Related Paid Sick Leave for Providers
7. Extension of requirement counties maintain IHSS back-up provider system
through December 31, 2020
.
8. Extension of 2-week COVID-related paid sick leave to IHSS and WCPS providers.
Extension expires on December 31, 2020.
9. Extension of $2 salary differential for IHSS emergency back-up providers.
Extension expires on December 31, 2020.
Provider Enrollment Requirements
10. Extension of waiver of IHSS provider enrollment requirements they attend in-person training and sign
Provider Enrollment Agreement
(SOC 846).
Extension expires on August 31, 2020
.
11.
Effective September 1, 2020
, counties must resume in-person provider enrollment orientations or conduct online orientations. Once orientations resume, IHSS providers enrolled between April and August 2020 must complete requirements
by December 31, 2020
.
DRC COVID-19 RESOURCE PAGE:
Here is my agency’s COVID-19
page
, which has quite a bit of information about people’s rights and various services that are impacted, including Medi-Cal, IHSS and special education (SPED). It is a work in progress as more information becomes available. That page is easily accessible from DRC’s
homepage.
OCRA: Office of Clients’ Rights Advocacy
Regional center consumers and their families should contact OCRA if they have questions about IHSS or other public benefits. OCRA can be reached at (209) 242-2127.
Nubyaan Scott
Clients' Rights Advocate/Attornty
Office of Clients' Rights Advocacy
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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 July 24th, 2020
TIME
: 11:00am-12:00pm
WHERE
: ZOOM- computer, tablet, cell phone
The next SAC6 CHAT:
·
Friday, July 24, 2020 - VMRC Strategic Plan - Tony Anderson and Kinetic Flow Presentation
Join Zoom Meeting on your computer, tablet or phone
https://zoom.us/j/98985671780pwd=bWZwekZSdXlJTVZuRnZTK2VBSHZYdz09
Meeting ID: 989 8567 1780
Password: 588860
You must enter the Password or you can call in:
TOLL FREE NUMBER TO CALL IN:
· 888 475 4499 US Toll-free or
· 877 853 5257 US Toll-free
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Five County Data Update
as of July 23, 2020
San Joaquin County
- 9826 total positive cases and 107 deaths
- 3,869 cases in the last 14 days
- 267 current hospitalizations
- 2% of ICU beds available
Stanislaus County
- 7,401 total positive cases and 79 deaths
- 3,057 cases in the last 14 days
- 284 current hospitalizations
- -5% of ICU beds available
Tuolumne County
- 117 total positive cases
- 49 cases in the last 14 days
- 6 current hospitalizations
- 17% of ICU beds available
Calaveras County
- 94 total positive cases
- 40 cases in the last 14 days
- 2 current hospitalizations
- 50% of ICU beds available
Amador County
- 67 total positive cases
- 23 cases in the last 14 days
- 3 current hospitalization
- 33% of ICU beds available
State of California
- 427,261 total positive cases and 8,154 deaths
Valley Mountain Regional Center
- 58 positive consumer cases
- 5 positive staff cases
- 1 positive volunteer case
- 29 positive provider cases
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Local County, State and National Public Health Resources
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