Seventy-Eighth

Community Health

Advisory Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Weekly Message from the Executive Director

By the Numbers

This week VMRC reported 16 consumers testing positive down from 20 last week (two were breakthrough infections). All are recovering at home and the few who were hospitalized have returned home. Also, we are still seeing a high percent of children testing positive with our reporting showing 10 young kids testing positive over the last 8 days. We also saw a slight decline in the numbers for our direct support professionals but still four DSP tested positive.

Direct Support Professionals Week

As we come to end of National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week we want to take this moment to recognize our DSPs in our region and say thank you. This has been a tremendously difficult time for our DSPs and some have left the field for a variety of reasons. Since the beginning of July we have reported almost 100 DSPs have tested positive for COVID-19. This is scary and stressful for our DSPs, their families, their consumers, and everyone connected to them. In a recent follow-up study, Direct Support Workforce and COVID-19 National Report: Six-Month Follow-up, by the University of Minnesota, Institute on Community Integration, half the organizations reported being short staffed, over half the DSPs said their work life has gotten worse during the pandemic, and almost half (47%) reported they had been exposed to COVID-19. The study offers the following ideas for solutions:

• Ensure DSPs are identified as essential workers in comprehensive, organized, and funded response plans at national and state levels for additional waves of COVID-19 and future pandemics.
• Access to childcare and support if schools or daycares close.
• Wage increases for essential workers commensurate with the increased level of exposure.
• Access to career ladders that lead to increased skills and compensation.
• Create systems-level pipelines and incentives to enter this workforce.
• Increased training on health and safety for DSPs.
• Professional recognition and wage equity for direct support.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has helpful guidance for the nation's DSPs. Guidance on keeping people with IDD safe and keeping yourself safe from COVID-19 exposures, what to do if your client is exposed or you are exposed, and resources for dealing with the stress of caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic.

And Finally

This week we completed our first week of testing for all of our staff who were either not vaccinated or who chose to get a COVID-19 test. We are very happy to report that of our remaining 92 staff only two refused testing. We have excellent staff and while some will no longer work for our community if testing is required, we thank them for the quality service they have provided and wish them the very best. As we continue to make every effort to keep our consumers, their families, our staff, and providers safe here are the latest policies we're implementing to gain our community's trust in securing their safety:

1. Testing Policy
2. FAQs for the Testing Policy
3. Workplace Return
4. In-Person Procedures

Tony Anderson

Executive Director

What is National Disability Voter Registration Week?

Every year, the REV UP Campaign coordinates National Disability Voter Registration Week (NDVRW) to increase the political power of people with disabilities by sharing resources and getting folks registered to vote. This year, NDVRW is September 13-20, 2021. In the last election, an estimated 38 million people with disabilities were eligible to vote, and we invite national, state, and local organizations to participate in NDVRW in order to continue to raise the disability voice and civic participation across the country in 2021 and beyond.

Clinical Update

Schedule Your Flu Shot Now!

VMRC has Drive-thru Flu Shot Clinics at our Stockton and Modesto offices, in partnership with Safeway (Albertsons) Pharmacy. Register now and get protection all through out flu season. This is open to all consumers, consumer families, vendors, vendor family, VMRC staff and families and the general community.

October 7 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm, VMRC Stockton Office

Pre Registration is Required, Register Here:

Please bring your medical card AND prescription card to the clinic.

Participants not insured or covered will have to pay out of pocket at point of service

$35 for Regular flu vaccine

$69 for Senior dose flu vaccine

We will accept check or credit card

October 14 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm, VMRC Modesto Office

Pre Registration is Required, Register Here:

Please bring your medical card AND prescription card to the clinic.

Participants not insured or covered will have to pay out of pocket at point of service

$35 for Regular flu vaccine

$69 for Senior dose flu vaccine

We will accept check or credit card

COVID-19 UPDATES

There have been physicians spreading misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines. The 3 medical boards backed the recently released statement of the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) against the spread of misinformation by physicians. These medical boards, the “American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM), the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM), and the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP), support FSMB’s position. We also want all physicians certified by our Boards to know that such unethical or unprofessional conduct may prompt their respective Board to take action that could put their certification at risk. … The evidence that we have safe, effective and widely available vaccines against COVID-19 is overwhelming. We are particularly concerned about physicians who use their authority to denigrate vaccination at a time when vaccines continue to demonstrate excellent effectiveness against severe illness, hospitalization and death. … In times of medical emergency, the community of expert physicians committed to science and evidence collectively shares a responsibility for giving the public the most accurate and timely health information available, so they can make decisions that work best for themselves and their families.”  Those who have questions as to the safety of the COVID-19 Vaccines related to pregnancy and breastfeeding, watch this video to learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb-vA8l6WaQ 

COVID-19 Vaccine Information and Resource

Our two previous webinars about the COVID-19 vaccine have relevant information that can help you or those you support with disabilities make an informed decision: "The COVID-19 Vaccine and What It Means for the Disability Community" and "Gain COVID-19 Vaccine Knowledge and Support Strategies." 

Below, you can watch short, 2 to 4 minute videos on various vaccine-related topics to hear more specific information directly from disability community members and health experts! Even if you've already gotten the vaccine, check them out, or share with friends, family, or coworkers. Together, we can THRIVE! 

View short informational videos on specific 

COVID-19 vaccine-related topics:

Testimonials from Members of the Community

Experts Discuss Vaccine Safety

Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy by Promoting Confidence

Please continue to stay safe and healthy.

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

Director of Clinical Services

Johns Hopkins Medicine has a great article about caregivers taking care of themselves. Caregivers need care too. Here are some warning signs of burnout, and strategies to help mitigate it. https://closler.org/lifel…/how-to-mitigate-caregiver-burnout

California Memorial Project 19th Annual California Remembrance Ceremony

Join us for our live webinar event: Disability Rights California’s Peer Self-Advocacy (PSA) program and the California Memorial Project (CMP) will hold its 19th annual Remembrance ceremony to honor and celebrate our peers who lived and died in California state hospitals without the recognition they deserved. We will acknowledge our peers still living in these institutions today, many who died and are still dying from the Covid-19 pandemic. By sharing stories, poems, songs, artwork, cultural perspectives and a moment of silence, we will celebrate their lives so they are seen and heard - they are not to be forgotten.

When:

September 20, 2021

1:00PM - 2:00PM

Register and join us at the California Memorial Project: https://www.disabilityrightsca.org/post/webinar-19th-annual-california-memorial-project-remembrance-ceremony

The Infant Development Association IDA celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th to October 15th. The theme for 2021 is Esperanza! Esperanza (hope) is what early intervention is all about. A child development specialist, Adriana Castillo, created the beautiful artwork below that was chosen for this year's theme. To read the artist's equally inspiring message visit the IDA website at https://www.idaofcal.org/

Disability Scoop Resource

A university program is offering youth of color with intellectual and developmental disabilities introductions to STEM careers with real-life experiences working in the field at a tech company. Read this exciting story here:

Christine Couch (she, her, hers)

Director of Consumer Services - Adults

Community Services Training Opportunities and Service Provider Information

VMRC has posted a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Transportation Service/ Competitive Procurement to our website – Applications are being accepted from October 1st through November 1st. 

Valley Mountain Regional Center (VMRC) is seeking service providers to operate transportation services and transportation assistant services to serve people with developmental disabilities who reside in the counties of: Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Tuolumne, Amador, Calaveras. Developmental disabilities include intellectual disabilities, epilepsy, autism, and cerebral palsy. The applicant selected to provide transportation services and transportation assistant services in the VMRC service region will work closely with R&D Transportation services, Inc. (R&D) a full-service transportation broker, who provides scheduling, routing, quality assurance, and oversight of all contract transportation billing invoices.

Any inquiries regarding the application or requesting technical assistance should be directed to Robert Fernandez, Division Manager – Resource Development, at 209-955-3620, or Brian L. Bennett, Community Services Director, at 209-955-3309. Please note that technical assistance is limited to information regarding the requirements for preparation of the application packet Additional questions regarding the transportation service agreement or the transportation vendorization process may be submitted to R&D (VMRC transportation broker) via e-mail to: RFPQuestions@rdtsi.com For full RFP Document:

Transportation Services Request for Proposal Information Webinar

Friday, September 17, 2021, at 2:00 p.m.

The link is included below for reference as well.

You are invited to a Zoom webinar.

When: Sep 17, 2021, 02:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Topic: RFP Conference - Transportation Services VMRC

Register in advance for this webinar:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0UQ0WZ9_T_y0setqFL49aA

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Community Services Information:

Wildfire Prevention/ Safety Training Opportunity:

Public Safety Power Shut (PSPS) Off Informational Training Sessions

To reduce the threat of wildfires, public utilities may temporarily shut off power to a neighborhood.

PG&E will be providing customer care training sessions for all Regional Center Staff and All Service Providers. The session will be one hour long and will be recorded. Additionally, there will be a Q&A at the end of each session to help answer your questions and to provide the opportunity for the utility to hear from you about how they can improve their outreach and services to our populations.

Wednesday, September 22, 2021, 10-11:00 am

https://zoom.us/j/96038976797?pwd=MDU4VnpHMnUydHdyckZObDBhTzVJZz09#success

669-900-9128  Meeting ID: 96038976797#

Weekly Community Services Department Provider Informational Session

please join VMRC staff and other partner agencies via ZOOM ; 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

SEEKING QUALIFIED BCBAs

VMRC is doing everything we can to help our provider community as they work to attract and train quality staff. Merakey, one of our newest partners, providing an intensive residential service is seeking qualified BCBA’s also many of our partners are looking for a variety of direct support professionals which you can find on our website at: https://www.vmrc.net/jobs/

Brian L. Bennett

Director Of Community Services

How to connect to SCDD through Social Media

Family Resource Network Update from

Lisa Culley, Executive Director

Building Bridges Workshop-Is your child turning 3 soon? The Building Bridges Training is all about transitioning from the Early Start Program to Special Education, pre-school or ? Learn about the process-timelines, the law, and rights of parents and children in the process. Register for the workshop using the link on the flyer. Virtual Workshop-Wednesday, September 29, 2021, from 9:30am-11:30am. This workshop will have Spanish interpretation.

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.

Thank you!

Lisa Culley

Executive Director

Family Resource Network

5250 Claremont Ave., Suite 148

Stockton, CA 95207

www.frcn.org

209-472-3674

PDF Version Here

PDF Version Here

Self-Advocacy Council 6 (SAC6)

Weekly Virtual Chat

Let’s Check In with each other!



WHEN: September 17, 2021

TIME: 11:00 AM -12:15 PM

WHERE: ZOOM - computer, tablet, cell phone

Come and Learn About the California Memorial Project & Ceremony and honor those we lost in our area.

From SAC6 & Christine Couch, Director of Consumer Services - Adults

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83813755967?pwd=OUd0S1Y0K3NhWTZHbmtKSFByeEt0Zz09

Meeting ID: 838 1375 5967

Passcode: 511570

You must enter the Password

OR you can call in:

TOLL FREE NUMBER TO CALL IN

888 475 4499 US Toll-free

877 853 5257 US Toll-free

Also – VMRC Update by Tony Anderson and Mental Health Tip of the Day by Dr. Dave Demetral of Person Centered Services!

PDF Version of the SAC6 Flyer Here

Disability Rights California (DRC) Releases New Report “Evaluation of Limitations of Subminimum Wage Employment Under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act”

COVID-19 Update

Valley Mountain Regional Center



·    843 positive consumer cases and 31 deaths

·    38 positive VMRC staff cases

·    4 positive volunteer cases

·    397 positive provider cases and 1 death