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Eighty-Ninth

Community Health

Advisory Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Weekly Message from the Executive Director

By the Numbers

This week we reported nine people with disabilities and two direct support professionals tested positive for COVID-19. All nine are recovering at home and it's the first time in several weeks we are not reporting any hospitalizations or deaths. The individuals are from age 5 to 32 years old and two cases were breakthrough cases. While we still are unaware of the vaccination status of 49% of the people we serve it's actually the third lowest percentage in the state thanks to a concerted effort by our clinical staff and contractors. We still rank the second highest vaccination rate for adults but only 5% of our eligible children are vaccinated which ranks towards the bottom of the regional centers. We still have not received very much interest from parents wanting us to put on a Children's and Booster vaccination drive through clinic at our buildings, but we'll keep the survey going a little longer in case there is interest: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7RHYP5R

The Valley Mountain Regional Center Performance Contract

It's that time of year again when Valley Mountain submits our Performance Contract goals and activities related to community living, independence, family supports, equity, and employment. This year we received more community input than we have in many years, and we are grateful to our community for this level of participation. We have developed a recorded PowerPoint presentation for everyone to listen to and read along and we'll have one final review during the December 22nd board meeting. Check out this pre-recorded presentation of this year's performance contract here.

Another Successful Film Camp in Lodi

Congratulations again to Lodi School District’s Career Connections and Joey Travolta for another successful film camp supported by Lodi School District and several sponsors. This was the first completed Film Camp for Lisa Chaves and it was highly successful. The community came out in strong support to watch their featured film and to honor the actors with disabilities and the crew all learning important employment skills for the entertainment industry. Students get a sense of accomplishment, enjoyment in making art, and practical skills for getting jobs in the industry which several have landed over the years.

Director Joey Travolta, Tony Anderson, Doreen Bestolarides, and Actor Barry Pearl at the 2021 Film Camp Premiere.

Tony Anderson

Executive Director

Case Management Update - Children

RADISelf Determination

Valley Mountain Regional Center is adding three Participant Choice Specialists to assist Services Coordinators, consumers and families with the Self Determination process. Please check out this link for more information about the role of this important position.

https://www.dds.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Participant_Choice_Specialists_October_2021.pdfIONAL

Early Start

Get a Jump on the New Year

Winter 2022 Courses

Click here to download the

Early Start Institute 2021-2022 Course Catalog

Early Start Online Courses Feature...

· Content grounded in the comprehensive, evidence-based core curriculum you've come to expect from Early Start personnel development activities

· Interactive learning facilitated by parent-professional facilitator teams

· Narrated slide presentations

· Video stories from Early Start families and professionals

· Online group interactions

· Assignments that generate discussion and deepen learning

Winter Session Course Offerings:

· Foundations: Partnering for Effective Service Delivery

· Foundations: Working Through the IFSP Process

· Skill Base: Facilitating Cognitive Development

· Skill Base: Facilitating Social and Emotional Development

· Skill Base: Facilitating Adaptive Development

Registration Closes: December 31 (or sooner, if courses are full)

· Courses Open: January 10

· Courses Close: March 18

· To register, simply Login or Sign Up, then choose courses from your Early Start Online homepage

"The instructor was fantastic. She went the extra mile and shared...

relevant and thoughtful feedback, was always timely, and was positive and supportive. I also appreciate the forum and how it is moderated...

As a SLPA, I have been using the information from the class as soon as I get it.

It's very relevant to supporting the families I work with...

Thank you for all the quality support. It makes a huge difference." - Early Start Online participant

Early Start personnel development is funded by lead agency California Department of Developmental Services in collaboration with the California Department of Education under the leadership and administration WestEd Center for Prevention & Early Intervention

Education

Venture Academy is hosting a 5k Run Fundraiser on 12/17 & have invited the public to participate. Proceeds will go to benefiting local charities. Registration for the event is $10. Payment is due at time of registration (cash, checks, or credit).

Date: Friday, Dec. 17

Time: Registration is at 8:30 a.m.; the fun run starts at 9:30 a.m.

Location: Venture Academy Family of Schools Gymnasium | 2829 Transworld Drive, Stockton

Autism Services

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services can be provided by various funding sources. Attached is an excellent resource from Disability Rights California that explains the different models as well as answers questions to help access services and address questions or concerns you might have.

https://www.disabilityrightsca.org/publications/access-to-aba-therapy

Tara Sisemore-Hester

Director of Consumer Services - Children

National Core Indicators (NCI)

Each year, NCI asks people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families about services they get and how they feel about them. NCI uses surveys so that the same questions can be asked to a large group. The NCI Child Family Surveys are mailed to families in many states.

The Child Family Survey is a survey that is mailed to families with children ages 3-18 old living with them or who receive at least one service from a regional center, in addition to case management. The survey is mailed to all available and valid family addresses who meet the criteria. Participation is voluntary and confidential. The survey asks families about information and planning/ access and community connection; choice and control; and family involvement.

The questions on the Child Family Survey are answered by someone who loves with a child who gets services from the state (like a parent or other family member). In California, all families who have a child with IDD in the home who gets regional center supports, are asked to do this survey.

Valley Mountain Regional Center will be presenting the results of this survey from the 2018-1019 fiscal year at our December 22nd Board Meeting, at 6:00 PM, via Zoom Video Conference. Public attendance is encouraged, and public comment related to the survey results will be hear.

VMRC Board of Directors Meeting

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

6:00 PM - Via Zoom Video Confer

Click Here to Join

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82056138937?pwd=VmhTMHRoeEh4L1dTSDdpVktvZ2dQZz09

Webinar ID: 820 5613 8937

Passcode: 009232

Case Management Update - Adults

Power Safety Shutoff Resources Application

If you are in immediate danger please contact your local emergency services or dial 9-1-1.

PSPS Resources Application

Individuals who complete the application below will be contacted by their local Disability Disaster Access & Resource Center (DDARC) staff and assessed for disaster and emergency services, including Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events.

Downloadable PDF version (English)

Downloadable PDF version (En Español)

Society for disABILITIES

1129 8th Street, Modesto, CA 95354

Tel: (209) 524-3536 | Fax: (209) 524-1205

Join Society for disABILITIES NEXT TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2021 for our FREE skate night with Modesto On Ice, sponsored by our friends at Morgan Stanley and Kelly McMurray.

Society for disABILITIES will be hosting a night of free ice skating with our friends and families at Modesto On Ice in downtown Modesto. The reserved time slot is for our group only and ice skating will start promptly at 4:00PM. There are walkers for those who may need the extra assistance; use of adaptive equipment is also allowed on the ice.

**Space is limited and all attendees that will be skating will need to register prior to the event.

DATE: Tuesday, December 14, 2021

TIME: 4:00 – 5:15PM

LOCATION: Modesto On Ice

1131 I Street, Downtown Modesto

SPOTLIGHT ON Hannah Paslak!

Friends, meet Hannah. Hannah is an amazing young woman who is living a self-determined life! Yes, she is in self-determination and living her dreams. Hannah loves her horse, Sunday! She loves camping, shopping and has the largest Build-A-Bear collection in all of Manteca, California.

Hannah owns her own business, Hannah’s Vision. You can check her out on Instagram @Hannahsvision92. She sells tie-dye shirts, masks, hair scrunchies, dog bandana’s and tote bags. Hannah even takes specialty orders and recently made 35 shirts for a local company. She’s working on a website – watch for updates on Instagram.

Hannah received a microgrant from Celebrate EDU for her business. She is busy working with her team, Victoria, Jessica, Rachel and Penny to keep the business growing and living her best life.

Hannah lives with seizures, balance difficulties, heart conditions, cerebral palsy, developmental/intellectual delays and she is legally blind due to optic nerve damage caused by nystagmus. Hannah uses IrisVision Electronic Glasses, which look like virtual reality goggles, to help her see things that she can’t usually see. Check out this picture of Hannah using her glasses at a Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert!

Hannah wants everyone to know she is happy! She says it’s easy to be happy. Her team supports her as a sighted guide, a personal assistant, creative business building and living her dreams. Hannah and her team overcome her challenges and plan to live every day happy. Hannah and her team are working on building strength and using her walker more! Hannah loves that everything is about her! She went on a trip to Monterey and it was everything she wanted to do! Hannah and her team called a hotel to make sure they had an accessible room for her, but quickly learned that accessible to the hotel didn’t mean the same thing to Hannah. Hannah says learning lessons while living her dreams is a good thing. She knows to ask follow up questions when she reserves the next hotel room for the next fun trip.

Hannah is thankful for the self-determination program. She says the program wrapped around her and supported her, her dreams, and her life!

Celebrate EDU empowers people with disabilities though online business and entrepreneurship education.

LEARN ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

START YOUR OWN BUSINESS.

Discover Your AWESOME

Are you ready to discover your AWESOME? Celebrate EDU has online classes for people at all stages of the entrepreneurial journey. Together they will help you explore opportunities for your future and take the steps to launch your own business! LEARN with Celebrate EDU!

Emergency Food Bank – Stockton/San Joaquin County

Two Weeks from Today! Please share the information. We never know who might need a little extra help with providing food to their families. Post the information in your breakroom, put it in the bulletin at church, add it to a school newsletter.

Holiday Food Giveaway, Tuesday, December 21 8am - 1pm. Lineup begins at 6am. Must show Photo ID AND Proof of San Joaquin County Address (utility bill as an example).

Wellness Winter Wonderland Event 2021

December 2021 at 1208 9th Street Wellness Center Calendar

Christine Couch (she, her, hers)

Director of Consumer Services - Adults

The Festival of Lights

While Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday which celebrates the victory of the Maccabees over the larger Syrian army, it has many more meanings. Is there really a winner in any war? Following the Maccabees victory and rededication of their temple in Jerusalem, they only had enough oil to light the Menorah for one night. The miracle of Hanukkah was that the one-day supply lasted for eight nights, which is why Hanukkah is celebrated for 8 nights and 8 days. The word Hanukkah means rededication and is referred to as The Festival of Lights.

For me, Hanukkah is a dedication to my faith, traditions, and the joy of being with friends and family. It is not a major holiday in Judaism but a festive and happy one. Jewish families in America celebrate with sharing the beautiful lights of the Menorah, blessing the candles, singing Hanukkah songs, playing the dreidel game, and eating latkes (potato pancakes). Since the miracle of Hanukkah is celebrating the oil lasting for 8 nights, we commemorate this with foods cooked in oil. In Israel, the traditional food is sufganiyot (jelly donuts). Hanukkah begins each year on the 25^th eve of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which occurs anytime from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar.

This year Hanukkah began November 28^th and concluded on December 6^th. Sharing cultures and learning about one another brings peace and understanding that creates a better world for all. I wish you all shared light, warmth, and good health during this holiday season and in the coming year.

Marlene Lombardo

VMRC Service Coordinator

Clinical Update

Vaccination and Booster, Still the First Line of Defense Against COVID-19

Yesterday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of mRNA COVID-19 booster shots for individuals 16 and 17 year old.[1] The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated their guidelines recommending booster for 16-17 year old.[2] Getting the booster shot will add to the immunity and preventative public health measures during this holiday season where a lot of people have gatherings. Recent studies show that the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 booster is effective against the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 virus.[3] Having two doses are still protective against severe illness but getting the booster increases the level of antibody titers or protection 25-fold.²

Now that epidemiologist expert from Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center is indicating that it is safe to assume that the Omicron variant is spread everywhere,[4] we should get vaccinated and/or get the booster. Additional layers of protection such as masking, hand washing, and physical distancing will help mitigate the spread of the virus. People should be aware that COVID-19 does not only cause death but also devastating long term symptoms that lasts for months.[5] Young, healthy individuals, teenagers, and children as young as 9 years old suffer from long-term COVID effects, even those who had asymptomatic infection.⁵

The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) has released a document about the Omicron Varian and how to help slow its spread. You can check that out here: https://www.vmrc.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Omicron-Variant-of-COVID-19.pdf

You will find more information below about the Omicron variant from experts at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.[6]^,^[7]

[1] FDA. December 09, 2021. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-expands-eligibility-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-booster-dose-16-and-17

[2] CDC. December 09, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1208-16-17-booster.html

[3] Pfizer. December 8, 2021. https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-and-biontech-provide-update-omicron-variant

[4] Johns Hopkins University HUB. December 06, 2021. https://hub.jhu.edu/2021/12/06/covid-briefing-dec3/

[5] Johns Hopkins University HUB. November 30, 2021. https://hub.jhu.edu/2021/11/30/young-people-long-covid/

[6] Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. November 30, 2021. https://www.facebook.com/JohnsHopkinsSPH/photos/pcb.10158308857971245/10158308741806245/?type=3&theater

[7] Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. November 30, 2021. https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2021/the-omicron-variant-of-covid-19-a-qa-with-virologist-andrew-pekosz

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

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

Rate Study/ Rate Increase Updates

Effective April 1, 2022, the Department of Developmental Services shall implement a rate increase for applicable service providers that equals one-quarter of the difference between current rates and the fully funded rate model for each provider. VMRC will be in contact with those service providers that need to provide information to the regional center to prepare for this first phase of the rate study implementation in April.

For more information, please visit DDS’ website: https://www.dds.ca.gov/rc/vendor-provider/rate-study-implementation/.

You may also submit your questions to VMRC directly: Rates@vmrc.net.

Resource Development Needs

VMRC is seeking qualified service providers for many services. Please see this link to our website and share with other qualified service providers who are interested in pursuing vendorization:

https://www.vmrc.net/clinical-services-request-for-proposals-rfps/

For qualified persons who are interested in developing licensed residential supports for persons served by VMRC, please follow this link to see our current Children’s and Adult residential needs

https://www.vmrc.net/letter-of-intent/

____________________________________________________________________________

Electronic Visit Verification “Town Hall” Meeting Registration Information

Upcoming workshop opportunity January 4, 2022, at 10:00 am – 11:00 am PST See Link:

Notification for Alternative EVV for Vendors

Brian L. Bennett

Director Of Community Services

Amazon Partnership

It is exciting to introduce our new partnership with Amazon. Amazon is by far the biggest company in our catchment areas and are currently hiring in multiple locations (Stockton, Manteca, and Tracy).

They also have locations in Patterson, Modesto and soon Turlock.

I am glad to report Amazon has a new Person with Disability (PWD) program which allows for individuals to declare a disability on their application and request accommodations. This will allow for our individuals to be provided with job coaching. Remember it is always up to the individual to choose to declare a disability and we support any choice made. Not choosing to declare will simply send you through application process.

Special thanks to Jaime Perez Staffing Coordinator Amazon for reaching out and making this partnership possible. We feel with job coaches being allowed it will increase our individuals’ chances at achieving competitive integrated employment with Amazon.

Any of our individuals looking to work for Amazon please notify your service coordinator and have them contact me the Employment Specialist. Great news to finish 2021 strong!!!!

There is a flyer below and a direct link here:

www.amazon.com/pwdhourlyjobs