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103rd
Community Health
Advisory
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Weekly Message from the Executive Director
Tony Anderson
By the Numbers
This week we only reported one direct support professional with a positive COVID test and no consumers tested positive. At one point in the pandemic VMRC was ranked among the three worst outbreaks in the state with a high hospitalization rate and a high death rate. After the vaccinations became available to our community our numbers fell dramatically and we quickly became recognized among the highest percentage of vaccinated consumers in the state. Today we rank second in almost all categories except for one. The one category is children 5-11 years old and our ranking is among the three lowest regional centers in the state for these young children. In fact only 45 children in the VMRC region received their vaccinations. On a broader level California is reporting 71% vaccination rate, which is second to only New York of the country's largest states.
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POS Expenditure Hearings and Focus Groups
Over the past month we have been meeting with various community groups to review the expenditure patterns of VMRC across various age groups and race and ethnicity. One bit of good news was that for consumers living at home the percentage of spending matched the percentage each ethnic group represented (link) and the same for those not living at home (link). However when slicing the categories down to two year age bands we still are seeing large drops in service use for Hispanic consumers during the transition time from school to adulthood and another during the ages of 10-12 years. The focus groups and public forums were rich in important feedback emotional conversations and included over 225 advocates from the community both in-person and online using Zoom.
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Transportation Updates Meetings
Transportation continues to be one of the biggest barriers to returning fully to many of the day time services. Even though we are all facing unprecedented workforce shortages and seriously diminished service capacity, we are fortunate at VMRC to be contracting with R&D Transportation as they are diligently focused on helping us rebuild our transportation infrastructure and get everyone back to the services of their choice for work and other day time support services. We will be starting monthly check-in and update meetings together with R&D Transportation in April and the meetings will continue until we decide we longer need them. They will occur on the second Thursday of the month from 10 am to 11 am. To participate and observe the meeting register below:
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We Need Your Feedback
A couple of weeks ago we passed the 100 mark for our Health Advisory (known by many as the "HA") and it's time for us to hear from you the readers about how this newsletter is read, if it's helpful to you, and if you have ideas for us for how to make it better. Please take a little bit of your time and give us some feedback through the "HA Readers Survey".
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Case Management Update - Children
Tara Sisemore-Hester
Director of Consumer Services - Children
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April is World Autism Awareness Month!
Autism is celebrated every day by so many people, but April is a special time of the year dedicated to promoting acceptance, celebrating differences, and creating a more inclusive world.
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Start by kicking off the month by participating in April 2nd for World Autism Awareness Day! All around the world, people will be participating in Autism Awareness events, promoting the rights and the acceptance of individuals with Autism. In 2007 the United Nations (UN) General Assembly passed the resolution to establish April 2nd as World Autism Awareness Day. This is only one of seven international awareness days established by the UN. Each year, the UN establishes a theme with this year being Inclusive Education. For more information on this year’s initiative, including a brief virtual event on April 8th highlighting inclusive education practices around the world, please visit https://www.un.org/en/observances/autism-day | |
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April is National Child Abuse Awareness Month
Come support our friends from the San Joaquin County Child Abuse Prevention Council for their annual Ducky Debry Race to raise funds for the Council. VMRC will be participating with a resource table at this event!
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Spotlight on Angel Sanchez Castillo |  | My name is Angel Sanchez Castillo and I am 10 years old. I live at home with my mom dad and siblings, I love my family. I currently am placed in a KAVERE Pinetown care home. I love spending time with my family during my home visits. I love helping my mom cook and especially playing with my New ipad I received for Christmas. I attend August Knodt School. I am in the 4th grade. I am doing really well. I recently got an A on my most recent King Richard exam. I am no longer having any meltdowns in my classroom, I am on task and being apart of the class room. My maturity lever has also increased. Since being in the KAVERE home I have worked on expressing my emotions in a healthy way. Since I am doing so well behaviorally, I have been working with my staff to develop life skills such as doing laundry and helping to set up the table to eat. Helping my mom cook is my favorite. I have overcome many challenges in my short life and I am able to with the loving support of my mom, extended family, and VMRC. I am happy, very affectionate, and I love to laugh. I enjoy spending time with my family! | |
VMRC will be participating in Amador Child Care Council’s 24th Annual ‘Celebrate Our Children’ event! This year's event will feature exciting activities, lunch, Chewy the Tooth, a Car Seat Check, petting zoo, entertainment, and fluoride varnishes! Admission is free! April 9th 11am – 2pm! | |
Case Management Update - Adults
Christine Couch
Director of Consumer Services - Adults
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"Taking the steps to make an informed choice."
Thank you for this great photo Speaking Up For Us
| SPOTLIGHT ON Danny Pintor | Meet Danny! Danny lives at home but says he doesn’t rely on his parents. He makes his own meals, does his own laundry, takes care of himself and cleans up and cuts the grass. Danny and his parents use an app called Allowance. This app allows them to make lists of things to do for Danny. Danny likes visual aids, as they help him accomplish all of his goals each day. Each time Danny finishes an item on the list, he marks it off and then at the end of the day, his parents give him stars for the completed tasks. Danny exchanges those stars for preferred items and activities with his parents. He has chosen dinner at a new restaurant and Beast Wars Action Figures. Danny also uses the calendar on his cell phone to structure his day. The alarm on the cell phone helps Danny know what to do and when to do it. |  | Danny is in the Self-Determination Program and he loves it. He relies on his Mom to be his Independent Facilitator. She has helped him set up his amazing, self-determined life. Check out Danny’s YouTube Video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebwxNzsgR0w. Danny currently participates at Wide Horizons for his supported employment. Danny is proud to have a job at Ed’s Rockery – he has worked there for over a year with the help of Wide Horizons. He has learned to use a jackhammer, water the plants, help repot plants, feed the fish and practice using the Kabota. He uses Manteca Transit to get to and from places in town. |  | |
Danny is a very hard worker and gives back to his community. He shared with us that he participates in the Kiwanis’s and likes being treated like an adult. He volunteers with the Kiwanis’s every Thursday and this is an opportunity for him to practice talking with people. He also likes to volunteer with the VFW food giveaways to veterans every month.
Danny is practicing his communication skills as the Comicon events. He dresses up as Captain America. When Danny is dressed as Captain America, he takes pictures with people and talks to them. Danny says dressing as Captain America helps him to relax. Danny is a hard worker and gives back to the community! Danny also wants people to know he is willing to help others and likes to show others that you can have a job, you can learn skills and you can achieve your goals.
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Check Out Our Upcoming Transition Fairs!
Click on Each Flyer for Details
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Meet Emelia
Hello! I am Emelia Vigil and I am the Senior Service Coordinator for the Enhanced Team. I have been with Valley Mountain Regional Center for the past 9.5 years. For the last 7 years, I have been a Service Coordinator on a Children’s team. I am excited to be part of this new team that will continue to support and provide advocacy for our consumers and their families.
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Community Services Update
Brian Bennett
Director of Community Services
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Monthly Community Services Department Provider Informational Session
Info-Sessions will occur 1x per Month on the FIRST FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH
Zoom Link to upcoming Monthly Session
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88548962379
April 1st 2022, 9-10 am
May 6th 2022, 9-10 am
June 3rd 2022, 9-10 am
July 1st 2022, 9-10 am
August 5th 2022, 9-10 am
October 7th 2022, 9-10 am
November 4th 2022, 9-10 am
December 2nd 2022, 9-10 am
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Home and Community Based Services (HCBS)
The HCBS Final Settings Rule applies to all vendors who provide services in a setting that serves more than one regional center consumer. The intent of the Final Settings Rule is to ensure that people with developmental disabilities receive services that integrate them fully into the community to the same degree as people without developmental disabilities. It ensures quality of life! They also ensure that the residential settings that services are received in are home environments rather than institutional environments. All settings must optimize and enhance choice rather than regimenting it. The HCBS Final Settings Rule protects consumers rights including the right to privacy, dignity, respect and freedom from coercion and restraint. The Final Settings Rule goes into effect March 17th, 2023, all providers with the service codes listed below, must be compliant by that date.
VMRC will continue hosting trainings for Residential Providers, Day Type Services Providers and Employment Services Providers. Service providers under the following service codes are strongly encouraged to sign up for one of the trainings provided. It takes time and effort to implement these requirements. Eligible service codes are Residential: 096, 113, 904, 905, 915, 910, 920; Employment Services: 950 and 954; Day Type Services: 028, 055, 063, 475, 505, 510, 515, 855
The attached flyers have registration links on them for the following trainings. You must register to take the training. Once you have registered you will receive a link for the zoom session on the date you have chosen. For attendance purposes please have each staff taking the training register with their own contact information including their email address. Any last-minute changes to the scheduled trainings will be communicated to the registered individuals by email at the email address they have provided.
HCBS Trainings for Residential Providers
April 5th, 2022, 10:00am – 11:00am
April 14th, 2022, 1:00pm – 2:00pm
May 3rd, 2022, 10:00am – 11:00am
May 17th, 2022, 1:00pm – 2:00pm
HCBS Trainings for Day Type and Employment Services
April 5th, 2022, 3:00pm – 4:00pm
May 4th, 2022, 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Contact Anna Sims, SCSL, HCBS Program Evaluator with questions: (209) 955-3353, asims@vmrc.net
HCBS for Day Program and Employment Providers March 2022 through May 2022
HCBS for Residential Providers March 2022 through May 2022
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VMRC is seeking Qualified Commercial Transportation Service Providers to submit Letters of Interest
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.
Transportation services include transporting individuals to and from their place of residence to day programs, generally between the hours from 6:00 am - 6:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Individuals may need supervision, assistance with wheelchairs, or assistance and monitoring while being transported. Currently, VMRC needs to expand its transportation routes to fulfill emergent service needs for individuals for round-trip travel to/from their respective program activities.
More Information about vendorization may be found on DDS’s website at https://www.dds.ca.gov/rc/vendor-provider/vendorization-process/ under
“Vendorization Process” or under California Code of Regulations, Title 17, and Sections
54310 through 54390, vendor application requirements; Sections 58500 to 58570,
Transportation Services; and Sections 54342(a)(81) and (84).
Interested Commercial Transportation service providers should contact R&D Transportation at
(888) 695-8848 Ext. 242
RFPQuestions@rdtsi.com
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Clinical Services Updates
Claire B. Lazaro, MSN, RN, NP, PHN, NP-C
Director of Clinical Services
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COVID-19 UPDATE
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a second booster dose for individuals 50 years old or more and immunocompromised individuals when it has been at least 4 months after they got the first booster dose of either Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine.[1] The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also updated their COVID-19 booster recommendations to reflect the FDA’s authorization.[2] In California, residents can schedule their second booster shots through the state scheduling system: https://myturn.ca.gov/#0.[3]
Details of the FDA amendment to the emergency use authorization of the booster:1
- A second booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine or Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine may be administered to individuals 50 years of age and older at least 4 months after receipt of a first booster dose of any authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine.
- A second booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine may be administered to individuals 12 years of age and older with certain kinds of immunocompromise at least 4 months after receipt of a first booster dose of any authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine. These are people who have undergone solid organ transplantation, or who are living with conditions that are considered to have an equivalent level of immunocompromise.
- A second booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine may be administered at least 4 months after the first booster dose of any authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine to individuals 18 years of age and older with the same certain kinds of immunocompromise.
Remember that we now have two COVID-19 vaccines that are fully approved by FDA. These are Comirnaty (Pfizer) for individuals 16 years and older,[4] and Spikevax (Moderna) for individuals 18 years and older.[5]
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Disability Rights California, the Exceptional Family Resource Center, and State Council of Developmental Disabilities will have a webinar on COVID-19’s Impact on Students with Disabilities in California: A Family-Focused Training on “Learning Recovery Services” and Compensatory Education. This will be on April 09, 2022 at 10 AM.
Register here to attend: https://www.disabilityrightsca.org/post/webinar-covid-19s-impact-on-students-with-disabilities-in-california#register.
They will talk about:
- The impacts of COVID-19 school closures and distance learning on students with disabilities in California
- Recent state guidance about determining a student’s services and support needs due to COVID-19 school closures and distance learning
- The difference between “learning recovery services” and compensatory education
- Strategies and tips to help families effectively advocate for their child’s special education needs due to COVID-19 school closures and distance learning
[1] FDA. March 29, 2022. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-second-booster-dose-two-covid-19-vaccines-older-and
[2] CDC. March 29, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/s0328-covid-19-boosters.html
[3] The Sacramento Bee. March 29, 2022. https://myturn.ca.gov/#0
[4] FDA. August 23, 2021. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-covid-19-vaccine
[5] FDA. January 31, 2022. https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/spikevax-and-moderna-covid-19-vaccine
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Region 6 Autism Connection
Educational and Family Resources
April is Autism Acceptance month
“Spread Kindness”
Region 6 Autism Connection includes stakeholders from SELPAs, school districts, Valley Mountain Regional Center, Family Resource Network, Diagnostic Center and nonpublic agencies supporting the communities within the counties of Amador, Calaveras, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne
SOLS at Home contains resources for teachers, parents and caregivers to share or use with students over school breaks. Each monthly unit, includes FREE resources to support academic and independent work for primary and secondary students. Follow our easy guide on how to share these great resources by clicking here.
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Autism Internet Modules (AIM)
Designed for those who support, instruct, work with or live with someone with autism, these free, online Autism Internet Modules (AIM) guide users through case students, instructional videos, pre and post assessments, discussion questions, activities and more.
http://www.autisminternetmodules.org
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ADEPT (Autism Distance Education Parent Training) Interactive Learning is an original UC Davis MIND Institute 10-lesson interactive, self-paced, online learning module providing parents with tools and training to more effectively teach their child with autism and other related neurodevelopmental disorders functional skills using applied behavior analysis (ABA) techniques.
https://health.ucdavis.edu/mindinstitute/centers/cedd/adept.html
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Valley Mountain Regional Center
(209) 473-0951
www.vmrc.net
Parent Training class
6-hour interactive parent training to teach basic terminology and behavioral skills and make you and your child eligible for in-home behavior services through VMRC. Saturdays 9-3:30; Stockton and Modesto locations. Child care not provided. Discuss with Service Coordinator for registration information.
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CAPTAIN is a multiagency network developed to support the understanding and use of
Evidence Based Practices for individuals affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder across the state.
www.captain.ca.gov
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North Valley Hills Update
Dena Hernandez, Regional Manager (209) 473-6930
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On Wednesday, March 30, 2022, Governor Newsom appointed two new members to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities. One of the new members is Mr. Eric Ybarra from our region! Congratulations Eric! We are proud of you and know you will do a wonderful job on SCDD! | |
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Eric Ybarra, At-Large, Self Advocate, Stockton, CA
Ybarra was a Contracted Surveyor for the State Council on Developmental Disabilities in 2021. He has been an active member of the State Council on Developmental Disabilities Regional Advisory Committee and recently its chair. Ybarra has been a member of the Self Advocacy Council 6, Disability Rights CA Board, VMRC Board and the CHOICES Committee.
He lives in his apartment with his two cats that he loves! He likes listening to old game shows and catching up with his family.
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How to connect to SCDD through Social Media | |
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Self-Advocacy Council 6 (SAC6)
Come learn about Senate Bill 639 and share your ideas on how to end subminimum wage in California with SAC6 & SCDD
WHEN: Friday, April 1, 2022
TIME: 11:00 AM -12:15 PM
WHERE: ZOOM - computer, tablet, cell phone
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 879 0360 6745
Passcode: 391966
PDF Version of the SAC6 Flyer Here
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Family Resource Network (FRN) Update
Lisa Culley, Executive Director
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Building Bridges: Transitioning Your Child from the Early Start Program
Is your child turning 3 soon? Join FRN for a parent workshop on Building Bridges: Transitioning Your Child From the Early Start Program! Learn about the process of advocacy, what's happening during the months leading up to your child's 3rd birthday, the Individual Education Plan (IEP) process, and ongoing services available through VMRC. You will walk away from this training with knowledge that will give you a great foundation for the next stage of parenting your child with special needs. Attendees will receive a Building Bridges workbook to complete as you prepare for your child's transition. Spanish interpretation will be available. Register by clicking the link on the flyer, calling the FRN office at 209-472-3674 or by email at FRNfamilies@frcn.org
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FRN is excited to join with Lead4Tomorrow to present Family Hui-a Family Strengthening Program in San Joaquin County for families raising children with special needs and disabilities. A Hui (hoo’ee) is a group of people with common goals and interests.
The Family Hui Program provides time to meet others who are on similar journeys through:
• Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Trauma-Informed Peer-led Parenting Group
• Positive Parenting / Child-rearing Framework (Ages 0-5)
• Community Building with Leadership and Advocacy Skills
• Strengthening Families to Forge Resiliency
• Creating Safe, Nurturing Environments for Children and Families
• Sessions will start online, with the potential to transition to in-person meetings.
You will join 7-9 other families as you work through the sessions. Stipends and goody bags will be provided to families participating and completing the first Family Hui. You will receive valuable resources and a great toolkit of supplies and skills to strengthen and grow your family. Please click for more information or to complete the registration. You will be contacted as we schedule and plan the sessions.
English - https://forms.gle/1NQAUDAv12DM5iwy6
Spanish - https://forms.gle/5gkgqQzbq2mYbXvg7
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Local County, State and National Public Health Resources | | | | |
