|
106th
Community Health
Advisory
| |
|
Weekly Message from the Executive Director
Tony Anderson
By the Numbers
This week we reported 10 positive COVID-19 cases. Of the 10 cases three were consumers and 7 were direct support professionals. We had no reports of hospitalizations and no reported positive cases among our staff at VMRC. The booster mandate continues for our staff and the staff in the licensed programs and as of this week we have 6 remaining staff that have not received their boosters yet. All staff who have religious or medical exemptions continue to take COVID tests weekly and almost all staff will be past the booster requirement deadlines by the end of this month (some staff who tested positive before getting their boosters may be postponed as late as July 2022). While the US and other countries are offering the second booster for vulnerable health populations, a story this week on PBS reported that both Modera and Pfizer are testing “bivalent” shots (a mix of each company’s original vaccine and an omicron-targeted version) as a better approach than just modifying the original vaccination (click for more). As of now people over 50 and with vulnerable health conditions may request a booster from their health professionals.
| |
Two Great Opportunities to Engage with Valley Mountain Regional Center | |
|
Caseload Ratio Compliance
Each year we report on the caseload ratio compliance and we are required to hold at least one public meeting to receive
stakeholder input to help inform the way the regional center allocates new positions funded through the allocation. The public meeting fulfills our requirement in law to gather input regarding a plan of correction. Each year we send out a survey to gain further public input and in recent years the survey has produced some really good ideas. Each year we make progress on this requirement but with limited funds and an old funding formula, our regional center, as well as all regional centers, find it impossible to meet the ratios. However, we are excited to report that statewide the reginal center system anticipates a major investment in case management. This investment will clearly result in improved responsiveness from all regional centers and provide our service coordinator with the opportunity to spend more quality time with our consumers and families to more fully engage in person-centered planning and thinking.
| |
Contract Performance
In addition to the caseload ratio compliance we also report twice a year on our contract performance regarding a few key performance measures that each regional center is working on in their region. While our activities are different the performance measures are the same statewide. The performance measures we try to improve on are less people living in institutions, more kids living at home, more adults living independently, more adults living in supported living, more adults living in Family Home Agency homes, more adults living at home, less kids living in group homes with more than six kids, and less adults living in group homes with more than six adults. This year we improved in almost every area. See our webpage by the end of the month to see the new report for the complete year of 2021.
| |
|
Upcoming Calendar of Important Events
- Partners in Policymaking Information Session
Friday, April 22, 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Hybrid
VMRC Stockton Office Cohen Board Room, 702 N. Aurora St., Stockton, CA 95202
Click Here to Join via Zoom
Meeting ID: 839 8993 6548
Passcode: 434093
- Community Connectors Resource Fair
Monday, April 25, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
San Joaquin County Office of Education
2707 Transworld Drive, Stockton, CA 95206
Event Flyer Here
- Transition Fair - Stockton
Wednesday, April 27, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
702 N. Aurora Street, Stockton, CA 95202
Event Flyer Here
- VMRC Board of Directors Meeting
Wednesday, April 27, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Hybrid
VMRC Stockton Office Cohen Board Room, 702 N. Aurora St., Stockton, CA 95202
Click Here to Join via Zoom
Webinar ID: 890 8530 9205
Passcode: 726057
- Transition Fair - Modesto
Friday, April 29, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
1820 Blue Gum Avenue, Modesto, CA 95358
Event Flyer Here
Caseload Ratio Public Meeting for Plan of Correction
May 31, 2022
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 829 7446 6592
Passcode: 572640
Performance Contract Public Meeting
June 6, 2022
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 885 7170 9612
Passcode: 143391
| |
|
Case Management Update - Children
Tara Sisemore-Hester
Director of Consumer Services - Children
| |
|
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.
| |
|
The National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH) has excellent information and resources about Autism, including a digital brochure available in English and Spanish. For more information, please visit
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/autism-spectrum-disorder
| |
The CDC is also recognizing Autism Awareness Month by Celebrating Differences. Their Autism information page has links to many great resources including updated developmental milestones information, current data and statistics, and information on current research. Please visit
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/index.html
| |
 | |
Be sure to join us for the final session of the Early Start Cultural Humility series webinars, only available through April 2022! The focus of discussion this month is “Moving Forward on the Path to Cultural Competence by Delivering Services with Cultural Humility, Compassion, and Courage.” For details on the remaining schedule of webinar topics, here’s a link to the flyer.
In this week’s blog post, Ages and Stages of Development from the CDE, we’re highlighting a family-friendly reference resource, from the California Department of Education, entitled, Ages and Stages of Development, aimed at parents who seek to better understand and support their child at any developmental stage. A timeless piece that you must read for yourself!
Coming Soon! The Early Start Partners Symposium (ESPS 2022) is right around the corner! If you haven’t heard, this year’s symposium will be virtual/online, June 7th & 9th, 2022! Be sure to mark your calendar and watch for registration availability later this month.
As always, we appreciate your comments and ideas for implementing all the resources shared through the Neighborhood. Keep them coming!
Visit Early Start Neighborhood at: https://earlystartneighborhood.ning.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network
For more information regarding Early Start services and referrals, please contact the Early Start Baby Line at 800 – 515 – BABY (800 – 515 – 2229) or earlystart@dds.ca.gov.
| |
|
State Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC) on Early Intervention Overview
The ICC Provides Advice & Assistance to the Department of Developmental Services
Members of the ICC are appointed by the Governor. The council is comprised of parents of children with disabilities, early intervention service providers, health care professionals, state agency representatives, and others interested in early intervention.
The ICC meets four times a year and encourages a family-centered approach, family-professional partnerships, and interagency collaboration, while providing a forum for public input.
· About
· How to Become a Member
· Member Information
· Past Meeting Packets & Meeting Minutes
Meetings:
| |
Take a Minute - Relationships Matter | |
Take a Minute… Relationships Matter! Resource provides information to families and providers about the importance of social and emotional development. Individuals working in the Early Start community and parents are encouraged to download and print or view the resource below. Additional resources, including the Early Start Online Skill Base course on Facilitating Social and Emotional Development and the Take a Minute… Relationships Matter! Best Practices Checklist for Providers (2016) are available from the California Early Start Neighborhood website. | |
Case Management Update - Adults
Christine Couch
Director of Consumer Services - Adults
| |
|
SPOTLIGHT ON Health Careers Academy High School
Valley Mountain Regional Center has had the opportunity to work with student interns for the last 10 weeks! This has been an incredible experience for both the interns and the VMRC staff. Four amazing students have participated in the work that VMRC does and observed work firsthand. This has been a highly structured, time-limited experience that served us, the interns, and the community! We shared a total of 80 hours of work experience with the interns!
|  | |
Karla T., Iriana T., Jasmine O.-M., and Ariyanna P. are the 4 extraordinary interns that shared 10 weeks and 80 work hours with us. Here’s a little bit about them and their experiences at VMRC:
Karla T – after graduation she is heading to UC Berkeley to study molecular and cell biology. One day we will know her as a Neuroscientist!! Her best memories at VMRC were learning all the different jobs at VMRC. She found the Emergency Coordinator position interesting – who knew people thought about all those details? Batteries, power shutoffs, fire, evacuation plans…Her least favorite moment was working the Covid testing kit distribution day, in the heat, in the parking lot and not accepting the offer of ice cream!!
Iriana T – after graduation Iriana is heading to UC Santa Barbara to study pre-biology. She sees herself as a Clinical Psychologist or Psychiatrist in the future. Her best moments are interacting with the VMRC staff who she describes as very sweet, not mean, and excited to work with us. Her least favorite memory is folding thousands of flyers without coffee!
Jasmine O.-M. – she is still looking at her options after graduation. Jasmine will study earth science and plans on being an Environmental Scientist. Her best memories are the staff at VMRC. She said they were nice and welcoming! Her least favorite moment was stuffing envelopes and paper cuts!!
Ariyana P. – after graduation she is moving to CSU Monterey Bay. She will study social and behavioral sciences. Ariyana might be a behavioral analyst serving our community one day!! Her best moment was on a Behavior Modification Review Committee zoom meeting with a variety of VMRC staff discussing law, least restrictive options, individual needs and coming together to find the best service and support to help the person be successful and to meet their needs. Her least favorite memory was stuffing envelopes and unstuffing envelopes and restuffing envelopes because of a miscommunication about mailing labels.
| |
|
Check Out Our Upcoming Transition Fairs!
Click on Each Flyer for Details
| |
|
Suggested Reading
Brett Snyder, “A Different Kind of Block Party; How Public Scholarship is Helping Designers Rethink Communities From Independent Living to Disability Collectives,” April 7, 2022.
Block Party reimagines the architecture and urbanism of a section of Berkeley, California, through the perspectives of disability and housing justice. Created by a multidisciplinary team composed of disabled and non-disabled architects, artists, and authors. Please read the article.
| |
Community Services Update
Brian Bennett
Director of Community Services
| |
|
|
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
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
| |
|
Upcoming Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Trainings
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
May 3rd, 2022, 10:00am – 11:00am
May 17th, 2022, 1:00pm – 2:00pm
June 7th, 2022, 10:00am - 11:00am
June 16th, 2022, 1:00pm – 2:00pm
July 7th, 2022, 1:00pm – 2:00pm
July 12th, 2022, 10:00am – 11:00am
HCBS Trainings for Day Type and Employment Services
May 4th, 2022, 3:00pm – 4:00pm
June 7th, 2022, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
July 12th, 2022, 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Contact Anna Sims, SCSL, HCBS Program Evaluator with questions: (209) 955-3353, asims@vmrc.net
HCBS for Residential Providers April through July
HCBS for Day Program and Employment Providers May through July
| |
|
VMRC is hosting a Virtual Direct Support Professionals Advisory Meeting
Date: Friday April 22, 2022
Location: Virtual Zoom Meeting
Time: 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
RSVP: Renae Dominici
rdominici@fcoe.org
(559) 497-3757
For providers who have questions about the DDS rate implementation, please continue to use the dedicated e mail group : Rates@vmrc.net
For persons interested in providing in person, Direct Support Professional training please click the link below to access the position on edjoin.org for the DSP posting. San Joaquin County Office of Education in Stockton – DSP Instructor to teach In-Person trainings.
https://www.edjoin.org/Home/DistrictJobPosting/1572644
| |
|
Clinical Services Updates
Claire B. Lazaro, MSN, RN, NP, PHN, NP-C
Director of Clinical Services
| |
|
Electronic Devices Interfere with Implantable Devices in the Heart
New research shows that there are certain electronic devices that affect cardiovascular implantable devices such as permanent pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators.[1] Electronic devices such as Apple iPhone 12, Apple AirPods Pro and their wireless charging case, Microsoft Surface Pen, and the Apple Pencil second generation have strong enough magnets that block the therapies that cardiac devices are supposed to do.1 The author advices to avoid carrying these devices near cardiac implantable devices – “these devices should not be carried in a breast or shirt pocket near the cardiac implanted electronic devices.”1
[1] NEJM Journal Watch. March 21, 2022. https://www.jwatch.org/na54712/2022/03/21/more-devices-can-interfere-with-cardiovascular-implantable
| |
|
“Tooth Be Told” SJ Teeth Newsletter
Check out VMRC on page 3!
Pages 1 through 5 are below in PDF.
| |
|
Free Webinar on Wellness
On April 27th, it will be about Environmental Wellness, and on May 25th the topic will be Social Emotional Wellness.
| |
|
Meet Alejandro
Hello my name is Alejandro Reyes and I am a Service Coordinator on the new Enhanced Team. I have been with Valley Mountain Regional Center for the past 7 years on an Adult Team. I'm excited to be a part of this new team and looking forward to help families accessing our regional center services, as well as other services in the community.
| |
Emergency Services Updates
Aaron McDonald
Emergency Response Coordinator
Power Line Safety
What You Need to Know about Power Lines to Stay Safe
With the current unpredictable weather changes and windy weather conditions power lines could be damaged. Here is a brief overview of power line safety to help keep you safe.
Downed power lines are dangerous. Never touch them. Be safe, always treat a fallen power line as live, and follow these guidelines:
- DO NOT touch the downed line with your hand or any object, such as a stick, broom, or pole.
- DO NOT touch anything, such as a car, object or equipment, or anyone who is in contact with a fallen power line.
- Keep children and pets away from fallen electric lines.
- DO NOT drive over a fallen power line.
- Call 9-1-1 immediately to report a fallen power line.
Stay safe if a fallen power line touches your car
If your vehicle comes in contact with a downed power line, follow these safety rules:
- Stay inside your car. The ground around your car may be energized.
- Sound the horn, roll down your window and call for help.
- Warn others to stay away. Anyone who touches the equipment or ground around your car can be injured.
- Use your cell phone to call 9-1-1.
- Wait until the fire department, police or utility workers tell you it’s safe to get out of your car before exiting the vehicle.
If your car is in contact with a fallen power line and a fire starts, follow these guidelines when exiting your vehicle:
- Remove loose items of clothing.
- Keep your hands at your sides and jump clear of the vehicle, so you are not touching the car when your feet hit the ground.
- Keep both feet close together and shuffle away from the vehicle without picking up your feet.
Follow these safety tips when using balloons and toys around power lines
- Ensure that helium-filled metallic balloons are tied to weights heavy enough to prevent them from floating into power lines.
- Use metallic balloons, kites, and remote-control toys away from overhead electric lines to avoid the potential for power outages, fires, and serious injuries.
- Contact the electrical provider immediately if a balloon or toy is caught in a power line. Never attempt to retrieve an object that is on or near a power line.
Look up and live
Remember these important safety tips for overhead power lines:
- Look up before lifting ladders and other long-handled tools to avoid accidental contact with electric lines.
- Stay away from fallen or dangling power lines. Don’t touch the lines. Call 9-1-1 immediately.
- Contact the electrical provider to report tree branches or limbs near power lines. Our tree-trimming crews are qualified to work around high-voltage lines and can cut the limbs for you. Never attempt to do the trimming, yourself.
Be safe before you dig
Remember these important safety tips for underground power lines:
- Call 8-1-1 at least two weekdays before you dig.
- Workers will mark the ground with flags, wood stakes or white paint to show you where there are power lines, gas pipelines and other wires under the ground.
- Stay away from these underground lines to keep you and your neighbors safe.
| |
|
North Valley Hills Update
Dena Hernandez, Regional Manager (209) 473-6930
| |
|
|
The State Council on Developmental Disabilities has been contracted by Department on Developmental services (DDS) to collect information about services and supports. You may receive a survey by mail regarding your adult family member and or child that receives services from Valley Mountain Regional Center. Please take a moment to complete the survey and return it in the enclosed postage-paid envelope within 10 days or as soon as possible. Your participation is voluntary. Your family will not be identified in any way.
You may also complete the survey online at www.ncifamilysurveys21.com
To access the online survey, please use the access code located on the top right-hand corner of your survey. Currently, the online survey is only available in English. DDS plans to add additional languages in the future.
If you are interested in receiving information on the results of the survey, issues impacting California or events in your local community please join our mailing list by going to https://scdd.ca.gov/mail_list_signup/ If you have any questions, please email us at QAPROJECT@scdd.ca.gov
We are also hiring for contracted surveyors.
Applications for Contracted surveyors for the 2022-2023 In-Person Survey (IPS) cycle will be available around end of May or June 2022. If you are interested in receiving an application, please join our QA Project Mailing List below and you will receive an email once applications are available. Please be aware, during this upcoming cycle, respondents (those being interviewed) will have the option to have their interview conducted face to face at their preferred location or on video conference. Note: If you were a Contracted Interviewer during the 2020-2021 Cycle and continue to be in good standing, you do not need to join the QA Project Mailing List. Your former QAC will email you an application directly, once available.
Join QA Project Mailing List
https://scdd.ca.gov/mail_list_signup/
Thank you for your interest.
| |
How to connect to SCDD through Social Media | |
|
Self-Advocacy Council 6 (SAC6)
Come learn about SCAM Awareness
WHEN: Friday, April 22, 2022
TIME: 11:00 AM -12:15 PM
WHERE: ZOOM - computer, tablet, cell phone
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 823 7769 3250
Passcode: 017615
PDF Version of the SAC6 Flyer Here
| | |
|
|
Family Resource Network (FRN) Update
Lisa Culley, Executive Director
| |
Local County, State and National Public Health Resources | | | | |
