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Sixty-Eighth

Community Health

Advisory Coronavirus (COVID-19)

By the Numbers

This week we reported three new COVID-19 cases for consumers and one involving one of our Direct Support Professionals. Hopefully this two-week trend upwards is not a sign of a change in infection rates, but it is a good reminder that our unvaccinated consumers and staff are vulnerable still to COVID-19, and we need to be alert to ensure they remain safe. We made great progress in the beginning when the vaccinations were made available to our community, but it's been over a month now that we have not seen any increases in our rates of vaccinations among our consumers. Four percent of our children 12-15 have been vaccinated, 34% from the ages of 16-49, 60% from the ages of 50-64 years old, and 75% of our seniors over 64 years old. Close to half our population in our five counties have received at least one shot, and 40% are fully vaccinated (51% of Californians have been fully vaccinated and experts say 85% is the penetration level of the population to bring the pandemic under control).

Hot Topic for the Week

Besides the question of "do staff have to wear a mask in the building" (yes unless they show vaccination record to HR, and yes everyone will wear their masks in the lobby regardless), the hot topic of the week was, "is our policy to implement the DDS Directive 02-081020 regarding restrictions for Consumers with High Risk Health Conditions and or Consumers living in ICF-DDNs, ARFPSHCN, and Continuous Nursing facilities", still current, and does vaccination status influence this policy? After extensive deliberations and research, we have decided that the directive is silent on a few items, and we have adjusted our policy and have noted the changes from the CDC related to the policy. First, we see no discretion regarding the directive's mandate preventing people in ICF-DD-Ns etc. from attending day services. However, we do find that the CDC guidance in this area, plus it's advice and determinations regarding the vaccinations as it related to this directive, create a void and ambiguity requiring clarification and direction to our staff, consumers, families, and providers. In the end we have amended the policy (and its incorporated procedures) recasting the high-risk medical conditions in alliance with the CDC's new list, and we have made accommodations for re-aligning "high risk due to COVID-19" to match the CDC's findings regarding vaccinated individuals. The high risk part of the policy no longer applies to vaccinated consumers, the health risk list has been consolidated and updated to match the CDC list, and there is no change regarding restrictions associated with the ICF settings.

To view the new policy click here: Health Conditions Restrictions Final July 2021.

Tony Anderson

Executive Director

Self-Determination

Effective July 1, 2021, the Self-Determination program is available to all eligible individuals on a voluntary basis with no limit on the number of participants.

To be eligible for the program, you or your family member must:

1. Have a developmental disability and currently be receiving services from a California regional center, or be a new client of a regional center; and

2. Be over the age of three or, if under, be qualified for services through the Lanterman Act; and

3. Live in the community.

Our team is excited to share the following Self Determination orientation training including two in Spanish!!

Friday, July 9, 1pm - 4pm in Spanish

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5lownrbmRkSf2ohiRegl2w

Saturday, July 24, 10am - 1pm in English with Spanish Translation

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wMJrxbniQq-CAuoeiVTzRQ

Tuesday, August 3, 9am - 12pm in Spanish

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5toJdItcRwi5BUoSYR-ZQA

Monday August 9, 2pm - 5pm in English with Spanish Translation

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_YsuFsVbpTPu__8yenueNvQ

Thursday September 30, 2pm - 5pm in English with Spanish Translation

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GlKCNsZ7RMeVs84yKVdIOg

Early Start

A 3 part Series of Early Start Workshops

Presented by EPU Children's Center

and the State Council of Developmental Disabilities - Central Coast (SCDD)

Early Start Series Registration Here

Tara Sisemore-Hester

Director of Consumer Services - Children

Case Management Update - Adults

Announcing the Revised Cal OES Access and Functional Needs (AFN) Library

In response to the immense number of inquiries from across the state (and the nation) by community leaders, state agencies, advocacy organizations, emergency managers, private sector partners, and others seeking access and functional needs-related informational resources; the Cal OES Office of Access and Functional Needs (OAFN) has revised its AFN Library (https://www.caloes.ca.gov/cal-oes-divisions/access-functional-needs/afn-library) – a central, online repository/clearinghouse of whole community-based best practices, lessons learned, guidance, white papers, etc.

The updated repository is free and accessible to our partners and to the public. The resources housed cover a wide array of AFN-specific topics and needs. So, whether you’re looking for information on effective communication, sheltering, or integrated planning; the clearinghouse is a one-stop-shop to finding the best available resources out there!

The revised AFN Library has been audited, updated, re-categorized, and annotated to ensure it provides relevant, up-to-date materials, topics, and resource links, as well as offering a user-friendly accessible navigational system.

July is Healthy Vision Month

There’s a lot you can do to keep your eyes healthy—and it all starts with taking care of your overall health. Set yourself up for a lifetime of seeing your best with these 8 tips.

Find an eye doctor you trust.
Ask how often you need a dilated eye exam.
Add more movement to your day.
Get your family talking…about eye health history!
Step up your healthy eating game.
Make a habit of wearing your sunglasses – even on cloudy days
Stay on top of long-term health conditions – like diabetes and high blood pressure.
If you smoke, make a quit plan.

These tips are from the National Eye Institute, https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/healthy-vision/8-things-you-can-do-right-now-protect-your-vision.

PCS People 1^st Class

A big thank you to welcoming me to your PCS People 1^st Class last week. It was an honor and privilege to spend time talking with the class about my role at VMRC and how I support staff and the community.

I appreciate Annette who arranged my visit to the class and made sure I was prepared.

Please invite me to your class! I’d love to meet you and talk about what you are doing, what you need, and how VMRC can continue to support you.

Your Voice Your Choice: Advocacy Starts with You

OCRA is having its first virtual conference designed directly for clients. It’s called Your Voice Your Choice: Advocacy Starts with You. It will take place everyday from 10 am – 12 pm from July 26 – 30^th.

Here is the link for more info: https://www.disabilityrightsca.org/post/2021-self-advocacy-conference-your-voice-your-choice.

I know many self-advocates from our local self-advocacy group, SAC6 are registered for this conference. I hope you can join them!!

“Live in the sunshine. Swim in the sea. Drink in the wild air.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

It’s been a long year of social isolation. I’m excited summer is officially here. I bet you are too! Things are opening up, and many of us are looking forward to returning to the office, to day program, to visiting with friends and family. If you are interested in returning to day program, please talk with your Service Coordinator. Consider your health risks and talk it out with the team.

Christine Couch (she, her, hers)

Director of Consumer Services - Adults

Clinical Update

I hope most of you are safe after the earthquake that shocked us yesterday. It is important to be ready and know what to do when there is a natural disaster or calamity. Experts are not advising to go to the doorframe anymore. The current recommendation is to drop down to your knees on the floor, cover your head and hold on to a sturdy item. Here is a link on how to prepare for a natural disaster such as earthquake and other tips: https://www.ready.gov/earthquakes.

COVID-19 UPDATE

The Delta variant is now the predominant variant in the United States, according to Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).[1] It is spreading quickly in our country. Majority of those getting hospitalized are the unvaccinated individuals. According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the Chief Medical Advisor to the President, the Pfizer vaccine has shown effective in real life studies done in Scotland and England with 96% effectiveness in real world against hospitalizations.¹ Moderna has an initial (preprint) study showing that it is protective against the variants including the Delta variant of COVID-19.[2] In the same way, the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine has also released research data that it is protective against the other variants including the Delta variant.[3]

The World Health Organization (WHO) is also concerned about the spread of the Delta variant worldwide, now reaching up to 85 countries.[4] Dr. Mariangela Simao, WHO Assistant Director-General for Access to Medicine and Health Products, emphasized that when there is a continued community spread of COVID-19, even if you are vaccinated, it is important to continue wearing masks “in ventilated spaces, hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, the physical distance, avoid crowding.”⁴This echoes what Dr. Fauci mentioned that per each individual’s “risk aversion” that a person with high risk conditions or elderly may opt to wear mask even if they are vaccinated in order to get a higher degree of protection in those areas with high infection rate and low vaccine rate.¹

The message here is clear: the vaccines work! It is protecting people from severe COVID-19, from hospitalization from COVID-19, and from dying of COVID-19. Getting severely ill and dying of COVID-19 is now PREVENTABLE in the U.S. Get the vaccine, if you haven’t yet, and protect yourself and your loved ones.

[1] COVID-19 Response Team Briefing, The White House. July 8, 2021. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2021/07/08/press-briefing-by-white-house-covid-19-response-team-and-public-health-officials-44/

[2] BioRxIV. June 28, 2021. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.06.28.449914v1

[3] Johnson & Johnson. July 1, 2021. https://www.jnj.com/positive-new-data-for-johnson-johnson-single-shot-covid-19-vaccine-on-activity-against-delta-variant-and-long-lasting-durability-of-response

[4] WHO Press Briefing on COVID-19. June 25, 2021. https://www.who.int/multi-media/details/who-press-conference-on-coronavirus-disease-(covid-19)---25-june-2021

SANDIS COVID-19 Tracking Data

Please continue to stay safe and healthy.

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

Director of Clinical Services

Community Services Update

Residential Service Providers

Health and Safety Waiver Exemptions the Director of the Department delegates to regional center Executive Directors the authority to grant rate adjustments for residential services and/or supplemental services in residential settings, consistent with Welfare and Institutions Code sections 4681.6, 4689.8 and 4691.9, to protect a consumer’s health or safety as a result of the outbreak of COVID-19. The waiver will require supplemental reporting to the Department. Instructions on the required supplemental reporting will be provided in a future directive. This delegation is necessary because the Department finds that high risk health conditions and fear of exposure to COVID-19 may cause consumers to forego activities away from their home resulting in a need for additional residential staffing or supplemental services.

If you are the Licensee of a Residential service vendored with VMRC and you have previously submitted a Health and Safety Waiver request , or you wish to submit one to cover expenses related to costs specific to protect a consumer’s health or safety as a result of the outbreak of COVID-19; you must use the form (HS Waiver Request Template) and submit to the Director of Community Services, Brian L. Bennett , bbennett@vmrc.net

Contact Brian directly if you have questions about the process or about completion of the form.

Weekly Service Provider Informational Session hosted by VMRC’s Community Services Department EVERY FRIDAY at 9:00 a.m. to learn about important changes and trends:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/99862863596

Meeting ID: 998 6286 3596

Quality Assurance

Please remember that for any/all changes to a provider’s services and/or program design should be done by submitting an email to vendorchangerequest@vmrc.net. Changes include New Administrator or Consultant or changes to processes, Forms no longer used or new forms added.

All requests will be reviewed and cannot be implemented until approved by Community Services

HCBS Day Program and Employment Providers July through September 2021

HCBS for Residential Providers July through September 2021

DDS Directive - Extension of Waivers

Quality Assurance Alert Assignments Letter

Brian L. Bennett

Director Of Community Services

The Employment Corner

UCP of San Joaquin Successful Paid Internship

Covid-19 has been a difficult time these past 18 months. Employment practically came to a halt with the shutdown orders over one year ago. Behind the scenes, our agencies have been doing our best to keep our individuals gainfully employed, but most importantly, safe as possible.

For this reason, it is with extreme excitement that I report that UCP of San Joaquin has placed their first successful Paid Intern at Best Buy in Stockton, CA. Jesse Clark worked for Best Buy for over three months through our Paid Internship Program (PIP). Best Buy was more than receptive to the program. UCP of San Joaquin provided the job coaching and acted as the Employer of record.

The goal of the Paid Internship Program is to provide a pathway to Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE). Jesse Clark's PIP was a success as he is now competitively employed at O'Reilly Auto Parts in Stockton, CA.

Please help me in congratulating Jesse on his success story!!! Special thanks to UCP of San Joaquin, Best Buy, and O'Reilly Auto Parts. It is great when community partnerships result in Competitive Integrated Employment for our individuals.

Enos Edmerson Jr.

Employment Specialist