The annual Holiday Fundraising Campaign went very well. As of this writing, with a couple of days to go, we have not quite reached the goal of $50,000 but we have passed $49,000. Considering that last year was the first time we raised more than $30,000, this feels very successful.

Grants and gifts are a small part of Imagine's total funding. Pursuing them is an even smaller part of what we do. But the importance of these gifts is that the generosity of our community allows us to bridge unfunded needs of the people we serve. In times of crisis, whether for one individual or the whole world at once, it's the reserves provided by donors and philanthropies that help us adapt, be generous and focus our resources where they'll do the most good.

We're very grateful for the support from the community which takes many forms including friendships, kind words and wishes, voluntary assistance, partnerships and donations to our agency. I thank you.

-Submitted by Doug

I would like to touch on a topic that comes up periodically at Imagine: safety in the workplace. There have certainly been different reasons to bring up safety, such a global pandemic, wildfires, and recent floodings and evacuations across the county we serve. However, I would like to talk about emotional and mental safety. 

I would like to stress the importance of coming forward to management with any concerns about your safety. Whether that be not feeling well prepared for an aggressive episode from your consumer or feeling like there is someone on your team that is making you feel uncomfortable. 

Imagine always strives to have a culture of support. We want everyone at Imagine to know that while our mission is to empower and advocate for the consumers we serve, the direct care staff are the core of providing that service. Our Home Support Specialists should always feel safe and supported. I would like to encourage everyone to call me if ever that is not the case. 

Additionally, while it is our responsibility to make sure everything administrative, such as making sure there are up to date documents, is running smoothly, we definitely rely on direct care staff to communicate any issue that comes up. 

Remember that Imagine has an open-door policy, meaning that if you do not feel comfortable speaking with your direct supervisor, you are always free to speak to Doug or myself or any other Facilitator you do feel comfortable with. 

We continue to be grateful for the employees we have and for the amazing work you do every day. Please do not hesitate to let us know how we can make your work environment better. 

In Good Health, 

Patty 

Patty Lopez

Assistant Director of Human Resources 

Imagine Supported Living Services 

Office: 831-464-8355 ext. 112

Cell: (831) 325-7760

Fax: (831) 612-6384

We are continuing development of Facilitator Support Plans. These will culminate in person-centered plans for our Facilitators with the goal of better supporting them to improve their own performance, the performance of the teams and the support delivered to our clients and families.

In the current phase, Facilitators are self-assessing their strengths, weaknesses, how they doing on certain key functions, how often their teams use person-centered thinking tools, communication with stakeholders, etc.

Once these are all complete, we will match the self-assessments against an assessment by Patty and I based substantially on input from other stakeholders. We will then use person-centered tools and SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timebound) goals to develop a plan for each Facilitator.

If you have feedback, please write to either Patty or myself. We want your true opinion of where and how Facilitators can improve, but please don't hesitate to give a cheer if you find one inside you. I do want to note that we receive a pretty steady stream of input about Facilitators and don't think we've forgotten much. If you have recently been in touch about a Facilitator you work with, you are welcome to repeat yourself or add to it, but your recent input has also been taken into account.

Regards,

Doug.

Self-Determination is now available for any regional center client who chooses it but it seems to be a slow process enrolling. If I can be of any help, please feel free to contact me. I'm pleased that there are a few current and recent Imagine employees who are developing Independent Facilitation practices and I'll be glad to connect them with those looking.

This month, the Independent Facilitator Roundtable will be this very day, February 1 at 11AM. The Zoom link is right here.

See below for the family zoom that Susan Douglass planned and please join us if you are interested. Community Connections focuses on the family members of our clients but all are welcome. Email Norma or Me if you would like to attend.

For people interested in Self-determination, there is also a monthly zoom event to introduce individuals and families to Independent Facilitators.It's the third Friday of each month and the time is supposed to rotate but we seem stuck on 2:30-4. Let me know if you're interested and I'll send the link and confirmation of the time.

The Independent Facilitator Network, a confederation of professionals working self-determination (which started at Imagine!) has a Slack Channel you can join by clicking here. Individuals receiving services and family members are welcome and it's a great place to have your SDP questions answered by sad, wise experts.

-Submitted by Doug

Community Connections

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

February 2023

Family Zoom Wednesday 2/22 4pm 

Did you know that our very own Doug Pascover is a Self-Determination Program (SDP) expert, advocate, and activist? SDP provides individuals and their families with more freedom, control, and responsibility in choosing services and supports to help them meet their objectives. If you are SD curious and want to learn more, please join Doug and families for a Zoom meetup for an overview, discussion, and Q&A about all things SD. 

Susan Douglass, Imagine parent

susancruzan50@gmail.com     831-818-2501

Our next board meeting is scheduled for February 15. If you'd like to participate, please write to Norma so we know to include you. Enhancements to direct care wages that should be possible a few months after the first of the year is a topic I would anticipate.

Our most recent form 990 is here. You can also find it on our website. Our catch-up audits are in process but not obviously on a catching-up trajectory.

We have completed our 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 independent audits. They are attached to the links in the year. We hope to finish the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 audits by mid-year.

We are still recruiting board members. We are working to diversify the board and to add a GAAP-trained treasurer. An attorney wouldn't be bad either. If you know someone with a passion for our mission who might like to volunteer, please write to me.

-Submitted by Doug

The Governor released his proposed budget and it has no great surprises. Some key points for advocates:

• The state projects sizable deficits over the next three years, but may have saved sufficient funds during the surplus years to cover those deficits. In case of recession, though, we should prepare for cuts (including by advocating forcefully against them.)
• There remains one additional rate reform scheduled for July 1, 2024. The base rate will increase less in the third reform (and for Imagine may not increase at all.) An additional feature of this reform will be incentives for achieving outcomes of quality support. That is wonderful but may also bring disappointing revenue to Imagine as some of the invented outcomes may be likelier with some individuals than with others, and Imagine doesn't and won't plan to select our clients on that basis. Finally, although the Governor's proposed does not delay the date for the third rate reform, because it does not occur in the budget year, in case of recession, the date and size of the reform should not be considered safe.

As always, thanks to Marty Omoto of CDCAN for amplifying the transparency and circularity of information between the community and policy-makers. If you would like to receive CDCAN's extensive reporting, write to Marty. CDCAN's work is entirely funded by the donations of those of us who benefit. Write to me or to Marty if you'd like to kick in.

-Submitted by Doug

I am sure this is a rerun, but the "Four Plus One Questions" is one of the tools we will be using in the Facilitator Support Plans and much on my mind recently. The purpose of the tool is to help individuals or teams make positive change thoughtfully and pro-actively.

It asks five basic questions (4+1, you got this) about a change we aspire to. These are:

1. What have we tried?
2. What have we learned?
3. What are we pleased with?
4. What are we concerned about?

Given the answers to those four questions, the final question is: what should we try next? It can be a very clarifying process for introspection about a work in progress.

-Submitted by Doug

Staff and Client Birthdays:

John A. 

Drew C.

Jessica G.

Eileen H.

Terry J.

Raquel N.

Isabella R.

Chloe S.

Tonya S.

Natalee S.

Staff Anniversaries:

Steve C. - 12 Years!!

Agustin V. - 5 Years!!

Francis V. - 4 Years!!

Tonya S. - 3 Years!!

Adam G. - 3 Years!!

Saray S. - 2 Years!!

April L. - 1 Year!!

Thank you for your commitment!