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134th

Community Health

Advisory

Weekly Message from the Executive Director

Tony Anderson

By the Numbers

This week we reported a total of 17 positive COVID cases (an increase of 6 people). Nine of the cases were people with disabilities and eight were direct support professionals. Out of all the consumers, none had received their booster but one did have their original vaccination. We reported one consumer was hospitalized for COVID during the week and this person did receive their original vaccination.

A Busy Week Ahead...

We’ve got a busy week coming up next week and only four days to get it done. Libby Contreas and I will be meeting with the Children System of Care Leadership team for Tuolumne County to update and confirm our MOU and renew our commitment to work with each other in collaboration for the benefit of the children of Tuolumne County. Tuesday is a big important day for people with disabilities because it’s election day and of course we want to make sure that almost all adults with disabilities get their votes in through the mail, vote centers, drop boxes, or polling place. To find your available voting places and rules on voting and much more visit the Secretary of State’s elections website: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections.

Our board executive committee will be meeting Wednesday. Doug, Christine, Gaby and I will be conducting interviews for a new and exciting position at the regional center, a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager who will take us to the next level in our efforts to build a workplace where everyone belongs and improve our connections with our community. Our transportation updates meeting will be on Thursday at 11 am on zoom to review the progress made since last month towards getting everyone back to their programs.

Also on Thursday the Little Hoover Commission will be meeting to continue their review of the regional center system. To register for this event click here.

Next Friday November 11, 2022 we'll be closed observing the Veteran’s Day holiday and we hope you all enjoy the long holiday weekend plus don’t forget the performance contract review (see survey links below) will be on November 30, 2022 and during the December Board Meeting we'll have our final Performance Contract review and a review of the National Core indicators – you won’t want to miss these.

Performance Contract Surveys

English Survey

Spanish Survey

We had a very successful Disability Resource Fair last Saturday, October 29th! We would like to thank, one last time, all of our sponsors, vendors, attendees, and staff who made this day possible. We hope everyone who attended found the day fun, the information useful, and felt welcome!

See you next year in Modesto!

Thank You to Our Platinum Sponsors

Thank You to Our Gold Sponsors

Thank You to our Silver Sponsors

Thank You to our Bronze Sponsors

Malonzo Eldercare

Clinical Update

Dr. Claire Lazaro

Clinical Director

Thank you!

Thank you to our partners and volunteers during the Health Fair and Durable Medical Equipment (DME) event that was held together with the Disability Resource Fair!!! Much appreciation to University of the Pacific (UOP) Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy Faculty and Students who got involved in the Medicare Part D enrollments, health screening and vaccination; Tracy Cares and Proveri Pharmacy for the COVID-19 vaccinations; Family Resource Network, Community Medical Centers, SJ Teeth and University of the Pacific School of Dentistry for the dental education and screening; and our OT/PT vendors and DME vendors. Below is our data on the people we served:

Health Fair Attendees: 141
Vaccines: 102
Standard dose Flu: 47
High dose flu: 10
Pneumococcal: 6 (3 PCV 20 and 3 PPSV23)
Tdap: 6
Shingles: 3
Hepatitis B: 5
COVID-19: 25
Diabetes
A1c: 39
Blood Glucose: 38
Cholesterol: 38
Blood Pressure: 74
Help with Patient Assistance Program/Drug Coupons: 2
Medicare Part D Reviews: 73 (of which 18 were VMRC consumer packets that were completed onsite)
Comprehensive Medication Reviews: 39
Bone Mineral Density tests: 21
Falls Risk Screening tests performed: 21

Case Management Update - Children

Tara Sisemore-Hester

Director of Consumer Services - Children

VMRC staff attended the California Autism Professional Training And Information Network CAPTAIN) Summit in Riverside this week this week. For more information about CAPTAIN go here https://www.captain.ca.gov/

Current Research and Clinical Insights about Autism in Girls

with Christine Wu Nordahl Ph.D.

Wednesday November 9, 2022

11:30am-1:00pm (PT)

Virtual Event

Can't attend the event live?

This presentation will provide an overview of current research focused on understanding autism in girls and women. Topics will include biological and clinical theories about the difference in the sex ratio of autism as well as current insights into sex differences in autism and unique challenges faced by autistic girls and women.

Participant Objectives:

· Current theories about why there are fewer females diagnosed with autism

· Overview of current autism literature on behavioral sex differences in autism

· Review of current literature on masking or camouflaging in autism

Recent findings from the UC Davis MIND Institute Girls with Autism - Imaging of Neurodevelopment (GAIN) Study

Christine Wu Nordahl, Ph.D. is a professor and neuroscientist in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the UC Davis MIND Institute. Her research program utilizes structural and functional MRI scans to study brain development in autism across the life span. She directs the Autism Phenome Project and Girls with Autism - Imaging of Neurodevelopment study, two integrated longitudinal, interdisciplinary studies aimed at identifying clinically meaningful subtypes of autism.

She is particularly committed to evaluating the entire autism spectrum, including girls with autism as well as the entire range of intellectual abilities. In 2021, she and her team initiated NeuroTeens, a social support group for neurodivergent girls and non-binary teens.

Non-Member: $50

IDA Agency/Individual Member: $35

IDA Parent/Student/New Clinician Member: $25

IDA CE Hours: Nursing, PT, Speech and Language* $15 (1.5 hour)

CDI CE Hours: LCSW, LMFT, LEP, LPCC

(you will be invoiced and only if attending live)

*CEUs for SLPs can be used to fulfill California’s licensing board. They are not sent to the ASHA registry. Participants should retain their IDA certificates and submit a Certification Maintenance Compliance form with ASHA.

ADA Requests: Contact IDA @ mail@idaofcal.org

with ADA request by October 26

Limited number of scholarships available

Case Management Update - Adults

Christine Couch

Director of Consumer Services - Adults

If you're looking for something fun to watch, here's the link for the first ever Variety Show from the Stockton Young Adult Program!

https://youtu.be/ju3ANi8SpbY

Mr. Stephen's Variety Show is a talent showcase, featuring some of the greatest leaders in the world of inclusive entertainment. From comedy skits to music, to fashion, and beyond --sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!

Thank you to everyone for the fun networking and opportunity to build relationships at the Disability Resource Fair!! It was an amazing inaugural event and I am thankful for the generous sponsors.

November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month (NEAM), and this year, we're taking big actions! The theme is “There is no NEAM without ME”. The Epilepsy Foundation chose this theme because November is all about our community — YOU. Without your collaboration and support, they wouldn't be able to build a seizure safe nation.

Quick Facts About Epilepsy

1 in 10 people will have a seizure and 1 in 26 will develop epilepsy during their lifetime.

There are 3.4 million people living with epilepsy in the United States; 470,000 of them are children.

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that can affect any one of us regardless of race, age, or gender.

Seizures are a symptom of epilepsy. Not all seizures are the same. Many people with epilepsy have more than one type of seizure.

Community Services Update

Brian Bennett

Director of Community Services

The Community Services Team will host Informational Sessions for all service providers of VMRC on the first Friday of each month- topics will be generated based on any recent DDS directive changes or other “hot button” topics related to the delivery of services and supports. The next meeting will be on Friday November 4, 2022.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88548962379

Meeting ID: 885 4896 2379

DDS is hosting Office Hours during the month of November focused on electronic visit verification (EVV) in the Self-Determination Program.

Office Hours are a time to join a Zoom call to ask questions regarding the identified topic. Each Office Hour date, time and topic will be posted to the DDS EVV webpage under the ‘Meetings’ tab, linked here, and notifications will go out when new dates, times and topics are available.

Advanced registration is not required. People may join the link at any time during the call to ask questions and do not need to remain on the call the whole hour.

Please join us during any of the designated dates and times below to learn about and discuss these topics.

November 1, 2022, from 2:00pm-3:00pm

Join Zoom Meeting (only available at the time/date above)

November 4, 2022, from 2:00pm-3:00pm

Join Zoom Meeting (only available at the time/date above)

November 9, 2022, from 2:00pm-3:00pm

Join Zoom Meeting (only available at the time/date above)

November 17, 2022, from 5:30pm-6:30pm

Join Zoom Meeting (only available at the time/date above)

If you have any questions, please email EVV@dds.ca.gov.

Community Integration (Social Recreation) Grant opportunity- this Request for Proposal is subject to change-

There will be an information session for interested parties on November 9^th from 3-4 (registration information is in the RFP)

Above RFP in PDF Here

Emergency Services Update

Aaron McDonald

Emergency Response Coordinator

On Sunday, November 6^th at 2:00 AM Daylight Saving Time ends, and we set our clocks back an hour and return to Standard time. Take advantage of extra sleep then take a few simple steps to ensure you, your loved ones and your home stay safe into the colder months ahead.

It is important to prepare for disaster risks; consider using the extra hour this Sunday to verify your home is adequately protected for the upcoming winter season and ensure everyone in your family knows what to do in an emergency.

Make sure your carbon monoxide and smoke detector work. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for testing the equipment to ensure it is functioning appropriately. Invest in new detectors if they’re near or past the manufacturer’s recommended replacement age.

Ready your home and verify your insurance coverages adequately protect your property. Keep out the cold with insulation, caulking, and weather stripping and learn how to keep pipes from freezing. Review your insurance policies and talk to your agent to ensure your property is fully covered for the hazards in your area.

Update your family’s emergency plan. Make sure each family member knows how they will receive emergency alerts and warnings and how to stay in touch with each other if something happens and you’re not together. Check with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and make any necessary updates to your plan due to COVID-19, to include having masks (for everyone over 2 years old) and disinfectants if needed.

For more emergency preparedness information and tips, visit www.ready.gov .

Above Flyer in PDF Here

Family Resource Network (FRN) Update

Lisa Culley, Executive Director

Family Resource Network is hosting a Holiday Drive Thru on Saturday, December 3, 2022, from 11am-1pm. Join us as we celebrate the holidays with a bag of goodies and activities for the family! Please RSVP to the FRN office at 209-472-3674 or FRNfamilies@frcn.org. This event is open to families of children with special needs and disabilities living in San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Amador, Calaveras and Tuolumne Counties.