137th

Community Health

Advisory

Weekly Message from the Executive Director

Tony Anderson



By the Numbers



Last week we reported 35 positive tests for people with disabilities and 9 direct support professionals. This is a slight decrease of six people less from our last report. Please remember this is the time of year that people with compromised health conditions are at risk of life threatening health outcomes from COVID and flu. If you are in contact with people with disabilities or you yourself have a vulnerable health condition, it's not too late to get your COVID booster or flu vaccine to help protect you or someone you love and care for.

Amador County Housing Element Advocacy (a message from Beth Thompson housing advocate consultant)

The county is asking service providers, housing developers, advocates, and other stakeholders to continue participating in the feedback process on behalf of your organization or service population, including any input on housing needs and constraints facing the County or its individual cities, or by sharing this information with your clients, organization, and other parties in order to expand opportunities for participation.

The Draft Countywide Housing Element has been completed and is available for public review - written comments are due by December 14, 2022.  The county needs your assistance in letting your clients and organization know about the Housing Element Update, including their opportunity to comment, please view or download the digital version here or visit the County’s website at: https://www.amadorgov.org/departments/planning/2022-housing-element.  

The Draft Countywide Housing Element addresses the housing needs of each jurisdiction in Amador County: Amador City, Ione, Jackson, Plymouth, Sutter Creek, and Amador County. At the completion of the Housing Element Update process, each jurisdiction will adopt the Housing Element individually.

How do I comment?

You are invited to comment on the Draft Housing Element at a meeting or in writing. Community members are invited to attend any meeting in the County to comment, regardless of where you live. Meetings to receive public comments will be held: Tuesday, December 13th, 6:00 p.m. at Ione City Hall - attend via Zoom or in person (visit the City's website the week before the meeting for more details). Written comments may be submitted prior to 5:00 p.m. on December 14, 2022 at the address indicated below:

Chuck Beatty, Planning Director

Amador County

810 Court Street

Jackson, CA

CBeatty@amadorgov.org

For questions regarding the Housing Element, members of the public can contact Chuck Beatty by email at CBeatty@amadorgov.org. Learn more about the Countywide Housing Element Update effort by visiting: https://www.amadorgov.org/departments/planning/2022-housing-element

Your Opinion is Needed

Clinical Update

Dr. Claire Lazaro

Clinical Director

Annual Statewide Taskforce on Oral health for People with Disabilities and Aging Californians

Register now – FREE!!

DATE:          December 9, 2022 

FORMAT:      Virtual (Zoom Platform) 

TIME:           8:30 AM to 12:00 Noon Pacific Time 

TOPICS:       · Medically Necessary Oral Health Care Benefits in Medicare 

                    · California Special Needs Facilities Funding Update 

                   · Medi-Cal Dental Program Payment Structure for Dental Hygienists with RDHAP License 

                   · Status of the Shorten-the-Line Project 

                    · Update from the Department of Developmental Services, Office of Statewide Clinical Services Clinical Services Branch 

                   · Updates, Activities and Input from Members 

REGISTRATION LINK:  https://www.regpack.com/reg/templates/build/?g_id=100911417 

Registration is required. After you register you will receive a link to use to join the meeting. 

CONTINUING EDUCATION: Continuing Education credit will be provided for oral health professional license holders. 



Send questions to: Valerie.phillips@cnsu.edu Valerie Phillips, RDHAP, MS , Assistant Professor, Director, Office of Research and Community Engagement, College of Dental Medicine, California Northstate University, 9700 West Taron Drive, Elk Grove, CA 95757, 916-378-3580.

Case Management Update - Children

Tara Sisemore-Hester

Director of Consumer Services - Children

We have some news for our Early Start colleagues...

The Early Start Neighborhood has a new look,

new address, and new functionality!

What is happening?

(This might be a little technical, but hear us out…) We are combining the CEITAN-Early Start site, which was a WordPress site, and the Early Start Neighborhood, which was a Ning site, to create the new Early Start Neighborhood site. The WordPress site held static information about the Comprehensive System of Personnel Development activities and provided access to the Central Directory of Early Intervention Services and an ordering platform for Early Start outreach materials. The Ning site held a variety of resources pertinent to Early Start and allowed us to connect with you through blog postings and broadcasts.

Why are we doing this?

Each platform (WordPress and Ning) did some things well and some things not so well. WordPress didn’t allow for connecting with the field very well. Ning didn’t manage the content collected in the resource areas in any way that made those resources easy to find. And for a site that was supposed to be social (Ning is short for Networking), it really wasn’t. Both sites were dated. And it seemed a little crazy-making to have two separate sites for the same audience.

What is the same?

·    ALL of the Early Start publications and videos that you could previously find on one of the two sites are available.

·    We will continue to have regular blog postings to highlight resources to support your work with children and families.

·    The Central Directory and the outreach materials ordering platform are on the new site and functioning well. (Phew!)

What is different?

·    The URL for the WordPress site has changed. The new address is earlystartneighborhood.org.

·    The site looks very different—we love it and hope you do, too!

·    Published materials and videos, such as the Service Coordination Handbook and the Story of Max videos, have been ‘pulled over’ to a dedicated Early Start Resources section of the site, with multiple access points through side, footer, and tile navigation.

·    Other resources are being transferred from the Neighborhood Ning site into the new Early Start Library. It may take a little time to move and organize them all.

·    There is a ‘button’ that will connect you directly with the Early Start Online site login page. (Love that! So convenient.)

·    There is also an icon that will connect you to the Early Start Neighborhood Facebook page.

What do you need to do?

·    Not much! If you go to the old CEITAN-Early Start site, you will be automatically redirected to the new Neighborhood.

·    Be sure to bookmark the new Neighborhood site when you get there.

·    The Neighborhood Ning site will remain open at least through the New Year. Eventually, all blogging and resources from that site will be discontinued. We’ll let you know before that occurs.

·    Be sure to go to the Neighborhood Facebook page and “Like” it. We’ll be using social media more to stay in touch!

Family Cafe Flyer in PDF Here

Case Management Update - Adults

Christine Couch

Director of Consumer Services - Adults

Happy December!  from SAMHSA: The days may be shorter and colder – but it’s okay not to be okay. Help is always available if you or someone you know is struggling with Mental Health. Help yourself and share to help others: find help!

International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3!

Modesto Gospel Mission



Last year the Mission welcomed over 12,000 people to come and pick out a special gift to take home and wrap. You can register to receive a gift here: REGISTER

Modesto Gospel Mission’s 2022 Christmas At The Mission gift giveaways will be held December 15th through December 21st!

When you sign-up to receive gifts for this event, you’ll be able to choose a time to visit our “Winter Wonderland” at the Mission and receive your gifts! Guests can sign-up as an individual, or as an individual + household (spouse, kids, etc.). ID will be required. More details available at the scheduling link.

A big thank you to Dave Vodden and the Transition Team, that has diligently supported our community and sponsored a clothing drive! Pictured is Mack Harris of VMRC and Teo Navarette from St. Mary’s dining hall. Mack delivered the collected items. Teo and Mack have been the primary organizers of this event for the past 5 years!

Laguna ICF sharing their birthday fun with us – thank you to Heidi “Susie” and Maria “Tina” for sharing their pictures with us.

OCRA has some exciting news to share. Registration is now open for our upcoming trainings about the passage of a new law to make the regional center appeal process more fair. The trainings will be offered in English and Spanish on December 9, 2022.

These FREE online trainings are for people receiving regional center services, their families, and their circle of support. Service providers are also welcomed. The trainings will be presented by OCRA's Director Shannon Cogan, Managing Attorney Eva Casas-Sarmiento and Supervising Attorney Ibrahim "Bebo" Saab.  

Here are links to the English registration and Spanish registration pages. Please share this important information with your network. We appreciate your efforts to spread the word about these webinars. We hope to see you there!

Community Services Update

Brian Bennett

Director of Community Services

 START: Building capacity by enhancing California’s system of care

       START: Systemic, Therapeutic, Assessment, Resources, and Treatment

 California (CA) START teams work collaboratively with existing systems of care to promote the health and wellbeing of people with intellectual/developmental disabilities and mental health needs (IDD-MH) and their families.

This half-day event offers an opportunity to learn more about the evidence-based START model and its implementation across CA. Attendees will learn about what CA START does, positive outcomes for people and families referred to CA START, and the referral process for CA START programs.

WHEN?

Wednesday December 7, 2022,  9:00-12:30 pm (PST) Via ZOOM (link provided at registration)

 Who Should Attend:

CA START programs, CA Regional Centers, system linkage partners of CA START programs, any & all professionals/ organizations interested in learning about the START model and how CA START can partner with and enhance existing services for people with IDD and mental health needs.

 Registration:

There is no cost to attend this conference. Register online at: https://unh.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2n2uTDT3rPaRybs

See Full Flyer on California Start 2022 Conference Here

Emergency Services Update

Aaron McDonald

Emergency Response Coordinator

Home Safety During Winter Storms:

• Use battery-operated back up lights & flashlights, when possible , not candles: During a power outage, use battery-operated lights flashlights, and not candles, due to the risk of fire. If you must use candles, please keep them away from window coverings, lampshades, animals and small children. Do not leave candles unattended.
• Have a backup phone: If you have a telephone system that requires electricity to work, such as a cordless phone or answering machine, plan to have a standard telephone or cellular phone ready as a backup.
• Have fresh drinking water, ice: Freeze plastic containers filled with water to make blocks of ice that can be placed in your refrigerator/freezer during an outage to prevent foods from spoiling. The blue ice packs used in coolers also works well in the freezer.
• Secure outdoor furniture: Deck/Patio/Porch furniture, lightweight yard structures and decorative lawn items should be secured as they can be blown by high winds and damage overhead power lines and property.
• Use generators safely: Individuals with standby electric generators should make sure they are properly installed by a licensed electrician in a well-ventilated area. Improperly installed generators pose a significant danger to customers, as well as crews working on power lines. If using portable generators, be sure they are in a well-ventilated area.
• Turn off appliances: If you experience an outage, unplug or turn off all electrical appliances to avoid overloading circuits and to prevent fire hazards when power is restored. Simply leave a single lamp on to alert you when power returns. Turn your appliances back on one at a time when conditions return to normal.
• Safely clean up: After the storm has passed, be sure to safely clean up. Never touch downed wires and always call your electoral utility provider at least two full business days before digging to have all underground utilities safely marked.
• Natural Gas Safety Tips (Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention):
• Individuals who smell gas should evacuate the area immediately, call 9-1-1 and then your natural gas utility provider.
• If you smell gas, do not use anything that could be a source of ignition, including candles, cell phones, flashlights, light switches, matches or vehicles, until you are a safe distance away.
• Never use cooking devices such as ovens or stoves for home heating purposes.
• Make sure water heaters and other natural gas appliances have proper ventilation.
• Never use products inside the home that generate dangerous levels of carbon monoxide, such as generators, outdoor grills or propane heaters.
• Install carbon monoxide detectors to warn when concentration levels are high.
• Portable Generator Safety
• Be sure that the power needs of the device (electric load) are supported by your generator and does not exceed the manufacturer’s specifications. Position your generator where its exhaust can vent safely to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning and death.
• Only use extension cords that are properly sized for your generator to prevent overheating. The American Wire Gauge (AWG) chart can be utilized to determine which extension cord is right for you. AWG measures extension cord thickness: keep in mind that the thicker the cord, the smaller the AWG rating will be.
• Keep cords out of high-traffic areas so they don’t present a tripping hazard.
• Never run cords under rugs or carpets where heat can be generated or where damage to a cord may go unnoticed.

Winter Driving:

• Reduce speed & increase following distance: When roadways become slick and/or icy it takes a longer distance to stop your vehicle. Also keep in mind as these are the first storms of the season, we have leaves on our roadways. When slick leaves are present make sure to increase stopping distances as well.
• Streetlights: At night, the streets will be much darker than usual and will look different. Follow all posted speed limits – or drive a bit slower. Use turn signals when changing lanes and especially at corners with crosswalks.
• Traffic Signals: If traffic signals are out or flashing red, come to a full stop at every intersection, and proceed as you would at a four-way stop.
• Keep emergency gear in your car when you’re traveling in areas with snow and ice, including:
• Cell phone
• Flashlights
• Jumper cables
• Sand or kitty litter (for traction)
• Ice scraper or snow brush
• Blankets
• Warning devices (such as flares or reflectors)

If your vehicle comes in contact with a downed power line:

•            Stay inside! The safest place is in your car. The ground around your car may be energized.

•            Honk the horn, roll down your window and yell for help.

•            Warn others to stay away. Anyone who touches the equipment or ground around the vehicle may be injured.

•            Use your cell phone to call 911.

•            Fire department, police and PG&E workers will tell you when it is safe to get out of the vehicle.

If there is a fire and you must exit a vehicle that has come in contact with downed power lines:

•            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.

CHOICES Institute

Conference Update- questions (209) 473-6950

November 17, 2022

Save the Date!  

CHOICES Institute will be holding its 35^th ANNUAL Conference on FRIDAY, April 14, 2023

Theme:

 Roller Coaster of CHOICES 2023

The Ups & Downs of your CHOICES!

COST (start saving your $$$ NOW):

The conference will be hybrid:

This means it will be in person in Stockton AND also on Zoom

·      In person for all: $30- this includes continental breakfast, lunch & conference t-shirt

·      On Zoom for all: $10- this includes Zoom link and conference t-shirt

  Are YOU interested in being a Speaker at our April 14, 2023 Conference?

Do you have a story (about 20 minutes) to share and talk about the “Ups & Downs of your CHOICES”?

If so, email dena.hernandez@scdd.ca.gov

with your name, number & story idea/topic to be added to the list of potential speakers by December 16, 2022!

The CHOICES Conference Planning Team will decide on speakers on the list at the December CHOICES Conference Planning meeting.            

Call the CHOICES line 209-473-6950 for any questions.

Above CHOICES Form in PDF Here

Above Template in PDF Here

Education Update

Devon Homme

IDEA Specialist

Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA)

What is it and what does it mean?

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law that makes available a free appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities and ensures special education and related services to those children. IDEA was originally adopted in 1975 and most recently amended in 2004.  

The IDEA governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education, and related services to eligible students (infants, toddlers, children, and youth).

Infants and toddlers, birth through age 2, with disabilities and their families receive early intervention services under IDEA Part C. Children and youth ages 3 through 21 (California extends this to age 22) receive special education and related services under IDEA Part B.

There are six overarching principles of IDEA:  

Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)

• This principle outlines the specially designed instruction, related services and supplementary aides and services a student may require. It shares that parents and families cannot be asked to pay for special education services. This includes when the IEP team deems it appropriate that a child may need to be educated outside of his/her own school district. IDEA requires schools to prepare an Individualized Education Plan where a student can make meaningful educational benefit. Public schools are responsible for ensuring that each of their students with a disability receives FAPE.  

Appropriate Evaluation

• This principle is in place to ensure that assessments are unbiased. Tests are administered in the student’s native language, appropriate for student’s age and characteristics, more than one test is used to assess the presence of a disability, a knowledgeable professional administers and interprets the results, and assessments occur in all areas of suspected disability.

Individualized Education Plan (IEP)

• The IEP was established by IDEA to help ensure that students are receiving access to FAPE. The IEP is a written, legal document that utilizes current evaluation data to meet a student’s unique and individual needs. There are many required components on this document. Some of the main components that must be included and discussed consist of, present levels of performance (PLOP), annual goals and short-term benchmarks/objectives, services, supplementary aides, and documentation of instances where a student is not participating with his/her same age peers in general education and why. 

Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)

• Under IDEA a student is guaranteed placement in their LRE. Keep in mind that all students are general education students first! Therefore, as an IEP team you must explore ways and alternatives to enable a student to participate in the general education classroom first. This may include the use of accommodations, modifications, supplemental aids and services and sometimes alternative instructional methods. When the IEP team determines that a student cannot be appropriately/ satisfactorily educated in the general education setting, they must determine the students LRE, keeping in mind the LRE continuum (least restrictive to most restrictive). The IEP team is charged with determining a placement and services where a student can receive educational benefit. 

Parent Participation

• IDEA has a provision for parent participation in placement decisions for their child. This means that local education agencies (LEAs) need to ensure that parents of children with a disability are members of any group that makes decisions regarding the placement and LRE of their child. Parents should also be given the right for equal participation in this process. IDEA defines the role of the parent as an equal participant and decision maker in their child’s IEP and the process. 



Procedural Safeguards

• IDEA establishes procedural safeguards to help parents and students enforce their rights around the federal law. The purpose of these procedural safeguards is to protect parent access to documentation regarding placement and transition planning and have established procedures to resolve disagreements between the parents and LEAs. 

Do you know about Valley Mountain Regional’s Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Programs?

AmeriCorps Senior provides a grant to organizations to engage very low-income Americans aged 55 and older in providing supportive and individualized services to VMRC clients. There are two programs under this grant, the Foster Grandparent Program and Senior Companion program.

Foster Grandparent Program (FGP), which began in 1965, provides loving and experienced tutors and mentors to children and youth with special needs. Working one-on-one and serving between 15 and 40 hours a week, Foster Grandparents provide support in Stockton Unified schools where VMRC clients attend. Each volunteer is assigned to two VMRC student clients. Their daily presence have an impact on the entire classroom. Among other activities, they review schoolwork and reinforce values. Foster Grandparents often maintain an ongoing, intensive relationship with the children and youth served. The Senior Companion Program (SCP), which began in 1974, helps VMRC affiliated day programs. Senior Companions serve between 15 and 40 hours a week and typically serve between two VMRC clients. Among other activities, they assist with daily living tasks, provide friendship and companionship. They help each client obtain their individual goals.

For both programs, AmeriCorps Seniors provides tangible benefits for volunteers. The eligible volunteers receive a daily meal allowance, daily travel allowance and a non-taxable, modest, hourly stipend to help offset the costs of volunteering. Other benefits include training, socialization, and recognition. They build new relationships with people in your community and make a significant difference in the lives of others. Our volunteers help our community and give back to our clients, in return both parties establish true connections that enrich the lives of all involved. Our teachers, principals, Day Program Directors, volunteers, and clients all gain meaningful relationships and support. These programs keep our seniors active, which helps with mind, body and a sense of connection. The positive outcome from both programs is improved health and wellbeing, a living stipend, and strong sense of connection to the community. 

Family Resource Network (FRN) Update

Lisa Culley, Executive Director

Do you have a child 0-3 years old receiving services through Early Start? Family Resource Network hosts a virtual music play group two times a month on Zoom. Join us for Tikes & Tunes the first and third Tuesday of each month from 9:30am-10:30am. Registration is required, please contact the FRN office to register. See flyer for more information.

SAC6 Chat Flyer in PDF Here

SAC6 Amazon Smile Flyer in PDF Here