To View this Email in a Web Browser Click Here

Message from the Executive Director



Tony Anderson

Purchase of Services (POS) Expenditures Meeting

Join us next Wednesday March 29, 2023 for our 7th Annual POS Expenditures session. This will be a hybrid format where you can participate remotely or come on by and join us in-person in our Stockton office. We have designed the day to be an open forum to allow us to collect public input throughout the day. We will include short presentations on the latest data from DDS showing how VMRC spends the POS funds for services for people with disabilities and their families. We'll include presentations from community based organizations that DDS pays to pursue a variety of different projects aimed at helping all parts of our community to access the services they need. In years past VMRC received support from DDS for:



• The Cultural Fair (now the Disability Resource Fair) which has evolved into our largest showcase event with our community attracting over 1000 people we serve every year.
• Translating early start forms and other standard documents.
• We trained all of our staff in person-centered thinking and certified a team of trainers.
• Created a booklet of common service terms into Spanish.
• Conducted trainings for our interpreters to help them understand the context of things they're interpreting.
• We received cultural and linguistic competence training from Georgetown University.
• Implemented the Partners in Policymaking advocacy training program for Spanish speaking monolingual and English speaking mothers in our region.

This year DDS did not give us any funds for our projects but they funded eight CBOs from all parts of the state to help our community. Come hear about their good work in our neighborhoods and hear what others have to say about accessing services in the community. 

For details checkout this flyer...

Don't forget to join us TODAY, Friday March 24^th at VMRC, 702 N. Aurora Street, Stockton, CA 95202 at 12:00 PM!

We will be hosting an event at VMRC today from 12 pm to 2 pm. We’ll be revealing the exciting work of the DSP Collaborative so far and the big project outcomes in the making. We’ll start the event with sandwiches and movie snacks as we watch the inspirational movie “Invaluable”.

It's Not too Late

You still have time to time us how we're doing. We have three surveys out there for our community to tell us about their experience to be used by us in directing our time as part of our strategic planning process.

The Director's Travels

The March 27, 2023 board communication on the director's activites...

Upcoming VMRC Public Meetings

Purchase of Services (POS) Expenditures Community Meeting (Hybrid)

Wednesday, March 29, 2023, 2:00 PM

702 N. Aurora Street, Stockton, CA 95202

Click Here for Zoom Information

Executive Committee Meeting (Hybrid)

Wednesday, April 12, 2023, 6:30 PM

702 N. Aurora Street, Stockton, CA 95202

Click Here for Zoom Information

Board of Directors Meeting (Hybrid)

Wednesday, April 26, 2023, 6:00 PM

702 N. Aurora Street, Stockton, CA 95202

Click Here for Zoom Information

Case Management Update - Adults

Christine Couch

Director of Consumer Services - Adults

Caltrans, District 10, hopes to see you this Saturday in Stockton!

If you don’t know much about developmental disabilities, that’s ok. Now is the perfect time to learn. Recent estimates show about one in six U.S. children aged 3-17 have one or more developmental disabilities. Learn more



https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/developmentaldisabilities/causes-and-risk-factors.html

Happy St Patrick's Day! From JBallelos Community Integration Program (JBCIP)

Case Management Update - Children

Tara Sisemore-Hester

Director of Consumer Services - Children

Spotlight on Omar!

Parent statement:



Omar was about 9 months old when he started VMRC. Our family was in a moment of desperate help. We had so many questions and zero knowledge. We were completely clueless to what we were facing. But from the beginning we were given Immense support from VMRC. What can I say, we had a great Team! Each one of our teachers took an important role to achieve Omar’s growth. It brought so much happiness to play with his teachers, it was impossible to wipe off his cute big ear to ear smile. 

My family and I are beyond grateful for everything given to see Omar thrive. We gained nothing but positive outcomes 💜

“To infinity and Beyond” 🚀

Young children are the future of our communities, and the Community Event & Activity Sponsorship Grant is one way First 5 San Joaquin is working with local partners to give children a promising start in life. Funds have been set aside for fiscal year 2022-2023 to sponsor events and activities taking place during the Spring/Summer event season that assist in achieving the priorities established in the Strategic Plan and help to expand the reach of the Talk. Read. Sing. Draw. Play. campaign.

Event sponsorship grants are provided in the amounts of $250, $500, $750 or $1,000 per event or activity, depending on size and type of event or activity. The following organizations are eligible to apply: community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, public agencies, and private agencies.

Application deadline is May 30, 2023 for events taking place during April 1 - June 30, 2023, or until funds are no longer available. Download application:

Event Sponsorship Grant Instructions

Event Sponsorship Grant Application Form

Sincerely,

First 5 San Joaquin



Clinical Update



Dr. Claire Lazaro

Clinical Director

Turlock Autism group invites you to their annual Easter Egg hunt! They will have helpful resources in our community passing out candy eggs and conducting games for the children. All ages and families are welcome. Please register if you plan on attending. The event is Saturday, March 25^th from 9am-12pm.

Community Services Update



Brian Bennett

Community Services Director

All Regional Center Vendors are responsible for reporting “Special Incidents,” in accordance with Title 17 Section 54327;

VMRC’s Quality Assurance Department is

 offering virtual Vendor Special Incident Report Training

on April 13^th from 10:00am -12:00pm

and on April 20^th from 1:30pm - 3:30pm.

Click Here to register for your preferred date

Prior registration required.

Above SIR Training Flyer in PDF Here

VMRC and the Department of Developmental Services have awarded Community Integration Social Recreation Grants to the following organizations/ persons:



·        Jacqui Montero, Camp Tuolumne Trails (Tuolumne County)

·        Kimberlie and Taylor Gamino, Camp Taylor (Stanislaus County)

·        Andrew Garcia, Muscle Mechanics Training Center (Stanislaus County)

·        Letitcia Thompson and Tumboura Hill, Disabled Individuals Needing Opportunities (DINOS Friends) (San Joaquin County)

·        Amanda Ferrer, Creative Expressions

For a complete listing of Statewide grant recipients click here:

https://www.dds.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Grants-Approved-for-Website-3.17.23.pdf

VMRC has many Requests for Proposals on our website; https://www.vmrc.net/rfps/ services needed include:

·        Family Home Agency https://znc7f6.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/FHA-RFP-3-2023-Final.pdf

·        Early Start Autism Intervention Programs (ESAIP) https://znc7f6.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/RFP-ES-ESAIP-10-2021.pdf

·        

Adult Residential to support persons who are non-ambulatory

https://znc7f6.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Residential-Needs-2022.pdf

·        

VMRC’s 2023-2023 Community Resource Development Plan (CRDP) and Community Placement Plan (CPP) 

https://znc7f6.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/VMRC-CRDP-2223-3-L4I-ARF.pdf

Coordinated family Supports (CFS) https://znc7f6.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/CFS-Request-for-Proposal-002.pdf

Valley Mountain Regional Center (VMRC)

Self Determination Advisory Committee (SDAC)

EVERYONE is WELCOME At Our Meetings!

We meet each month on the 3^rd Thursday from 3:30pm-5pm on Zoom

(until we are able to meet in person at the VMRC Stockton Office)

Our Meeting Dates for 2023

January 19          February 16

March 16            April 20

May 18               June 15

July 20                August 17

September 21   October 19

November 16   December 21

For the zoom links for each meeting these are posted 10 days before the meetings at https://www.vmrc.net/self-determination-advisory-committee/  

You can APPLY to be on this committee- links here and on www.vmrc.net and www.scdd.ca.gov

In English: 

https://znc7f6.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/VMRC-SCDD-SD-Adv-Com-2021Eng-Application.pdf

In Spanish: https://znc7f6.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wpcontent/uploads/2021/06/NVH-VMRC-SCDD-SD-Adv-2021Application_Spanish.pdf

SCDD: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeU3zu0qt2l9Xg48JPx6sJKTGil6RO0LJALHoDy6q8u3KAqSA/viewform

North Valley Hills Update

   Dena Hernandez, Regional Manager (209) 473-6930

About 43% of people experiencing homelessness in California are living with a disability. Change is on the horizon! Thank you

Senator Anna Caballero and State Senator Nancy Skinner for championing #SB37.

http://bit.ly/3yVb2NN



#RentalAssistance #HousingStability #DisabilityHousing #SupportSB37

Family Resource Network (FRN) Update



Lisa Culley, Executive Director

Sibshops...a group just for children and youth who have a sibling with a disability or special need. For children 7 to 14 years old, this free event provides a time to be away from their family, and to know that there are other unique kids just like them. The evening is an activity-filled time to discuss the fun (and not so fun) parts of having a sibling with disabilities, a time to celebrate, and have a great time! Our next San Joaquin group meets on Friday, March 31, 2023 (see flyer for details)

Pre-registration is required, and spaces are limited. Please contact the Family Resource Network office at 209-472-3674 or FRNfamilies@frcn.org to receive a registration packet.