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"The VMRC Newsletter"
Friday, April 7, 2023
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Message from the Executive Director
Tony Anderson
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At VMRC we recognize that we have agreed to take on a tremendous responsibility in supporting people with developmental disabilities and their families. It's an honor we take serious. To our core we are committed to making sure people have choices in how they will be supported and that we will never again allow people with disabilities to be segregated. We honor these responsibilities and commitments by providing comprehensive coordination of services. One very important thing we do to support this service coordination is to secure quality, person-centered services.
This part about securing services is become more and more difficult lately as our service providers are currently faced with a rare severe shortage of qualified direct support professionals (DSPs). VMRC is completely committed to doing everything we can to help our provider community to attract this workforce so people with disabilities can fully access their communities and pursue their dreams and goals. To address this problem, we are excited to announce that the next big events we are pursuing with our DSP Collaborative are two career fairs centered on the DSP careers. We’re inviting service providers from the 15 counties served by VMRC and Alta CA Regional Center to participate in the first ever career fair only for developmental services. The VMRC area Disability Industry Career Expo (with the catchy acronym DICE) will be on June 15th from 10 am to 2 pm at the Lodi Grape Festival 413 E. Lockeford Street in Lodi and the Alta area career fair will be on May 3rd from 10 am to 2 pm at 5451 Lemon Hill Ave in Sacramento.
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Please download one of the flyers below and click on the “Register Now” button or scan the QR code to register to participate as a job seeker or a provider looking for job seekers. | |
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Upcoming VMRC Public Meetings
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
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Case Management Update - Adults
Christine Couch
Director of Consumer Services - Adults
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Worried About Eviction?
If you find yourself facing eviction, here are housing resources and assistance programs to assist you to stay in your home!
CalWORKs Housing Support Program - For the low-income in California that are facing homelessness or imminent eviction, the CalWORKs Housing Support Program may be able to help. Find how to apply for housing assistance here.
Legal Services of Northern California - Provides quality legal services in a multitude of categories. You can find services for housing, COVID, general assistance, and more here.
Housing and Disability Advocacy Program - Assists homeless, and disabled individuals applying for disability benefit programs, while also providing housing support. For additional information on how to apply please visit here.
For additional resources in rental assistance, bill assistance, or disability benefits, please visit here. For assistance in finding resources for lost housing, please visit here.
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Join the Reinvent South Stockton Coalition on April 14th for a FREE Community Resource and Health Fair hosted by Mary Magdalene Community Services! The event will take place from 10AM to 2PM at 2230 S Airport Way. We hope to see you there! | |
2023 Transition Fairs are on Schedule! | |
Calaveras/Amador/Tuolumne Counties | |
The Easter Bunny paid a visit to our Modesto Office yesterday! | |
Case Management Update - Children
Tara Sisemore-Hester
Director of Consumer Services - Children
| This Thursday, April 6th Devon Homme, I.D.E.A Specialist and Michelle Richmond, Education Specialist had the opportunity to present the Foundations of Special Education to 40 staff members in our Modesto office. Training targets included discussion around the six overarching principles of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), special education timelines and procedures, and a review of the IEP document and team members. They will be providing a second training on this topic this coming week to 80 staff members in our Stockton office. | |
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Clinical Update
Dr. Claire Lazaro
Clinical Director
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FDA Approves First Over-the-Counter Naloxone Nasal Spray[1]
On March 29th, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Narcan, 4 milligram (mg) naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray for over-the-counter (OTC), nonprescription, use – the first naloxone product approved for use without a prescription.1 Naloxone is a medication that rapidly reverses the effects of opioid overdose and is the standard treatment for opioid overdose.1 This action paves the way for the life-saving medication to reverse an opioid overdose to be sold directly to consumers in places like drug stores, convenience stores, grocery stores and gas stations, as well as online.1
[1] FDA. March 29, 2023. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-over-counter-naloxone-nasal-spray
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Community Services Update
Brian Bennett
Community Services Director
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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 13th from 10:00am -12:00pm
and on April 20th from 1:30pm - 3:30pm.
Click Here to register for your preferred date
Prior registration required.
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Made possible by a Grant from the Department of Developmental Services, VMRC is happy to announce that DINOS (Disabled Individuals Needing Opportunities) will be hosting “Bowling with DINO’s FRIENDS” event on May 6th from 1-5 at Pacific Bowl! Persons served by VMRC, and their families can attend. | |
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Hello, Valley Mountain Regional Center Service Providers,
VMRC and C.L.A.S.P. (vendor advisory group) encourage you to sign up and post your jobs at the new FREE job board developed by Valley Mountain Regional Center and Alta California Regional Center. This is a job board just for the service providers of these regional centers. Post your employment needs here!
The DSP Collaborative website https://dspcollaborative.org is part of a larger initiative by our two regional centers to make a positive impact on the workforce challenges facing the support/ service support industries.
The DSP Collaborative is implementing a media campaign to promote the website and will be hosting a job fair for service providers, the first VMRC Service Provider job fair will be held at the Lodi Grape Festival Grounds on June 15, 2023 (see flyer)
Please take advantage of this FREE opportunity to post available jobs!
Flyers posted at the top of this newsletter in Tony's section.
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The DEI Corner
Mark Crear, DEI Manger
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Celebrate Diversity Month
April 2023
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Launched in 2004, Celebrate Diversity Month is featured each April to recognize and honor the nation's diversity. The purpose is to help people from all walks of life gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of each other. From Allstate to Wells Fargo, from the US Army to US Postal Service, Celebrate Diversity Month is widely recognized and celebrated by leading workplaces nationwide. It is not yet a federally-recognized theme month.
Celebrate Diversity Month is a time gain a greater appreciation of the diversity of cultures, backgrounds and life experiences of those around you. No other nation in the world can boast such a diverse population; it is this diversity and the contributions of people of every race, culture and religion that will sustain our nation's character and strength into the future.
It's a time to open dialogues that foster an appreciation of the differences that separate us, as well as the similarities that unite us. We may look different, speak differently and practice different customs, but we all have something valuable to contribute.
Celebrate Diversity Month is about everyone; it unites each of these histories and heritages into one celebration of everything that makes each of us unique and different. As you go through your day, take time to notice the diversity in your life and workplace and appreciate the strength it brings us all as a nation. Create for yourselves and those around you a culture in which diversity is celebrated, appreciated and encouraged; for it is our differences that unite us as Americans.
Take the time to involve yourself and others in learning about cultures and religions that are not part of your daily life. Talk about, show examples of and become involved in celebrating diversity today and every day. Be creative and spread a message of inclusion.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
1. Plan a meal where participants bring in dishes that represent their ethnicity or their favorite ethnic foods.
2. Plan an event that brings together different ethnic groups to celebrate.
3. Bring together different religious groups to learn about each other or pray for world peace together.
4. Watch movies or shows that deal with diverse topics.
5. Have a display or flag ceremony of different nations' flags.
6. Learn about other religions.
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Emergency Services Update
Aaron McDonald, Emergency Services and Safety Specialist
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No April Fooling California’s Snowpack is Now One of the Largest Ever, Bringing Drought Relief, Flooding Concerns
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) conducted the fourth snow survey of the season at Phillips Station on Monday, April 3, 2023. The manual survey recorded 126.5 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 54 inches, which is 221 percent of average for this location on April 3. The snow water equivalent measures the amount of water contained in the snowpack and is a key component of DWR’s water supply forecast. DWR’s electronic readings from 130 snow sensors placed throughout the state indicate the statewide snowpack’s snow water equivalent is 61.1 inches, or 237 percent of average for this date.
“This year’s severe storms and flooding is the latest example that California’s climate is becoming more extreme,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “After the driest three years on record and devastating drought impacts to communities across the state, DWR has rapidly shifted to flood response and forecasting for the upcoming snowmelt. We have provided flood assistance to many communities who just a few months ago were facing severe drought impacts.”
Just as the drought years demonstrated that California’s water system is facing new climate challenges, this year is showing how the state’s flood infrastructure will continue to face climate-driven challenges for moving and storing as much of these flood waters as possible.
The size and distribution of this year’s snowpack is also posing severe flood risk to areas of the state, especially the San Joaquin Valley. DWR’s State-Federal Flood Operations Center (FOC) is supporting emergency response in the Tulare Lake Basin and San Joaquin River by providing flood fight specialists to support ongoing flood response activities and by providing longer-term advanced planning activities. The FOC and DWR’s Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting Unit are helping local agencies plan for the spring snowmelt season by providing hydraulic and hydrologic modeling and snowmelt forecasts.
While winter storms have helped the snowpack and reservoirs, groundwater basins are much slower to recover. Many rural areas are still experiencing water supply challenges, especially communities that rely on groundwater supplies which have been depleted due to prolonged drought. Long-term drought conditions in the Colorado River Basin will also continue to impact the water supply for millions of Californians. The state continues to encourage Californians to make water conservation a way of life as more extremes between wet and dry conditions will continue in the future.
DWR conducts five media-oriented snow surveys at Phillips Station each winter near the first of each month, January through April and, if necessary, May. Given the size of this year’s snowpack with more snow in the forecast, DWR anticipates conducting a May snow survey at Phillips Station. That is tentatively scheduled for Monday, May 1, 2023.
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Valley Mountain Regional Center (VMRC)
Self Determination Advisory Committee (SDAC)
EVERYONE is WELCOME At Our Meetings!
We meet each month on the 3rd 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/
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North Valley Hills Update
Dena Hernandez, Regional Manager (209) 473-6930
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The California Autism Professional Training and Information Network (CAPTAIN) is looking for Autistic adults to share their unique perspectives to better inform the work we do. CAPTAIN is a multi-agency network dedicated to sharing information about evidence-based practices to support the needs of individuals with Autism. If you or someone you know would be interested in joining our team, please see the attached flyer and join us for a virtual recruitment event on April 19th, 2023 at 10am. The link to attend this event is located on the flyer. | |
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Family Resource Network (FRN) Update
Lisa Culley, Executive Director
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Family Resource Network (FRN) is hiring! Full and part-time positions, multiple openings available. Help other parents and family members with the knowledge and skills you've gained as a parent or close family member of a child with disabilities. College degree not required, and extensive training is provided. Bilingual (Spanish) and non-Bilingual positions available. To request job description or with questions, or to send cover letter and resume, email to: lisaculley@frcn.org. | | | | |
