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VMRC Board of Directors Meeting (Hybrid)

Wednesday, June 26, 2024, 6:00 PM

702 N. Aurora Street, Stockton, CA 95202, Cohen Board Room

Click Here for Virtual Information

Chief Stanley McFadden of the Stockton Police Department will be out at the VMRC Stockton Office on Wednesday, 06/26, at 1:30 PM to talk about the "Your Way Registry". Space is limited, so please click below to register your spot. Individuals served, parents, family members, service providers and staff are all welcome.

Case Management Update - Children

Tara Sisemore-Hester

Director of Consumer Services - Children

Please join the Manteca Police Department on June 24^th as they celebrate their Autism Certification. Resource booths will be on site. We would love to see you there.  

Sleep Considerations for

Children with Autism

with Courtney Palm, LMFT

Tuesday, August 20, 2024

12:30pm - 2:00pm

Virtual Event

Can't attend the event live? 

Register to receive access to the recording!

This training will explore different factors that contribute to sleep disruption for children with Autism. The course will cover sensory contributions, gut-health and diet considerations, and strategies for regulating the nervous system. Children with Autism have specific needs for sleep that can differ from neurotypical children so we will discuss how to create sleep programs that are inclusive to the differences in their systems and neural circuitry. Finally, we will explore long-term expectations and management of sleep, when to connect with sleep medicine, and alternative treatments for insomnia.  

Learning Objectives:

Attendees will explore the systemic differences central to children with Autism, including cortisol/melatonin production, sensory responses, gut microbiome, diet, and nervous system reactions to better understand how to evaluate a child's sleep needs. 

Attendees will discuss 2 case studies about children with Autism to practice formulating a sleep plan that is inclusive to each child's unique needs.  



Attendees will discuss alternative treatment options for sleep disruptions including homeopathic supplements, sleep medicine, and body-work to provide additional options for parents when supporting long-term sleep management. 

Courtney Palm holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University and is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist working in this field since 2005. She has conducted more than 10,000 sleep consults throughout the course of her career and is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Courtney completed three years of a clinical internship to specialize in child development and early intervention through the Child Development Institute in California. Courtney is certified in DIR: Floortime, the Neuro-Sequential Model of Therapeutics, and the Babies/Pre-Steps Model of Intervention for premature babies. Read more about Courtney HERE

Non-Member: $55

IDA Agency/Individual Member: $40

IDA Parent/Student/New Clinician Member: $30

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

CDI CE Hours: LCSW, LMFT, LEP, LPCC

(you will be invoiced)

IDA Requests: Contact IDA @ mail@idaofcal.org

with ADA request by August 10, 2024

Limited Partial Scholarship Available

The Five-Minute Daily Playtime Ritual is summed up by the acronym P.R.I.D.E. It stands for “Praise-Reflect-Imitate-Describe-Enthusiasm,” which is a research-based strategy to help parents remember the tenets of child-led play. Check it out on the Neighborhood. 



Case Management Update - Adults

Christine Couch, Director of Consumer Services - Adults

Clinical Update



Dr. Claire Lazaro

Clinical Director

Community Services Update

Brian Bennett, Director of Community Services



Public Notice: VMRC 2024-2025 Community Placement Plan (CPP) and Community Resource Development Plan (CRDP)

Valley Mountain Regional Center has been collecting input over the past year through our internal Unmet Resource Needs tracking, Board Meetings related to Community Resource Development Plan needs and Community Placement Plan needs.

Potential projects requested for CPP / CRDP grant funding will be in alignment with the Department of Developmental Services guidelines,

 https://www.dds.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/FY-2023-24_FINAL-CPP_CRDP_Guidelines_9.21.23.pdf

The Department’s goal for the CPP is to enhance the capacity of the community service delivery system and to support individuals moving into the community from a more restrictive environment. The Department’s goals for the CRDP are to be responsive to the changing needs of individuals currently residing in the community who are receiving services through California’s developmental disabilities service system and enhance the capacity for community services.

The CPP and CRDP are designed to support two of the Department's strategic goals:

Goal One: Expand the availability, accessibility, and types of services and supports to meet current and future needs of individuals and their families in the community.

Goal Two: Develop systems to ensure that quality services and supports in the least restrictive environment are provided to individuals in the community.

Please join us in person to share your input related to current and future needs for individuals supported by VMRC.

Monday July 29^th from 2-3 p.m. Stockton VMRC (Cohen Board Room)

https://maps.app.goo.gl/rkeDHtKrkBBHPtWc7

Wednesday July 31^st from 2-3 p.m. Modesto VMRC (Conference Rm 134A/B)

https://maps.app.goo.gl/NDiTsRRpbbxq7Knp7

August 9, 2024, from 2-3 p.m. San Andreas, CA (7 Main St. San Andreas , CA ) https://maps.app.goo.gl/NpyiZRA1NABqad9Y7 s/

VMRC is Seeking Qualified Clinical Psychologist’s to Complete Autism Evaluations

      Click Here for the Request for Proposal (RFP)

Employment Services

Click Here for the Request for Proposal (RFP)

Emergency Response Update



Aaron McDonald

Emergency Response and Safety Specialist

This past week has taught us that life for all of us can truly change in an instant. Statewide we are seeing multiple large-scale wildfires that we typically expect to see in our foothill and mountain areas. This is a good reminder that we all must be prepared for whatever may impact us at all times. This week alone we have had wildfires, air quality issues from wildfires & this weekend will bring extreme heat once again. As a result of the extreme heat it is likely that we experience power outages and an increase in individuals using our water ways for recreation & relief from the heat. Below are some resource guides to help you in being prepared for whatever may possibly impact your daily life.

North Valley Hills Update

   Dena Hernandez, Regional Manager (209) 473-6930

SCDD June 2024 Storytellers Page- Check it out!!!

"I was born with a label. I had endured the label of Down Syndrome my whole life and all of the stereotypes that are associated with it. Then, when I came out as a gay person, I had to endure twice the labels and discrimination. So, this has shaped my advocacy work to eliminate labels and to see people as human beings first." — Nicole Adler

Read the rest of Nicole’s journey at the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities' Storytellers Page:



https://scdd.ca.gov/.../disabilities-and-lgbtq-advocacy.../

#LoveisLove #Pride #pride2024 #sfprideparade #disabilitypride #DisabilityAdvocacy

Join the Office of Clients’ Rights Advocacy (OCRA) in person at VMRC’s San Andreas office for open office hours. OCRA provides free legal information, advice, and representation to regional center clients. 

• Thursday, July 18, 2024, from 10:00am to 2:00pm
• Thursday, August 15, 2024, from 10:00am to 2:00pm

You can stop by anytime during our office hours or schedule an appointment. If you would like to schedule an appointment during OCRA’s office hours, please contact us at 209-242-2127 or ocra.vmrc@disabilityrightsca.org.