A message from our Executive Director
TO: Penelope Fode, Board President & Board of Directors, San Gabriel / Pomona Valleys Developmental Services, Inc.
FROM: Anthony Hill, M.A. J.D. Esq., Executive Director
We Are United
We are united and we are successfully implementing health policy guidance for the common good. Over the past week, we observed parents purchasing school supplies, children waiting for school buses, crosswalk guards donning bright yellow vest escorting children, parents kissing their children before their child exit the family vehicle, children riding their bicycles and siblings holding hands as they walk to school. Together we created these encouraging images of progress. There is still work to be done. Let’s remain diligent and committed to putting COVID-19 behind us.
SG/PRC’s Critical Business Functions
We are pleased to report that all critical functions including Intake/Eligibility, Client Services, Fiscal, Clinical, Human Resources, Quality Assurance and Information Technology are at optimal levels. We are implementing our Abundance of Caution strategy, in that we are adjusting our business practices according to public health policy guidance, rates of COVID-19 transmission, and SG/PRC data.
Since my last report, there has been a 2% percent increase in the number of SG/PRC staff fully vaccinated. We have reached 97% percent. During January 2021, SG/PRC staff were designated as healthcare workers fitting within the essential workforce infrastructure and were eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine within that tier grouping.
Recently, Governor Newsom declared a mandate that all healthcare workers are fully vaccinated or demonstrate a legal exemption within guidance of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) before November 1, 2021. We anticipate that all of SG/PRC employees will follow through with the EEOC COVID-19 vaccine guidance , and SG/PRC COVID-19 Operations Contingency Plan in harmony with Governor Newsom’s public health policy mandate.
The SG/PRC office has remained open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Visitors and staff are required to wear a face mask and pass a contactless temperature screening device. We have held firm with this practice, even though guidance from local public health authorities has varied. Our Porter cleans and sanitizes our business office daily, supported by other internal health and safety protocols. We are very proud of our distinction of being the only regional center throughout the pandemic that has continued to provide in-person intake/eligibility assessments and early intervention clinics.
Intake/Eligibility Data July 1,2020 through June 30/2021
Early Intervention/Intake
- 2046 New Referrals
- 1656 Eligibility Reviews
- 73 Reactivations
- 1575 Children found eligible
Lanterman/Intake
- 390 New Referrals
- 1123 Eligibility Reviews (EI transition)
- 170 Reactivations
- 636 Eligible (/EI transitions)
(See Attachment A)
Provisional Eligibility /Lanterman Act
We are in historic times. Our shared advocacy shaped public policy. Effective July 1, 2021, children three through four years in age are eligible for regional center services under the Lanterman Act, without the need for a diagnosis of developmental disability. However, the disability cannot be solely physical. Also, the child must demonstrate significant functional limitations in at least two areas of life activity; including ….self-care, receptive and expressive language, learning, mobility, and self-direction. During June 2021, we made internal adjustments to our staffing resources to be prepared to serve children and their families. Since, July 1, 2021, we have found thirteen children provisionally eligible for regional services. These children and their families are receiving services (See Attachment B).
Telecommunications Upgrade
We are pleased to announce that we are moving closer to our flexible workplace vision. During August 2020, we determined that we can effectively work remotely serving our community.
We imagine our workspace… free of walls without attachment to any specific location or space. Our vision is further supported through a new telecommunications partner. A feature of our shared vision are telecommunications that support our connections with our community through many avenues, including desk-phone, lap top soft-phone, teleconferencing, and text messaging. Harmonizing this change, we have narrowed our field of phone number prefixes from six to two supporting your efforts to reach specific staff, more easily. All staff will share the same prefix (710) with new extensions. Our main phone number, (909)-620-7722, and our after-hours system will remain the same. Our transition is scheduled to be complete on September 1, 2021 (See Attachment C).
SG/PRC COVID-19 Data
During July 2020, SG/PRC reported 68 positive COVID-19 cases for all categories, compared with 13 reported positive COVID-19 cases during July 2021 (See Attachment D). Los Angeles County COVID-19 positivity rate 7-day average reported on August 13, 2021, is 4.84% percent demonstrating a slight decrease from prior reporting period. Currently we have (2) hotspots in residential facilities. “Hotspots” are operationally defined as at least one COVID-19 positive test outcome for either an individual served that resides in a residential facility or a staff that delivers care and supervision.
SG/PRC’s COVID-19 Testing Clinic
Effective August 16, 2021, our COVID-19 testing clinic is open an additional day. It will be open, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays for individuals served and their families, service provider staff and their families, and SG/PRC staff and their families. The clinic is held at the SG/PRC office from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (See Attachment E).
COVID-19 Vaccine Data
As required by the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) Directive, SG/PRC is collecting COVID-19 vaccine data for individuals served. We are collecting the vaccine brand, whether the individual served is fully vaccinated, and whether the individual served demonstrated their choice to decline COVID-19 vaccines. SG/PRC’s vaccine data collection efforts on a proportional basis remains at the top of the list of regional centers according to DDS Data at www.dds.ca.gov under COVID-19 data. Our efforts to collect COVID-19 vaccine data will remain persistent.
SG/PRC’s Budget FY 20/21 as of June 30, 2021
SG/PRC’s Operations (OPS) Budget allocation for FY 20/21 is $32,367,211 projecting at $32,048,711 at the end of the fiscal year. Current month expenditures are $794,282 and year to date expenditures are $29,951,298.
SG/PRC’s Purchase of Service (POS) Budget allocation is $283,327,207. Current month claims are $21,164,758. Year to date expenditures estimates $268,931,604. We are projecting a reserve reflecting $9,694,326.
Department of Developmental Services (DDS)
SG/PRC Caseload Ratios
Regional Centers are underfunded at least 921 Service Coordinators statewide, anticipated to be offset through budget policy in the amount of $61 million to be allocated during Fiscal Year 22/23. We believe when considering the big picture view, the underlying root cause is the core staffing formula. Accordingly, allocation methodology targeting caseload ratio narrowly, misses the mark.
We are optimistic funding is forthcoming based on a per capita allocation approach. According to the March 2021 survey, SG/PRC did not meet caseload ratio requirements for individuals served on the Home and Community Based Services Waiver (Waiver); SG/PRC reporting 1:66, California average is 1:77, and statutory threshold is 1:62. Also, SG/PRC did not meet caseload ratio requirements for Individuals Served not on the Waiver and Non-Mover; SG/PRC reporting 1:70, California average is 1:81, and statutory threshold is 1:66. Because, SG/PRC did not achieve full statutory compliance, SG/PRC is required to complete a plan of correction and submit its plan to DDS (See Attachment F).
August 13, 2021, Guidance Regarding Alternative Services
Before November 1, 2021, Regional Center and Service Providers are required to meet with individuals served to gather feedback, input, and information regarding the implementation of Alternative Services. Regional Centers are required to record details of the meeting, including the date, the participants, and a description of the input from the person served. Service Providers are required to amend the participants’ Individual Service Plan according to input received and adjust Alternative Service delivery in alignment (See Attachment G).
Association of Regional Center Agencies (ARCA) Updates
The Association of Regional Center Agencies (ARCA) represents the 21 non-profit regional centers that advocate on behalf of and coordinates services for California’s over 350,000 people with developmental disabilities.
The Association functions as a leader and advocate in promoting the continuing entitlement of individuals with developmental disabilities to achieve their full potential and highest level of self- sufficiency. The Association participates in the development of public legislative policy that impact individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
Senate Bill 639-(SB-639)
Senator Durazo, through SB-639 proposes transitioning wages for persons with developmental disabilities from sub-minimum wage to integrated competitive employment requiring the legal minimum wage effective January 1, 2024. On August 5, 2021, ARCA issued a letter to the sponsor of SB 639, Senator Elena Durazo requesting a structured pathway to achieve this goal. Approximately 10,000 individuals served are impacted through the implementation of SB-639 (See Attachment H).
August 2021 – Executive Director’s Report (PDF)
August 2021 – Attachments (PDF)