A message from our Executive Director
TO: Dr. Gisele Ragusa, Board President & Board of Directors, San Gabriel / Pomona Valleys Developmental Services, Inc.
FROM: Anthony Hill, M.A. J.D. Esq., Executive Director
RE: Executive Director’s Report
Cesar Chavez Day March 31, 2021
Cesar Chavez’ birthday on March 31 is recognized every year. This year we observe Cesar Chavez Day on March 29, 2021. The SG/PRC office will be closed. However, after hours supports are available to meet the needs of individuals served and their families. We can be reached at (909)-620-7722.
Cesar Chavez’ leadership and advocacy changed laws and public policy that failed to protect civil liberties and working conditions for farmworkers and employees in general. Cesar Chavez awakened our spirits and consciousness for encouraging and advocating for fairness, equity and serving others as things that we must practice and perfect throughout our life’s journey.
“We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community…Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own.” — Cesar Chavez
SG/PRC’s Critical Business Functions
The SG/PRC office remains open to the public on an appointment only basis. We are pleased to report that all critical functions including Intake/Eligibility, Fiscal, Clinical, Human Resources, Quality Assurance and Information Technology are at optimal levels. Our remote workforce fluctuates between 85%-95% percent.
All visitors are required to wear a face mask and pass a contactless electronic temperature screening device. Our porter sanitizes and disinfects our office space during business hours. SG/PRC is the only regional center throughout the pandemic that has continued to safely provide in-person intake and eligibility services and Early Intervention service clinics.
We are pleased to report that throughout the pandemic parents and their children continue to spend time with us, being greeted by SG/PRC staff, waiting in our lobby, and thereafter receiving diagnostic, counselling, clinical, early intervention, and intake services.
The following reflects our data ending February 2021 (See Attachment A).
Early Intervention/Intake
- 1061 New Referrals
- 1009 Eligibility Reviews
- 45 Reactivations
- 955 children found eligible
Lanterman/Intake
- 198 New Referrals
- 713 Eligibility Reviews
- 101 Reactivations
- 400 Eligible (Plus/EI transitions)
Dr. Carol Tomblin’s Retirement
With happiness for Dr. Carol Tomblin, we announce that Carol has notified us that she intends to retire, effective April 15th, 2021. Carol has told us that she is ready to spend time with her family, travel, and simply enjoy life.
Carol is a SG/PRC Icon, as she has served our SG/PRC community for well over 40 years. Carol began her career at SG/PRC during 1981 as a Client Program Coordinator (Service Coordinator) and was promoted to Program Manager School Age (4) years later.
Within (4) years afterward, during 1989, Carol was promoted to serve as our Chief of Community Services. That role was later re-titled Director of Community Services, where Carol was responsible for resource development, quality assurance, transportation, vendorization, vendor appeals, provider rates, and Community Placement Plan developments.
During 1993, Carol was the Interim SG/PRC Executive Director, after the retirement of the former Executive Director.
During 2016 Carol shifted roles and began serving as SG/PRC’s Director of Community Outreach and Compliance with oversight over SG/PRC’s statutory compliance, Fair Hearings, Performance Contract, National Core Indicators, Disparity Grants, Educational & Cultural Specialists, and the Foster Grandparents & Senior Companions programs.
Carol’s leadership is sheer brilliance demonstrated through her commitment to our mission and vision creating innovative service delivery approaches with a goal to move all of us closer to the Lanterman Promise for equity, full inclusion, normalcy, and community life for individuals with developmental disabilities. Carol, your goodwill, mentoring and support that you provided us throughout your career created a leadership model that all of us seek to emulate. Carol, we will miss you and please know that you are always a member of the SG/PRC family. Happy Retirement Carol!
COVID-19 LA County Surge / SG/PRC Risk Mitigation Efforts
We are very thankful, and we appreciate the nurses, doctors, clinical workers, hospital staff, and all essential workers, residential and non-residential service providers, SG/PRC staff and our community working together to slow down the spread of COVID-19. It has been nearly a year since Governor Newsom’s stay at home order, and we have experienced peaks and valleys illustrating the rate of COVID-19 transmissions in Los Angeles County.
Recently, positive COVID-19 testing rates have steadily declined. According to Los Angeles County Department of Public Health statistics archived within its dashboard on March 15, 2021, the COVID-19 positivity rate is 2.5% percent and case rate is 5.2 per 100,000 individuals moving Los Angeles County from widespread to substantial within the statewide tier system. This change will allow reopening of various business activities in Los Angeles County with modifications and capacity limitations (See Attachment B).
SG/PRC’s COVID-19 data demonstrates a sharp decline in positive COVID-19 testing results for individuals served, service provider staff, and SG/PRC staff (See Attachment C). As expected, we do not have any hotspots that are operationally defined as (1) positive individual served living in a licensed congregate living setting.
Vaccine Prioritization for Individuals Served
The vaccines are here. We are thrilled that effective March 15th, 2021 COVID-19 vaccines are available for all individuals with developmental disabilities ages 16 through 64 if supply is not outpaced by demand (See Attachment D). Prior to March 15th, 2021, we have provided vaccine prioritization letters to individuals served receiving independent and supported living services, living in adult family homes, family member healthcare workers, non-residential service providers / their staff and SG/PRC staff.
On February 12, 2021, the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) issued a Directive requiring regional centers to contact individuals served age 65 and older notifying them of their eligibility to receive COVID-19 vaccines. Also, within this directive, individuals served ages 16-64 were designated by Governor Newsom as being eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines effective March 15, 2021 (See Attachment E).
On February 19, 2021, SG/PRC sent letters addressed to individuals served specifically 65 years and older and ages 16 through 64 affirming their eligibility for COVID-19 vaccines according to prevailing guidance. On February 22, 2021 SG/PRC sent a letter to all individuals served as a feature of our community outreach strategy (See Attachment F).
On March 9, 2021, regional centers received additional guidance through DDS Directive requiring regional centers to notify individuals served within the mention classification regarding their eligibility to receive vaccines, to share information on how to schedule appointments, and to help with securing transportation or other community supports.
Additionally, Regional Centers were required to use a DDS template letter with joint signatures from the DDS Director and Regional Center Director (See Attachment G). On March 11, 2021, SG/PRC relied on mail merge programs creating individually addressed DDS template letters that were sent to approximately 4204 individuals served that are between the ages 16 and 64.
SG/PRC COVID-19 Community Outreach
On January 29, 2021 DDS issued a directive requiring that regional centers contact individuals served within 30 days if contact had not been made prior to January 1, 2021 (See Attachment H). Within that directive, regional centers were required to develop COVID-19 testing and vaccination plans (See Attachment I).
Currently, SG/PRC is under contract with California Health and Human Services Agency, and Valencia Laboratories for the purpose of offering COVID-19 testing for individuals served, their family members, service provider staff and SG/PRC staff. We are in the planning stages. We will have a soft opening during the first week of April. We will offer COVID-19 testing every Thursday through August 2021.
We are having conversations with Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Kaiser Permanente, Western University, and private pharmacies to become a vaccination administration location or alternatively to establish vaccine appointment scheduling portals and mobile testing options specifically for individuals served through SG/PRC.
SG/PRC Community Events
Every Monday at 10 a.m. through 12 p.m. we have a conversation with our service providers through Zoom to discuss DDS Directives, and Public Health Policy related to COVID-19.
Every Tuesday from 10 a.m. through 11 a.m. we have a conversation with individuals served, their families, and community partners through Zoom to discuss DDS Directives impacting individuals served, offer an overview of SG/PRC’s resources and supports, community resources, Parents’ Place update and review of SG/PRC’s COVID-19 data. We encourage members of our community to attend and connect with us.
On Friday, March 19, 2021 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in partnership with Azusa Pacific University, SG/PRC is hosting a virtual dance party for individuals served 18 years and older. The theme is the 80’s. There will be a costume contest, music and a lineup of fun activities and prizes. DJ Jose Deleon and a guest DJ will be revving up the sounds of the eighties.
On Saturday, March 27, 2021, we will host our quarterly dental clinic. This event is our second dental clinic occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic. We anticipate at least 70 individuals served will been seen. The purpose of our dental clinic is to conduct screenings, and connect individuals served with a permanent dental provider. The clinic will be held outdoors in the SG/PRC parking area relying on tents creating social distancing and ensuring conformity with the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Local Public Health Policy and Guidance.
SG/PRC Budget FY 20/21
SG/PRC’s OPS allocation for FY 20/21 is $32,144,211 projecting at $31,967,912 at the end of the fiscal year. Current month expenditures are $3,487,737 and year to date expenditures are $18,272,494.
SG/PRC’s POS allocation is $271,307,068. Current month claims are $22,918,499. Year to date expenditures is $147,658,749. We anticipate a deficit reflecting $5,189,163 derived from COVID-19 Health and Safety Exemption expenditures. All regional centers are required to track COVID-19 expenditures and report those specific costs to DDS. Anticipated future allocations related to COVID-19 expenditures will yield a balanced year end budget outcome.
Department of Developmental Services
February 18, 2021- DDS Directive Extension of Waivers/Modifications
This DDS Directive extends the expiration date for prior directives (See Attachment J). Within this Directive, an April 15th, 2020 Directive is modified removing conditional language that fails to waive regional centers’ requirements to conduct vendor audits. As a result, regional centers now have an absolute wavier of requirement to conduct vendor audits during Fiscal Year 2019-20 retroactive to July 15th, 2020.
Accordingly, the amendment does not waive or disturb regional center’s requirement to ensure that service providers complete an independent review or audit of their fiscal records. This standard is controlled by the dollar amount claimed by the vendor annually. The regional center does not have legal authority to waive this requirement. However, the audit requirement does include a waiver of the requirement defined as an exemption when the service provider’s independent review or audit result is an unmodified opinion or a qualified opinion with issues that are not material (See Attachment K).
March 1, 2021- DDS Directive Purchase of Services Disparities Data Meetings and Reporting
This DDS Directive extends timelines regional centers are required to hold public meetings regarding purchase of service disparity data, submission of associated reports to the DDS liaison, and posting of reports to regional centers’ website (See Attachment L).
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.
Assembly Concurrent Resolutions
ACR 28-Support
On February 17, 2021, ARCA issued a letter for support of Assembly Concurrent Resolution (ACR)-28 to Assemblymember Calderon recognizing February 19th as National Caregivers Day. In particular, “Increasing awareness of caregivers’ unique role, and the positive impact an appropriately-funded caregiving can make in the lives of people who are aging or have a disability, is a worthy goal” (See Attachment M).
ACR 35-Support
On March 5th, 2021 ARCA issued a letter to Assemblymember Chau, supporting the designation of April 2, 2021 as “ World Autism Awareness Day.” “Autism is rapidly becoming the most common developmental disability affecting people in California- and around the country” (See Attachment N).
ACR 39- Support
On March 5, 2021 ARCA issued a letter for support of ACR-39 to Assemblymember Holden, recognizing May as “Roxie Forbes Drowning Prevention Month.” Roxie Forbes was a non-swimmer and while attending summer camp she drowned. The purpose of this resolution is to raise awareness of the risk of drowning (See Attachment O).
Assembly Bills
(AB)- 445-Support/Sponsor
On March 10, 2021 ARCA issued a letter supporting AB-445 to Assemblymember Calderon modifying language within the Lanterman Act terminating the requirement that regional centers collect parental information including the parent’s social security number. This requirement creates an unintentional barrier preventing access to needed services for the individual served, if the parent does not have a social security number and at the same time raises privacy concerns connected to residency status (See Attachment P).
March 2021 – Executive Director’s Report (PDF)