Dear NBRC Service Providers,

We are reaching out to you today to provide general information and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and County Offices of Public Health regarding the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

NBRC leadership is continually monitoring changes of information about the Coronavirus in all three of our counties. We will continue to reach out to all of you when new information is released that is relevant to NBRC, the people we serve and our vendor community.  The best place to receive current information is from your local county public health department (links page 2), as they have the most recent information in your areas.

If, as a service provider, you suspect an outbreak of COVID-19 in your organization, please contact your local health department immediately and follow their instructions.  Please report a suspected or confirmed outbreak to NBRC and Community Care Licensing, as required by applicable regulations, using a Special Incident Form (SIR) and calling 707-256-1227.  If you have made any changes to your program that may impact client’s services, please let your Quality Assurance Liaison know.  If you are unclear who your Quality Assurance Liaison is, please call: 707-256-5376

The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to a virus.  However, as a reminder, the CDC recommends everyday preventative actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
• Stay home when you are sick
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask:
  • CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
  • Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

Informational Flyers: English Spanish Tagalog

Below are useful websites that are constantly updated with current information on COVID-19, (some are specific to certain geographic areas)

• The World Health Organization (WHO)

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/technical-guidance/risk-communication-and-community-engagement

• The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html

• Community Care Licensing

Provider Information Notice (PIN) for Adult and Senior Programs issued by Community Care Licensing.

• Guidance for taking care of people at home who don’t need to be hospitalized:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/guidance-home-care.html

The California Department of Public Health

• https://www.cdph.ca.gov/

County Offices of Public Health

https://www.countyofnapa.org/2739/Coronavirus

https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/ph/ncov.asp

https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/Health/Information-About-Coronavirus/

It is important that we all stay informed and continue to implement measures recommended by the CDC, WHO and local County Departments of Public Health to keep ourselves and the individuals we serve healthy. Please know that I appreciate each of you for all of the work you do to support the people we serve, to live their best lives in the community.

Sincerely,

Courtney Singleton

Director of Community Services

North Bay Regional Center

As you may know, both NBRC offices had been affected by the PG&E power shutoff. Our system is up and running.  There will be no interruption to October’s vendor payments.

Regards,

Isabel Calder

Chief Financial Officer

North Bay Regional Center

May 24, 2019 Update:

Please follow the below link to view the submitted 637 Waiver for NBRC’s Early Start Services

NBRC 637 Waiver Early Start

April 15, 2019

North Bay Regional Center proposes the ability to negotiate with contracted Speech/Language, Physical, Occupational and Early Intervention Program Therapy Vendors to utilize Speech and Language Pathology Assistance (SLPAs), Physical Therapy Assistants (PTAs) and Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTAs) to provide direct services to the birth to 36 months population in their family homes or Natural Environment (NE).  As we strive to lessen disparity and increase access to Early Start services for all our families, an appropriate network of service providers is crucial, and the use of certified assistants, supervised in a manner required from their respective board, as described in the California Business and Professions Code, will help ameliorate the challenges of securing services for individuals and families.

For a full description of NBRC’s plan and requested regulations to be waived please click AB 637 NBRC Early Start Therapies

PUBLIC COMMENTS

A Public Meeting for comments on this proposal will be held during the North Bay Regional Center Board of Directors meeting on:

May 1, 2019 at 6:00 P.M.

North Bay Regional Center

2351 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Written comments can be emailed or mailed to courtneys@nbrc.net through 05/1/19

Please use PUBLIC COMMENT as subject line

Attn. Courtney Singleton, PO Box 3360, Napa, CA 94558