Please see these helpful graphics with information about evacuating safely during a pandemic. Continue to stay safe out there!

When We Get Counted, Everyone Benefits!
Children and adults with disabilities and older adults need all Californians to complete the 2020 Census by September 30, 2020.
Act Now – Take the 2020 Census today! There are only 12 more days to be counted. Here are three ways you can complete the 2020 Census:
	Online https://my2020census.gov  Phone (844) 330-2020  Mail: Return your paper Census form you received in the mail

The Census is available in almost every language and there are Census workers who are also available to support all families in completing the form in whichever language is preferred. For more information, visit https://census.ca.gov/

If you have questions about the 2020 Census, please contact Lindsay Franco, Diversity & Equity Specialist at LindsayF@nbrc.net or you can leave a message at 707.256.1102.

5/21/2020

Governor Newsom has released his updated Budget proposal. Called “the May Revise” (because it comes out in May, and revises an earlier proposal), it factors in the major impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our state’s economy.

See budget documents here

In real terms, this means well over half a billion dollars in money taken away from our service system. Some of this comes from new ideas being cancelled. And a huge part of it is cuts to service providers and regional centers.

However, these are “trigger” cuts. If new federal funding is provided to the states, these cuts will not be triggered. Regardless of whether your member of Congress is a Democrat or Republican, they need to hear from you today!

Advocate For Federal Support for California

A quick call (or email) to your member of Congress is how you can help prevent hundreds of millions of dollars being cut from our service system!

1) Go to https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative and enter your zip code.

2) When it identifies your representative, click on the “mail” icon under their picture. See Example Below:

3) You may be asked to re-enter your zip code. If you don’t know the extra four digits, that’s usually ok

4) Either fill out the email form, or scroll to the bottom of the screen for the phone number for their office. You can call their district office or the office in

Washington, D.C. (note that D.C. is three hours ahead of California, so call before 2pm)

What do you say? Here is an example:

“I am a constituent of the Representative. Please support extra federal funding for California to help save disability services. And please ask your colleagues in the Senate to support it, too!”

This isn’t about Democrats or Republicans. It’s about the services that make full, integrated lives possible for over 350,000 Californians with developmental disabilities. Your advocacy can make a difference, but only if you act now!

What Services Are To Be Cut in Proposed Budget?

“Absent additional federal funds, the COVID-19 Recession makes the following REDUCTIONS necessary to balance the state budget. These reductions will be triggered off if the federal government provides sufficient funding to restore them”

IN OTHER WORDS, THESE ARE CUTS THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN IF WE GET FEDERAL FUNDING BY JULY 1:

·    Rate Reductions, Expenditure, and Utilization Reviews—Adjust provider rates and review expenditure trends resulting in anticipated cut of $300 million

General Fund in 2020-21. (This is approximately a 10% cut to community based services).

• $31.3 million cut by implementing the uniform furlough schedule, requiring clients and families to go without community based services, and staff to be furloughed 14 days per year.

• Cost Sharing for Higher Income Families—Establish a cost-sharing program that would result in a cut of approximately $2 million General Fund in 2020-21 and $4 million ongoing.

• Regional Center Operations—A reduction to the operations budget for Regional Centers. This proposal results in a cut of $30 million General Fund in 2020-21 and $55 million ongoing.

THE FOLLOWING DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES PROPOSALS ARE WITHDRAWN FROM THE GOVERNOR’S JANUARY BUDGET:

Enhanced Performance Incentive Program—Would have aligned Regional Center performance contracts and require Regional Centers to meet an advanced tier of performance measures and outcomes to be eligible for an incentive payment. This results in a savings of $60 million General Fund in 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23.

• Enhanced Caseload Ratios for Young Children—Would have reduced the regional center services coordinator caseload ratio for children who are three to five years old. This results in a savings of $11.8 million General Fund in 2020-21.

• Systemic, Therapeutic, Assessment, Resources and Treatment Training—Would have provided training and supportive services for individuals with co-occurring developmental disabilities and mental health needs. This results in a savings of $2.6 million General Fund in 2020-21.

• Provider Rate Adjustments—Would have provided supplemental rate increases for Early Start Specialized Therapeutic Services, Infant Development Programs and Independent Living services. This results in a savings of $10.8 million General Fund in 2020-21 and $21.6 million in 2021-22.

OTHER PROGRAMS

IHSS

CUTS THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN IF WE GET FEDERAL FUNDING BY JULY 1:

• IHSS Service Hours—The May Revision assumes a 7-percent reduction in the number of hours provided to IHSS beneficiaries, effective January 1, 2021. This proposal would result in a cut of $205 million General Fund in 2020-21.

• County and Public Authority Administration—The May Revision freezes IHSS county administration funding at the 2019-20 level. This proposal would result in a cut of $12.2 million General Fund in 2020-21.

Healthcare (Medi-Cal, Dental, Therapies, ICF-DDs)

CUTS THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN IF WE GET FEDERAL FUNDING BY JULY 1:

• Adult Dental and Other Optional Benefits—The May Revision proposes to reduce adult dental benefits to the partial restoration levels of 2014. In addition, the May Revision proposes to eliminate audiology, incontinence creams and washes, speech therapy, optician/optical lab, podiatry, acupuncture, optometry, nurse anesthetists services, occupational and physical therapy, pharmacist services, screening, brief intervention and referral to treatments for opioids and other illicit drugs in Medi-Cal, and diabetes prevention program services, for a total General Fund cut of $54.7 million.

• Proposition 56 Adjustments—Beginning in 2020-21, the May Revision proposes to shift $1.2 billion in Proposition 56 funding from providing supplemental payments for ICF-DDs, physician, dental, family health services, developmental screenings, and non-emergency medical transportation, value-based payments, and loan repayments for physicians and dentists to support growth in the Medi-Cal program compared to 2016 Budget Act.

“The state is not in a fiscal position to increase rates or expand programs given the drastic budget impacts of the COVID-19 Recession.”

DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES 2020 MAY REVISION HIGHLIGHTS

 

The Department of Developmental Services (Department) is responsible for administering the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act (Lanterman Act). The Lanterman Act provides for the coordination and provision of services and supports to enable people with developmental disabilities to lead more independent, productive, and integrated lives. The Early Start Program provides for the delivery of services to infants and toddlers at risk of having a developmental disability. The Department carries out its responsibilities through contracts with 21 community-based, non-profit corporations known as regional centers, two state-operated developmental centers, one state-operated community facility, and Stabilization, Training, Assistance and Reintegration (STAR) homes.

 

The number of individuals served by regional centers (consumers) is expected to increase from 348,187 in the current year to 366,353 in 2020-21.  The ending population of individuals in state-operated residential facilities is estimated to be 302 on July 1, 2020.

 

2020 MAY REVISION SUMMARY

The 2020-21 May Revision includes $9.2 billion total funds ($5.5 billion General Fund [GF]) for the Department in 2020-21; a net increase of $774.6 million ($434.8 million GF) over the updated 2019-20 budget.

 

For updated May Revise Budget Documents, please view here:  DDS May Revision Budget 2020-21

Napa County Community Resource Centers – PG&E will be standing up Community Resource Centers which they staff.  PG&E notes that the following services are available at CRC’s: charging stations, snacks (non-perishable), ice, blankets, heat, restroom facilities and water.

–        Mount St Helena Golf Course, 2025 Grant St., Calistoga – 8AM to 8PM

–        St Helena Catholic School, 1255 Oak Ave., St. Helena – 8AM to 8PM

Charging Stations –

Napa County:

The County has arranged for four charging stations which are primarily for charging devices.  Other services are typically not offered, but restroom facilities are available.

–        Lake Berryessa Senior Center (4380 Spanish Flat Loop Road, Napa) – 8AM to 5PM

–        Napa County Library  (580 Coombs St., Napa) 10AM to 9PM

–        Yountville Library (6516 Washington St, Yountville) – 8AM to 6PM

–        Yountville Community Center (6516 Washington St, Yountville) 8AM to 6PM

Visit the Napa County webpage http://arcg.is/1iOKKD to view PSPS outage zones and for information on local CRCs and Charging Centers locations and hours.

Solano County:

S&S Supply

2700 Maxwell Way

Fairfield, CA 94534

Hours: 8am-8pm

 

Lowe’s

1751 E Monte Vista Ave

Vacaville, CA 95688

Hours: 8am-8pm

 

Sonoma County

Cloverdale Citrus Fairgrounds

1 Citrus Fair Drive

Cloverdale, CA 95425

Hours: 8am-8pm

 

Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Building

1351 Maple Avenue

Santa Rosa, CA 95404

Hours: 8am-8pm

 

Olsen Ranch House

37600 Highway 1

Sea Ranch, CA 95412

Hours: 8am-8pm

 

Hanna Boys Center

17000 Arnold Drive

Sonoma, CA 95476

Hours: 8am-8pm

NBRC Board of Directors Meeting

There will not be a Board of Directors Meeting in January 2020.

February 5, 2020 @ 6:00 pm in the Napa Office