Food and work are important everyday but especially right now when a lot of things are changing quickly. Here is some information about financial and food benefits that might apply to you.

Increases in CalFresh Benefits: There are food services available for people who are already receiving CalFresh benefits and also for those who are not in the program yet. Check your eligibility and learn about the application process.

English: https://bit.ly/2R8P04Q

Spanish: https://bit.ly/2X7OmbK

The Next Board Meeting is Wednesday, April 1, 2020, at 6:00 pm via teleconference.

Call-in: 1-844-621-3956  Access Code: 803 631 250  Attendee ID: ‘#’ (press pound)

Please contact (707) 256-1224 for information or accommodations. Spanish translation services are provided.

March 26, 2020

Dear NBRC Clients,

I am writing to you because we are all going through big changes in our lives right now. The governments where we live have ordered us to “shelter in place.” They gave this order to keep us safe and healthy, along with our families, friends and neighbors.

As you may know, there is a bad virus around that has been making people very sick, and it is easy to catch. We can’t always tell who has the germs. We all have to keep a distance from people other than the people we live with.

This means that we won’t be able to follow our usual schedules for a while. We can’t do the things we like to do in the community, like going out to eat or to the movies, doing volunteer jobs, or hanging out with friends. Most places in the community are closed to keep people safe.

Because of these big changes, we might miss our friends, or feel bored or frustrated sometimes. We all need to find ways to keep ourselves busy and calm during this tough time. For example, you can meet with your housemates or staff and figure out different things to do, like call friends and family, watch movies, read, play games or work on art projects.

When it gets hard for you, remember that we are all in this together, all across America. Everyone at North Bay is sending a big “Thank You” for doing your part, by taking care of yourself and each other.

Remember that North Bay Regional Center is here to make sure you have all the support you need. Although our offices are closed right now, you can still call or email your Service Coordinator whenever you need to. Our main phone numbers are (707) 256-1100 in Napa and Solano Counties and (707) 569-2000 in Sonoma County.

Hang in there. We’ll get through this together.

Sincerely,

Gabriel Rogin, Executive Director

North Bay Regional Center

Dear Service Providers:

If you are also a GGRC Service Provider this communication will be familiar.

The Sonoma County Health Officer has issued a Health Order directing residents to shelter in place effective midnight (12:00 a.m.) on Wednesday March 18,2020. Due to this “shelter in place” directive, all Sonoma County day program sites should remain closed through April 7, 2020.  Please keep in mind, site closure does not prevent day services from supporting program participants in other ways. (see below)

All Residential Services are essential and must remain open.

Day Programs in Sonoma County be sure to:

• Contact all program participants/their residential services or families
• Contact transportation about your site closure.
• We recommend having staff at your program on the first day of closure just in case people are still getting your closure information

Day programs will be able to bill for average attendance in line with the DDS directive issued on March 12, 2020 (https://nbrc.net/directives-from-dds-regarding-covid-19/).  This funding will allow day programs to continue to pay staff and cover operating costs while the day program site is closed.

NBRC supports efforts to keep the individuals we serve healthy and safe during these unprecedented times.  We also recognize the closure results in a significant hardship for individuals who will be without their typical day or employment services.  Additionally, it creates a staffing challenge for residential providers, supported living providers, and families who may be supporting individuals in their family homes.

County DPH directives defines “Essential Businesses” as “businesses that provide food, shelter, and social services, and other necessities of life for economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals.”  Additionally, directives include essential travel as “travel to care for the elderly, minors, dependents, persons with disabilities, or other vulnerable persons.”

NBRC asks day service providers to work with their staff to identify day program staff that may be able to support individuals in their home setting with the following:

• Providing in-home day program services within the individual’s home if possible or needed
• Identifying ways for staff to assist individuals with securing items such as groceries or other needed supplies
• Checking on health and wellness

As you identify ways your program may be able to support individuals in their homes, we urge you to contact residential services and families to discuss how you can provide additional support.  If your agency has the capacity to be of support to our NBRC community in other ways, please email Services@nbrc.net

NBRC asks day service providers to consider ways they may be able to work collaboratively with program participants, residential services, and families to support individuals through these challenging times.

Additionally, NBRC asks all day program services to please email your program name and the contact information of a supervisor or director who may be reachable outside of typical business hours to Services@nbrc.net

Please be sure to contact all program participants and their residential services or families, and R&D transportation about your site closure.

We thank you for your commitment to supporting individuals served within your programs as we all work together to get through these unprecedented times.

Courtney Singleton, MPA

Director of Community Services

North Bay Regional Center

Phone: 707-256-1227

The 2017 Budget Trailer Bill, Assembly Bill 107, amended The Lanterman Act Section 4418.25 and added Section 4679, authorizing the Department of Developmental Services – when it determines that sufficient funding has been appropriated and reserved for a fiscal year for the Community Placement Plan (CPP) – to allocate the remaining CPP funds to regional centers for purposes of community resource development to address services and supports needs of consumers living in the community.

A Community Resource Development Plan (CRDP) is developed by each regional center in California with stakeholder input. This plan will be used to develop new resources for individuals with developmental disabilities living in the community.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/nbrccrdp2020

*survey closes 4/13/2020

For FY 19/20, NBRC gathered stakeholder input via survey and public meeting and determined the below local priorities for NBRC’s Community Resource Development Plan:

• Day/Employment Programs for individuals with intense behavioral needs
• Children’s Residential Services
• Employment Services
• Intense Behavioral Services for individuals with Autism
• Respite for individuals with intense behavioral needs
• Crisis Services-all ages

Dear Vendor Community,

On March 4, 2020, the Governor declared a State of Emergency as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Today, North Bay Regional Center received the approved State of Emergency (SOE) notification from the Department of Developmental Services. Please note, the regulation cited, CCR §54326(a)(11), allows the Regional Center to pay vendors for absences that are the direct result of ‘situations and/or occurrences for which a State of Emergency has been declared by the Governor’.  This SOE was approved for consumer absences for nonresidential services only.

Please see this document for additional information: SOE Billing information COVID-19

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