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

MATRIX is hosting a training that will introduce or reinforce basic concepts necessary for understanding your child’s IEP.

Click here to register for Solano Co Office of Education, 5100 Business Center Dr, FAIRFIELD, Friday, September 27th:

Click here to Register

Click here to register for Sonoma Co Office of Education, 5340 Skylane Blvd, SANTA ROSA, Friday, September 27th:

Click here to Register

Documentary about autism and inclusion – UCSF Oct 11th 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.

There will be a free, public screening of the award-winning documentary, “Deej” at UCSF on Friday, October 11.

Deej is a documentary about autism and inclusion.

Details about the event can be found here, as well as on this Flyer. Please come and help us spread the word!

Public Meeting to Review 2020 Performance Plan

Wed, September 4, 2019

 6-8 pm

Solano Co Office of Education

5100 Business Center Dr

Fairfield, CA 94534

North Bay Regional Center wants to make sure that we are continuously improving. We strive to exceed our mission, desired outcomes, and that we are in compliance with all requirements.

The NBRC Performance Plan measures our ongoing performance on desired statewide outcomes, and compares North Bay Regional Center’s performance with the statewide average for all 21 regional centers in California. These desired outcomes reflect the state’s public policy direction for developmental services in the community.

We continue to fulfill all planned activities with the intent of improving outcomes as directed by our community members, Board of Directors, and NBRC staff.

How do we implement this plan?

We are continuing activities from this year and prior years, such as the continued development of licensed homes, day activities, family support and training,  and more in 2019/20, such as:

• Efforts to address purchase of service disparities among our Spanish speaking and Latino population

• Support for children to live with families (their own family, foster family, or with a guardian)

• Support for adults to live in home environments (in their own home with or without supported living services as needed, with their family)

• Coordination of employment preparation and training, job development, and ongoing support for adults to find and maintain

You are invited to hear a presentation of our proposed plan and provide your input.

We will present the plan and listen to your comments during the Public Meeting of the NBRC Board of Directors on September 4, 2019.

or send your performance contract 2020 comment form by mail or email to:

January Crane, MPA

Department Manager

PO Box 3360 NAPA CA 94558

email: jcrane@nbrc.net

HCBS Final Rule and How it is Supported by Person-Centered Planning

Monday, Sept 9 in Sacramento and Tues, Sept 10 in Los Angeles; see Flyer below for more details:

CMS HCBS Final Rule Training Flyer

An initial introduction to person-centered thinking, and a review of

the person-centered service planning requirements specified in the HCBS Final Rule.

Registration Link: https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/5140996/CA-DDS-Person-Centered-Planning-Training-Registration

Anyone interested in learning more about the HCBS Final Rule is welcome to register and attend the trainings, at no cost to training participants. When registering, please provide any needed accommodations.

For questions about this training series or registration assistance, please email: CADDSHCBS@pcgus.com