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Disability Thrive Initiative

AB 2423-Help Urge Governor to Sign into Law!

September 5, 2024 by

Dear Advocates,

This is an URGENT CALL TO ACTION for everyone in the disability community! Contact Governor Newsom TODAY and urge him to sign AB 2423 into law. This bill would require the state to review developmental disability service rates every two years.

AB 2423 passed the State Legislature on August 26. Now all it needs is Governor Newsom’s signature to become law in California!

Disability services funding does not automatically keep up with economic changes like cost of living and minimum wage increases. AB 2423 would require the state to keep track of the funding our system needs. The Department of Developmental Services would be required to post updated rates to their website for better transparency. These updated rates will provide valuable information to lawmakers as they make funding decisions about vital disability services and supports.

After decades of underfunding, we need to protect recent investments in the disability services system and make sure we never go back.

Please reach out to Governor Newsom and urge him to sign AB 2423 into law!

Filed Under: General, Updates

Office Closure Monday September 2nd

August 31, 2024 by

Our offices will be closed on Monday, September 2nd in observance of Labor Day. We will reopen on Tuesday, September 3rd. Our after-hours service remains available for non-medical emergencies at 1-800-884-1594. May your Labor Day weekend be as rewarding as the work you do!

Filed Under: Updates

Office Closure Thursday August 29th

August 28, 2024 by

Our offices will be closed on Thursday August 29th for an employee event, and we will reopen on Friday August 30th. Please note that messages left for our staff members will be returned within 2 business days. Our after-hours service remains available for non-medical emergencies at 1-800-224-1594.

Filed Under: Updates

Board of Directors Opportunity

August 26, 2024 by

We are currently recruiting individuals to serve on our Board of Directors.

Help support us in advancing our mission to empower, respect, and serve each child and adult with or with the potential for a developmental disability!

Please visit the following links to apply:

For English:

https://bit.ly/nbrcboard

For Spanish:

https://bit.ly/nbrcboardspanish

For Tagalog:

https://bit.ly/nbrcboardtagalog

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Updates

Empowering Through Training: Michelle Bautista Takes the Lead

August 2, 2024 by

It is with great pleasure that we announce our new Training Specialist, Michelle Bautista. Michelle is responsible for conducting and coordinating new employee orientation training, as well as the ongoing training necessary for our seasoned staff.

Michelle brings a wealth of experience from her previous role as a county case worker, where she honed her skills working with the aging and disabled population. During this time, she learned about our agency and was excited by the opportunity to focus on working with the intellectually and developmentally disabled community.

A proud graduate of Penn State University, Michelle joined the regional center in December 2022 as our Generic Resource Specialist (GRS). Her decade-long experience with Medi-Cal and CalFresh offices in both Sacramento and Solano counties has proven invaluable. In her role as GRS, Michelle particularly enjoyed connecting with clients, their families, and NBRC employees, as well as collaborating with outside agencies such as community business organizations (CBOs).

Previously a health and wellness ambassador for Solano County, Michelle played a crucial role in promoting holistic well-being within the community where she advocated for a balanced approach to health that integrated mental, financial, and physical wellness. Her goals for participants included fostering a positive mindset, helping others to achieve their long-term financial goals, and providing guidance on maintaining a healthy lifestyle through regular exercise and nutrition education.

In her current role as our Training Specialist, Michelle continues to build strong connections with employees and CBOs to ensure our staff receives the most up-to-date training materials. She takes great joy in getting to know our new hires during the onboarding process, which she oversees twice a month. Her favorite part of orientation is learning about the new employees’ backgrounds and what inspires them to work with our population.

We are delighted to have Michelle Bautista as our Training Specialist and look forward to the positive impact she will continue to have on our staff and the individuals we serve!

 

 

Filed Under: Updates

Volunteer Brings Joy and Support as an AmeriCorps Senior Companion

July 30, 2024 by

Chand, an unassuming older man with an easy smile, dedicates 30 hours a week to volunteering as an AmeriCorps Senior Companion. Assigned to a specific individual with special needs at one of the day programs under contract with the North Bay Regional Center, Chand embodies the spirit of compassion and community service.

Every day, Chand walks from his bus stop to the United Cerebral Palsy day program in Rohnert Park, located less than a block away. Upon entering the building, his smile brightens as staff and clients greet him. He moves through the large facility to store his personal items in a locker before meeting his assigned companion, Patrick, to start his day as a Senior Companion volunteer.

Chand had brought two cards for Patrick to color, a simple yet meaningful activity. He attentively asked, “Do you want to color the Cupcakes or the Dragon?” With patience, Chand waited as Patrick focused on the outlines on the paper. Eventually, Patrick selected a magenta marker, and they began their creative session together.

Patrick, like many individuals served by the North Bay Regional Center, has an intellectual disability that makes routine tasks and communication more challenging. Each client has a personalized assignment plan with specific goals they have identified. Some may need extra help transitioning between activities, while others may struggle to be understood.

“Our volunteers are a step beyond the average in character and compassion,” says Melissa Slama, who supervises the program. “Working with individuals who have intellectual disabilities requires special characteristics. Obviously, it’s a no-judgment zone. We’re here to add friendship, support, and meaning. It takes patience and unhurried compassion to wait for ten minutes while an individual puts on their own coat to go for a walk, but it’s an important level of independence that deserves encouragement. When you see the pride and smiles on their faces, you realize that what just happened was really important.”

Today’s lunchtime includes a walk to a nearby fast-food restaurant. Senior volunteers are never in charge of their companions and are always supervised. Day Program staff create the schedules and activities, while Senior Companion volunteers provide insightful encouragement and repeat directions as necessary. As extra eyes and ears, volunteers are in a perfect position to inform staff if someone is having a rough day.
AmeriCorps volunteers are unique because they receive a tax-exempt stipend, allowing them to volunteer without incurring personal costs. They also receive a daily meal and reimbursement for travel to and from their site. This financial support helps low-income senior citizens improve their quality of life economically and socially.

The program offers training for new volunteers, monthly in-service training, paid leave, and holidays. Anyone interested in learning more about the program should contact Melissa Slama, Supervisor of the Senior Companion Program, at 707-566-3005 or melissas@nbrc.net.

Filed Under: Updates

Attention Families of Children with Disabilities Ages 6-21

July 18, 2024 by

 

We are excited to announce an important initiative aimed at supporting families of children with disabilities, especially those requiring constant care and supervision with challenging behaviors. The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) recognizes the complex needs of these children and the significant impact on their parents.
To better support these families, we have partnered with DDS to form Family Focus Groups. The goal of these groups is to gather input from families regarding their service experiences, including barriers in accessing services, and to identify additional services that may be needed to meet their child’s needs. Families selected to participate will receive a stipend.

Ideally, we would like to hear from families who:

  • Have children and youth between the ages of 6 and 21 with complex/behavioral and/or high-support needs.
  • Are advocating, struggling, and/or are fearful to come forward.

Families selected to participate will be culturally diverse, inclusive, and reflective of the local regional center community.

Families interested in sharing their experiences and ideas about unmet service needs will need to complete an interest form/application available in eight different languages by August 9, 2024.

Family Focus Group – Interest Forms:

Please direct any questions regarding the interest form or submissions to SafetyNet@dds.ca.gov.

We thank you for your consideration!

Filed Under: Updates
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