Friday, September 10, 2021 12:17 PM

EL Providers Input Needed

Why is data important?
Please take a moment to respond to the enclosed survey about the current staff needs in Early Intervention. The Infant Development Association is interested in hearing about any challenges you may be facing in finding, hiring and retaining all levels of Early Intervention Staff.

The information you share is important! We are using the survey as a tool to check in with the Infant Program providers about their current needs in finding trained staff to provide services to families and children and in turn IDA is able to focus attention on this need to policy makers.

Thank you for your assistance. Please complete the survey by 9/20/21 | Survey

Do you have other issues on your mind besides staffing? Plan on joining other colleagues to brainstorm and share resources at the upcoming Conversation series:

Special Invitation to Directors, Administrators and Other Interested Persons (Free to Members)

Thursday September 23, 2021
Tuesday October 19, 2021
Thursday November 18, 2021
12:00pm-1:00pm
Register HERE

New Provisional Eligibility for Three and Four Year Olds:
Starting July 2021, three (3) and four (4) year old children may be eligible for regional center services under the Lanterman Act provisionally. The child does not need to be found to have a developmental disability to be eligible if the child is three (3) or four (4) years old. However, the child must:

Have a disability that is not solely physical nature, and
Must have significant functional limitations in at least two of the following areas:
Self-care
Receptive and expressive language
Learning
Mobility
Self-direction

Prior to age five (5), a child must be reassessed to see if the child has a developmental disability which is needed to be eligible for ongoing regional center services. Families can be referred directly to their local Regional Center for an application.

Access to service barrier eliminated:
Governor Newsom signed AB 445, by Assemblymember Lisa Calderon. As of January 1st, 2022, regional centers will no longer be forced to ask parents for their Social Security numbers before their child can access services. Thank you Assemblymember Calderon and others who worked so long and hard for this to happen.

CA Budget Resource: The 2021-22 Budget: Overview of the Spending Plan (Preliminary Version) (August 24, 2021) – The publication by the Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) provides an overview of the 2021-22 Budget Act, then highlights major features of the budget approved by the Legislature and signed by the Governor.” See https://lao.ca.gov/reports/2021/4448/2021-Spending-Plan-082421.pdf

Federal Update – House Passes $3.5T Budget Framework
On Tuesday, August 24th, the House passed the $3.5 trillion budget framework that is part of President Biden’s Build Back Better Agenda. Details of the Budget Reconciliation proposal that may include additional investments to meet the child care needs of families and the programs that serve them, universal preschool for all three- and four-year olds, expansion of paid family leave, and permanent expansion of the child tax credit are pending. Politico’s analysis of the budget negotiations and outcome is available here.
The Build Back Better Agenda is available here and Fact Sheet: How the Build Back Better Plan Will Create a Better Future for Young Americans (July 22, 2021) is available here.

DDS Wellness Resources:
The two most recent bulletins are about:

COVID Variants and Vaccinations
This topic is important because vaccination is the most effective way to reduce deaths and hospitalizations from COVID-19.
Recognizing and Reporting Abuse and Neglect
This topic is important because reports of possible abuse and neglect went down during the COVID-19 pandemic.

DDS Wellness Toolkit page of the DDS website, based on audience. Just click on either “Self-Advocates,” Direct Support Professionals,” or “Vendors/Providers.”

Fran Chasen and Annie Cox
IDA Policy Co-Chair

Announcements

IDA Blog

Considering the Sibling Experience when Supporting Families in Early Intervention
Read More

Quality Incentive Program (QIP) - Early Intervention Services Directive released

The Department of Developmental Services Directive Here announced that the Quality Incentive Program is offering information on how Early Intervention providers can participate in the QIP measure. The Directive covers Eligibility Click Here and Here, Incentive Payment Processing Click Here, Conditions for a Provider to receive Incentive Payments.

The latest plan recognizes the need to have families/children enrolled in Early Start and is offering a fiscal incentive to programs. The plan HERE is different from information shared in the July, 2023 Presentation to the Interagency Coordinating Council and at the January 2024 ICC Meeting.

Steps to listing a program in the Statewide Provider Directory are not included in this Directive.

The QIP email to ask questions, share comments is [email protected]

ACTION NEEDED: Have you contacted your legislators?

Call to ACTION English Click Here in Spanish Here to let them know you are opposed to having a $1B proposed delay in implementing the rate increase to providers rates? Early Intervention providers have not had a rate adjustment. Thanks to The Arc California for offering this easy platform to communicate with legislators.

ACTION Needed to let the Members of the Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 know why they need oppose the Proposed $1B budget delay for Rate Implementation

The Senate Budget SubCommittee #3 on Health and Human Services (Senate.ca.gov/calendar) is meeting on March 21st at 9:30AM at the State Capitol, Sacramento.

"We need you to amplify that we are asking the committee members to REJECT the Governor’s proposed $1 billion need to amplify that we are asking the committee members to REJECT the Governor’s proposed $1 billion in cut to funding for disability services and supports.

Where Does Early Intervention Stand in the Proposed Governor's Budget 2024-2025?

Governor Newsom released his proposed budget on January 10th. He is suggesting that providers of service through the Department of Developmental Services be prepared for a "delay" in the roll out of the rate model funds. You can have a conversation about what does delay mean .....a cut or not. Basically the funds are not going to be passed along to the providers as promised and planned.

Department of Developmental Services Announces Stakeholder Committee to Create Master Plan for Developmental Services

As mentioned in the Governor's proposed 2024-2025 Budget, the Department of Developmental Services will create a Master Plan with a March 2025 deadline. Yesterday Dr. Mark Ghaly announced the appointed Membership for the Master Plan Committee. Developmental Services Master Plan Stakeholder Committee Appointment (ca.gov) - link to go with Membership for the Master Plan
Their first meeting is scheduled for March 6th. Subcommittees are to be formed to increase input from all communities serving the populations involved with the system.

"The reality is that the developmental services system cannot, nor should it, operate in isolation given the changing needs of the consumers and families we serve today.” said CalHHS Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly. “This means we must proactively think about how we connect the dots between systems and sectors, while more intentionally integrating developmental services to our work to serve the whole needs of the individual and their families."

The purpose of the Master Plan is, "...since 2019, the number of Californians served by the developmental services system has grown by 31%, with significant growth among children under the age of 22 who have an Autism diagnosis. Today, over 400,000 Californians receive services and supports through California’s 21 Regional Centers. Individuals who receive services today are more diverse and live longer. They face affordable housing shortages, lower rates of employment, and the challenges of accessing services from other systems and sectors to address their physical, social, and behavioral health needs. A 21st century developmental services system must increase its ability to provide culturally responsive services and to strengthen the accountability and standardization of the system so that it is easier for individuals and their families to navigate no matter where they live in California. "

Additional details in the 2/14/24 Press release:

CalHHS Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly Announces Stakeholder Committee to Create Master Plan for Developmental Services - California Health and Human Services

Early Intervention ACTION Step

In the Governor's proposed budget, he is indicating there should be a "delay" for one year of completing the fiscal roll out that was part of the rate model process.
This "delay" cut of one year of income impacts the ability of families to access services, programs to recruit and maintain adequate staff,etc.
Please take a moment to connect with your legislators about your concerns.

Take Action! Urge Legislators to Reject Delay of $1 Billion to Disability Services (p2a.co)

There are Budget hearings scheduled in the Assembly and the Senate. Input can be sent via email or in person.

You can watch the Assembly hearings here: https://www.assembly.ca.gov/todaysevents.
BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE NO. 2 ON HUMAN SERVICES
Wednesday, February 28
1:30 p.m. - State Capitol, Room 444
Developmental Services and Rehabilitation Programs
The Senate Hearings can be watched here: https://www.senate.ca.gov/calendar.
Additional details to be shared via IDA EBlasts.

IDA Policy Committee