North Bay Regional Center (NBRC)

Calendar Year 2005 DDS Performance Contract Pilot Project Proposal

November 1, 2004

 

 

NBRC has requested to join the Department of Developmental Services Performance Contract Pilot Project for the 2005 calendar year.  The Pilot Project was briefly discussed in the North Bay Regional Center Board of Directors meetings in the summer and fall of this year and discussed in detail during the North Bay Regional Center Board of Directors October 6th  Performance Contract Public Meeting.  The Performance Contract was the primary focus of the September 2004 NBRC newsletter Connections.  (See attached newsletter.) 

Due to NBRC Purchase of Service and Operations budgetary concerns locally developed Performance Contract outcomes will be limited to fulfilling NBRC consumer, family, and personnel mandates.  However NBRC has identified locally developed focus group outcomes which are enclosed.  We also enclosed additional issues raised during public meetings and community issues for continuing advocacy.

 

Nancy Gardner
NBRC Executive Director
nancyg@nbrc.net
(707) 256-1224

 

Richard Ruge
NBRC Performance Contract Pilot Project Coordinator
richardr@nbrc.net
(707) 569-2017


 

North Bay Regional Center Locally Developed Outcomes

Consumer Health and Safety: 

Vendor Advisory Committee: 

Aging Population: 

Mental Health: 

Spanish Consumers and Families: 

·        NBRC personnel will continue to hold a parent support group for Spanish-speaking families in Napa.

·        NBRC will develop a Spanish section on  HYPERLINK "http://www.nbrc.net" www.nbrc.net by 2006.

Consumer and Family Satisfaction Surveys:  Since 1996 NBRC has surveyed adult consumers and families.  This survey will be continued for one more year due to funding obtained in part through a DDS Wellness grant.  The survey goals are as follows:

·        Improve customer satisfaction with the intake process and the case management process.

·        Improve adult consumer satisfaction with health services, home, work, transportation, and education.

·        Improve family satisfaction with opportunities to make choices, family supports, health, early intervention, residential services, and education.

For this survey cycle three additional questions have been added:

·        Do you feel your (or your family member’s) residential setting is a healthy and safe environment?

·        Do you feel your (or your family member’s) day/employment setting is a healthy and safe environment?

·        Are you (or is your family member) prepared for an emergency or disaster?

 


 

Identified Issues of Community Concern  

  1. Consumer Disaster Preparedness: There was a series of hurricanes over a six week period in Florida. There is a volcano brewing in Washington State. Central California experienced a 6.0 earthquake last week. Office of Emergency Services readily informs and encourages the general population to prepare for a disaster as it is not a question of if; it is a question of when. It is time to officially put objectives on the “Performance Map” for protecting a vulnerable population that has been “actively overlooked” (OES). NBRC can be a guidepost for the rest of the Regional Center service system. It will cost time, creativity, vision, and effort, but very little money. We have been successful with obtaining funds through our Wellness grant and we can continue to pursue funds through OES, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and Homeland Security for training and what few supplies are needed. Once our response infrastructure has solidified we can link to existing OES information and supply lines to reinforce our efforts. Other RC’s can then begin to replicate our efforts expediently as we will have completed much of the think tank process needed to problem solve our current impediments.  Performance goals could include training, shelters, go kits, staff readiness (NBRC & Provider staff), development of guidelines and best practices submitted to CCL & DHS for shelter in place and evacuation plans, and links to OES for preplanned strategies to support our system. 
  2. Provide counseling/psychological support for families of NBRC-eligible children. 
  3. Increase services for families with children with autism.  Maybe an autism training program in conjunction with SSU, or SSU's Extended Ed Department.  Maybe a certificate program? 
  4. Provide services for the potential consumers who have been turned down due to tightening of the eligibility requirements.
  5. Provide sibling support for teens.
  6. Provide a care-giver respite program in which each family, for example, can have a one-time coverage for, say, 3 days/nights AWAY that doesn't cut into their usual respite.  Either in their home or sending the child to one of the group homes or care facilities???  Or combining it with school for the child?  For single parents, especially (If they'd even want to use it and trust their child to others.)
  7. Hold NBRC Board of Directors meetings in WEST Sonoma County.

 

 


 

Consumers, families, and NBRC and community service personnel will continue to advocate for:

·        Adequate work force wages and benefits, including a retirement package.

·        State geographical differential reimbursement rates.

·        Regulatory/legislative review of caseloads with particular attention to the caseloads of Early Intervention Specialists and non-English speaking families.

·        The greater coordination of ARCA and Regional Center newsletters and websites to cut costs and to increase state-wide availability of educational materials and resources.

·        Greater collaboration with the Sonoma Developmental Center, considering such issues as adaptive equipment, medical services, the SDC Internship program, etc.

·        Greater access to equipment exchange.

·        Review DDS rate freeze unanticipated costs.