In September 2024, DDS is launching an online Provider Directory.

Its full capabilities will be released in phases. Service provider owners and designated regional center representatives will be invited to create an account and collaborate to ensure accurate provider information is in the system.

Support, including on-demand training, will be available on the DDS Provider Directory website.

Sign up to be added to the Provider Directory email distribution list here.

Get ready to provide your registration information to Protiviti by August 15.

Watch for news & updates on what you need to do for DDS’ new, online Provider Directory. Be ready for a call or email from Protiviti to provide your registration information for the new DDS online Provider Directory.

Questions? Email providerdirectory@dds.ca.gov or
visit https://www.dds.ca.gov/initiatives/provider-directory/.

Are you interested in getting regular updates from us on the work of the Master Plan Stakeholder Committee? Sign up by contacting DSMasterPlan@chhs.ca.gov.

Are you passionate about improving services for individuals with developmental disabilities in California? California’s Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS) with the Department of Developmental Services is looking for passionate individuals to join our new workgroups. The workgroups will help us develop recommendations for a better developmental disabilities service system. We need people from all backgrounds representing diverse communities to lend their expertise and make a difference. This includes people with disabilities, and those with personal or professional experience with developmental service system.

These working groups will meet monthly by Zoom starting in July 2024 through early 2025. Members will spend meet for about 3 hours each month and will also work individually between meeting on their group’s priority issues and developing recommendations.

To learn more about the workgroups and apply to join, please complete our online application survey. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/H5R2S8L. You will be asked to provide information about your interest and your background. To help us recruit diverse members you will be asked some optional demographic questions which will be confidential. The deadline for submitting the application is June 28. If you need accommodations or assistance to complete the application form, please email us at DSMasterPlan@chhs.ca.gov with the subject line “application help”.  Thank you for your interest and support!

¿Le apasiona mejorar los servicios para personas con discapacidades del desarrollo en California? La Agencia de Salud y Servicios Humanos de California (CalHHS) con el Departamento de Servicios de Desarrollo está buscando personas apasionadas para unirse a nuestros nuevos grupos de trabajo. Los grupos de trabajo nos ayudarán a desarrollar recomendaciones para un mejor sistema de servicios para discapacidades del desarrollo. Necesitamos personas de todos los orígenes que representen comunidades diversas para aportar su experiencia y marcar la diferencia. Esto incluye personas con discapacidades y aquellas con experiencia personal o profesional con el sistema de servicios de desarrollo.

Estos grupos de trabajo se reunirán mensualmente por Zoom desde julio de 2024 hasta principios de 2025. Los miembros se reunirán durante aproximadamente 3 horas cada mes y también trabajarán individualmente entre las reuniones sobre los temas prioritarios de su grupo y el desarrollo de recomendaciones.

Para obtener más información sobre los grupos de trabajo y solicitar unirse, complete nuestra encuesta de solicitud en línea. Se le pedirá que proporcione información sobre sus intereses y sus antecedentes. Para ayudarnos a reclutar miembros diversos, se le harán algunas preguntas demográficas opcionales que serán confidenciales. La fecha límite para enviar la solicitud es el 21 de junio. Si necesita adaptaciones o asistencia para completar el formulario de solicitud, envíenos un correo electrónico a DSMasterPlan@chhs.ca.gov con el asunto “ayuda para la solicitud”. ¡Gracias por su interes y apoyo!

您是否热衷于改善加州发育障碍人士的服务？加州卫生与公众服务局 (CalHHS) 和发展服务部正在寻找热情人士加入我们的新工作组。工作组将帮助我们制定更好的发育障碍服务系统的建议。我们需要来自不同背景、代表不同社区的人们提供专业知识并有所作为。这包括残疾人士以及在发展服务系统方面具有个人或专业经验的人。

这些工作组将从 2024 年 7 月开始到 2025 年初每月通过 Zoom 举行会议。成员每月将花大约 3 个小时开会，还将在讨论其小组的优先事项和制定建议之间单独工作。

要了解有关工作组的更多信息并申请加入，请完成我们的在线申请调查。您将被要求提供有关您的兴趣和背景的信息。为了帮助我们招募多元化的成员，您将被问到一些可选的人口统计问题，这些问题将是保密的。提交申请的截止日期为 6 月 21 日。如果您需要帮助或协助填写申请表，请发送电子邮件至 DSMasterPlan@chhs.ca.gov，主题为“申请帮助”。感谢您的关注和支持！

Issue

The Regional Center of the East Bay (RCEB) is requesting a 637 waiver to the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) for an Alternative Services Delivery to waive California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 17, Division 2, Chapter 3, section 54342(58) (A)&(B) which governs out-of-home respite services and lists by service code the type of agencies which may be vendored to provide such respite service. The provision does not include an FHA as a type of agency that can provide out-of-home respite.

Enriching Lives is a Family Home Agency vendored with The Regional Center of the East Bay.  Regional Center of the East Bay (RCEB) is requesting that California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 17, Division 2, Chapter 3, section 54342(58) (A)&(B) be waived to allow Enriching lives as an FHA to be an agency that can provide out-of-home respite to all current 5 tier level rates.

Impact to RCEB Clients Under Proposal

This request will affect RCEB clients in the following way:  this proposal is to allow FHA model to offer out-of-home respite to adults living with their families.

Impact on Regional Center and State Budget

There are no additional costs to The Regional Center of the East Bay. The bed used for respite may not be the same bed funded by the Regional center for a permanent resident.

Payment for respite services shall be calculated according to CCR, Title 17 Section 57332, and Maximum Rates of Reimbursement for Non-Residential services.

Public Comments

This information will be made available via the RCEB website www.rceb.org, on Wednesday May 15^th 2024 . A public meeting for comments on this proposal will be held on Wednesday May 29, 2024 from 10am to 11am via Zoom:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85270446157?pwd=WGVWTjRyOEEycWJpSStyTGJyRW9idz09

Meeting ID: 852 7044 6157
Passcode: 481952

Written comments can also be sent to: Rparada@rceb.org through May 29^th, 2024.

Over the last few years, in partnership with the Legislature, the Newsom Administration has made historic investments to increase rates within the developmental services system. The Master Plan will leverage these investments to strengthen accessibility, quality, and equity for all consumers.

In recognition that California’s developmental disabilities system is deeply connected to other health and social systems, the Master Plan will seek to create and strengthen bridges that connect the developmental services system to other critical systems across CalHHS, and other systems and services including education, housing, employment, transportation, and safety.

For more information about the Master Plan, roster of committee members, and meeting dates/locations, please visit the Master Plan website.

Regional Center of the East Bay (RCEB) would like to thank you for filing out and submitting the survey regarding the types of services and supports to meet current and future needs of individuals and their families in the community.

The information gathered in this survey will be considered for new program development as part of the Community Resource Development Plan (CRDP). The goal of the CRDP is to expand the availability, accessibility, and types of services and supports to meet current and future needs of individuals and their families in the community.  Limited funding from the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) will be available for program development.

Based on the information gathered from the surveys, RCEB will prioritize requesting start up funding to DDS for the following services:

• Affordable Housing10 affordable housing units at a Multifamily development in Newark, California.
• A service provider for a specialized residential facility to serve 4 individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and require staff fluent in American Sign Language.
• Specialized transportation that can support the changing mobility and vision needs or our clients.
• A wrap around service to support children under the age for 18 in areas of benefits, medical, school advocacy, transportation, and access to other important services to meet the preferences and needs of the child, along with their family.
• A service provider for an enhanced behavior supports home that can work with individuals with behavioral, forensic, and/or mental health needs.

On January 18, 2024, the Department of Developmental Services approved RCEB funding for:

• Affordable housing (10 units) through Satellite Affordable Housing’s Thornton Avenue Apartments in Newark.
• A service provider for a specialized residential facility to serve 4 individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and require staff fluent in American Sign Language
• Affordable Housing (10 units) through Christian Church Home’s Russell City Apartments for RCEB client’s ages 55 and older in Hayward.
• Specialized transportation that can support the changing mobility and vision needs of our clients.
• A wrap around service to support children under the age for 18 in areas of benefits, medical, school advocacy, transportation, and access to other important services to meet the preferences and needs of the child, along with their family.
• A service provider for an enhanced behavior supports home that can work with individuals with behavioral, forensic, and/or mental health needs. $245,000

In fiscal year 2019-2020, Regional Center of the East Bay (RCEB) received Community Resource Development Plan funding from the Department of Developmental Services to develop affordable housing units. RCEB has been working with Satellite Affordable Housing (SAHA) on  a multifamily project called  “The Grinnell”. The Grinnell is located at 2527 San Pablo Avenue, in Berkeley, on the corner of Blake Street and San Pablo Avenue.

The Grinnell is a 63 unit, affordable housing complex which is nearing construction completion and it is anticipated to open in early 2024. The Grinnell will have on site housing support services through Housing Consortium of the East Bay and all units will be accessible.

RCEB has 12 units (8- one bedroom and 4-two bedroom units) that are set aside for clients of the Regional Center of the East Bay. All units will be project based section 8, meaning that there are income limits that are 30% of the Adjusted Median Income (see flyer for details).

As these units are set aside for clients with an intellectual disability, at least one of the household members needs to have a developmental disability.  If there are non-disabled parents, with a child with that has a developmental disability, who meet the income requirements, and are in need of affordable housing, they could potentially qualify.

We are starting to develop a list of potential clients for these units and will be collecting names as referred by the case manager. We will be randomly selecting names from this list to submit to SAHA. The due date for collecting names will be August 25, 2023.

Please contact your RCEB case manager with questions and to be added to the list. Please let your case manager know your house hold size and your address, phone, and/or email address. You can also email this information directly to  Grinnell@rceb.org

Satellite Affordable Housing Associates staff will reach out to those who are selected and will be working with the client through the process of certification for the project based section 8. SAHA is hoping to have individuals complete the certification process by December 2023.

Please see the flyer for more details.

RCEB’s Self-Determination Local Advisory Committee has prioritized the needs in the local area for the use of the provision of funds and is seeking proposals from interested parties to carry out one or more of the projects which the committee wishes to fund.

Applicants outside of the Bay Area may apply. Applicants with disabilities and/or diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. For more information on each specific project, please click on the descriptions below:

Project A – SDP Tracking Platform
Project B – Joint RCEB/FMS Presentation for Trained Independent Facilitators
Project C – Update and Promote Online Independent Facilitator Training
Project D – Promoting Self-Determination Program to Underserved Communities
Project E – Self-Determination Information Sheets
Project F – Post-Transition Webinars

Effective January 1, 2024

Minimum Wage Increase Letter

Alternative Residential Model (ARM) Rates effective January 1, 2023 can be found here.

Regional Center of the East Bay (RCEB) would like to thank you for filling out and submitting the survey regarding the types of services and supports to meet current and future needs of individuals and their families in the community.

The information gathered in this survey will be considered for new program development as part of the Community Resource Development Plan (CRDP). The goal of the CRDP is to expand the availability, accessibility, and types of services and supports to meet current and future needs of individuals and their families in the community.  Limited funding from the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) will be available for program development.

Based on the information gathered from the surveys, RCEB will prioritize requesting start up funding to DDS for the following services:

1)      A service provider for a specialized residential facility to serve 4 individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and require staff fluent in American Sign Language.

2)      10 affordable housing units at a Multifamily development in Newark, California.

3)      A special needs dental surgery resource for clients who may require dental work completed under sedation or general anesthesia.

4)      A short term step down Specialized Residential Facility designed to work with adult clients transitioning from Community Crisis Home and other crisis facilities.

5)      Behavioral respite that can provide supports to clients residing in the family home who may require Registered Behavior Technician level of staffing.

6)      An employment services vendor that may be able to provide supports to adult clients interested in micro-enterprise or self-employment.

RCEB has identified a need for a contract consultant with substantial experience and well-versed
in HCBS Final Rule and compliance requirements to create educational material that center
people we support and implement workshops on the HCBS Final Rule.

For more information, please review the full HCBS Consultant Request for Proposal.

RCEB has identified a need for a well-qualified contract media/communications consultant to
create marketing materials and implement marketing strategies around the HCBS Final Rule. The
purpose is to disseminate information that is accessible to a wide variety of audience in
collaboration with a number of subject matter experts. The target audience of this work will be
individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, their family members, direct support
professionals, contracted vendors and Regional Center employees.

For more information, please review the full HCBS Communications Request for Proposal

The Budget Act of 2022 includes a change to how the purchase of service (POS) component of the overall rate paid to Community Care Facility (CCF) providers with rates based on the Alternative Rate Model is computed. Effective July 1, 2022 the POS component of the overall rate will be maintained when the Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP) amount increases.

Letter from the Department of Developmental Services (September 20, 2022)

As part of rate reform efforts, including implementation of the 2019 Rate Study, the Department of Developmental Services (Department) is continuing to review rate model assumptions for specific services. This letter communicates a change related to Community Care Facilities (CCFs) vendored for seven or more individuals.

Aligned with federal guidance when the 2019 Rate Study was released, rate models were not included for homes vendored for seven or more individuals. After evaluation of stakeholder feedback and updated federal guidance, the CCF rate schedules have been amended to reflect rates for CCFs vendored for four or less individuals and five or more individuals.

Letter from the Department of Developmental Services (September 20, 2022)

The Department of Developmental Services has approved RCEB to seek housing development organization(s) to acquire, build and or renovate a suitable property for: 1-enhanced behavior support home for females and 1-specialized residential facility for those who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing who require staff who are fluent in American Sign Language (ASL).

The Community Resource Development Project/ Community Placement Plan awardees for Fiscal Year 2021-22 are:

Housing Developer Organization to acquire and renovate One (1) Enhanced Behavior Support Home for Four (4) adult females who are dually diagnosed.
Awardee: Brilliant Corners
Acquisition Amount: $400,000          Renovation Amount: $400,000

Housing Developer Organization to acquire and renovate One (1) Specialized Residential Facility to serve Four (4) regional center clients who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing or who require staff fluent in American Sign Language
Awardee: Bay Area Housing Corporation
Acquisition Amount: $400,000          Renovation Amount: $350,000

Please see the linked letter to regional centers sent May 9, 2022 by the Department of Developmental Services regarding rates for providers serving consumers from multiple regional centers.

Rates for Providers Serving Consumers from Multiple RCs

Issue

The Regional Center of the East Bay (RCEB) is requesting a 637 waiver to the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) for an Alternative Services Delivery to waive California Code of Regulations, Title 17 §56088 (b)(7), which state “that the family home shall be used exclusively as a residence by the FHA which issued the Certificate of Approval”.  Enriching Lives is a Family Home Agency vendored with The Regional Center of the East Bay.  Regional Center of the East Bay (RCEB) is requesting that Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) Sections 4689.1(7) (b) be waived to allow the two RCEB clients to continue to live with their current Family Home provider while she is operating her business.

Impact to RCEB Clients Under Proposal

This proposal is to allow a current Family Home Provider to operate a business out of the garage of the family home, and the request is client specific to the two individuals currently living in the family home.

Impact on Regional Center and State Budget

There are no additional costs to The Regional Center of the East Bay.

Public Comments

This information will be made available via the RCEB website www.rceb.org, on May 11, 2022. A public meeting for comments on this proposal will be held on May 25, 2022 from 10am to 11am via Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/8807672305

Meeting ID: 880 767 2305
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Written comments can also be sent to: mconti@rceb.org through May 25, 2022.

Please see the link below for the DDS directive regarding the rate adjustment review process and the rate review form. Completed forms should be submitted to RCEB Rate Specialist Chase Kalbaugh at ckalbaugh@rceb.org.

RATE ADJUSTMENT EFFECTIVE APRIL 1, 2022 – RATE REVIEW PROCESS

Please see the Department of Developmental Services set rates effective 4/1/22 as posted on the DDS website, linked below:

2023 Rates By Regional Center

Dear Service Providers:

The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) is now accepting 2021-22 Service Access and Equity Grant applications from community-based organizations (CBOs) regional centers (RCs). Please help us share this important information to prospective applicants by sharing this message and the linked documents with your networks.

This year’s grant focus is to reinforce effective strategies that will lead to a culturally and linguistically responsive developmental disability service system to improve service access and empower all individuals and families served. Proposals must address a local community or statewide issue/barrier identified through POS data, stakeholder feedback, and/or RC plans and recommendations to promote equity and reduce disparities.

Applicants must review the 2021-22 Guidelines and follow the DDS Application Instructions located on the Department’s website here. All applications must be submitted online through GrantVantage here no later than 5:00 p.m. PST on November 3, 2021. A list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) will be posted to the Department’s website.

The Bidder’s Conference will be held via Zoom on September 16, 2021 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Register in advance for the Bidder’s Conference here. Interested applicants are encouraged to submit questions in advance of the Bidder Conference to: SAEgrantprogram@DDS.ca.gov. Interpretation will be provided in ASL, Mandarin, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

Linked below are the shareable PDFs that have additional details and links to the 2021-22 Guidelines and the Bidder’s Conference.

Call for Promoting Service Access and Equity- Grant Program Applications- Notice to Prospective Applicants

Convocatoria de Aplicaciones del Programa de- Subvenciones para Promover el Acceso al Servicio y la Equidad- Aviso a los Posibles Solicitantes

呼吁促进服务可及性和公平性- 补助项目申请- 潜在申请者须知

Kêu Gọi Thúc Đẩy Quyền Tiếp Cận Dịch Vụ Và Công Bằng- Đơn Đề Nghị Chương Trình Tài Trợ- Thông Báo Gửi Các Đương Đơn Tiềm Năng

We appreciate your assistance with sharing information about the 2021-22 Service Access and Equity Grant funding opportunity!

Sincerely,

The State of California is pleased to announce it has selected Sandata Technologies, LLC as the State Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) Vendor. As California’s Phase II EVV partner, Sandata will provide comprehensive EVV solutions in compliance with the 21st Century Cures Act. EVV solutions ensure all Medicaid-funded personal care services and home health care services are electronically verified at the time of the visit.

Sandata is providing California with a robust EVV solution that includes the ability to capture data elements during the visit, data portals that allow providers to view and report on visit activity, and an EVV Aggregator to provide California with EVV program oversight and analytics. The EVV Aggregator will also receive data from providers that choose to use their existing EVV system. The California EVV program will include over 7,000 provider agencies and 180,000 members.

California and Sandata will actively engage stakeholders to support a successful launch. California plans to implement EVV functionality for personal care services by January 2022, and for home health care services by January 2023. Stay tuned for more exciting information to come!

Joint Stakeholder Announcement

Welfare and Institutions (W&I) Code section 4652.5
Vendor Independent Review and Audit Requirements – ATTACHED

The Department of Developmental Services (Department) issued the ATTACHED January 31, 2018 correspondence to regional centers regarding these statutory requirements.

Attention Supported Living Services Providers

RCEB Notice to Services Providers 2020 State Minimum Wage

MW 2020 worksheet