TCRC Tri-Line Newsletter - Winter 2008 - Tri-Counties Regional ...

From the Executive Director
by Omar Noorzad, Ph.D.
The end of the calendar year is
a good time to celebrate results
as well as review goals that
require further work. The seven
Focus Areas of the Tri-Counties
Regional Center (TCRC) 2007-
2009 Strategic and Performance
Plan form the cornerstone for the
achievement of the mission and
vision of the organization. The
plan, aligned with the Performance
and Compliance contract with the
Department of Developmental
Services (DDS), guides staff and
leadership to achieve strategic
goals, ensure basic assurances such
as health and safety and enhance
quality of life for persons served by
TCRC.
The Focus Areas of the plan offer
specific objectives that consider all
of these efforts. For example, as we
address Family Services, progress
is being made around informing
new families about regional center
services and planning for treatment
of autism. Dr. Steven Graff, Clinical
Director, along with Autism
Coordinator, Colleen Duncan is
spearheading this work.
Addressing the Health needs of
the persons we serve has been high
on our list of priorities. Concerned
about the resources available for
medical and dental services, we
have increased our efforts around
development of dental resources
and have partnered with CenCal to
provide information about available
medical services. CenCal provides a
semi-annual update to the provider
list for Santa Barbara and San Luis
Obispo Counties. Go to the TCRC
web site for more information
(http://www.tri-counties.org/
programs-services/servicegeneric/).
TCRC’s Training and Development
Plan addresses in-service
education and orientation for
new employees as well as more
in-depth training for new service
coordinators. Leadership training
and development has become a
core topic as well. Other efforts
in this area have included TCRC
hosting the first Southern California
Gathering in partnership with
East Los Angeles Regional Center
in early October to promote
learning around person centered
thinking (PCT). The growth of the
PCT initiative continues within
the agency as well as through
collaboration with other regional
centers and service providers.
TCRC staff introduced PCT to the
regional center Chief Counselors
Group this fall in an effort to
influence state wide adoption of
the principles. We are beginning
to see a measurable impact of the
PCT efforts. In response to the TCRC
2007 Services and Supports Survey,
persons served reported feeling
more in control of the IPP and the
plan for their life than ever before.
Certain analysis suggests that this
shift in outlook is linked to the PCT
initiative.
Much progress has been made
in the development of efforts
to support TCRC’s affordable
Housing Focus Area. I am pleased
to announce that Mr. Marc Belfortti
accepted the position of Executive
Director of the Tri-Counties
Community Housing Corporation
(TCCHC), a non-profit housing
organization recently established
by Tri-Countes Association for the
Developmentally Disabled (TCADD).
View the press release and the TCRC
Five Year Housing plan at http://
www.tricountieshousing.org. This
fiscal year, TCCHC will purchase
two homes in Ventura County to
be held in perpetuity for persons
with developmental disabilities
served by TCRC. These purchases
will mark the beginning of the
effort to secure 500 units of housing
throughout the tri-counties area
by 2013, benefiting approximately
1500 people.
Supported Employment
service providers are working in
collaboration with regional center
staff to address the barriers to
employment for persons served
by TCRC, especially in the current
economic environment. In an
ongoing effort to enhance Life
Activities, progress has been made
toward defining alternative models
for individualized
day services,
programs that increase choice and
opportunities in the community.
Need for effective Autism services
continues to grow. One recent
enhancement is the provision of
in-home services to provide parents
and families with education and
training about effective behavior
intervention strategies. This has
given many families the additional
tools necessary to keep their child
at home. The Autism Taskforce will
remain active in 2009 guided by
recommendations from the Blue
Ribbon Commission regarding best
practices to support individuals
with autism.
In response to the proposed midyear
cuts in the California state
budget, actions around Advocacy
are being taken. The TCADD Board
of Directors passed a “Resolution
of Solidarity”. This document is
intended to serve as a call for action
to advocates and advocacy groups
to protect the rights of persons
with developmental disabilities
and to continue the promise of
the Lanterman Act in spite of the
current tough fiscal challenges
facing the State. The resolution
states that the proposed reductions
“will jeopardize the safety, well
being, civil rights, and freedom
of people with developmental
disabilities” and should be opposed.
Additionally, The Leadership
Project, a group of local selfadvocates
and family advocates has
also been re-established to organize
advocacy efforts. View additional
information on the budget at http://
www.tri-counties.org/news-events/
hot-topics.htm.
As we reflect on the
accomplishments of the past year,
we look forward to meeting the
challenges that lie ahead. In 2009
we will be celebrating the 40th
anniversary of the formation of
TCADD. We will be acknowledging
the history of TCADD and TCRC
– with a glance back in time as
there is much to celebrate about
the progress made to help people
we serve to live fully and safely as
active and independent members
of their community.
Wishing you a safe New Year,
2009 is the 40th
anniversary of
TCADD. A special
“Anniversary Issue”
of the TriLine
will celebrate
staff, community
partners and
stakeholders
who have helped
TCRC maximize
opportunities for
individuals with
developmental
disabilities.
Continued from the cover page
Recurring Topics
02 From the Executive
Director
06 Calendar of Events
09 Health & Safety
01 TCRC Staff News
01 Greetings from the
President
2 | tri-line WINTER 2008