Since the last Board Meeting, Options For All has closed the months of October and November. In that time, our focus has been on finishing the transition of lower-performing programs to higher-performing ones, increasing the Film and Media studio capacity and attendance rates, continuing the process of relocating our EBS program to a new facility, and engaging with the Lanterman Regional Center in our pursuit to secure Employment Services and Film and Media vendorizations in the Burbank area Additionally, I've engaged other non-profits in our SD community to create direct employment recruitment channels as part of our new recruiting strategy which is branded You Belong As we finished the month of November, the ELT finalized our new wage model which will be implemented December 29th in anticipation of our new rate increases in January, which will position OFA as having the highest paid DSPs (for now)
PILLAR UPDATES
Best Place to Work
Hot Cocoa and Convos
We hosted a fun and cozy hot cocoa bar at our San Diego admin office We challenged our team to grab a cup of cocoa and have a quality conversation with someone outside of their department or
general cubicle area It was a fun way to engage our team members and get to know one another during a cocoa break!
Father Joe’s Villages
Thanksgiving Day 5K
Some team members engaging in a wellness 5K run early Thanksgiving morning in support of Father Joe’s Villages
Our team gathered for a Halloween Potluck and dressed up in their best costumes! We had a great time playing Halloweenthemed games and catching up with other team members during a pleasurable lunch break.
Deliver Exceptional Services Employment Services
Service Accessibility and Equity (SA&E) Program
SA&E 2.0 Highlights
• F&M Team completed Video 1 for SA&E: Link Here
• Working on production of Video #2 which will highlight behind-thescenes grant work.
• Held a productive & successful monthly meeting in Riverside
San Diego:
• Six Client & Job (focus on North County)
• Onboarded 2 staff
• Onboarded 12 clients
Inland Empire
• Jeannette & Leo hosted a very successful fall client and job fair at St. John Episcopal Church
• 35 Community Partners attended the event
• Onboarded 1 staff
• Onboarded 1 client
Inland Empire Job Forum Event at St. John Episcopal Church – San Bernardino
Big Congratulations to our incredible NorCal DSP, Connie Samples, for being honored with a Recognition of Merit at the prestigious San Andreas Regional Center’s Service Above Self Awards! Connie’s unwavering dedication to our clients and her outstanding contributions to our organization truly set her apart. This well-deserved recognition celebrates her passion, hard work, and heart for service. We couldn’t be prouder to have Connie on our team.
Have a Thriving Business Model
• Pratt Memorial Fund: $4,025.00
• County of San Diego Neighborhood Reinvestment Grant Program: $26,742.00
• Las Patronas: $18,700.00
• Comerica: $17,500.00
• County of San Diego Community Engagement Grant Program: $25,000.00
• Thursday Club Foundation: $15,000.00
• DDS Service Equity and Access (San Diego): $587,982 00
• DDS Service Equity and Access (Inland Empire): $712,006 00
• Ability Central: $95,879 00
• US Bank: $25,000 00
November Financials
The month continues the positive trend observed in the first three months of the FY in terms of revenue generation and expense management. We anticipated a negative OI because Nov has 3 pay periods and only 18 (vs. 21) billing days. The driving factors behind our strong performance include:
• Higher attendance rates in our Community Engagement program
• Continued growth in our Employment Services program
• Less competition from other providers on Adult Work Experience than we anticipated
• Improved Film and Media capacity and attendance rates
NOVEMBER FINANCIALS:
• Revenue: $2,299,367
• Expenses: $2,178,231
• Net Operating Income (operating profit): $121K vs. Budget of ($6.5K)
YEAR TO DATE FINANCIALS:
• Revenue: $12,416,406
• Expenses: $10,508,457
• Net Operating Income (operating profit): $1,907,949 vs. Budget of $353K
INDUSTRY UPDATES
State Updates
The Rate Reform Implementation directive, effective January 1, 2025, standardizes service descriptions, rate models, and billing units across Supported Employment, Adult Day Services, ILS/SLS, and Specialized Services Providers and regional centers must align with updated service codes and rates, with adjustments formalized by March 31, 2025, via the Rate Reform Service Acknowledgment Form. Existing rates above 90% of the rate model are preserved through June 30, 2026, while others may achieve 100% of the model through the Quality Incentive Program. Individual Program Plans (IPPs) and service authorizations will be updated accordingly, ensuring continuity of care without service disruptions. Staffing qualifications dictate service billing under consolidated vendorizations, emphasizing alignment with California regulations.
DDS Directives
• Rate Reform: Employment Services (revised)
• Rate Reform: Day Services
• Rate Reform: ILS/SLS services
• Rate Reform: Specialized Services
Federal Updates
ABLE Tomorrow Act
Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers introduced the bipartisan ABLE Tomorrow Act to enhance and safeguard 529A savings accounts for individuals with disabilities, building on her legacy of championing the landmark ABLE Act of 2014. The Act expands opportunities for people with disabilities to save for related expenses without jeopardizing public benefits like Medicaid and SSI. Key provisions include making the ABLE to Work Act and ABLE Financial Planning Act permanent, eliminating Medicaid clawback, introducing a lump-sum contribution option, and increasing education about ABLE accounts for families. Rodgers' commitment to the disability community spans decades, highlighted by her leadership in passing laws like the ABLE Age Adjustment Act and advocating for policies that promote independence and financial security.
ANCOR Action Alert
The Ask:
Use our advocacy tool to tell your members of Congress that direct support professionals need a standard occupational classification!
The Details:
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) leverage the services of direct support professionals (DSPs) in order to live and work in their homes and communities. However, low wages due to stagnant reimbursement rates have led to high turnover and vacancy rates in the DSP workforce. The loss of DSPs across the field has left many people without stable access to home- and community-based supports.
Because we need data to understand the scope of the workforce crisis before we can fully solve the problem, the creation of a standard occupational classification (SOC) for DSPs is foundational to ensuring people with I/DD have access to critical supports and services. A unique SOC for DSPs would help states and the federal government collect data on demographics and turnover rates. This, in turn, will help inform policies to address the workforce shortage. A DSP SOC will also help states more accurately set rates, which could positively impact DSP wages.
Tell your members of Congress today to support the bipartisan “Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act”, which requires the Office of Management and Budget to consider a separate category within the Standard Occupational Classification system for DSPs.
In Other News…
Promotions Alert!
Brandan Kelly is now our Director of Operations! His leadership and dedication have made a huge difference in our services, and we can’t wait to see what he’ll achieve next!
Rachel Holiday steps up as Director of Business Development! She’s been a driving force behind initiatives like 'Abilities in Action' and is all about building partnerships that empower individuals.
Congrats to both Brandan and Rachel! We’re so excited for them and can’t wait to see the amazing things they will do!
Ryan Santos has been selected as the Studio Manager at the NorCal Film & Media program in San Jose. Ryan has done a wonderful job as the Acting Manager over the past few months, and we are excited that he now can dig his heels in and make the program his own (with the help of the whole team, of course)!
A huge congratulations to Ryan!
• The SDBJ recognized me for the 2024 SD500 Most Influential People for the second consecutive year
• OFA sponsored a table at the Stepping Stone of San Diego’s Pink Gala where members of the ELT and the Board Chair attended in support of their mission
• The ELT volunteered at Just In Time for Foster Youth (right).
November's Operational Results
• We brought on 13 new clients
• Client Retention Rate remained strong at 95%
• Film & Media at 95% capacity and a 91% attendance rate
