We've closed the month of September and Quarter 1 of the 2024/2025 Fiscal Year. September was an exciting month for Options For All (OFA). We celebrated our DSP team members during National DSP Week, culminating in the announcement of our 6 DSPs of the Year. OFA presented on our Service Accessibility & Equity program at our state's industry forum, CDSA's annual conference, which was so well-received that CDSA asked OFA to partner with them on presenting at the national industry forum's conference, Ancor We conducted assessments for our first cohort of Project SEARCH clients at LEGOLAND, and, after much effort, we secured vendorization for Employment Service programs that allow us to advance our strategic objective of being THE employment enabler in CA
PILLAR UPDATES
Best Place to Work
DSP Week
5 Days of Appreciation
In early September, we celebrated our DSPs during a “5 Days of Appreciation” for DSP Week We started the week off with recharge stations at each of our regions Our teams provided DSPs with snacks, drinks, and prizes to help fuel their day
On Tuesday, our Area Managers provided their teams with OFA branded tumblers, Starbucks Gift Cards, and thank you cards. We emailed every DSP UberEats Gift Cards on Wednesday to a enjoy a lunch on us!
We launched our Snap & Share Contest on Thursday, which we extended through the following week due to the Inland Empire fires that delayed some of our team members’ participation throughout the week.
We concluded DSP week with the announcement of our DSP of the Year winners!
San Diego
Camryn Storvold from our Community Engagement program.
Camryn embodies the value of *putting people first*. She has helped clients overcome personal obstacles, such as building independent living skills or creating personalized support plans that allows clients to take more control over their daily lives.
Recently, Camryn worked with a client struggling with social anxiety, and through her patience and understanding, she helped this individual attend a community event for the first time in months.
Her dedication ensures that each person she supports feels valued, respected, and capable of reaching their goals.
Stephanie Bierer from our San Diego Enhanced Behavioral Services program.
Employment Services Highlights
Stephanie exemplifies *accountability*. When faced with complex client cases, Stephanie doesn’t hesitate to step up, taking ownership of the situation to ensure positive outcomes.
For example, when one of her clients faced a difficult behavioral incident, Stephanie remained calm and fully engaged, coordinating with the client’s family and medical team to ensure a sake and supportive environment.
Her ability to hold herself accountable, while staying flexible and creative in her solutions, makes her someone everyone can rely on, no matter how challenging the situation.
September Brag Book
Check out our September Brag booklet here: September Brag Book
Inland Empire
Izzy Whiting from our Inland Empire Community Engagement program.
Izzy is a role model for *doing the right thing*. Whether it’s in small everyday moments or larger decisions, Izzy is guided by her sense of integrity.
For example, she noticed that a client’s medication had not been refilled correctly, potentially leading to serious health risks. Izzy took immediate action to resolve the issue, advocating for the client’s needs with the pharmacy and health care team to ensure the situation was corrected before it escalated.
Her attention to detail and commitment to client safety is a perfect illustration of her deep-rooted belief in doing what’s right, even when it’s not an easy path.
Gio Costello from our Inland Empire Community Engagement program.
Gio perfectly encapsulates *foster an environment of diversity and belonging*. He has a remarkable ability to connect with individuals from all walks of life, ensuring that each person he works with feels heard and valued.
In a recent project, Gio took the lead on developing a culturally sensitive program for non-native English-speaking clients, which greatly improved engagement. By designing activities that considered their linguistic and cultural needs, he created an inclusive environment where everyone felt they truly belonged.
Employment Services Highlights
Gio’s deep understanding of diversity has not only helped his clients but has also fostered an inclusive team spirit among his colleagues.
September Brag Book
Check out our September Brag booklet here: September Brag Book
Northern California
Adam Castaneda from our NorCal Employment Services program.
Adam exemplifies *managing effectively*. Adam is known for his ability to balance the competing demands of his job with ease.
Recently, he was responsible for coordinating a
complex schedule of client appointments, transportation logistics, and staff availability. Despite the inevitable last-minute changes, Adam remained calm and organized, ensuring that every client’s needs were met.
He also mentors newer DSPs, teaching them how to manage their time effectively and handle their workload with confidence.
Adam’s leadership and organizational skills have been instrumental in keeping his team on track and ensuring the smooth operation of his program.
And last but not least, Ekta Singh from our NorCal TDS program.
Ekta’s work is a testament to *putting people first*. She consistently advocates for her clients, ensuring they receive the individualized support they need.
Employment Services Highlights
For example, when a client was having difficulty adjusting to a new living arrangement, Ekta worked closely with them to identify what was causing their distress and developed a tailored action plan to help them transition more smoothly.
She coordinated with family members, case managers, and housing support to make sure the client’s voice was heard at every step of the process.
Ekta’s compassion and advocacy have had a profound impact, helping clients feel empowered and supported in making decisions about their lives.
September Brag Book
Check out our September Brag booklet here: September Brag Book
Deliver Exceptional Services Employment Services
LEGOLAND California Project SEARCH Launch
We're thrilled to announce a partnership with LEGOLAND California Resort, Project SEARCH, the California Department of Rehabilitation, and The San Diego Regional Center. This collaboration will prepare young adults with disabilities, between the ages of 18 – 30, for success in competitive integrated employment, marking OFA and LEGOLAND California as the first Project SEARCH partners in San Diego.
“Employment is critical for building relationships, self-confidence, and independence," said our CEO, Brian Zotti. "We're excited to collaborate with LEGOLAND to provide meaningful opportunities for young adults with disabilities.”
Starting October 1st, LEGOLAND will host ten individuals in this unique transitionto-work program We can’t wait to see the incredible impact this partnership will have!
Service Accessibility and Equity (SA&E) Program
SA&E 2.0 Highlights
• 110 total touchpoints in the community viz community organizing efforts
• CDSA Conference Breaking Down Barriers Presentation
San Diego:
• Mexican consulate dual client & job forum
• Onboarded 5 staff
• Onboarded 7 clients
Inland Empire
• Our IE team presented at the Autism Society in Redlands
• Onboarded 3 staff
• Onboarded 0 clients
Raquel spoke at a meeting cosponsored by the San Diego Foundation and the Mexican Consulate She spoke to a room filled with Hispanic leaders from organizations across San Diego about Options For All services and the SA&E project
Leo at the ‘Angeles Especiales’ (Special Angels) forum in Fontana
2024 Latino Business Leaders of Influence by the San Diego Business Journal
Options For All nominated Miriam Burke, Raquel Ruvalcaba, and Oscar Zavala as Latino Leaders of Influence in San Diego for their outstanding work launching and managing the innovative Service Accessibility and Equity (SA&E) program Their collective efforts have resulted in the hiring and onboarding of numerous Hispanic and/or Latino employees and clients, and they've transformed Options For All into a more culturally sensitive organization. The success of the SA&E program was so notable that we've secured another round of funding to expand the program throughout San Diego and into the Inland Empire AND we have just submitted our application for a third round of funding. Miriam, Raquel, and Oscar embody our value of Fostering an Environment of Diversity and Belonging!
Have a Thriving Business Model
September Financials
Options For All Awarded the Safeway Foundation Grant
OFA’s NorCal Film & Media Studio was awarded a $15,000 grant for equipment from the Safeway Foundation.
The month continues the positive trend observed in the first two months in terms of revenue generation and expense management. 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
SEPTEMBER FINANCIALS:
• Revenue: $2,382,157
• Expenses: $2,080,748
• Net Operating Income (operating profit): $301K vs Budget of $129K
YEAR TO DATE FINANCIALS:
• Revenue: $7,305,683
• Expenses: $6,218,902
• Net Operating Income (operating profit): $1,086,781 vs. Budget of $213K
State Legislation Updates INDUSTRY UPDATES
Over the past month, Governor Newsom signed or vetoed hundreds of bills, bringing the 2024 legislative session to a close This year, California grappled with a significant budget challenge, facing a projected deficit of $45 billion This fiscal shortfall proved challenging for many policies aimed at enhancing service access, providing new educational resources, and increasing representation for Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Despite this massive budget deficit, we are thrilled that CDSA-sponsored AB 2423 was signed by Governor Newsom and became California law on Saturday, September 28, 2024. AB 2423 requires DDS to review, update, and publish revised rate models starting on July 1, 2025, and every other year thereafter. This publicly available data will provide us a platform to advocate for additional developmental services funding. It’s an important step in ensuring that we don’t go back on the progress we’ve made in the past few years.
AB 2423 faced a lot of challenges. The state budget deficit was no small hurdle, especially given that the Department of Finance opposed the bill with a $1.6 billion fiscal analysis in the Senate Appropriations Committee. We couldn’t be prouder that it passed anyway, with unanimous support in both the Assembly and Senate and ultimately the Governor’s signature. Thank you to everyone who submitted support letters, signed the action alert, and shared the advocacy opportunities for our bill!
Other Bills Signed by Governor Newsom
AB 1906 (Gipson) eliminates misleading and offensive terms from statute, like “dependent adult” and creates more inclusive terminology, like “persons with a disability.”
AB 2821 (Grayson) requires higher education governing boards to provide disability access and compliance training for faculty and staff.
AB 3291 (Committee on Human Services) establishes a requirement within the Individual Program Plan (IPP) to include discussion on caregiver succession. This bill also adds risk of homelessness to the list of conditions under which the executive director of a regional center may make housing assistance payments for consumers receiving supported living services, including rent.
SB 1197 (Alvarado-Gil) permits children who receive Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care (AFDC-FC) benefits and regional center services to receive inhome respite services This bill fixes an inaccurate citation in the law and updates the language used to describe caregivers to align with current child welfare law, increased eligibility and access to services for individuals and their families that are entitled to it.
Federal Legislation Updates
1. Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act
This bill seeks to create a unique Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs). Currently, DSPs are grouped under broader categories like “home health aides,” making it difficult to track workforce trends and needs specific to DSPs. The new SOC code would enable better data collection and analysis, informing policies to address workforce shortages and improve services for individuals with disabilities.
Benefits to the IDD Community in California:
• Better workforce data would allow for targeted recruitment and retention strategies for DSPs
• Improved policy responses could lead to higher quality care and better outcomes for individuals with disabilities
Likelihood of Passage:
• The bill has strong bipartisan support and recently passed the Senate, indicating a high likelihood of eventual passage
2. Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Relief Act
This act aims to provide immediate relief to home and community-based services (HCBS) by increasing federal funding through Medicaid. It addresses the financial strain on state Medicaid programs exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and aims to ensure that states can continue to offer vital services to individuals with disabilities and the elderly
Benefits to the IDD Community in California:
• Increased funding could help maintain and expand access to essential services that allow individuals with disabilities to live independently in their communities
• It could also help stabilize the HCBS workforce, ensuring continuity of care.
Likelihood of Passage:
• The urgency of the pandemic's impact on HCBS makes this act likely to gain traction, especially if tied to broader health care or relief legislation.
3. Home and Community-Based Services Access Act
This proposed legislation seeks to make HCBS a mandatory benefit under Medicaid, ensuring nationwide access to these services. It would also address inequities in access to services and workforce challenges by providing stable federal funding and establishing national standards
Benefits to the IDD Community in California:
• Guaranteed access to HCBS would reduce disparities in service availability and quality across the state
• It could lead to more consistent and high-quality care for individuals with disabilities
Likelihood of Passage:
• The act represents a significant shift in Medicaid policy, making its passage more challenging. However, strong advocacy from disability rights groups could build the necessary momentum
4. Strengthening Our Direct Support Workforce and Family Caregivers Act
This act focuses on enhancing the DSP workforce by improving training, wages, and career development opportunities It also aims to support family caregivers through additional resources and support systems.
Benefits to the IDD Community in California:
• Enhanced training and better compensation for DSPs would improve care quality.
• Supporting family caregivers would relieve some of the burdens on families, allowing for better care and well-being for individuals with disabilities
Likelihood of Passage:
• The focus on workforce and caregiver support has broad appeal, but funding and implementation details could be contentious, making its passage uncertain without strong bipartisan support.
New DDS Acting Director and Chief Deputy Director
Pete Cervinka has been named the Acting Director of the Department of Developmental Services (DDS). He has more than 25 years of leadership experience serving Californians across different state agencies.
He enters this role following the retirement of former Director Nancy Bargmann in early September. You can read his bio on the Director’s Page of the DDS website.
Chief Deputy Director Michi Gates We are excited to share that Michi Gates has been appointed as the Chief Deputy Director for Program Services. Michi brings over 27 years of experience at regional centers to the position. For the past 6 years, she was Executive Director at Kern Regional Center (KRC). You can read her bio in Governor Gavin Newsom’s announcement on Michi’s appointment.
In Other News…
• We are terminating our EBS facility lease due to unreasonable terms by the landlord. The program will continue to be delivered in the community while we find a new facility.
• The SDBJ recognized Service Accessibility & Equity program leaders as Latino Leaders of Influence nominees
• After a full program review of ILS/TDS, I have requested a process redesign of the program, and a redistribution of program resources in NorCal to ensure we continue our efforts on meeting our strategic goals and 3 Pillars priorities.
September's Operational Results
• We brought on 17 new clients
• Client Retention Rate remained strong at 94%
• Film & Media Capacity and Attendance Rates decreased slightly in September
