Message to the Community: Protecting Access to Services and Supports for ALL Californians

Dear Community, 

The Associated Press reported that the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, known as CMS, this week provided Medicaid information for several states, including California, to the federal Department of Homeland Security.  Governor Newsom has issued a strong statement in response.  It is not currently known what specific information was shared between these federal agencies.   

California Health and Human Services Agency’s Secretary Kim Johnson has asked us to share the following message throughout our community: 

“Across the California Health and Human Services Agency, we work in partnership each day to carry out our mission, to support the Californians who need us most, and to achieve a healthy California for All.  We are people serving people, who center the dignity and health of our communities. 

While the fear in communities across California is real, we continue to serve, to identify and address unmet needs, and to work in partnership with the community.  Our work is even more vital during these challenging and uncertain times.  While these are unprecedented times, they are not uncharted.  We have services embedded in community that are holding strong and that continue to offer stability and connection. 

I encourage each of you to support one another as we navigate each day. Please also care for yourself as you care for others and recognize that for many of us, the work is deeply personal.  While the experience of this moment can be overwhelming, I am confident that we will also lead, and experience, examples of empathy, mutual aid, solidarity, strength, and collaboration.  We are California.” 

California’s system of developmental disability services is an entitlement for ALL eligible Californians with intellectual or developmental disabilities, regardless of who they are.  We take very seriously our obligation to follow state and federal laws that protect your information and limit when and how it can be shared.  Since January, we have issued the following information through directive, emails, and newsletter articles: 

• Resources for All Californians:  Information about rights and legal services 

• Immigration Legal Services:  Free legal services and community education for families navigating the immigration system 

• Early Start and Lanterman Act Information packets:  Information about eligibility, services, and your rights, in multiple languages 

• Privacy Protection Fact Sheet:  Summarizes how information is protected in multiple languages 

• A Closer Look at Privacy Protection:  Details how information is protected and used, with additional resources 

• Resources to Learn About Your Privacy Rights:  How to work with your planning team to protect privacy at home and more 

• Directive on Access to Client Information:  Sent to regional centers and service providers on how access to information must be controlled in public and private places 

• • Accesso a la Información del Cliente (Spanish) 

• • Plain language Version and in Spanish 

To fulfill Secretary Johnson’s message of mutual aid, solidarity, and collaboration, we also offer the information below for assistance.  We will continue to improve and update these resources. 

Assistance: 

• Find a Food Bank:  Available fresh produce and pantry staples in your area 

• California Mental Health for All:  Resources for mental health crisis, how to navigate health coverage, and resources for emotional support 

• CalHOPE:  24/7, peer-run, crisis warm lines and digital services offering confidential, emotional support 

• Mental Health Resources for Youth:  A variety of youth specific mental health resources and organizations 

• Helping Children Cope After a Traumatic Event (Child Mind Institute):  Multilingual tips for supporting children experiencing trauma 

Legal Documents: 

• Guardianship Self Help Guide:  Families can prepare to establish guardianships  

• Petition for Appointment of Guardian of a Minor:  Create a guardianship by filing with your local court 

• California Statutory Power of Attorney:  Give legal authority to other people to act on your behalf for non-medical decisions 

• Poder conforme a la ley uniforme sobre la elaboración de poderes del estado de California 

• Advance Health Care Directive:  Express health care wishes for yourself and dependents and who should speak for you if you are unable to do so 

• Instrucción anticipada de atención de salud de California 

• Guide for Replacing Documents (Page 9): Steps to take to replace lost, important documents 

We are working urgently to provide instructions to regional centers to: 

• Proactively reach out to certain individuals and families to make sure urgent needs are addressed and services can continue 

• Continue services even if parent or guardianship status is changed 

• Prioritize requests for Individual Program Plan (IPP) and Individual and Family Service Plan (IFSP) updates to help with changing family needs, like more time at home or not going to summer school or summer programs 

• Allow meetings, including IPP and IFSP meetings, to happen remotely using telephones or computers 

• Expedite temporary housing and transportation assistance for displaced families 

We also will provide direction to service providers to allow services to be provided remotely, to the extent possible.  Please note that not all services, such as transportation or personal assistance, can be provided remotely. 

In times of uncertainty, it is natural to feel afraid or overwhelmed.  Please take care of yourselves, your friends, and your neighbors.  The Department will continue to share information and resources as they become available.  If you need additional supports or changes to the services you receive, please let your service coordinator know.