The Budget for Now and What November’s Voting Results Could Mean for the Future

The budget for fiscal year 2012-13, approved by the Legislature and signed by the Governor, contains additional funds for regional center caseload growth and purchasing services for clients. At the same time, however, it calls for an additional reduction of $200 million in developmental services general fund spending. This is to be accomplished by:

1. increasing eligibility for federal funding,
2. requiring parents to use their private health coverage to purchase certain autism-related services,
3. developing highly specialized residential options for clients who have been “difficult to serve” in the community and are at risk for admission to a developmental center, and
4. reducing provider rates and regional center operations spending by 1.25 percent.

This 1.25 percent payment reduction for providers and regional centers replaces the 4.25 percent reduction that had been in effect. In actuality, then, it represents a restoration of 3 percent of the prior reductions.

Read More at the Lanterman.org Website »

Tips for Donating Toys to the KYRC Library

Anyone who has children also has a collection of toys that for whatever reason were not a hit with their children. But, they could be a hit with other children. So if you have any toys that are taking up much needed space at home and want them to be used for the benefit of other children, consider donating them to Lanterman’s Koch-Young Resource Center library for possible inclusion in the toy lending program.

KYRC Librarian Parisa Samaie shares, “I think the most important thing for donors to consider when donating a toy is that the item has to be in good condition and include all pieces, especially for games, puzzles, and items that have numbers and letters.”

Read More at the Lanterman.org Website »

An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure ~ LA Care Awards $35,000 Grant to Lanterman for Preventive Dental Health Program in Adult Clients

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – meaning it is far better to keep something bad from happening than it is to treat it after it has happened.

“Many of the adult clients served by Lanterman that live independently,” explains Lanterman Dental Coordinator Leticia Reyes, RDH, “did not receive the necessary preventive dental care due to their inability to access care. This was compounded by the lapse in Denti-Cal, so by the time they sought care, they often required extensive dental work.”

In response to a grant opportunity made available through LA Care, Lanterman was awarded $35,000 to trial a two-year preventive program. About 60 adult clients will be seen in their own homes by a registered dental hygienist in alternative practice (RDHAP) to support them to maintain all of the dental work – filling, crowns, periodontal treatment – that had been previously provided. In addition to funding for the services of two hygienists, the grant also covers the dental products and supplies being used.

Read More at the Lanterman.org Website »

Be the First to Know – Subscribe to Lanterman’s E-mail Bulletins

It’s easy to subscribe to Lanterman’s e-mail bulletins. Simply visit lanterman.org and click on “Subscribe” to provide us with your e-mail address. You will automatically be signed up to receive e-mail bulletins about information related to Lanterman Regional Center’s general activities and events.

You can also sign up for bulletins about a specific topic, such as legislative issues, or bulletins specific to a certain age, disability or area, by providing us with additional information. No information collected will be given to anyone outside of Lanterman; it’s just for the purpose of sending targeted e-mails to the Lanterman community.

There are many events, including valuable trainings and workshops, we at the Center hear about, but due to limited financial resources, we cannot mail flyers for each of these events. By subscribing to the e-mail bulletins, you too will be able to hear about them and be informed about what’s going on in the Lanterman community.

Read More at the Lanterman.org Website »