Our Accomplishments

2010-11

The past fiscal year at the Association of Regional Center Agencies (ARCA) has proven that our system and its member agencies are resilient in the face of daunting challenges that have once again threatened the viability of community-based services for people with developmental disabilities.

This past year brought a series of major changes in the regional center service delivery system, resulting in a number of workload issues for the ARCA office and the regional centers. This included participation in work groups and meetings with the Department of Developmental Services (DDS), administration officials, members and staff of the Legislature and other state agencies, as well as responding to numerous legislative and budgetary proposals that dramatically altered the way we have traditionally provided services in the community.

We have all remained steadfast in our commitment to maintaining quality lives of people with developmental disabilities and as a result, our system still remains intact for another year.

Our year in review includes several notable accomplishments:

Legislative and budget activities

• Continued actively advocating in the Legislature and Administration for the regional center system and the needs of people with developmental disabilities in California.
• Sponsored ARCA’s Annual Grassroots Day at the Capitol to draw regional center advocates from around the state to share the message of regional centers with legislators in their Capitol offices, as well as their Sacramento-based legislative policy staff.
• Issue tracking on both the legislative public policy development cycles and budget process.
• Continued open dialogue and communication with policy staff regarding ARCA’s position on various legislative issues.
• Worked cooperatively with staff from the DDS on issues specific to regional center funding.
• Provided testimony and written comments to the Legislature in response to the Bureau of State Audits report.
• Actively participated in discussion and development of the 1115 Waiver.

External relations

• Continued to participate in the Mental Health/Developmental Services Collaborative to develop and improve relationships and coordination between the developmental services and mental health systems.
• Sponsored regional conferences funded through the DDS-administered Mental Health Services Act grant in July, December and this
• June on collaboration among agencies serving children with developmental disabilities, behavior problems and mental illness.
• Continued to participate in the Coalition for the Preservation of the Lanterman Act.
• Participated in the State Council on Developmental Disabilities’ Employment First Committee and subcommittees that developed California’s Employment First Policy and Report.
• Developed the “California Includes” program, the successor program to former First Lady Maria Shriver’s “WE Include” employment initiative.
• Completed and published the Full Financial Participation report titled “Federal Funding in California’s Developmental Services System: The Role of the Regional Centers.” This report describes the many types of federal funds generated by the regional centers.
• Negotiated terms between regional centers, Union Bank, and DDS regarding continuing lines of credit.

Internal Relations

• Instituted bi-weekly conference calls with both the regional center directors and board member groups to keep the ARCA Board of Directors apprised of important, time-sensitive issues.
• Assisted the DDS in developing and implementing an updated electronic billing process for regional center vendors,which will result in saving regional center staff time processing bills.
• Assisted the DDS in developing and implementing the Intermediate Care Facility – State Plan Amendment (ICF-SPA) billing system that allows DDS to bill Medi-Cal for day program and transportation services received by ICF residents. This system was successfully implemented in April 2011 and will generate approximately $48 million per year in new federal revenues.

Education and Training

• Supported the ARCA Training and Information Group in the development of a series of training modules for regional center staff.
• Provided informational updates and trainings to regional center boards of directors and subcommittees.
• Continued the development of a comprehensive ARCA Grassroots Advocacy Initiative for statewide implementation.
• Completed the development of the ARCA Consumer Advisory Committee’s life storybook, which included photos and personal stories about the lives of people with developmental disabilities who are supported by the regional center system.

As we look ahead to the upcoming year, the diversity of challenges facing our system may be difficult, but if this past year is a testament to our unified strength, we will continue to forge ahead, ensuring that the future of regional center services remains secure for years to come.

Follow this link for a PDF version of ARCA Accomplishments