Maria VillanuevaSocial Work 180

Macro Practice

Since 1976, Resources for Independence, Central Valley (RICV) has worked with consumers to promote their independence in the community. RICV's service area includes the five counties of Fresno, Kings, Tulare, Madera and Merced.

By charter, at least 51 percent of employees at RICV have disabilities, as does 51 percent of the center’s board of directors. This underscores the importance of consumer control in RICV. It is also important to note that RICV does not operate any type of residential facility. RICV is not assisted living or skilled nursing facilities, a common misconception. Instead, the RICV staff direct their efforts toward the goal of freeing people with disabilities from institutional living, while educating the community on accessibility issues. With the proper support system from the community, people with disabilities can live where they choose and pursue their dreams just as any other individual does. It used to be Project of California Association of the Physically Handicapped (CAPH), then Center for Independent Living (CIL), and now it is Resources for independence Central Valley. RICV

“Encouraging People with Disabilities to be in control of their lives and to live more independently through a diverse range of choices and opportunities.”The agency provides assistance through many programs and services to People with disabilities in different areas. There are services provided to individuals in high schools, nursing facilities, those who live independently, and to those who need assistance with transportation.

RICV’s criteriaRICV’s criteria

Serves populations with all disabilities.

Assists children who are not being accommodated in schools.

http://www.ricv.org/Spring_2010.pdf

Melinda and Ysidro Delgado, in their new apartment provided through help from Ellissa Anaya and the HPRP Program.

Services and ProgramsServices and Programs•Assistive TechnologyAssistive Technology•Bridges (High School Bridges (High School Transition)Transition)•Client Assistant Program Client Assistant Program (CAP)(CAP)•Creative Careers (Job Creative Careers (Job Development)Development)•Communication AccessCommunication Access•Housing ResourcesHousing Resources•Information/ReferralInformation/Referral•Peer SupportPeer Support•Systems Change Systems Change AdvocacyAdvocacy•Transitions Project (CCT)Transitions Project (CCT)•Work Incentive Planning Work Incentive Planning Assistance (WIPAAssistance (WIPA))•HPRP-Homeless HPRP-Homeless Prevention and Rehab Prevention and Rehab ProgramProgram

http://www.ricv.org/RICV_34th_Anniversary.pdf

BRIDGES: summer 2010 program

..continued All of these programs are designed to assist and to All of these programs are designed to assist and to

meet each individual’s needs. Each specializes in meet each individual’s needs. Each specializes in specific areas.specific areas.

For example, there are some consumers that need For example, there are some consumers that need assistance with living and transportation; in this assistance with living and transportation; in this case the Independent Living Specialists would case the Independent Living Specialists would guide them. They would assist by providing guide them. They would assist by providing housing services as well as transportation forms housing services as well as transportation forms available for the consumer. available for the consumer.

Another example would be BRIDGES- designed to Another example would be BRIDGES- designed to assist high school students with physical or assist high school students with physical or learning disabilities transition into the more learning disabilities transition into the more complex working world, educational environment, complex working world, educational environment, and/or adulthood. (web RICV).and/or adulthood. (web RICV).

Obstacles with the Services and Obstacles with the Services and ProgramsPrograms

•Transportation: unable to serve clients in rural areas because they Transportation: unable to serve clients in rural areas because they do not have adequate transportation to reach the office, and there is do not have adequate transportation to reach the office, and there is not enough staff members to make regular home visits.not enough staff members to make regular home visits.

•Client Funding: The majority of clients rely on public assistance to Client Funding: The majority of clients rely on public assistance to survive. The average client receives $880 in aid from SSI, the survive. The average client receives $880 in aid from SSI, the problem is finding affordable housing that will fit into the client’s problem is finding affordable housing that will fit into the client’s budget.budget.

•Budget Cuts: Cut in State Funding, Salary cuts, change in eligibility Budget Cuts: Cut in State Funding, Salary cuts, change in eligibility requirements.requirements.

•Recession: Several agencies have closed down, causing more Recession: Several agencies have closed down, causing more clients to visit RICV, but this agency has the same funding.clients to visit RICV, but this agency has the same funding.

•It is also hard to contact other agencies or programs because of It is also hard to contact other agencies or programs because of furlough days, it is closed on Fridays and some programs have been furlough days, it is closed on Fridays and some programs have been cut.cut.

-Executive Director of whole Agency: -Executive Director of whole Agency: Bob Hand: he oversees the Coordinator and the Bob Hand: he oversees the Coordinator and the Director, Jimmie, Tony, and Tamala.Director, Jimmie, Tony, and Tamala.

-Director of Program Services:-Director of Program Services:Jimmie Soto: directs Independent Living Jimmie Soto: directs Independent Living

Specialists, CCT, Creative Careers, and Assistant Specialists, CCT, Creative Careers, and Assistant Technology.Technology.

-Special Projects Coordinator:-Special Projects Coordinator:Tamala Fields: directs HPRP, and Bridges. Tamala Fields: directs HPRP, and Bridges.

-Office Manager:-Office Manager:Tony : assists with technical problems and with Tony : assists with technical problems and with

office supplies.office supplies.

Population: Disabled Population: Disabled CommunityCommunity

The agency provides many beneficial services The agency provides many beneficial services to those who are disabled and need assistance to those who are disabled and need assistance in transitioning into independent living.in transitioning into independent living.

There is different criteria to qualify for each There is different criteria to qualify for each program within the agency; receiving services program within the agency; receiving services from one program does not guarantee receiving from one program does not guarantee receiving services from another program within the services from another program within the agency.agency.

The agency’s clients represent the groups the The agency’s clients represent the groups the agency whishes to serve; clients enroll agency whishes to serve; clients enroll themselves in the program voluntarilythemselves in the program voluntarily

Populations-at-riskPopulations-at-risk The agency is there to assist The agency is there to assist

them; however, the goal is to them; however, the goal is to assist them temporarily so assist them temporarily so that they can be more that they can be more independent.independent.

There are People with There are People with Disabilities who have more Disabilities who have more than one disability and need than one disability and need help with more than one help with more than one problem; however, the problem; however, the agency only assists them with agency only assists them with services that are available.services that are available.

Referrals are made to other Referrals are made to other agencies when needed.agencies when needed.

http://www.good4you.org.uk/governance-and-disabled-people-who-are-homeless

RICV staff provides services to all 5 RICV staff provides services to all 5 counties and partnered with many counties and partnered with many different branches to provide more different branches to provide more services to the targeted population.services to the targeted population.

The Program receives grants of The Program receives grants of competency training. They have competency training. They have consultants to provided training to their consultants to provided training to their staff through workshops and seminars. staff through workshops and seminars. RICV staff are required to take an ADA RICV staff are required to take an ADA online course training. On adabasics.org online course training. On adabasics.org and get certificate.and get certificate.

Programs RICV branches out to

The agency has an American The agency has an American Sign Language Interpreter on Sign Language Interpreter on staff.staff.

They offer packets and They offer packets and brochures in English, Spanish, brochures in English, Spanish, and Hmong.and Hmong.

The staff also visits Nursing The staff also visits Nursing Homes, Schools, and or Homes, Schools, and or Hospitals to assist consumers Hospitals to assist consumers transition out from a current transition out from a current unpleasant situation.unpleasant situation.

CCT (California Transition CCT (California Transition Program) staff mostly visit Program) staff mostly visit Nursing Facilities, and or Nursing Facilities, and or Apartment Complexes, and Apartment Complexes, and BRIDGES ( works with high BRIDGES ( works with high school students) staff visit school students) staff visit High schools, or they do home High schools, or they do home visits in some occasions.visits in some occasions.

Reyes Sandoval- Independent Living SpecialistVanessa Luna- CCT Program

http://www.ricv.org/staff/index.html

The staff at the agency do whatever possible The staff at the agency do whatever possible to transition consumers into independent to transition consumers into independent living if the staff feels the consumer is ready living if the staff feels the consumer is ready after being evaluated. However, they are after being evaluated. However, they are limited to certain services.limited to certain services.

The agency’s goal is to expand to other The agency’s goal is to expand to other counties, but they do not have enough staff.counties, but they do not have enough staff.

They would also like to reach out to the They would also like to reach out to the Southeast Asian Community, and to other Southeast Asian Community, and to other families who have to care for a disabled families who have to care for a disabled family member and feel they are on their ownfamily member and feel they are on their own

Agency’s mission and aimsAgency’s mission and aims

•There is not a cap on the consumers that can be helped. As long as the consumer is eligible and is in need of assistance, the consumer will be helped.•It is a nonprofit organization that has served hundreds of consumers throughout the fiscal year.•The Fiscal Year Starts on October 1 and ends on September 30.•They are in alliance with the Department of Rehab in Fresno, which also assists individuals with disabilities.

Social Work Practice

Social Justice There is a day during the

Spring when staff and consumers from the agency go to Sacramento and meet with some legislators to advocate for policy change.

This is a day to advocate for services provided to People with Disabilities at the state level.

There is a System Change Advocate, Kellie Longo-Albarran.

The agency’s director has a broad network in a city, state, and federal level with politicians.

The agency has does not use the Medical Model to assist consumers.The ultimate goal is to let the consumer do as much as they can on their own in order for them to live more independent and not have to depend on the agency when in need.The staff is all very respectful and they are culture competent; they have had many different consumers, and they have been able to assist them regardless of their ethinicity, culture, or beliefs.

Social Work Values/ Empowerment

http://www.ricv.org/Fall_Newsletter_2009.pdf

Mike Villines, Assemblyman, Bob Hand, RICV Director, and Senator Dave Cogdill

At the beginning of each intake interview or when a staff member first meets with a client, the client is given a grievance form to inform them of their rights through the agency.

The client has the right to write a letter to the Disability Rights of CA act.

The HIPAA law is an essential part of the CCT The HIPAA law is an essential part of the CCT program that makes part of the agency because it program that makes part of the agency because it provides full confidentiality when it comes to medical provides full confidentiality when it comes to medical records; this allows the staff to make a positive records; this allows the staff to make a positive relationship of trust with the consumer.relationship of trust with the consumer.

Confidentiality is important; the staff is not to Confidentiality is important; the staff is not to disclose any personal information to other non-disclose any personal information to other non-involved staff.involved staff.

Human Rights

RICV is continually changing RICV is continually changing peoples’ lives by assisting peoples’ lives by assisting

the targeted community live the targeted community live more independently.more independently.

Nick, Martha, Suzie, and consumer at RICV 34th Annual Dinnerhttp://www.ricv.org/about.html

Resources for Independence Central Valley (2010). Web. www.ricv.org California State University, Fresno. Henry Madden Library. October 1, 2010.

Soto, Jimmie (2010). Program Director. Personal Communication. Resources for Independence Central Valley

Sandoval, Reyes (2010). Independent Living Specialist. Personal Communication. Resources for Independence Central Valley.