Regional Chapters and State Committees

Currently, there are two IDA chapters in the state of California. Chapters bring members together to determine activities that support the local needs of the membership (trainings, forums, social/support functions, etc.) Each chapter has the flexibility to establish where and how often to schedule meetings. The success of chapter activities depends on the involvement of its members. So when you get a notice about a meeting or activity, make sure you RSVP and attend. If you prefer, feel free to contact the chairperson of your chapter to find out more about the activities and how participation can be of benefit to you.

Maurean Stephenson, State Chair
Email: [email protected]

River Valley/North Chapter Board
Matt Chesnut, Co-Chairperson and Wendy Morrison, Co-Chairperson

Discuss committees and recent SMC meetings, other IDA topics and other areas of interest
Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Inyo, Kings, Lassen, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Tulare, Tuolumne, Yolo and Yuba.

In addition, Alameda, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma and Trinity.

Meetings are typically held by video conferencing.
Recurring Meeting: Third Tuesday of every month 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Phone: 916-453-8801 / Email: [email protected]

South Chapter
Lisa Dittbenner, Co-Chairperson and Dana Kalek, Co-Chairperson
Email: [email protected] and [email protected]

Discuss committees and recent SMC meetings, other IDA topics and other areas of interest
Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura.

Meetings are typically held by video conferencing.
Recurring Meeting: Second Tuesday of the month at 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Phone: 916-453-8801 / Email: [email protected]

State Committees

Social Media
Jazmine Blackman, Co-Chairperson and Wendy Morrison, Co-Chairperson
Email: [email protected] and [email protected]

Increase exposure/branding
Advocacy work/communicate IDA’s agenda
Create conversations around the field of early intervention/create a network of support
Recruiting members and outreach
Share information

Meetings are typically held by video conferencing.
Recurring Meeting: Fourth Thursday of the month at 7:00 pm

Policy Committee
Fran Chasen, Co-Chairperson and Annie Cox, Co-Chairperson
Email: [email protected] and [email protected]

Inform the Infant Development Community on current issues related to the services of Early Start and collaborating services

Meetings are typically held by video conferencing.
Recurring Meeting: Varies

Membership Outreach and Belonging Committee
Julie Taren, Co-Chairperson and Tracey Tasker, Co-Chairperson
Email: [email protected] and [email protected]

Membership growth and retention
Membership benefits and outreach
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging of IDA members and resources for EI providers

Meetings are typically held by video conferencing.
Recurring Meeting: Varies

Events Committee
Maurean Stephenson, Co-Chairperson and Wendy Morrison, Co-Chairperson
Email: [email protected] and [email protected]

Provide high quality relevant training events that highlight best practice for CA Early Start community
Generate revenue for IDA

Meetings are typically held by video conferencing.
Recurring Meeting: First Wednesday of the month at 7:00 pm

Announcements

SB562

Access to evidence-based autism services is unequal across California. Some families have insurance that only covers care that may not be effective. Senate Bill 562 will provide families access to evidence-based care for their child or children. The bill is on the Governor’s desk this week.
SB562

Reminder: Upcoming November Elections

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DDS Extension of Directives

Posted: September 6, 2022
As of August 26, the Department of Developmental Services released extensions on the following Directives.
DDS Directive 01-082922 - Extension of Waivers, Modifications and Directives due to COVID-19

One pertaining to the continuation of Early Start services past age 3, DDS Directive 01-082922 - Extension of Waivers, Modifications and Directives due to COVID-19 is extended to October 3, 2022.

ALERT! Friday, September 2, 2022, is the last day that the federal government will provide free COVID-19 at-home tests. Until then, every household can order eight (8) free test kits. These tests are delivered without cost.

Survey of Importance to the Early Start Workforce:

The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) has been contracted by the Early Childhood Personnel Center at the University of Connecticut to conduct a national survey of the early childhood special education workforce. Your responses will provide data to researchers, educators, and policy makers to better support special educators and early interventionists in the future.  

Learn more about the goals of this work by opening the survey. Take Survey

We estimate the survey will take less than 10 minutes of your time. We encourage you to take the survey all in one sitting but you can use the link to come back to your survey at a later date.  If you chose, you can be entered into a lottery for a chance to win one of 100 $50 gift cards.

If you have any questions, please contact Tracy Jost at [email protected]. The researchers can also be reached at 848-932-4350.

DDS Shares Updates on Provider Rates!

Follow the timeline process on Rate Model:
The rate models with the updated cost components as of February 2022 will be used to calculate the rate adjustment effective April 1, 2022. The Excel files listed by Regional Center and Programs are a comparison of the updated February 2022 rates, to the previous rates published in January 2020. More info click here

Have you, Early Intervention Providers submitted your data information to your local Regional Center to be part of this process? Instructions for Completing Service Detail Collection Forms (ca.gov)

EARLY INTERVENTION Providers/Vendors have you been contacted by your Regional Center to complete program data forms Instructions for Completing Service Detail Collection Forms (ca.gov)? If not, contact your local Regional Center ASAP. The timeline for release is quickly approaching.

They are needed for submission to the Department of Developmental Services as part of the implementation of the Rate Model?

Information about the Rate Model Implementation - Rate Adjustment/Rate Study Implementation Briefing - Zoom Questions can be sent to: [email protected]