Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center

06/16/2025

06/16/2025

06/16/2025

Message for the Community from CCalifornia Department of Developmental Services Protecting Access to Services and Supports for ALL Californians

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, e-mails, and newsletter articles.

Continue reading here: https://lanterman.org/dds_message_protect_access/

06/14/2025

COMMUNITY TRUST & TRANSPARENCY:
A Message from Lanterman’s Executive Director

Dear Lanterman Community,

I would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone about the confidentiality and privacy we are entrusted in protecting as a regional center. I am aware some people are feeling uneasy and anxious under present circumstances.

Please know, in the event we are ever contacted for information, I want to remind you that all information and records obtained in the course of providing intake, assessment and services is confidential under the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act (Welfare and Institutions Code section 4514.), with some exceptions. This means that we are prohibited by law from disclosing any information about the individuals we support and their families to anyone who might call and ask about them, and this includes local and federal law enforcement, with very few exceptions that we can discuss if you have any questions.

Usually, disclosure of confidential information and records by the regional center requires written consent by you or someone with legal authority to provide consent on your behalf. We take our duty to safeguard information seriously.

We know that these are trying times and we at Lanterman are here to help provide reassurance, information, and resources for the needs in our community. We stand united together.

Sincerely,
Melinda Sullivan
Executive Director

06/12/2025

As you may know, some of our staff are on strike. We respect the rights of our employees to engage in lawful labor actions.

During this time, it is our utmost priority to ensure that our community members continue to receive their services, supports, information and resources in a manner that is seamless, timely and uninterrupted. Please be assured that our Center remains open and we have many staff dedicated to continuing to work during this time to ensure that this happens.

We have received inquiries from our community asking about the Center’s contract offer. Here is a brief summary of how we got to this point:

The Center met with the Union ten (10) times, beginning two months ago, to negotiate a contract. There was a great deal of back and forth and compromise on both sides. The Center made many concessions during bargaining in an attempt to reach an agreement.

On June 4th, the Center made a final offer to the Union for a three-year contract. On June 10th, the Union informed the Center that the employees had rejected the Center’s final offer and were going on strike.

The Center’s final offer contains the following provisions:

- Employees will get total wage increases of 15.5%, and possibly more, over the course of the three-year agreement. The 15.5% increases consist of the following components:
- 4.5% cost of living increase in the first year.
- 1% cost of living increase in year two
- 1% cost of living increase in year three.
- 3% merit increases in years one, two, and three, for total merit increases of 9%

- Possible additional cost-of-living increases in years two and three. The Center would be required to negotiate with the Union for potential additional increases in years two and three.
- Any potential additional increases will be heavily dependent on the level of the Center’s future funding from the State, which is largely unknown at this time.
- In addition to the cost-of-living increases, every employee is eligible to receive an annual merit increase of 3% in each year of the three-year agreement, based on performance.
- The Center will delete the first three steps in its wage scale and add three more steps at the end, with 3% increases for each step. This allows employees who have reached the top of the wage scale to receive additional wage increases.
- The Center agreed to add one additional paid holiday, bringing the total number of paid Holidays per year to fourteen (14).
- At a time when many employers are requiring employees to return to the office full-time, the Center’s final offer allows employees to continue to work remotely the same number of days as they are permitted under the current agreement. The Center has added provisions to enable management to better track the work employees are doing when they work remotely.

The Center believes that its final offer is reasonable, fair, and competitive.

The Center informed the Union on June 10th that it is willing to meet later this month to continue to negotiate an agreement. To date, the Center has not received a response from the Union. We hope that the Union will return to the negotiating table.

In the meantime, the Center remains committed to ensuring the needs of our community are fully met. Our Leadership and many other staff are working hard and are here to help. Should you have any questions or need assistance during this time, please call 213.383.1300 and ask for assistance. You will be transferred to someone who can help.

06/12/2025

Urgent Action Needed Before June 15th: Regulations That Ensure Buildings Are Accessible Are At Risk!

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is currently working to quietly rollback two regulations that help implement Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. If this change is implemented, builders would no longer be required to meet established accessibility standards, such as providing elevators, ramps, or accessible bathrooms, as well as the placement of accessories, such as changing tables, grab bars, or towel dispensers. Learn how to submit a public comment at www.DisabilityBelongs.org/actdoe504

06/11/2025

Dear Community Members,

Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center remains open and fully committed to providing you with support, information and resources while some of the Center’s staff are on strike. Our priority is to ensure that services and support continue uninterrupted during this time, but we do recognize and respect the rights of those participating in the strike.

If you have any questions or need to reach us, please contact 213.383.1300, press 0 and ask to be directed to the Regional Manager for your assigned service coordinator. A representative of our Center will be available to assist you. To reach a manager on call after work hours, please call 213.383.1300, press 0 and follow the prompts.

Respectfully,

Melinda Sullivan
Executive Director

06/09/2025

06/09/2025

06/09/2025

The Trump administration is quietly working to fast-track changes to a key disability rights law by circumventing typical procedures, advocates are warning.

06/08/2025