PLEASE READ AND CIRCULATE!

Dear providers of services to LEP seniors and individuals with disabilities:

I am writing you regarding an URGENT matter. More than 130,000 individuals are scheduled to have IHSS services cut as of November 1st; it is projected that 1/2 of these are limited-Englishs proficient (LEP). The IHSS services are CRITICAL to their health and well-being. I have attached a provider education flyer that will help educate providers (including those who don't know the IHSS program) understand how to help their clients. PLEASE distribute as broadly as you can to other individuals and groups assisting elderly/disabled individuals. This is urgent, so please do this as soon as you can.

We are holding two statewide telephonic/webinar trainings later this month on the IHSS cutoffs. All senior services providers and disability advocates are invited to attend; there is no cost. Register by emailing your full contact information (name, organization, title, phone, address, e-mail) to the registrar at trainings@nsclc.org, or calling 1-510-663-1055, ext. 301. Dates of trainings:

October 21, 2009 at noon October 26, 2009 at noon

A consumer handout, which providers can personalize with local agency information and distribute, is available on the web at: www.nsclc.org/areas/long-term-care/At-Home-Care/IHSS. This document will be translated into several languages. The English version is attached (you can add your local/regional organizational info if you wish!). Translated versions will be available starting next week. We are working on Spanish, Armenian, Chinese, Russian, and Vietnamese at the present time, as these are languages of populations with the highest numbers of IHSS recipients.

Please help get the word out by sharing these documents with your provider networks and clients, as appropriate.

Please see these Advocate and Consumer notices.

Advocate Notice: www.calegaladvocates.org/library/attachment.158189

Consumer Notice: www.calegaladvocates.org/library/attachment.158188