Access and Equity
GGRC is working to deliver supports that are culturally and linguistically responsive to the beliefs, values, and choices of the diverse people we serve across San Francisco, Marin, and San Mateo counties. We understand that some members of our communities have historically had a harder time accessing services, and we are working to change this experience.
Special funding from the California Department of Developmental Services combined with internal efforts, supports GGRC to provide a wider variety of services and to make it easier for community members to access the services they need. It is through partnerships with individuals and families we support, with service providers, and with our community, that we can continue to learn ways to improve access to services for all people served by GGRC.
GGRC Purchase of Service Data
Annually, GGRC reviews Purchase of Service (POS) demographic data to assess service access and equity. This data is updated and posted on the website each year, so it is available to all community members. GGRC also holds a POS Demographic Meeting to share the data with interested members of the community, and to lead a joint discussion identifying service access gaps and ideas for improving access to GGRC services.
Education and Orientation Program
The GGRC Education and Orientation Program was developed in response to the need for enhanced service coordination for individuals who need more support to access and use specific regional center services. This program provides a specialized level of support for individuals and families who benefit from more intensive, personalized service coordination and who qualify based on their history of services with GGRC. The Education and Orientation program is committed to going beyond service coordination by offering education and community connections while building trust at every step.
Social Workers in the Education and Orientation Program carry smaller caseloads which means more time with you, more frequent check-ins, more personalized guidance, and stronger connections to the resources you need. During this time-limited program, you will work closely with a social worker who speaks your language and gets to know your cultural beliefs and values so they can help connect you with services that are most supportive to you.
The Education and Orientation Program provides support to:
- Learn your rights and options: We offer workshops and one-on-one sessions to help you understand your services, your rights, and how to get the most out of GGRC and your broader community.
- Navigate systems: Whether it’s housing, healthcare, education, or other services, we help you find your way and connect you with the right people.
- Create your plan, your way: We use person-centered practices to help you create your Individual Program Plan and identify services based on your wants, needs, and values.
- Move forward with GGRC services: You will graduate from the Education and Orientation Program with your own person-centered IPP and be assigned a new social worker who speaks your preferred language. You will continue to meet with this social worker, and they will be the person you can contact if you have any questions or need service changes.
Language Access and Cultural Competency Plan
The Language Access and Cultural Competency (LACC) Plan, funded by the Department of Developmental Services (DDS), provides ongoing funding to regional centers to better support the language access needs of individuals with developmental disabilities, their family members, and their caregivers. The primary goals are to improve the experiences of individuals who receive services by providing culturally responsive services and information and access to information in a variety of languages.
GGRC’s new website, funded by DDS and the Language Access and Cultural Competency Plan, is an example of how this specialized funding increases accessibility to a wide range of language and disability access needs; providing the GGRC community with the information they need to better understand and use regional center services.
DDS Service Access and Equity Grant Program
The California Legislature established the Service Access and Equity (SAE) Program, which awards $11 million annually to community-based organizations and regional centers. This money is used to implement strategies to reduce disparities in service access and increase equity in regional center services. DDS and GGRC post new funding opportunities on their websites as they become available.
