Below is a selection of resources from Cal OES, the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. These resources are intended to assist people with disabilities to become more familiar with disaster and emergency preparedness.

• Office of Access and Functional Needs
  In January 2008, the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services established the Office of Access and Functional Needs (OAFN). The purpose of OAFN is to identify the needs of people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs before, during, and after a disaster and to integrate disability needs and resources into emergency management systems.
• Access and Functional Needs in a Disaster – What you NEED to Know!
  Emergencies and disasters can happen anywhere and at anytime in California. Along with disasters come challenges and that rings even more true for individuals with access and functional needs.
• Individuals with Disabilities and Others with Access and Functional Needs – How to Make a Plan & Create a Support Network – FEMA
  How might a disaster affect me? What are my personal needs during a disaster? By evaluating your own individual needs and making an emergency plan that fits those needs, you and your loved ones can be better prepared.
• Disaster Preparedness for People with Disabilities American Red Cross
  Emergencies can happen at a moment’s notice. Mobility problems and hearing, learning, or seeing disabilities can add complication. It is important to plan ahead so you are better prepared for any urgent situation.
• We Can Do Better: Lessons Learned for Protecting Older Persons in Disasters
  The intent of the report is to provide suggestions and links to practical tools and resources that will be helpful to policy makers at federal, state, and local levels; nongovernmental organizations; and older persons, family caregivers, and persons with disabilities.
• Preparing for Disaster for People with Disabilities and other Special Needs
  For the millions of Americans who have physical, medical, sensory or cognitive disabilities, emergencies such as fires, floods and acts of terrorism present a real challenge

American Academy of Pediatrics
Pediatricians’ association dedicated to the health of children and youth

Covered California

Covered California Medi-Cal
Medi-Cal is health coverage, just like the coverage from Covered California health plans. If you qualify for Medi-Cal, your health care will be free or at a lower cost to you and your family. Medi-Cal plans and Covered California plans both offer a similar set of important benefits, called “essential health benefits.” If you qualify for Medi-Cal, you will get a benefits identification card (BIC) in the mail, and you can start using it to get your health care as a new Medi-Cal member. In some cases, after you apply, we may need more information from you to make sure you qualify for Medi-Cal. In those cases, your county’s human services agency may contact you to verify that information.

Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health
Research tool for collecting demographic and other health related data about this population, and making state-by-state comparisons.

Department of Developmental Services (DDS) Early Start
Families whose infants or toddlers have a developmental delay or disability or an established risk condition with a high probability of resulting in a delay may be eligible to receive an “Early Start” in California. Teams of service coordinators, healthcare providers, early intervention specialists, therapists, and parent resource specialists evaluate and assess infants or toddlers and provide appropriate early intervention and family support services for young children from birth to three years of age.

Department of Health Care Services
The mission of the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is to provide Californians with access to affordable, high-quality health care, including medical, dental, mental health, substance use disorder services, and long-term services and supports. Our vision is to preserve and improve the physical and mental health of all Californians.

Among the programs administered by DHCS, some of which are mandated by the federal government and others required by state law, are California Children’s Services; Child Health and Disability Prevention program; the Genetically Handicapped Persons Program; the Newborn Hearing Screening Program; the Family Planning, Access, Care, and Treatment (PACT) program; Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), Every Woman Counts, and Coordinated Care Management. DHCS also administers programs for underserved Californians, including farm workers and American Indian communities.

Human Services Research Institute (HRSI)
The Human Services Research Institute was established in 1976 to help states and the federal government enhance services and supports to people with mental illness and people with mental retardation. They also are working to develop alternatives to congregate care facilities.

Medi-Cal is California’s version of the Federal Medicaid program, and offers no-cost and low-cost healthcare coverage to eligible people in California.  This includes people who have low-income, who are aged, disabled, or have high medical costs. The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) oversees the Medi-Cal program. Your local county office manages most Medi-Cal cases. You can reach your local county office online at www.benefitscal.com. You can get the phone number for your local county office by calling 1-800-541-5555 (TTY 1-800-430-7077).

Medicare is healthcare coverage for people 65 or older. You’re first eligible to sign up for Medicare 3 months before you turn 65. You may be eligible to get Medicare earlier if you have a disability. 

National Center for Cultural Competence at Georgetown University (NCCC) was created to increase the capacity of health care and mental health care programs to design, implement, and evaluate culturally and linguistically competent service delivery systems to address growing diversity, persistent disparities, and to promote health and mental health equity.

National Institutes of Health is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. National Institute of Mental Health provides research and information on mental health, services and advocacy. See a full list of the National Institutes of Health here.

Supported Decision-Making (SDM) is a tool that allows people with disabilities to keep their decision-making capacity by choosing supporters to help them make choices. You can learn more:

• UC David MIND Institute Supported Decision-Making Page (featuring videos and other resources)
• National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making
• ACLU Disability Rights Program’s Supported Decision-Making FAQs

Peer-Run Warm Line is a peer-run, non-emergency resource for anyone in the state seeking mental and emotional support. They provide assistance via phone and web chat on a nondiscriminatory basis to anyone in need. Some concerns callers share are challenges with interpersonal relationships, anxiety, pain, depression, finances, alcohol/drug use, etc.

Victims’ Services Unit | State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General

Adult Protective Services
Adult Protective Services (ca.gov)

Child Protective Services
Report Abuse (ca.gov)

National Human Trafficking
National | National Human Trafficking Hotline

CIT International: www.citinternational.org This organization provides guidance as to best practices in responding to those with behavioral health needs that can lead to 24 hour holds or incarceration.

• Crisis Intervention Team Coordinators
• Train the Trainer to develop program within their counties

Safety Net Safety Net Services : CA Department of Developmental Services The safety net system recognizes that consumers with co-occurring behavioral and mental health conditions often receive supports from multiple agencies, including mental health, special education, psychiatric, and mobile crisis services. The START Model provides prevention and intervention services to people with intellectual/developmental disabilities and complex behavioral health needs through crisis planning and response, education, consultation and coaching. Services are based upon a comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment.