Napa Valley Support Services

April 29, 2021 Dear Families, Care Providers, Friends, and People Supported by Napa Valley Support Services (NVSS): NVSS would like to thank you for everything you have been doing during the COVID-19 Pandemic. It has been a difficult time with many challenging transitions and you have contributed to the success of NVSS in too many ways to list. Some agencies in the area closed during this time. Fortunately, because of everyone’s creativity and diligence we are still survivin...g! Thank you! The leadership of NVSS definitely are not experts in what to do to return safely to our type of environment and there is no one currently giving us direction. There are general rules on how to return safely to workplaces. Currently, the CDC Blue Print for a Safer Economy says Indoor gatherings strongly discouraged. As stated by the CDC, some people with disabilities might be at a higher risk of infection or severe illness because of their underlying medical conditions. Adults with disabilities are three times more likely than adults without disabilities to have heart disease, stroke, diabetes, or cancer than adults without disabilities. https://www.cdc.gov//need-ex/people-with-disabilities.html. When it is decided to re-open our doors, we want to ensure the people we support and NVSS staff are as safe as possible. As of now there are no plans to open the NVSS buildings. However, with emerging information this could change at any time. Once we have developed a plan, we will provide everyone with as much notice as possible. There are still many questions to be answered like: How will transportation be provided? Do we still go into the community? Are we going to rotate staff and the people that attend? We don’t know all the answers to these questions yet. However, we are doing our best to answer them before we reopen our buildings. Until we open our buildings and everyone is attending, we plan on providing as many services and supports as safely possible to everyone supported by NVSS. This includes continuing with remote services like Zoom classes. Beth Kahiga Executive Director Napa Valley Support Services

Napa Valley Support Services is proud to announce the Certifications of Arnold Fitt and Jeannie Smith. Jeannie and Arnold completed the Person Centered Thinking Trainer Certification process. Please take a moment to congratulate them on this achievement!

Want to help make a difference while you shop in the Amazon app, at no extra cost to you? Simply follow the instructions below to select "Napa Valley Support Services" as your charity and activate AmazonSmile in the app. They'll donate a portion of your eligible mobile app purchases to us. How it works: 1. Open the Amazon app on your phone 2. Select the main menu (=) & tap on "AmazonSmile" within Programs & Features ... 3. Select "Napa Valley Support Services" as your charity 4. Follow the on-screen instructions to activate AmazonSmile in the mobile app See more

Our Lunch Social Hour is a big hit! This is the time for all of us to get together for lunch and visit with are friends and staff! Join in to visit with your friends and staff!

In observance of Thanksgiving, our offices will be closed Thursday, November 26 & Friday, November 27th. Over the holiday season many of us would love to share these times with our family and friends. But, this year is different! Remember: Stay 6 feet away from others, wear your mask and wash your hands frequently.

We may be at home, but we are still having fun! Check out the NVSS Virtual Halloween party!

Watch this video to see people having fun. Plan on attending then next one!

Ada, an instructor at Imperial Way Day Services is leading the Stretch Class through Zoom. The people in this video are stretching their necks to release tension in their necks. Tilt you head to the side and count to 20.

It’s Direct Support Professionals Week? NVSS wants to thank our Instructors and Job Coaches for their dedication to those we support. Working with people who need assistance is your calling and you do it so well! As you can see from the photos, Susie D. and Carlo B. from our Imperial Way Day Program give the Instructors a big thumbs up for all you do! Paige M, Brian T. and Michael B. appreciate all of the support they receive from NPS Job Coaches. Please take a minute to personally thank your support staff by sending an email or making a comment on our FB page!

ZOOM! Wow, we are moving to on-line learning with so many Zoom Classes. The people from day programs as well as supported employment are joining classes and social time with their friends from NVSS. Jayce, an instructor from Imperial Way was just getting started with Dance Class!... Ada & Prisma, from Imperial Way held a stretching class. Everyone in the class gave a THUMBS UP! Join the Zoom Classes through your NVSS Calendar...We have classes every weekday between 9:00 and 1:00. It's easy to join in and see your friends from NVSS! We do get more creative as time goes on!

Wow September has started off with a bang and with a sense of normality! Our outdoor work crews are working again! Currently, there are 15 people supported by NVSS staff from our Imperial Way Day Services Program returning to their jobs. The work crews are very excited to get back to work. Thank you to the supervisors who worked very hard scheduling staff and work crews to make sure everyone could have rides to the job sites. Last week, before we started working, staff we...re trained through Zoom. We reviewed procedures for: screenings, vehicle disinfecting/cleaning and training the work crews, social distancing, hand washing/sanitizing, what to do if someone has symptoms and the COVID-19 Injury Illness Protection Plan (IIPP) Addendum. Some of the precautions we are taking include: prior to starting work everyone is screened for symptoms. As you can see from some of the photos, everyone is wearing a face covering and getting temperatures taken. NVSS wants everyone to be safe so extra precautions are also being taken. We are transporting only one passenger per vehicle who sits as far from the driver as possible! Our work crews have their own private ride to their jobs! NICE! It is great to finally feel a little more normal in the COVD-19 world we are now living in. Welcome back work crews.How many likes and shares can we get?

We're doing things different! Since the pandemic, NVSS has found ways to remotely provide support. Our most recent endeavor is providing instruction through Zoom Classes. All of the individuals we support have been given email addresses and access to our Zoom Class Calendar. It's very easy to join a class. All you need to do is log into your email account then go to the calendar. After you see the calendar, click on the link of the class you want to join. It's great seeing our friends, staff and learning at the same time! Check it out it's fun!

In Memory of Rubin Goldberg It is with great sadness that we tell you of Rubin’s passing. Rubin had a great sense of humor, always smiled and was a genuinely wonderful man. He had been a part of NVSS for at least 18 years and worked at Lixit assembling all kinds of pet products. In August 2017, Rubin joined Brown Street Gallery & Boutique where he completed many arts and craft projects. About two years ago, he participated in Special Olympics Bowling. We hope this tribute to Rubin’s life makes you smile and brings good memories to you. Due to the current rules about gatherings, Rubin’s family will have a Celebration of Life at a later date. In memory of Rubin, the family requested donations be made to Napa Valley Support Services.

Not all heroes wear capes! Jarrod is pictured saving the environment at Yountville Crossroads and equipped his mask to help prevent Covid-19! With his weapons to combat litter in his arsenal, he's fighting the war on litter! Nothing stops Jarrod from performing his job. Great Job Jarrod!

NVSS is currently represented on the Napa County Community Organizations Active in Disasters. They have sent this very important message to share. If you are so inclined please share this message with everyone you know and if you or someone you know wants information in Spanish please scroll to the Spanish section of this email. The County is reporting that on June 1st the number of cases in Napa was 111, and on July 1st we are looking at 333 cases. Before Memorial Day, t...Continue reading

Update: July 2, 2020 Napa Valley Support Services (NVSS) staff is working very hard behind the scenes to ensure we provide support to those enrolled in our programs: Brown Street, Imperial Way and Napa Personnel Systems. Since this is uncharted waters, we’ve had to do a lot of thinking outside of the box. Some of the tasks our staff is working on include a plan for when and how we can re-open, performing remote classes and socialization through internet meetings, and tele...phone conversations, remote assessments for those looking for work, and tailored day services. You might think there are no jobs out there, however NPS is still helping people find jobs in the community! Napa Personnel Systems (NPS) continues to provide support to those working in essential jobs. Some people are also doing assessments at CVS in Napa. Juan found a new job working as a dishwasher at La Cheve, the new bakery and brewery. Since the beginning of the Shelter at Home Order, we have been receiving State of Emergency Funding from the Department of Developmental Services (DDS). Without this funding, we would not be able to offer services and many of our staff and the people we support would not be receiving a paycheck. NVSS is very grateful for the opportunity to provide remote and personal support to those in our programs. Many of you have asked when NVSS will be reopening our buildings and unfortunately, we don’t have an answer yet. The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) and North Bay Regional Center (NBRC) along with the County Health Department will make that decision. Once we know, we will let you know. NVSS knows people enjoy seeing pictures of what is going on at NVSS. We will do our best to update you regularly with pictures of some of the things going on at NVSS. Be on the lookout for photos of your friends and what everyone is doing. We are looking forward to returning to regular life and hope to see you all very soon! See more

Thank you toprepair!

A BIG SHOUT OUT TO JIM HEAPHY & TOPREPAIR.COM! Thank you to Jim Heaphy & the crew at TOPREPAIR.COM for donating face shields to help protect NVSS Staff and those we support. Top Repair has created face shields using equipment loaned to them from New Tech High School in Napa and Jim’s personal equipment. These face shields were manufactured right here in Napa County using 3D printers! We are very thankful for your donation!