Regional Center Families

Channel Islands Social Services has been a leader in providing Respite Care in Ventura County for regional center families since 2004. We began providing Independent Living Services in 2017. We have been awarded Service Provider of the Year twice by the Autism Society Ventura County, and our CEO Sharon was recognized as the national Autism Professional of the Year by the Autism Society of America in 2015 and with the Lifetime Achievement award in 2020 by the Autism Society Ventura County.

For more info, call us or contact us today!

New EVV Alert Opt-In for Families! Regional Center Families receiving 1:1 respite care can now opt-in to receive alerts by text, email or both regarding their balance of respite hours after a caregiver has provided respite support to their family. Complete our online form to opt-in for EVV alerts:  English   Spanish

ILS services are typically authorized for 20 hours/month for qualifying adults who have exited high school and are authorized by TCRC. ILS instruction can be provided in the family’s home to help individuals attain greater independence while continuing to live with relatives. ILS instruction can also prepare adults with developmental disabilities to move out on their own or with a roommate, with services continuing to provide ongoing support.

During the pandemic, most ILS services were provided remotely via Zoom when requested by the person/family.

ILS Brochure

Tri-Counties Regional Center (TCRC) and North Los Angeles Regional Center (NLACRC) contract with CISS to provide funding for in-home respite services to families caring for a child or an adult relative with special needs (defined specifically as a developmental disability such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, Intellectual Disability or Cerebral Palsy.) Services are free for eligible families.

Through the Individual Program Plan (IPP), Regional Centers authorize respite care to meet the needs of each family. Families are typically authorized between 8 and 40 hours/mo. to meet their needs. If more respite care is needed, the family may request additional care through their Service Coordinator.

Respite Brochure

Once we receive all completed intake forms, and an authorization for services from the regional center, it should only take 5 business days to get you going, depending on availability of staff who match your needs. Contact our office so we can send you our intake packet.

Do you have someone you would like us to hire just for your family? Have them complete our Applicant Request form. All of the form links noted above with ** are required to process your family’s application and that of your referred caregiver, who must also complete our employment application. As long as they submit everything in full and pass our background check, they can typically be hired within 7 business days.

Note: Respite cannot be used in replacement of daycare for a parent to work, for housecleaning, for supervision at a camp, during therapy appoints, or to have another adult present during ABA therapy without prior written approval from the regional center. When in doubt, contact our office.

Once authorized for daycare or respite care, all regional center families with children under the age of 18 must complete FCPP paperwork sent to them by the regional center. Those with parents earning more than 400% of the minimum federal poverty level may have their hours reduced proportional to income, but at no time will the family owe the agency if they stay within their adjusted authorization. If the authorized child is over the age of 18, is on Medi-Cal or the Medicaid Waiver, FCPP does not apply

Helpful Links:   Family Cost Participation Program (FCPP)

In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) is a personal care service that provides bathing, cooking, house cleaning, and other care to ensure that low income seniors and individuals with disabilities can receive support to avoid out-of-home placement. Regional Center funding is considered to be “payer of last resort” so they will ask individuals and families to acces IHSS as a “generic resource.”

If a family receives IHSS and they still have respite needs (which can be the case especially in families where the parent is the IHSS provider), respite can be authorized by the regional center and should be discussed during the planning team meeting.

To register for IHSS, the family must call the County to request an IHSS assessment, which usually takes place in the family’s home within 30 days. Once the family is notified that they have been awarded a specific number of IHSS hours, the family can refer someone they already know to apply with the VC Public Authority (the employer of record service for all IHSS workers), the parent can sign themselves up to be their child’s IHSS worker under certain circumstances, and/or the parent can request a referral of an IHSS worker from the Public Authority.

NOTE: CISS does not provide assistance to families in finding IHSS workers. The local Public Authority can help.

Here are some helpful IHSS links:

• Ventura County IHSS Page
• IHSS Self-Assessment Packet (prep for the IHSS Assessment and to help appeal a decision) – Updated June 2019!
• Disability Rights CA Website for tons of IHSS Resources and Forms