FINS News

FINS is proud to announce that Stuart Gilliam has joined the FINS Board July 1, 2020. He is currently the President of the Board that oversees the Adaptive Learning Center in Concord. He has an autistic son in the program. Stuart was formerly a litigation attorney, but now works mainly with Special Education Law. His…

It’s a new school year, and with the help of parents, caregivers, teachers, aides, Adult Education Admin, and the SCUSD Board we have managed to still be an integral part of the Adult Education program in Santa Clara. Several people key to our success have retired this year, but the new individuals have stepped up…

With part of the funds received from the 2016 Mercury News Wishbook grant, lumber was purchased and 4 redwood planter boxes were made allowing more vegetables to be grown and more students participation in the gardening program.

We are seeing our first deposits in the bank of funds from people using Amazon Smile to place their Amazon orders and designating funds to Friends of Independence Network. If you are not already signed up, please sign up at Amazon Smile and designate Friends of Independence Network as the recipient of the funds. You…

The Holidays are coming! Why not do your online shopping and help FINS at the same time? If you enroll for Amazom Smile (https://smile.amazon.com) then you can order through Amazon and Amazon will send a portion of the sale monies to FINS! Just enroll and be sure to use this Amazon web address anytime you…

Thanks to over 100 generous donors, FINS received over $15,000 during the SVGIVES 24 hour donation program. FINS also received $5000 for being in top 4 in received donations out of 150 non-profits that assist the disabled population.

The Teachers at IN are being consideered for a long overdue raise. While this is needed for them to continue to make the monies necessary to live in this area, it puts new strains on the budgeted money from the state to run IN. FINS and Program Administrators are reviewing possible funding sources and changes…

The California Legislature is voting Monday Feb. 22nd on restoring funding to the Regional Centers and to IHSS lost in the Economic Issues a few years back. Please contact your Legislaor to vote Yes on this important Bill. BREAKING NEWS: APPARENT DEAL ON MANAGED CARE ORGANIZATION TAX AND DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES FUNDING Hearing On Brown Administration…

California State Budget 2016-2017 Governor Brown released his proposed state budget for 2016-2017. Within the proposal, he has asked for funding to increase for Regional Centers by 10%. In May the Governor and Legislators will get together to offer revisions to the proposed budget.The issue before them is how to fund the increase. The Governor…

As of Feb. 29th, MV Transportation will no longer service San Andreas Regional Center clients. At the time of this announcement, 29 of 52 students were using the MV vans.The issue is the amount that SARC can pay the drivers based on the current funding from the State of California. This is just another result…