About Us
The regional center is conceived of as a fixed point of reference for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. The regional center achieves its mission primarily through case management services, coordinating community resources such as education, health, welfare, rehabilitation and recreation for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Services and supports are provided by the regional center to assist individuals to reach their maximum potential. To the extent that people with disabilities are treated as passive and incapable, that is what they will be. To the extent that people with disabilities are given the opportunity to be full participants in determining the directions of their lives, that is what they will become. The regional center focuses its efforts on the latter.
The desire to have personal control over our lives is a value we all share. In California legislation, the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Act underscores the importance of this commonly held value by stating that individuals (and where appropriate, their parents, legal guardian, or conservator) "...should participate in decisions affecting their own lives, including, but not limited to, where and with whom they live, their relationships with people in their community, the way in which they spend their time, including education, employment, and leisure, and the pursuit of their own personal future, and program planning and implementation."
Far Northern Regional Center attempts to provide a structure and service delivery system to assure that this value is realized in the lives of the people we serve.
Far Northern Regional Center is responsible for serving residents of the nine counties in Northern California (Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Tehama, Trinity, Shasta and Siskiyou). FNRC also serves individuals from these nine counties who reside in California state developmental centers (formerly called state hospitals). Entry to or discharge from state developmental centers is coordinated through the regional centers.
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Mission Statement
Far Northern Regional Center will provide services and supports that allow persons with developmental disabilities to live productive and valued lives as welcomed members of their community.
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Vision Statement
In order to achieve our mission, Far Northern Regional Center will take guidance from the following concepts:
People with developmental disabilities participate in valued ways with their friends, neighbors and co-workers in all areas of community life.
Families are supported in their role as the primary decision-makers on behalf of their minor children. Minor children live and grow within a natural or surrogate family, attend inclusive neighborhood schools, and play with non-disabled children of their own age. Professionals join in partnership with families and support their cultural preferences, values and lifestyles.
Adults with developmental disabilities choose their own homes, are involved in meaningful activities in integrated settings, and participate in their communities.
The community receives education, training, and consultation to increase its understanding of persons with developmental disabilities and to facilitate equal community partnerships. Professionals build relationships within the community to assure knowledge of and respect and dignity for persons with developmental disabilities.
Staff are knowledgeable, available to persons with developmental disabilities and their families, and engaged in a continuous effort to assure high quality relationships.
Persons with developmental disabilities and their families receive the services and supports necessary to make their own meaningful, educated choices.
The community receives services that minimize the risk of developmental disabilities and lessen developmental delays of infants and young children.
Services maximize the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities and their families while acknowledging and reinforcing their dignity.
(Approved FNCC Board of Directors 10/30/97)
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Regional Centers
Regional Centers for persons with developmental disabilities were established in California through legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Frank Lanterman and others. It was in answer to the needs of families of persons who were intellectually disabled. In 1965, pilot projects were started in San Francisco and Los Angeles. The purpose was to assist persons with an intellectual disability and families in locating or developing services and programs within their communities. In 1969, the Lanterman Mental Retardation Act set up a statewide network of Regional Centers based on the pilot projects. By 1977, the developmental services network included 21 Regional Centers, each serving a different part of the state of California.
In 1973, new legislation was passed which expanded the population served by Regional Centers. Included were individuals with a diagnosis of intellectual disability (mental retardation), cerebral palsy, epilepsy or autism, when there is a substantial handicap.
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