Written By: John Boyle, FCSN Voices Youth Reporter
Graphics By: Angie Che, FCSN Voices Graphic Artist

At the South Bay family gathering on December 7^th, the seminar focused on introducing the new South Bay Social Recreation Programs by Mannching Wang. In particular, FCSN is changing its policy on enrichment classes such as cooking, Lego, dance classes. In the past, parents registered and paid the class fees for their special-needs children to take these classes, and then got reimbursed. Moving forward, there will be no reimbursements. As of recently, FCSN is now an approved vendor for social recreation services with the San Andreas Regional Center (SARC). Starting in the Spring of 2025, parents can enroll their children or adults in FCSN SB Social Recreation classes (Tables 1 and 2) using SARC Social Recreation Funding. To use this funding, parents must obtain a POS (Purchase of Service) from SARC before enrolling in the class.

FCSN offers social recreation classes for both adults (18 years and older) and children (17 years and younger, including school-aged students). Mannching explained the following POS application process to the audience in great detail. 

Step 1: The POS application process begins with contacting the Regional Center case manager/service coordinator to add social recreation to Individual Program Plan (IPP). When writing an email to the case manager, applicants need to provide detailed information about the recreation program that you would like to participate in. For example, if an individual would like to take the adult cook and connect classes listed in Table 1, theywould need to provide the name of the recreation program, the time of the program, and the dates. Applicantsalso need to provide total hours for the recreation program. For example, the cook and connect class is offered 2 hours each Monday, for nine Mondays between February to April 2025. If you choose multiple programs in the Tables below, you will need to provide the same level of details for each program. Mannching stressed that if a family was new to FCSN’s social recreation program, they shouldcontact SARC service coordinator to request that social recreation services be added to their Individual Program Plan (IPP) first. 

Step 2: After the Regional Center receives your application, the Regional Center case manager/service coordinator sends a referral packet to FCSN for review. 

Step 3: Once receiving the referral package, FCSN will review it and decide if we can accept the student. . 

Step 4: FCSN will contact the case manager to process POS if we accept the student. 

Step 5: Once POS is authorized, applicants need to complete FCSN’s online intake and registration forms (as known as Jumbula registration) 

Step 6: After completing the Jumbula registration, class registration needs to be completed

Step 7: After completing all the above steps, clients can attend registered classes. 

Mannching highlighted that families were welcome to contact Po Yen (email: poyu.yen@fcsn1996.org; phone 408-725-8000 X207) for questions and issues during the application process. Shethen went on providing answers to some common questions, and answering questions from the audience. The audience actively discussed the recreation program. Some expressed concern about the complicated POS application process compared to the previous reimbursement process. Some audiences also raised concern that the FCSN programs are no longer exclusively to FCSN families, and the classes are not taught by professional teachers. Mannching indicated that they are in the process of hiring professional teachers, and asked the audience for recommendations when possible. Some key questions and answers are listed below.

Question: Can I choose not to use POS and continue using reimbursement in FCSN social recreation activities?Answer: No. There will be no reimbursement. FCSN is now an approved vendor for social recreation services with SARC.

Question: I am so busy and have no time to get POS, can I still register for these classes?
Answer: Seats for each recreation program listed in Tables 1 and 2 are limited. It is a first come first serve policy. If you would like to register for some of these recreation programs, you will need to get a POS. If you do not get POS, you still can register for these recreation classes listed in Tables 1 and 2 and make payment directly using your credit card. There will be no reimbursement. 

Question: Will FCSN bill SARC if I register with POS and am absent?
Answer: For example, an applicant registered for 16 hours. But only 4 hours were used. FCSB will bill SACR. There is no penalty for families.

Question: Can I put in 100 hours on the application without giving the details on hours?
Answer: You can try it. But the Regional Center might ask for detailed hours. Mannching indicated that this is new for FCSN. If families have new discoveries during the application process, please share with Mannching and other families.

Question: If I use POS on FCSN recreation program, can I still get reimbursement for participating in other programs outside FCSN (for example, boy scout program)
Answer: Yes, you can.

Table 1. Adult Social Recreation Program – South Bay

FCSN 2025 Spring
Time	Class	Dates in Spring 2025
Monday 2:45-4:45 pm	Cook and Connect	2/3, 2/10, 2/24, 3/3, 3/10, 3/24, 3/31, 4/7, 4/14
Saturday 9-10:30 am	Spring Fitness	2/8, 2/22, 3/8, 3/22, 4/5, 4/26, 5/10, 5/24, 5/31, 6/7
Sunday 2:15-4:15 pm	Sports Program	Session 1: 2/16, 2/23, 3/2, 3/9, 3/16, 3/23, 3/30Session2: 4/6, 4/13, 4/20, 4/27, 5/4, 5/11
Saturday 1:00-2:00 pm	Lego by Alphabots	3/1, 3/8, 3/15, 3/22, 3/29, 4/5, 4/12, 4/26
Saturday 1:30-3:00 pm	Art Class	1/25, 2/8, 2/22, 3/8, 3/22, 4/5, 4/26, 5/17, 5.24
Sunday 1:00 – 2:00 pm	Abacus Program	1/12, 1/26, 2/9, 2/23, 3/9, 3/23, 4/6, 4/27, 5/4, 5/18
Sunday 2:00 – 3:00 pm	Dance Class	3/9, 3/16, 3/23, 3/30, 4/6, 4/13, 4/27, 5/4
Sunday 5:00 – 6:00 pm	Vocal-Dance Class	2/23, 3/2, 3/9, 3/16, 3/23, 3/30, 4/13, 4/20, 4/27, 5/18, 6/1, 6/7
Saturday 4:00 – 7:00 pm	Community Social Gathering	2/15, 3/1, 3/15, 3/29, 4/19, 5/3, 5/17

Table 2. Children Social Recreation Program – South Bay

FCSN 2025 Spring
Time	Class	Dates in Spring 2025
Sunday 2:15-4:15 pm	Sports Program	Session 1: 2/16, 2/23, 3/2, 3/9, 3/16, 3/23, 3/30Session2: 4/6, 4/13, 4/20, 4/27, 5/4, 5/11
Saturday 1:00-2:00 pm	Lego by Alphabots	3/1, 3/8, 3/15, 3/22, 3/29, 4/5, 4/12, 4/26
Saturday 1:30-3:00 pm	Art Class	1/25, 2/8, 2/22, 3/8, 3/22, 4/5, 4/26, 5/17, 5.24
Sunday 1:00 – 2:00 pm	Abacus Program	1/12, 1/26, 2/9, 2/23, 3/9, 3/23, 4/6, 4/27, 5/4, 5/18
Sunday 2:00 – 3:00 pm	Dance Class	3/9, 3/16, 3/23, 3/30, 4/6, 4/13, 4/27, 5/4
Sunday 5:00 – 6:00 pm	Vocal-Dance Class	2/23, 3/2, 3/9, 3/16, 3/23, 3/30, 4/13, 4/20, 4/27, 5/18, 6/1, 6/7
Saturday 4:00 – 7:00 pm	Community Social Gathering	2/15, 3/1, 3/15, 3/29, 4/19, 5/3, 5/17