RSA-227 for FY-2025: Submission #45

State name Guam

Report through date 09/30/2025

General Information

Designated Agency Identification

Name PARENTS-AGENCIES NETWORKING INC. (PAN INC)

Address P.O. BOX 23474 GMF

Address Line 2 GUAM MAIL FACILITY

City BARRIGADA

State GUAM

Zip Code 96921

E-mail Address gcap671@gmail.com

Website Address http://www.capguam.org

Phone 6716464227 6719871953

TTY 671646427

Toll-free Phone

Toll-free TTY

Fax 6716494211

Operating Agency (if different from Designated Agency)

Name

Address

Address Line 2

City

Zip Code

State

E-mail Address

Website Address

Phone

TTY

Toll-free Phone

Toll-free TTY

Fax

Additional Information

Name of CAP Director/Coordinator EDMUND CRUZ

Person to contact regarding report EDMUND CRUZ

Contact Person Phone 6716464227

Contact Person E-mail Address gcap671@gmail.com

Part I. Non-case Services

A. Information and Referral Services (I&R)

1. Information regarding the vocational rehabilitation (VR) program 375

2. Information regarding independent living programs 11

3. Information regarding American Indian VR Service projects 0

4. Information regarding Title I of the ADA 8

5. Other information provided 145

6. Information regarding CAP 450

7. Total I&R services provided (Lines A1 through A6) 989

B. Training Activities

1. Number of training sessions presented to community groups and public agencies. 3

2. Number of individuals who attended these training sessions. 255

3. Describe training presented by the staff. Include the following information: The Guam Client Assistance Program is working hard to raise the public profile of independent disability advocacy through active training and engagement for CAP clients and its family members community stakeholders and offered three (3) consumer education for the fiscal year 2025. Although the disabiity advocacy sector continues to face extraordinary challenges this fiscal year, we remain resilient and have unwaverig dedication to our clients, as we advocate the systemic issues that are destined to happen in the future of disability programs.

1 SELF-ADVOCACY TRAINING - We worked with our clients and prospective clients to build and strengthen the capacity of the disability
advocacy sector through consultation, coordination, networking and training opportunities as we advocate collectively in regards to more resources. There were 105 attendees for this training session.

(2) In April 2025, a Pre-Employment Transition Services Training for student with disabilities who are currently enrolled at Guam public school was held simultaneously in conjunction with the Autism Awareness Fair. the focus of this training is about helping students build a brighter future to explore careers, develop job skills, and plan for life after high school. The PRE-ETS training is also design for students who may benefit from a little extra support for navigating challenges whether in learning, focus, mobility, or communication. This training was attended by at least 90 individuals who also attended our intial training on PRE-ETS last fiscal year.

3.MICRONESIA RESOURCE S CENTER FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

The Guam Client Assistance Program is offering this training in partnership with One Stop Empowerment Center to provide information about mainstream disability services for the Micronesian community, domestic and family disputes center, and homelessness services.There were 60 persons attended this training who came from Guam public schools and other community programs funded by the local and federal programs such as the Department of Labor.

Total participants for all training sessions this fiscal year is 255.

C. Agency Outreach

Describe the agency's outreach efforts to previously un-served or underserved individuals including minority communities. In order to reach out to the underserved citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia residing in Guam, the Guam Client Assistance Program participated in a two-day conference at the Guam Center for Micronesian Studies called : "The Micronesia Community and Disabilities : Confronting the Barriers" targeted at improving access to and information about disability rights and services to the un-served and underserved individuals in the Micronesian community was attended by more than 150 persons. CAP will continue its outreach efforts since so many individuals with disabilities who are blind and have visual impairments were not aware of the services.

D. Information Disseminated To The Public By Your Agency

1. Agency Staff Interviewed or Featured on Radio and TV 2

2. Articles about CAP Featured in Newspaper/Magazine/Journals 3

3. PSAs/Videos Aired about the CAP Agency 1

4. Publications/Booklets/Brochures Disseminated by the Agency 525

5. Number of Times CAP Exhibited at Conferences, Community Fairs, etc. 5

6. Other 1

Please explain below CAP brochures is already underway to be translated to other languages and will seek volunteers skilled in other languages. This is work in progress.

E. Information Disseminated About Your Agency By External Media Coverage

Describe the various sources and information disseminated about your agency by an external source. Thr Guam Client Assistance Program subscribed annually to the E_DIRECTORY which functions like the telephone directory of Guam Telephone Authority (GTA) and used by more than a thousand callers and the numbers are growing.The Guam CAP will actively used radio advertising at KSTO FM and MEGAMIX 101.9 FM for non profits organization on the islands. Our external sources this year has included submissions, media releases, position statements and letters to the Guam Legislators to uphold the rights of persons with disability.

The Guam Client Assistance Program has an ongoing collaborations with other programs such as Guam Developmental Disabilities Council (GDDC), Guam Legal Services Disability Law Center (GLSC) Protection and Advocacy Program Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center (GBHWC), University of Guam (UOG), Guam Commuity College (GCC), and the Mayor Offices of Guam to disseminates information..

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Part II. Individual Case Services

A. Individuals served

1. Individuals who are still being served as of October 1 (carryover from prior year) 11

2. Additional individuals who were served during the year 16

3. Total individuals served (Lines A1+A2) 27

4. Individuals (from Line A3) who had multiple case files opened/closed this year. 4

5. Individual still being served as of September 30 (Carryover to next year. This total may not exceed Line A3.) 27

B. Problem areas

1. Individual requests information 15

2. Communication problems between individual and VR counselor 5

3. Conflict about VR services to be provided 4

4. Related to VR application/eligibility process 5

5. Related to assignment to order of selection priority category 0

6. Related to IPE development/implementation 6

7. Related to independent living services 3

8. Other Rehabilitation Act-related problems 5

C. Intervention Strategies for closed cases

1. Short Term Technical Assistance 0

2. Investigation/Monitoring 0

3. Negotiation 1

4. Mediation and other methods of Alternative Dispute Resolution 0

5. Administrative / Informal Review 3

6. Formal appeal / Fair Hearing 0

7. Legal remedy / Litigation 0

8. Total 4

D. Reasons for closing individuals' case files

1. All issues resolved in individual's favor 2

2. Some issues resolved in individual's favor 1

3. CAP determines VR agency position/decision was appropriate for the individual 0

4. Individual's case lacks legal merit 0

5. Individual chose alternative representation 0

6. Individual withdrew complaint 0

7. Issue not resolved in clients favor 0

8. CAP services not needed due to individual's death, relocation, etc. 0

9. Individual not responsive/cooperative with CAP 0

10. CAP unable to take case due to lack of resources 0

11. Conflict of interest 0

12. Other 1

(Please explain below) Individual asked CAP to close case.

E. Results achieved for individuals

1. Controlling law/policy explained to individual 1

2. Application for services completed 1

3. Eligibility determination expedited 1

4. Individual participated in evaluation 0

5. IPE developed/implemented/Services Provided 1

6. Communication re-established between individual and other party 0

7. Individual assigned to new counselor/office 0

8. Alternative resources identified for individual 0

9. ADA/504/EEO/OCR complaint made 0

10. Other 0

(Please explain below) Individual has relocated to other states.

Part III. Program Data

A. Age

1. Up to 18 4

2. 19 - 24 8

3. 25 - 40 10

4. 41 - 64 3

5. 65 and over 2

6. Total (Sum of Lines A1 through A5. Total must equal Part II, Line A3.) 27

B. Gender

1. Females 12

2. Males 15

3. Nonbinary or Another Gender 0

4. Unknown 0

5. Total (Lines B1+B2+B3+B4. Total must equal Part II Line A3.) 27

C. Race/ethnicity of Individuals Served

1. Hispanic/Latino of any race 0

2. American Indian or Alaskan Native 0

3. Asian 13

4. Black or African American 1

5. Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 13

6. White 0

7. Two or more races 0

8. Race/ethnicity unknown 0

D. Primary disabling condition of individuals served

1. Acquired Brain Injury 1

2. ADD/ADHD 4

3. AIDS/HIV 0

4. Amputations or Absence of Extremities 0

5. Arthritis or Rheumatism 0

6. Anxiety Disorder 3

7. Autism Spectrum Disorder 3

8. Autoimmune or Immune Deficiencies 0

10. Other visual impairments 1

11. Cancer 0

12. Cerebral Palsy 1

13. Deafness 1

14. Hard of Hearing/Hearing Impaired 1

16. Diabetes 1

17. Digestive disorders 0

18. Epilepsy 0

19. Heart and other circulatory conditions 1

20. Intellectual Disability 2

21. Mental illness 4

22. Multiple Sclerosis 0

23. Muscular Dystrophy 0

24. Muscular/Skeletal Impairment 0

25. Neurological Disorders/Impairment 0

26. Orthopedic impairments 0

27. Personality Disorders 0

28. Respiratory Disorders/Impairment 0

29. Skin Conditions 0

30. Specific learning disabilities (SLD) 1

31. Speech Impairments 0

32. Spina Bifida 0

33. Substance abuse 0

34. Other disability 0

35. Total (Sum of Lines D1through D34. Total must equal Part II, Line A3.) 27

E. Types of Individuals Served

1. Applicant of VR 21

2. Individual eligible for VR services currently on a wait list 0

3. Individual eligible for VR services not currently on a wait list 5

4. Applicant or individual eligible for Independent Living 3

5. Transition student/High school student 6

6. All other applicants or individuals eligible for other programs or projects funded unther Rehabilitation Act 0

Part IV. Systemic Activities and Litigation

A. Non-Litigation Systemic Activities

1. Number of non-litigation systemic activities not involving individual representation that resulted in the change of one or more policy or practice of an agency. 0

2. Describe the systemic activities conducted by CAP during the fiscal year and its impact on other agency's policies or practices. Systemic activities conducted by CAP this fiscal year is still ongoing.

B. Litigation

a. Number of cases requiring litigation involving individual representation filed during fiscal year. 0

b. Number of on-going cases pending at start of fiscal year (carryover from prior fiscal year). 0

c. Number of cases resolved through litigation during fiscal year. 0

2. Describe the agency's on-going and completed systemic litigation activities involving individual representation. 0

Part V. Agency Information

A. Designated Agency

1. Agency Type (select only one option): External-other nonprofit agency

2. Name of designate agency: PARENTS-AGENCIES NETWORKING INC. (PAN INC.)

3. Is the designated agency contracting CAP services? No

4. If yes, name of contracting agency:

B. Staff Employed

1. Provide a description of all CAP positions
Parents-Agency Networking INC. (PAN Inc.) is the independent non-profit organization that has been founded in 1987 by a concerned parents of individuals who have children attending Special Education Program at the local Guam Department of Education (GDOE). The Cient Assistance Program was originally adminstered by the Marianas Association of Retarded Citizens (MARC) which later evolved as the ADVOCACY OFFICE which was, the designated Protection and Advocacy System (P &A) of Guam which originally included the Client Assistance Program (CAP) which was was redesignated to the Parents Agency Networking in 1989 and until today, PAN Inc. is administering the Client Assistance Program. Edmund Cruz is the Program Coordinator for the CAP for 27 years whos salary is paid from the formula grant which is $59,477 for the Fiscal Year 2025, and assisted by a volunteer from the Senior Community Volunteer Program and a part time employee from the Job Center. Mr. Cruz has corrected his title as Program Coordinator/Advocate of the Guam CAP only and NOT the Director of the Guam CAP as people thought for years.

Part VI. Case Examples

Case Examples

Provide some examples of some interesting cases during the past fiscal year. 1. Following a medical leave of absence to treat his severe depression after his mother's death, JV, who was a client of DVR under the Supported Employment Program worked at the Guam Naval Base cafeteria and was refused to return to work by the employer. The physician who worked at the Guam Behavioral and Wellness Centers (GBHWC) stated that JV could not perform his duties due to the severity of his medical condition. The Guam Client Assistance Program negotiated his return to work and suggested he should work on a trial basis and has demonstrated to work without any medical issues as expected.

2. GJ is legally blind but in order to get around his home and around Guam, he requested his VR Counselor at the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to send him to Mobility Training for the Blind and the closest facility from Guam is located in Honolulu, Hawaii, however he was put on a waiting list for almost two years. The VR Counselor suggested that the only available location was in the states of Denver, Colorado and Albuquerque, New Mexico which he considered far away. GJ was put in a waitlist for a vacancy at the Hopono School for the Blind. After CAP relentless battle and intervention to get his training, DVR approved his IPE and he is attending an ongoing training in Hawaii. He recently on a short break and talked to CAP about his experience at the school for the blind and was very thankful to the CAP advocacy efforts on his behalf.

3. RS is a twenty four years old female who has an ADHD,and has requested the Guam Client Assistance Program to help her in obtaining services from the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation DVR). RS believed that she can pursue a career as a Clinical Psychology at the Chaminade University in Hawaii after she complete her academic training at the University of Guam. CAP suggested that she should reach out to the VR Counselor who will work with Chaminade University so that a procurement contract will be established if she sought DVR funding along with financial aid, grants, scholarships, housing and transportation. DVR Counselor will work with her Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE).

Certification

Reports are to be submitted to RSA within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report. Please be reminded that you can enter data directly into the RSA website via the internet. Information on transmittal of the form is found on pages 19 and 20 of the reporting instructions.

Name and Title of Authorized Certifying Official

I agree to submit this form by electronic means. By signing this form electronically, I certify under penalty of perjury that my answers are correct and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that an electronic signature has the same legal meaning and can be enforced in the same way as a written signature.

Full Legal Name of Signer: EDMUND CRUZ

Certifying Official Title GUAM CAP PROGRAM COORDINATOR

By checking this box and typing my full legal name above, I am electronically signing this form. Yes

Date Certified (mm/dd/yyyy) 2026-01-29

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