Monday, July 29, 2013

A Look Back at the History of Sonoma Developmental Center

The Hill property in 1888, which soon afterward was acquired by the State of
California for what is now the Sonoma Developmental Center. The central area
of the modern SDC occupies the vineyard. The road above the vineyard was the
main route in 1888; Arnold Drive did not exist at that time. Courtesy Bancroft
Library, UC Berkeley, via Sonoma Valley Sun.
Sonoma Developmental Center has changed much over the many years of its existence. First established in the late 1800s as a place for the care of so-called "feeble-minded" children, it's role soon expanded to the care and training of feeble-minded people of all ages. The Center's role and the people it serves has continued to change over the last 100 years -- and the knowledge and expertise on how best to care for people with developmental disabilities, and other mental and physical handicaps, has continued to improve and expand.

The Sonoma Valley Sun has just published a fascinating profile of the Center's history. See: Just wondering about... Early days of the Sonoma Developmental Center, by Judy Blum (July 25, 2013).

The Home for the Care and Training of Feeble Minded Children, on the eastern
slopes of Sonoma Mountain, in 1910.



Monday, July 22, 2013

Kern Regional Center Management Troubles Threaten Services for the Disabled

Apparent financial impropriety at Kern Regional Center in Southern California has put the management of the Center under scrutiny. The regional center serves some 6,300 developmentally disabled people in the community through a host of different services, and the concern is now that those programs could be negatively affected by the fallout.

KGET is reporting that "Several top managers were let go a few months ago amid accusations hundreds of thousands of dollars were inappropriately pumped into their retirement accounts.

"It's public money, but new C.E.O. Duane Law won't talk about what happened.

"And, several organizations that partner with the non-profit say Law is taking the regional center in the wrong direction."

(see: Kern Regional Center troubles on www.kget.com)

The report from KGET goes on to say:

"KRC is fully funded by the state and spends in the neighborhood of $130 million a year for Kern, Inyo and Mono counties on services for the disabled. Social programs like Inclusion Films that gives local autistic teens a taste of the industry.

"But, a fight behind the scenes of the Kern Regional Center threatens to derail things."

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Audit of State Centers Spurs Calls for More Oversight

The California State Auditor issued a report earlier this month that concluded poor-quality investigations, outdated policies, leadership and staffing problems, and untimely licensing reviews at the State's four remaining developmental centers put residents at risk.

see:
Abuses not properly investigated,
in The Porterville Recorder
Audit finds California developmental centers botched abuse investigations,
in The San Luis Obispo Tribune
California State Auditor report, issued July 9, 2013

In response to the audit and other reports of lapses in care in recent months, advocates called on Gov. Jerry Brown this week to appoint an independent figure to improve safety at state-run care facilities. (see: More oversight sought at developmental centers, in the San Jose Mercury News) Those advocates ultimately want closure of all state-run centers.

California Health and Human Services Secretary Diana Dooley created a task force last month to determine how best to meet the needs of developmental center residents. PHA President Kathleen Miller is a member of the task force, which is expected to release a report in November.

In response to the article in the Mercury News, PHA member and past President Mary O'Riordan commented,
"The Governor needs to appoint an independent, non-biased, consultant to evaluate the entire system, not just the developmental centers. As unfortunate as it is that bad things happen from time to time in a developmental center and even if the reporting is sometimes not timely, at least it does get reported and fixed. Contrast that with private homes where there is no oversight, no quality assurance, no regulations or stringent licensing requirements, and you are putting frail, vulnerable, helpless people at greater risk of abuse and neglect. Reference the Dr. David Strauss Reports from the aftermath of the Coffelt settlement when the state hastily removed thousands of people from the developmental Centers and the mortality rate was as much as 80% higher in some instances. Please, Governor Brown fix what needs fixing and don't listen to the cries for closure of these centers by people who need to fill beds in the private homes and have a lot to gain from the closure of these centers now and in the future. They are looking at several contracts if these centers close. Listen to the families who know that in spite of these unfortunate instances, the everyday care at these centers is still excellent."



Thursday, July 11, 2013

SDC Families Invited to Comment on Policy Revisions

Policies currently undergoing revision and updating at Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC) have been circulated for comment by family and others connected to Center residents. We are providing links to copies (pdf) for you to download -- or review online.

It is important to know that these are DRAFT copies and will be available during the two-week review period only. [Files have now been removed.]

Please take the time to review the policies and offer your input. You can leave your comments here on the blog -- or email them to Parent Hospital Association at info@parenthospitalassociation.org -- and Kathleen Miller will see that they reach the appropriate person at SDC.

  • 440
    INFORMED CONSENT: CAPACITY AND CONSENTERS
  • 441
    INFORMED CONSENT: ADMISSION CONSENT FOR CARE AND TREATMENT
  • 442
    INFORMED CONSENT: CONSENT TO MEDICAL/SURGICAL/DENTAL PROCEDURES &/OR SEDATION/ANESTHESIA & SPECIAL CONSENTS
  • 443
    INFORMED CONSENT: AUTHORIZATION FOR AND CONSENT TO RESTRICTIVE INTERVENTIONS
  • 1171
    CONSENT FOR MEDICAL RESTRAINTS/RESTRICTIVES
  • 1172
    CONSENT FOR BEHAVIOR ACCESS PROGRAM

This is an important opportunity to support staff in the continued improvement of care and services at Sonoma Developmental Center.

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Kenwood Press Reports on First Task Force Meeting

The first meeting of the task force, formally known as the “Future of the State Developmental Centers Task Force,” was held on June 17, in Sacramento. The nineteen task force appointees, who have various connections to the care of the developmentally disabled, have been tasked with addressing the future of California's developmental centers as a component of that care.

Parent Hospital Association president Kathleen Miller is a member of the task force and attended the June 17th meeting.

The Kenwood Press has published a report on that first task force meeting. From Task Force deciding fate of developmental centers, by Jay Gamel, in The Kenwood Press, (07/01/2013):
California Health and Human Services (CHHS) Secretary Diana Dooley announced the formation of a task force on the future of developmental centers – including Sonoma Developmental Center – in May. The task force is charged with producing a “written master plan that addresses (1) the effective and efficient delivery of integrated services to meet the specialty needs of developmental center residents; and (2) the fiscal implications of developmental center operations, including the cost of resident care and services, maintenance of aging infrastructure, and utilization of existing resources.”
Just how this large group will accomplish all this by Nov. 14, still isn’t clear, according to some task force members.

“The concern I expressed to Secretary Dooley is what can we accomplish in four meetings," Kathleen Miller said. "There are people on both sides of the fence who won’t necessarily agree. I don’t feel like that question has been answered.” Miller, whose son has been an SDC resident for many years, is president of the Parent Hospital Association and is a strong advocate for keeping at least some parts of the developmental center functioning to serve the most severely disabled residents.
read the complete article...

The article includes comments from other task force members.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE TASK FORCE

Anyone with questions or concerns should contact Jim Suennen, Associate Secretary at California Health and Human Services Agency, at (916) 651-8056 or email jsuennen@chhs.ca.gov.

For updated information, including meeting agendas, about the Task Force, see the California Health and Human Services Agency page at: www.chhs.ca.gov/Pages/DCsTaskForce.aspx
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