PHA News: General Meeting Coming Up Jan. 10 - and New Gazette Available

The next general membership meeting of the Parent Hospital Association is coming up on Saturday, January 10th, from 10 a.m. to noon, in Wagner at Sonoma Developmental Center. There will be a presentation about the community placement plan, and at least one regional center will be in attendance.

Note the new meeting location! We've switched from McDougall Hall to Wagner because McDougall is being closed. See this post for a map to the new location.

Also, the latest issue of The Eldridge Gazette -- the PHA newsletter -- is available. If you're on the mailing list, you might already have received your copy. You can also download a copy here or from the Resources page of the website.

* * Happy New Year to All Our Friends and Supporters * *

Valley Oak #4 by Philip Bouchard on flicker.com
(Creative Commons License)

PHA Meeting Location Changes in the New Year

Some housekeeping and maintenance issues at Sonoma Developmental Center have resulted in the closing of McDougall Hall -- where the Parent Hospital Association holds its regular General Membership meetings. Therefore, beginning with the January 10, 2015 meeting, the location of the PHA membership meeting will switch to Wagner.

Even if you're not familiar with Wagner, it should be relatively simple to locate. Follow Sonoma, the main road across the front of the Old Administration Building, north to the other end from where McDougall is situated. Turn left where Sonoma T's with Laurel and Wagner will be on your right. (see map below)

Beginning January 2015, PHA membership meetings will be held in Wagner, on the SDC campus.
See building on right marked "PHA" in blue. The previous meeting location was McDougall (left).

We hope to see many of you in January -- and many more at our annual Legislative Meeting on March 14, 2015. If you forget the new meeting room location or have difficulty finding Wagner, there will be reminders posted on site to assist.

And thanks to SDC administrators for offering a choice of alternatives and assisting with the change-over!

Tree Lighting Ceremony at SDC Rescheduled

The annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at Sonoma Developmental Center, originally scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 11th, has been postponed to Thursday, Dec. 18th, because of expected severe weather. Same time, same place -- check here for details.

Stay tuned for more possible updates!

Next Developmental Services Task Force Meeting Set for Dec. 16th

The next Developmental Services Task Force meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, December 16, 2014. Consider attending -- or sending your comments beforehand to Secretary Dooley -- and sharing our concerns over:

1. The recent Sonoma Developmental Center ICF survey appears to have not had the well being of SDC residents as the focus. Is there another agenda driving surveyors?
2. Recommendations for medical health clinic both north and south not yet realized but regional centers are moving people out of SDC at increased rates.
3. Dental issues and durable medical equipment remain issues of concern.
4. The community lacks transparency and oversight. It's good when services work but poor when crises in mental or physical health occur.
5. Medication management and mental health issues remain major issues of concern.
6. And finally -- your own issues for your loved one!

The likely location for the meeting is the following:

California Department of Health Care Services
1700 K Street, First Floor Conference Room
Sacramento, CA 95814

If you can not attend in person, it is possible to join the meeting by phone at 1-888-204-5784; participant passcode  597147#.  Please confirm with Jim Suennen at 916-651-8056 and let him know if you would like to attend in person or with the conference call option.

From Message to Task Force members from Secretary Dooley:

Thank you for your continued involvement in the process to strengthen services in the community. We have had a lot of thoughtful discussion in our last two meetings and it is our goal to keep the momentum going. In looking over the meeting notes and reflecting on our discussions, we would like to convene four general workgroups on the following topics:

o   Rates/Rate Structure
o   Caseload Ratios/Regional Center Operations
o   Medical & Mental Health Services & Supports
o   Housing & Employment

Many of you have expressed that there is an urgency to examine rates. We agree that this is a foundational issue and we would like to have our first workgroup meeting on rates for Tuesday, December 16, 2014 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. During this first meeting we would like to set some parameters for our work on rates and give a thorough overview of the current rate system and the CMS Home and Community Based Services regulations to provide a foundation for work in this area.

In January we would like to come together to begin the work of the Caseload Ratios/ Regional Center Operations Workgroup. In February we can return to the Rates Workgroup, and then in March return to the Regional Center Workgroup.

...

Please find attached a summary of our last Developmental Services Task Force meeting for your review. Thank you again for your continued participation in this process, especially during the holiday season.

Diana S. Dooley, Secretary
California Health and Human Services Agency

Attachment: DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES TASK FORCE: STRENGTHENING THE COMMUNITY SYSTEM, October 8, 2014

Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony at Sonoma Developmental Center

Update - 12/9/2014: Event has been rescheduled to Thursday, December 18th -- same time, same place, but a week later -- due to the weather forecast. Stay tuned for more possible updates!

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Join everyone in the Sonoma Developmental Center family in celebrating the holidays this year at the annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony, scheduled for Wednesday, December 11th, from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. There will holiday fun -- and CAROLING! Come and vote for your favorite tree. And, new this year, there will be a "Community Tree" that everyone can decorate together at the ceremony.

photo credit: Laura Favrow on flickr.com (Creative Commons license)

Just when the days seem darkest and the weather is oh so dreary, the holidays add sparkle and cheer!

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Meet at Harney Circle. If it rains, the event moves inside to the gym. DRESS WARMLY!