Effective February 4th Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC) will no longer have Patricia Flannery as acting interim director of SDC. Harold Pitchford will move into that position. He is the former executive director of Agnews Developmental Center. He is coming out of retirement to step into the position. He is the fourth executive director of SDC in roughly a year. Meanwhile the search continues to find the person who will step into the role of permanent executive director of SDC.
We welcome him.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Briefing Today in Sacramento on State's Developmental Disabilities Service System
Senator Jim Beall Jr. (Democrat – San Jose) is hosting a briefing today in Sacramento for legislators, staff and interested members of the public on California’s unique developmental disabilities service system. The session is scheduled from from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the State Capitol in Room 112, and is especially for legislators newly elected this past November.
Representatives from various advocacy organizations and groups will present information about their organizations and their role in developmental disabilities service system. The event is sponsored by the Association of Regional Center Agencies (ARCA), the California Disability Services Association and The Arc and UCP of California.
California is the only state in the nation to have a sweeping landmark civil rights law – called the “Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act” – that provides protections and rights for children and adults with developmental disabilities. That landmark act was authored by Republican Assemblymember Frank Lanterman and signed into law by then Governor Ronald Reagan in 1969.
That act eventually established a unique system of 21 non-profit regional centers, under contract with the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) to determine eligibility, provide assessments and to coordinate funding of an array of community-based services for about 260,000 children and adults with developmental disabilities provided by community-based organizations and individuals across the State.
In addition, DDS operates several large health facilities called “developmental centers” where about 1,600 adults with developmental disabilities reside. One of the facilities, Lanterman Developmental Center in Pomona, is slated for closure. Residents of Lanterman and their families and state workers are currently involved in a long transition process.
AGENDA FOR JANUARY 23rd CAPITOL BRIEFING
Welcome and Introduction
This information was provided by the California Community Action Network (CDCAN).
Representatives from various advocacy organizations and groups will present information about their organizations and their role in developmental disabilities service system. The event is sponsored by the Association of Regional Center Agencies (ARCA), the California Disability Services Association and The Arc and UCP of California.
California is the only state in the nation to have a sweeping landmark civil rights law – called the “Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act” – that provides protections and rights for children and adults with developmental disabilities. That landmark act was authored by Republican Assemblymember Frank Lanterman and signed into law by then Governor Ronald Reagan in 1969.
That act eventually established a unique system of 21 non-profit regional centers, under contract with the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) to determine eligibility, provide assessments and to coordinate funding of an array of community-based services for about 260,000 children and adults with developmental disabilities provided by community-based organizations and individuals across the State.
In addition, DDS operates several large health facilities called “developmental centers” where about 1,600 adults with developmental disabilities reside. One of the facilities, Lanterman Developmental Center in Pomona, is slated for closure. Residents of Lanterman and their families and state workers are currently involved in a long transition process.
AGENDA FOR JANUARY 23rd CAPITOL BRIEFING
Welcome and Introduction
- Senator Jim Beall, Jr. (Democrat - San Jose)
- Rick Rollens, program moderator, parent advocate, and Legislative Advisor to the Association of Regional Center Agencies (ARCA)
- Association of Regional Center Agencies (ARCA): Santi Rogers, Executive Director, San Andreas Regional Center [covering Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey counties]
- The Arc and United Cerebral Palsy of California: Tony Anderson, Executive Director
- California Disabilities Services Association: Chris Rice, Executive Director
- People First of California: Joe Meadours, Advocacy Trainer/Consultant
- State Council on Developmental Disabilities: Roberta Newton, Acting Executive Director
- Disability Rights California (DRC): Catherine Blakemore, Executive Director
- California Disability Community Action Network (CDCAN): Marty Omoto, Executive Director
This information was provided by the California Community Action Network (CDCAN).
Monday, January 21, 2013
Forum on SDC to be held January 30th in Sonoma
UPDATE: Admission to the forum is free of charge however preregistration is required as space is limited. Registration is simple. Go to calwatchsonoma.eventbrite.com
California Watch, an investigative reporting group, will hold a public forum on Wednesday, January 30, 2013, in Sonoma. The topic will be reported assaults and lapses in police oversight at Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC).
As a result of incidents at SDC, the state Department of Public Health announced on Dec. 12, that
SDC, California's largest board-and-care facility for the severely disabled, would lose its primary license to operate. SDC has also been informed that it will lose certification by Medicare/Medicaid.
The forum will focus on what these new developments will mean for the City of Sonoma, the developmental center and the people who live in surrounding communities. There will be a panel discussion with community members and experts in the field, moderated by Phil Bronstein, executive
chairman of the Center for Investigative Reporting.
The forum is co-sponsored by Sonoma Index-Tribune. There is no admission charge.
California Watch, an investigative reporting group, will hold a public forum on Wednesday, January 30, 2013, in Sonoma. The topic will be reported assaults and lapses in police oversight at Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC).
As a result of incidents at SDC, the state Department of Public Health announced on Dec. 12, that
SDC, California's largest board-and-care facility for the severely disabled, would lose its primary license to operate. SDC has also been informed that it will lose certification by Medicare/Medicaid.
The forum will focus on what these new developments will mean for the City of Sonoma, the developmental center and the people who live in surrounding communities. There will be a panel discussion with community members and experts in the field, moderated by Phil Bronstein, executive
chairman of the Center for Investigative Reporting.
Public Forum - Sonoma Developmental Center
Time: 6 - 8 p.m.
Date: Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Place: Ramekins Culinary School
450 W. Spain St., Sonoma, CA 95476
Time: 6 - 8 p.m.
Date: Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Place: Ramekins Culinary School
450 W. Spain St., Sonoma, CA 95476
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Big Turnout for PHA General Meeting
The meeting room at McDougall Hall was filled this past Saturday for the Parent Hospital Association's regular general membership meeting. On the agenda was an update from Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC) Acting Director Patricia Flannery, as well as presentations from a representative from North Bay Regional Center and PHA board member Pat Walters on changes to the IPP process and how best to prepare for the new mandatory reviews.
Family, friends and conservators of SDC did not hold back in asking questions and voicing their concerns over reports on lapses in care at the facility and loss of funding, licensing and certification. Everyone is encouraged to watch for the next issue of The Gazette, which will include the minutes, for a full report. It should be available by March 1st.
In the meantime, the press was also in attendance Saturday, and you can read an account of the meeting in The Sonoma Index-Tribune. See: Parents confront SDC chief, by John Capone (01.14.2013).
The next general membership meeting will be 10 a.m., Saturday, March 9, 2013, in McDougall Hall at SDC. It is the annual legislative meeting when legislators or their aides attend and take comments and questions. A different format is planned for the meeting this year that should allow everyone a chance to speak. Please plan to attend if you can -- it is an important time for SDC and a valuable opportunity to address legislators.
Family, friends and conservators of SDC did not hold back in asking questions and voicing their concerns over reports on lapses in care at the facility and loss of funding, licensing and certification. Everyone is encouraged to watch for the next issue of The Gazette, which will include the minutes, for a full report. It should be available by March 1st.
In the meantime, the press was also in attendance Saturday, and you can read an account of the meeting in The Sonoma Index-Tribune. See: Parents confront SDC chief, by John Capone (01.14.2013).
The next general membership meeting will be 10 a.m., Saturday, March 9, 2013, in McDougall Hall at SDC. It is the annual legislative meeting when legislators or their aides attend and take comments and questions. A different format is planned for the meeting this year that should allow everyone a chance to speak. Please plan to attend if you can -- it is an important time for SDC and a valuable opportunity to address legislators.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Help Make the Annual PHA Event a Success
This year's annual Parent Hospital Association (PHA) fundraising event will be Saturday, April 13, 2013, at the Vintner's Inn Event Center in Santa Rosa -- and the organizing committee could really use your help!
Everyone had high praise for the lovely setting and great food at last year's event, and we hope that all of our supporters and PHA members will join us again in an evening celebrating years of the lifeline of support that Sonoma Developmental Center has been and continues to be.
This year we have less staff to pull the event together and gather auction items. Therefore your support is more important than ever and there are many ways to help.
Contribute a silent auction item: Simply take the Auction Donation Form to one of your favorite restaurants or spas or other favorites and ask them to donate. The donor completes the form and gives you the item or certificate. The form goes to Judy Groverman Walker (fax number on the form) and the item/certificate goes to Kathleen Miller (kjmillerkoch at yahoo dot com). You can also bring it to the next general meeting or leave it with the operator at SDC for Kathleen to pick up.
Sponsor a Sonoma Developmental Center resident and caretaker to attend the event: This year for the very first time we offer the chance to sponsor a SDC resident to attend the event. We are always eager to have residents attend.
Attend the event with your friends: We would love to have everyone who can join us.
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An Evening in Wine Country
How You Can Help
Auction Donation Form
Sponsorship Form
Program Advertising Information
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Staff Perspective on Working at Sonoma Developmental Center
Earlier this week the Sonoma Index-Tribune published an article that provides valuable insight from one staff person's perspective and adds some context to all the recent news about problems at Sonoma Developmental Center. You can follow the link at the bottom of the following snippet to read the article in its entirety.
read more...
Katrise Fraund sometimes hesitates when someone asks her where she works.
“There’s nothing like having someone ask you where you work, and you say SDC (Sonoma Developmental Center), and they say, ‘Is that where they rape people?,” she sighs, obviously annoyed that the actions of a few bad employees have damaged public opinion of the historic institution.
“I wish they understood how hard people work to make things better. I wish they saw all the good work that goes on there.”
Fraund has been a senior psychiatric technician at SDC for 12 years, but has spent more than 25 years working with the developmentally disabled at state centers and places such as Becoming Independent and People First. When she thinks of SDC, she thinks of her fellow staff
bending over backwards to track down Beatles swag for a client who loves the British pop band’s music. She thinks of teaching a fashion-forward client how to climb a step-stool to access his clothes so he can dress himself. She thinks of the time spent helping another client write to
her cousin. (...)
bending over backwards to track down Beatles swag for a client who loves the British pop band’s music. She thinks of teaching a fashion-forward client how to climb a step-stool to access his clothes so he can dress himself. She thinks of the time spent helping another client write to
her cousin. (...)
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