Roundup of News for SDC and California's Developmental Centers

On May 22 the Secretary of California’s Department of Human Services, Diane Dooley, announced the creation of a new task force that will consider the future of the state's developmental centers. You can read a report of her announcement here: California Health and Human Services to Establish Task Force for State Developmental Centers. In early June, PHA President Kathleen Miller voiced her reaction to the task force. You can read her article here: New Task Force Raises New Concerns for SDC.

The first meeting of the task force, formally known as the “Future of the State Developmental Centers Task Force,” is scheduled for June 17, 2013, in Sacramento.

Kathleen Miller and her son, Dan Smith, who
lives at Sonoma Developmental Center
(photo: Ken Porter, The Press Democrat)

Since the announcement, the following articles or editorials have run in local media:

Fate of Sonoma Developmental Center Again Being Studied (Sonoma Patch, June 9, 2013)

The recent creation of a state task force by  California's Health and Human Services Agency that will study the future of the state's four developmental centers has once again turned attention on the fate of the Sonoma Developmental Center.

The SDC’s 120-year-old Edridge facility for the developmentally disadvantaged is the Sonoma Valley’s largest employer, but has been through a rough recent past.

read more...


Letter of the Day: Center's mission (Press Democrat, June 5, 2013)

EDITOR: Are the four California developmental centers located throughout the state still viable?

That decision will depend upon a variety of factors that, on the surface, appear to be linked to rising service delivery costs and coveted Sonoma Valley property values.

With the state once again becoming flush with cash, Gov. Jerry Brown is poised to spend $68 billion for a high-speed rail system and $14 billion more for a water project — 

read more...


PD Editorial: High stakes in developmental center's future (Press Democrat, June 4, 2013).

Sonoma Valley has a great deal riding on the outcome of meetings to begin next week by a state task force looking into the future of California's four remaining developmental centers.

This would include the expansive Sonoma Developmental Center along Arnold Drive near Glen Ellen, home to about one-third of the 1,500 residents cared for throughout the state.

read more...

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The Parent Hospital Association does not hold a regular membership meeting in July. The next scheduled meeting will be September 14, 2013. If you are on the mailing list, you will receive the latest copy of The Eldridge Gazette the first week of July. You can also download newsletter issues from the Resources page. We'll post the latest edition as soon as it's available.

Through the summer, watch this space for news updates.  You can also stay in touch on Facebook.