Monday, September 30, 2013

Immediate Action Needed in Support of Residential Choice for the Devlopmentally Disabled

On October 7 and 8, 2013, the federally-funded National Council on Disability (NCD) could vote on a policy in support of deinstitutionalization. VOR is urging as many people who can to write NCD in support of maintaining a range of options in residential care for the disabled.

More information and all the necessary contact details are available on the VOR website at the link below:
Tell the National Council on Disability to Support Residential Choice!

 The vote is just a week away -- make your voice heard today!

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Governor and Legislators Urged to Save Sonoma Developmental Center

Supporters rally in support of Sonoma Developmental Center, on Saturday,
Sept. 14, 2013. (Alvin Jornada / The Press Democrat)

Over the past few months a group of Parent Hospital Association (PHA) members has been working to bring together the voices of the many who value Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC) and send a clear message to Sacramento that SDC must be saved.

The center piece of their efforts has been a petion drive on MoveOn.org. Members also lobbied legislators in Sacramento and testified before the Future of Developmental Centers Task Force.

In addition, earlier this month Sonoma's City Council unanimously passed a proclammation in support of the Center, and last week Mary O'Riordan delivered over 2,300 signatures, along with a message from PHA, to Sacramento, urging the Governor and state legislators to continue the services at Sonoma Developmental Center as an option -- and resource -- for the developmentally disabled citizens of California. She then reported on the progress of the petition drive to supporters at a rally on Sonoma Plaza on Saturday.

The following is the letter that was delivered along with the signatures to Governor Brown and legislators:

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Monday, September 16, 2013

Supporters rally on Sonoma Plaza for SDC

Saturday's rally was covered in the local press. You can find that coverage online at the following links:
Slide show in the Press Democrat

Article in Saturday's Press Democrat: Advocates rally in Sonoma to support Eldridge developmental center.

Some of the people who rallied in support
of SDC listen to speakers afterwards in the
amphitheater on Sonoma Plaza.
On Saturday, September 14, supporters of the Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC) rallied on Sonoma Plaza to show their support for the center and keeping the resources and care available at California's oldest center accessible to the State's developmentally disabled.

After circling Sonoma's square people gathered in the Plaza's amphitheater where Mayor of the City of Sonoma Ken Brown read the proclamation in support of SDC passed by the City Council earlier in the month. (see: Sonoma City Council Voices Support for SDC on this blog.) Also speaking were a number of Parent Hospital Association board members, as well as Gina Cuclis, a Sonoma Co. Board of Education Trustee who advocated on behalf of SDC to the City.

Mary O'Riordan also gave her report on the MoveOn.org petition that she delivered to the governor and legislators last week. Over 2,300 people have signed in support of SDC to date, and signatures continue to be collected. If you have not yet had a chance to sign and would like to, visit petitions.moveon.org/sign/governor-brown-save-sonoma.

You can also show your support for Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC) by writing to California's Health and Human Services Secretary asking her to keep SDC open and allow it to accept admissions.  Suggest that SDC's unique services be opened up to the community, and ask her to share your letter with the task force now meeting on the future of developmental centers.
Secretary Diana S. Dooley
California Health and Human services Agency
1600 Ninth St. Room 460
Sacramento, CA 95814

email Secretary Dooley via jim.suennen@chhs.ca.gov
If you would like to contact the governor, you can write him with the same message.
Governor Jerry Brown
c/o State Capitol, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814
City of Sonoma mayor Ken Brown
read the proclamation passed by the
Council supporting SDC.
Newly elected PHA boardmember
Rev. Tom Chesterman spoke at
Saturday's rally.
Longtime PHA member and past
board President Steve Doherty at
Saturday's rally.
Staunch advocate for SDC and PHA
member Paul Ferrario also spoke to
the crowd in the amphitheater.

Dates set for next Future of the Developmental Centers Task Force meetings

Save the dates for the next two -- including the final -- meetings of the task force that is considering the future of California's remaining centers for the developmentally disabled.

The California Health and Human Services Agency has just posted the dates. They are Tuesday, October 22, 2013 and Wednesday, November 13, 2013, both from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., at the California Department of Rehabilitation, 721 Capitol Mall, Room 242, in Sacramento.

If you would like to testify, plan to attend the October meeting if you can.

For more information about the task force, including agendas and audio recordings of past meetings, visit www.chhs.ca.gov/Pages/DCsTaskForce.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Sonoma City Council Voices Support for SDC

At its regularly scheduled meeting September 4th, the Sonoma City Council unanimously adopted a resolution in support of Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC). The resolution had been put on the Council's agenda by Mayor Brown after he received requests for support of SDC from a number of people in the community. Several people in attendance spoke in support of the resolution; there was no opposition.

You can read an article on the Council's action in the Sonoma Index-Tribune at Council supports keeping SDC open, by Pam Gibson (09.05.2013)

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SUMMARY

The Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC) faces an uncertain future. In June, the State Health and Human Services Agency formed a “Task Force on the Future of the Developmental Centers”. The Task Force was charged with developing a Master Plan to be completed by November, 2013, that addresses:
  • The service needs of all developmental center residents
  • The fiscal and budget implications of the declining population
  • The aging infrastructure, staffing, and resource constraints
  • The availability of community resources to meet the specialized needs of residents now living in developmental centers
  • A timeline for future closures
First District Supervisor Gorin has established the Sonoma Developmental Center Coalition, which includes representatives from various County Departments and Agencies as well as representatives of the Parent Hospital Association (PHA).

CITY OF SONOMA RESOLUTION

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SONOMA IN SUPPORT OF SONOMA DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER

WHEREAS, Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC) is woven into the fabric of Sonoma Valley having provided services since 1891; and

WHEREAS, Approximately one thousand acres of land, lakes, and various structures encompass the Sonoma campus, including a residential campground, store/cafeteria, post office, petting farm, sports fields, swimming pool, plant nursery, and picnic areas; and

WHEREAS, SDC has proven to be a leader in meeting the needs of people with developmental disabilities by providing an extensive array of services that promote ongoing health, learning, self- advocacy, and increased independence. Innovative social, recreational, educational, vocational, and other programs are continuously offered. This is accomplished through the knowledge, innovation, creativity, and enthusiasm of our highly experienced staff; and

WHEREAS, The most significant issue is the people who are served by SDC. The rights of the patients need to be protected and the rights of the families who need the care of their loved ones need to be protected; and

WHEREAS, SDC should remain open in order to continue providing its specialized, 24-hour care to California's most vulnerable developmentally disabled individuals, who for reasons of medical frailty, mental, emotional or behavioral issues, or other profound disabilities cannot function or survive in community care homes; and

WHEREAS, The Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, known as the “Lanterman Act,” is an important piece of legislation that was passed in 1969 establishing that people with developmental disabilities and their families have a right to the services and support they need to live like people without disabilities; and

WHEREAS, The State of California should view SDC as an asset that should continue to serve people with developmental disabilities including residents and nonresidents. The State should explore improving SDC's financial viability by making its specialized services available to all individuals with disabilities. For example, personalized wheelchair, shoe and equipment construction, occupational therapy and counseling; and

WHEREAS, As the provider of 1,200 good paying jobs, closing of SDC would have a severe impact on Sonoma Valley's and Sonoma County's economy.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Sonoma supports the continuing operation of SDC and requests that the State Task Force on Development Centers focus on the critical patient care supplied by SDC and that the ban prohibiting new admittances to SDC be lifted.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Sonoma recognizes that the
professional staff at SDC make a great contribution to the “quality of life” of the patients.

ADOPTED this 4th day of September, 2013

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Kenwood Press Reports on 2nd Task Force Meeting

In late May of this year California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Diana S. Dooley today announced she will establish a Task Force on the Future of the Developmental Centers. The Task Force was charged to develop a Master Plan that addresses the service needs of all developmental center residents, the fiscal and budget implications of the declining population, the aging infrastructure, staffing, and resource constraints, the availability of community resources to meet the specialized needs of residents now living in the developmental centers, a timeline for future closures and the statutory and regulatory changes that may be needed to ensure the delivery of  cost-effective, integrated, quality services for this special population.

On June 17th the Task Force met for the first time, and on August 19th the group convened for the second time, and The Kenwood Press has just published a report on that second meeting.

from the article...

"The people charged with formulating a plan to manage the future of California’s developmental centers received a massive amount of data from the state at their second meeting on Aug. 19. They will use it to help sort out the difficult questions raised at the first meeting.

“'We are attempting to compile and organize data on characteristics of those in the developmental centers, the resources available for those types of individuals, and the gaps in service,' task force member Kathleen Miller said after the all-day meeting in Sacramento. Miller is president of the Sonoma Developmental Center’s Parent Hospital Association (PHA), mostly parents, guardians and family of SDC residents.

"While initially cautious about the nature of the task force, given its mission to come up with a comprehensive plan by November to resolve issues that have beset the state, private providers, clients and parents for decades, Miller expressed quiet optimism about what’s happened so far.

“'I think Secretary Diana Dooley is really looking, genuinely searching for a path forward,' Miller said. 'She is approaching this with an open mind. I feel that would be the consensus of both sides represented on the task force.' Dooley heads the state’s Health and Human Services Agency.

“'We’re getting the data,' Miller added, 'with the help of the Department of Developmental Services. [Dooley] has been able to get data that I haven’t.'"

[read the full article here: Developmental Center Task Force forges on, by Jay Gamel, Kenwood Press 09/01/2013.]
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