Families and Staff Rally to Save Lanterman Developmental Center

On Monday, April 26, families and staff plan a rally to stop the planned closure of Lanterman Developmental Center in Pomona, Calif. The rally is organized to precede the April 29 state Senate hearing to consider the proposed Lanterman Developmental Center closure plan.

Date:    April 26, 2010
Time:   10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Place:  Lanterman Developmental Center
3530 Pomona Blvd., Pomona, Calif. (front entrance on Diamond Bar Blvd.)

At least 100 people are expected to participate. The event is sponsored by the Save Lanterman coalition.

For more than 80 years, Lanterman Developmental Center has cared for thousands of Californians with developmental disabilities who depend on the facility’s unique combination of medical, therapeutic and rehabilitative round-the-clock services. The facility is now slated for  closure, primarily due to state budget cuts.

Save Lanterman coalition members say equal or better – or more cost-effective – services for these vulnerable individuals simply are not available in other settings, such as group homes.

In an announcement for the rally, Robert Hazard, whose sister lives at Lanterman, said, “The transfer of Lanterman residents to community settings would jeopardize their lives and those of others who rely on a community system that is not sufficient to care for everyone with complex medical and behavioral needs at the professional level required. There is no assurance that the residents will receive the services they need if they are moved to the community.”

“We believe a facility closure at the very least would be a highly disruptive experience causing clients great emotional and physical stress, and at the very worst would lead to dangerously inadequate care in inferior, little-regulated group homes,” said Tony Myers, a Lanterman Senior Psychiatric Technician, in the same announcement.

State senators will consider the formal closure plan at the April 29 hearing in Sacramento, choosing whether to adopt DDS’ proposal plan, to amend it or to oppose it. The Save Lanterman coalition asks members of the public to help them convince legislators to oppose the closure.

For more information, including legislators' contact details, visit saveldc.org. You can also add your name to a petition showing your support for Lanterman and its hundreds of residents.

Care Options Important for Developmentally Disabled

Concern over current plans to close some of the few remaining developmental centers in California stems in large part from the differences in care and services between the State-run centers and regional centers, where residents are transferred as State services are consolidated, downsized and eliminated.

Edward Lempinen wrote a series of articles for the San Francisco Chronicle in the late 1990s that brought attention to the downside of being moved to regional centers for many developmentally disabled people. (see: SF Chronicle coverage of developmental center news and issues from 1997-1998) Unfortunately, the issues spotlighted by Lempinen in his award-winning articles persist today.

Ana Mettler put a human face on all of these concerns and various reports when she related the story of her son Carsten on the VOR website. Carsten's journey to Sonoma Developmental Center illustrates the need for care beyond what a family can provide, the limits of care available from regional centers - at least for Carsten, and the benefits available to Carsten at Sonoma Developmental Center.

We're not sure when this story first appeared on the VOR website, but we thank Ana Mettler for telling it. And we're glad Carsten found a home at Sonoma Developmental Center. We are also determined that Carsten and others with developmental disabilities will always have the option of care from developmental centers in California.

The Eldridge Performing Arts Company to Appear at 'Heroes with Heart 2010'

Entertainment at tonight's gala fundraiser includes a special performance by the Sonoma Developmental Center's own 'Eldridge Performing Arts Company.' The group has appeared at previous PHA events, always with a lively and crowd-pleasing performance. The Eldridge Performing Arts Company is also one of the honorees at this year's event.

The Eldridge Performing Arts Company (EPAC) was established in 2005, the idea of former music therapist Melodie Mitchell. It brings together the performing talents of both clients and staff who reside and work at Sonoma Developmental Center. EPAC has produced musicals including Grease, Music Man and Wizard of OZ, and two musical reviews, the Best of Broadway and Musical Time Travel.

The client actors participate as leading characters, extras on stage, dancers, and band members, or they can also assist behind the scenes. All actors are assigned a staff stage coach to assist them when needed, and if called upon, to fill in if the client actor is unavailable to participate in the performance.

The theme for each performance is chosen by a vote of the previous year's cast. Ideas are solicited at the cast party after the last performance, and then all of the cast votes on what they would like to do.

According to Becky Zyskowski, SDC staff member and one of the group's coordinators, "Every year we hold auditions, and whoever auditions is guaranteed to be in the show. Rehearsals are two days a week for three and a half months, and then we have two dress rehearsals and four live performances. Every year the show is a sell out.

"The performances allow the clients to see what it's like to be involved in a community theater setting and a live stage production from beginning to end. At the end of each production the clients are awarded a bouquet of flowers and souvenir apparel. Each performance is a new and exciting experience for the actors involved, and it always shows on their face!"

Wiggins Introduces Bill Relating to Developmental Disabilities

On February 18, 2010, California State Senator Patricia Wiggins introduced SB 1129, an act that would add Section 4510.5, relating to developmental disabilities, to the Welfare and Institutions Code. The bill was re-referred to the Committee on Human Services on March 17, with a hearing and vote scheduled for today, March 24.

Below are notes on the legislation from the website www.aroundthecapitol.com:

Existing law vests in the State Department of Developmental Services jurisdiction over various state hospitals referred to as developmental centers, including the Sonoma Developmental Center, for the medical and nursing care of patients with developmental disabilities.

[SB 1129] would require the Director of Developmental Services to provide medical, dental, wheelchair repair and modification, orthopedic shoe, and other health-related services at the Sonoma Developmental Center, through the center's operation of an outpatient clinic, to persons with developmental disabilities who reside at the center, and also to individuals who reside in the surrounding community.

This bill would authorize the department to obtain status as a Medi-Cal provider in order to receive reimbursement for services provided to non-developmental center patients and would require the department to pursue other funding sources. The bill would make the provision of services to non-developmental patients contingent upon obtaining appropriate status as a Medi-Cal provider or otherwise obtaining sufficient funds through other funding sources.

This bill would require the costs of administering the program to be funded through existing resources of the department.

This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the County of Sonoma.

You can find more details and updates, including a copy of the legislation, by visiting www.aroundthecapitol.com. More information may also be available by contacting PHA's legislative consultant Mike Smith at irishmike (at) vom (dot) com.

Heroes With Heart 'Evening in the Emerald Isle' Just a Week Away

The Parent Hospital Association's big event of the year - our Heroes With Heart 'Evening in the Emerald Isle' gala fundraiser - is just a week away.

On Saturday, March 27, at Cline Cellars in Sonoma Valley, hundreds of supporters and members of the PHA community will get together for dinner, entertainment and a live and silent auction in support of the Sonoma Developmental Center and people with developmental disabilities.

If you don't already have your ticket, there is still time to join us. Tickets may be purchased as a block or individually. Catering this year is being provided by Rocket Catering in Sonoma. The preview tasting of the night's menu was wonderful - you certainly wouldn't want to miss the meal.

Donors have been generous this year, and the live and silent auctions will be exciting. Following are just a few of the items that came in early on:

• Gift Certificate to Raindance Spa at the Lodge in Sonoma
• Oil and Vinegar Sampler from The Olive Press
• Lunch at Flavor Bistro
• Overnight stay at the Lodge at Sonoma
• Tour and Tasting at Cline Cellars
• SF 49ers Football signed by Frank Gore
• Catered Firefighters' Dinner for 8 (This item was very popular last year!)
• Passes to the Sonoma Valley Film Festival
• trips to Lake Tahoe and Arizona

We also have a truly stunning collection of wine that has been donated for auction this year. The wines are too numerous to list here but include bottles from Arietta, Monte Bello Vineyard, St. Francis, Eisele Vineyards, Duckhorn Vineyards, Mazis-Chambertin, Chateau Potelle, as well as a Chateau Giscours Grand Cru Classé 1967 Margaux.

If you have any questions about this year's event, you can visit the event's page on our website or email info@parenthospitalassociation.org. If you would like to attend but have not yet reserved a ticket, email us soon so that we can have a place set for you. We hope to see you Saturday!