News of investigations into the stun gun incidents at Sonoma Developmental Center, which apparently occurred there last fall, have been in the news this week with one article published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat and another report on the ABC7 evening news. There was also an editorial in the Sonoma Index-Tribune (see: Shocking abuse at SDC).
You can read the Press Democrat artice here: Probe of patient abuse at Sonoma Developmental Center raises questions. The ABC7 report aired on Wednesday, August 1 -- the video segment below is taken from their website. PHA President Kathleen Miller had been interviewed for the ABC7 report and a portion of her comments were included in Wednesday's broadcast. She is not, however, included in this video clip.
For more on ABC's coverage, read the online article Documents uncover questions about attacks on disabled patients.
Stay posted for more information as this issue continues to develop.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
VOR and the Parent Hospital Association of Sonoma Developmental Center’s Position in Support of California Senate Bill 1522
We join together in our support for SB 1522, a bill calling for even more developmental center resident protections.
SB 1522, as amended, will require that developmental centers immediately report -
“a death, a sexual assault, an assault with a deadly weapon by a nonresident of the developmental center, an assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, an injury to the genitals when the cause of injury is undetermined, or a broken bone when the cause of the break is undetermined, to the local law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the city or county in which the developmental center is located, regardless of whether the Office of Protective Services has investigated the facts and circumstances relating to the incident.”
California developmental centers are licensed Intermediate Care Facilities for Persons with Mental Retardation (ICFs/MR). A vast majority of developmental center residents have severe or profound intellectual disabilities, are multiply disabled and medically-fragile or experience dangerous behaviors.
Families and conservators of these individuals value the high-quality care received by their loved ones and take great comfort in the existing layers of state and federal oversight which ensure adequate treatment, humane and safe care. Families view SB 1522 as further assurance that consistently good care will be received, with any egregious actions against their well-being being reported, investigated and resolved with urgency.
Families and conservators of these individuals value the high-quality care received by their loved ones and take great comfort in the existing layers of state and federal oversight which ensure adequate treatment, humane and safe care. Families view SB 1522 as further assurance that consistently good care will be received, with any egregious actions against their well-being being reported, investigated and resolved with urgency.
July 26, 2012
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Scrutiny of California's developmental centers continues
California Watch is reporting that Assemblywoman Connie Conway, R-Tulare, has called for a full audit of developmental center police.
In a letter to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, Conway requested an examination [PDF] into training, investigative practices and overtime pay within the force, called the Office of Protective Services. According to the report, the committee has scheduled a hearing for Aug. 7 to decide whether to order the audit.
Conway is quoted as saying she doesn’t anticipate any objection to an audit of the developmental center police. “I shouldn’t even think those involved would mind an audit,” she said. “If they have nothing to hide the way it is, then why would they care?”
Scrutiny of the protective services at the State's centers for the severely developmentally disabled continues after hearings earlier this year related to the death in 2005 of a resident at Sonoma Developmental Center.
You can read the full report by California Watch at Lawmaker calls for full audit of developmental center police, by Ryan Gabrielson.
In a letter to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, Conway requested an examination [PDF] into training, investigative practices and overtime pay within the force, called the Office of Protective Services. According to the report, the committee has scheduled a hearing for Aug. 7 to decide whether to order the audit.
Conway is quoted as saying she doesn’t anticipate any objection to an audit of the developmental center police. “I shouldn’t even think those involved would mind an audit,” she said. “If they have nothing to hide the way it is, then why would they care?”
Scrutiny of the protective services at the State's centers for the severely developmentally disabled continues after hearings earlier this year related to the death in 2005 of a resident at Sonoma Developmental Center.
You can read the full report by California Watch at Lawmaker calls for full audit of developmental center police, by Ryan Gabrielson.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Video message from PHA President Kathleen Miller
Keeping friends and families up-to-date on current licensing review and staff changes at Sonoma Developmental Center:
produced by Scott Pearson of Past and Present Media
produced by Scott Pearson of Past and Present Media
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Happy Independence Day from PHA
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| photo: Nikita on flickr.com |
Hopefully you've received your copy of the latest Gazette by now. Just a reminder in case you missed the notice -- there will be no general membership meeting in July. It's vacation-time for a lot of folks, so we decided to forgo the summer meeting. Mark your calendars for the next meeting on September 8th.
In the meantime, we will keep you up to date here and on the Parent Hospital Facebook page. Stay tuned -- and have a great summer everyone!
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