Habitats

Articles, Encapsulating the DDS Public Hearing

/ Sonoma Land Trust / 2 Comments

July 21, 2015:

With the DDS Public Hearing held last Saturday, there have been an array of articles summarizing what was heard from the community. Consisting of public testimonies, to that of personal stories from family members and friends, the concern for the future of those living at the Sonoma Developmental Center was voiced. Starting with 125 people in attendance, those who spoke shared the importance of keeping the Center open for this fragile population, as well as preserving the surrounding wildlife.

Please click on the following articles below, starting with the most recent on top to get a clearer perspective on the significance of protecting both the natural resources on the 950-acre property as well as access to critical care for residents.

Public testimony reveals pain of SDC closure, July 20 

Family members argue against closure of Sonoma Developmental Center, July 18

Sonoma Developmental Center hearing, July 18 

Human stories to be aired at SDC session, July 16 

Provided courtesy of the Sonoma Index-Tribune website by Christian Kallen and by Bill Hoban, and the Press Democrat website by Kevin McCallum, respectively.

Action Alert! Turn Out for Public Hearing on the Future of SDC on July 18th

/ Sonoma Land Trust / 1 Comment

July 14, 2015:

Governor Brown directed the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) to close the Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC) by 2018, and submit a closure plan to the Legislature by October 1, 2015. DDS is holding a mandatory public hearing on  “Transformation of Sonoma Developmental Center” this Saturday, July 18, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Sonoma Valley High School.  In order to be most effective, we need to show DDS that we care, that we share a common vision, and that we are organized and able to turn out in large numbers.

This Action Alert provides information about the hearing, the process for submitting oral or written comments, and suggested talking points.

Please click on the link provided below to view.

Thank you!

DDS Hearing Action Alert

Another Announcement for the Developmental Center Hearing, July 18

/ Sonoma Land Trust / Leave a comment

July 10, 2015:

The following excerpt is from the announcement posted on the Sonoma Valley Sun website, also available for viewing here.

The state’s Department of Developmental Services will hold a public meeting on the transformation of Sonoma Developmental Center on Saturday, July 18, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Sonoma Valley High School. The hearing is one of the steps required by Senate Bill 82, signed by the governor in June. It requires the DDS to come up with a plan to close the Eldridge campus by the end of 2018. As part of that process, the DDS is seeking public comment. Hence the upcoming meeting, where anybody who wants to speak has a five-minute opportunity, for the record… Don’t expect much from DDS officials, who are only there to hear testimony; they will not answer questions or make additional statements. Can’t make it? Participate by phone, live at 800.230.1059. You can also get your comments on the record (five minutes of words?) via e-mail to: Sonoma.closure@dds.ca.gov.

It won’t affect the closure timeline, but some good news for the SDC: money to help with the transition. The feds have come through with Medicaid funds that had been blocked by a decertification action. The center can now count on about $53 million (about one-third of its budget) as it makes plans to transfer patients and shut down. “The agreement aids in the efforts for a safe transition of residents from Sonoma to the community,” stated Santi Rogers of the DDS.

Provided courtesy of the Sonoma Valley Sun website, by Val Robichaud.

Public Hearing on the Sonoma Developmental Center

/ Sonoma Land Trust / 4 Comments

July 8, 2015:

Those who are concerned, hopeful, or just want to hear what others in the community have to say about the future of SDC, please come to the public hearing being held next Saturday, July 18 at Sonoma Valley High School from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. in the Pavilion.

Additional information is available via our most recent post provided here and the news article below.
Hope to see you there!

Public Hearing: Sonoma Developmental Center

Provided courtesy of the Sonoma Valley Sun website.

DDS Announces Public Hearing on SDC Closure, July 18 in Sonoma

/ Sonoma Land Trust / 3 Comments

July 7, 2015:

The Department of Developmental Services has published the following public notice for A Public Hearing on the Transformation of Sonoma Developmental Center.

To access a copy of the letter about the hearing noticed by DDS and sent by Sonoma Developmental Center to conservators click here.

TO INTERESTED PARTIES
A Public Hearing on the Transformation of
Sonoma Developmental Center

Senate Bill 82, signed by the governor June 24, 2015, requires the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) to submit a plan or plans to the Legislature by October 1, 2015, to close one or more of the state’s three remaining developmental centers. Efforts are underway to submit a plan to close Sonoma Developmental center (SDC) in Eldridge, CA by the end of 2018. As a required part of the development of a closure plan specific to SDC, DDS is seeking public comment from interested persons and organizations. These comments will be summarized in the closure plan to be submitted by October 1, 2015, for Legislative approval.

DDS will hold this public hearing on Saturday, July 18, 2015, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at Sonoma Valley High School Pavilion, 20000 Broadway, Sonoma, CA.

Agenda:
Introduction — 10-10:15 a.m.
Public Testimony — 10:15 a.m. – 5 p.m.

To assure each person who wants to speak has the opportunity, individuals providing testimony are asked to keep their comments to approximately five minutes. Written comments may be submitted in person at the hearing, to DDS online at http://www.dds.ca.gov/SonomaNews/, by mail to DDS, Developmental Centers Division, Attn: Cindy Coppage, 1600 9th Street, MS 3-17, Sacramento, CA 95814, or via e-mail to Sonoma.closure@dds.ca.gov by 5 p.m. on September 1, 2015.

Sonoma Valley High School Pavilion is physically accessible to persons with disabilities. Printed materials in alternate formats and requests for sign language interpreters, or other disability-related accommodations, should be made to DDS @ (916) 654-1706 or email: Sonoma.closure@dds.ca.gov by 5 p.m. on July 14, 2015.

To view the original public notice received by PHA, please click here, and a later copy of the agenda here.

Provided courtesy of the Department of Developmental Services and the Parent Hospital Association websites.

Transform SDC Community Workshop #1 Synthesis Report

/ Sonoma Land Trust / 2 Comments

July 2, 2015:

Transform SDC
Dream, Create, Transform.

Introduction
A diverse partnership comprised of the County of Sonoma, the Parent Hospital Association, the Sonoma Land Trust, the Sonoma Ecology Center and other local groups have come together to create a comprehensive and inclusive 18-month planning process to explore options for the future of the Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC) that preserve the unique human health, community and natural resources provided by SDC. On Saturday, May 2nd, more than 200 people participated in the first community workshop to kick-off the Transform SDC planning process. The theme of the workshop focused on empowering the community to begin to establish a vision to Dream, Create, Transform the site. This document synthesizes the community’s input which defined initial elements of a community vision for the future of SDC, explored possible re-use options, and identified areas for further inquiry and investigation.

Please click on the synthesis report provided below to explore the results from the first community workshop.

Transform SDC Community Workshop #1 Synthesis Report

As well, a more extensive list of re-use ideas is provided below for those who would like to see the full range of viewpoints that came out of the workshop.

Transform SDC Community Workshop #1 Re-use Ideas

Enjoy!

Federal Funding Deal Reached for Sonoma Developmental Center

/ Sonoma Land Trust / 3 Comments

July 2, 2015:

An agreement has been reached that secures continued federal Medicaid funding for the Eldridge facility, as previously stated here.

“Rogers (Director of the state Department of Developmental Services) said the federal funding will help the department transform the Sonoma Facility as described in a plan produced by a special task force that INVESTIGATED the future of the state’s developmental centers.”

Please read the rest of the article by clicking on the link below.

Deal reached to preserve Sonoma Developmental Center’s federal funding

Provided courtesy of the Press Democrat website, by Martin Espinoza.

Response, Rush to Close SDC

/ Sonoma Land Trust / Leave a comment

July 2, 2015:

With almost 400 residents at the Sonoma Developmental Center, the rush to provide a closure plan by October 1 has parents and guardians searching for some sense of assurance that their loved ones will be cared for.

Please click on the link provided below to read this insightful article.

Parents, guardians not happy with rush to close SDC

Provided courtesy of the Kenwood Press website, by Jay Gamel.

Breaking News: Agreement with Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services for Continued Federal Funding for Sonoma Developmental Center

/ Sonoma Land Trust / Leave a comment

July 1, 2015:

BREAKING NEWS:

California has announced its agreement with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to continue federal financial participation for Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC) for up to two years.

As said by Diana S. Dooley, Secretary of the Health and Human Services Agency,

“We are working in collaboration with our federal partners to ensure quality care and service continue at Sonoma while…”

Please click on the link provided below to view California’s Department of Developmental Services News Release, and don’t forget to click on the links within the News Release for additional information on their plan moving forward as well as the Sonoma Settlement Agreement.

California Announces Agreement with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for Continued Federal Funding for Sonoma Developmental Center

These documents are also provided via the DDS’s website provided below.

Thank you!

Provided courtesy of the California Department of Developmental Services website, (at www.dds.ca.gov), under Highlights.