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

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.

California Senators to Discuss Funding

June 29, 2015:

Because California’s new budget did not include extra funds for programs geared towards those with developmental disabilities, Governor Brown has called for a special session in order to discuss how the state could raise the money.

“State senators who will serve on a special session to discuss additional funding for services for those with developmental disabilities have been chosen, but it’s uncertain when the committee will convene.”

Please click on the link below to read more on this update.

California senators chosen to discuss funding for developmentally disabled

Provided courtesy of the Los Angeles Daily News, by Susan Abram.

SB 82, DDS Trailer Bill

June 26, 2015:

With the approval of the state’s new budget for FY 2015-2016, the Legislature also passed a “budget trailer bill” that details the process and requirements for the preparation of a closure plan by October 1, 2015. Language in italics are new requirements for the closure plan process, and existing law is in regular font.

Please let us know if you have any questions or feedback.

Thank you!

SB 82, DDS Trailer Bill

Change, SDC’s Future

June 25, 2015:

Revised to include the “Outside SDC” section of the article.

A great article from the Valley of the Moon Magazine describes the Sonoma Developmental Center by capturing the struggles the Center continues to face and the obvious fact that change will happen in the near future.

Because of the wealth of diverse habitats, maybe change to the build area at SDC should have a different footprint in order to protect the wildlife corridor and groundwater recharge as described within the “Outside SDC” section of the article on page 3.

“400 SEVERELY DISABLED HUMAN BEINGS,
1,300 JOBS, 945 ACRES OF PRICELESS OPEN SPACE.
WHAT WILL THE FUTURE HOLD?”

Please take a few minutes to read this insightful article below.

Inside Outside SDC

Provided courtesy of the Valley of the Moon Magazine, with stories and photos by David Bolling and Caitlin Cornwall.

Change, SDC’s Future

June 15, 2015:

A great article from the Valley of the Moon Magazine describes the Sonoma Developmental Center, capturing the struggles the Center continues to face and the obvious fact that change will happen in the near future.

“400 severely disabled human beings,
1,300 jobs, 945 acres of priceless open space.
What will the future hold?”

Please take a few minutes to read this insightful article below.

Inside Outside SDC

Provided courtesy of the Valley of the Moon Magazine, with stories and photos by David Bolling.

Programs For Developmentally Disabled Could Be Cut

June 10, 2015:

Workshops such as the one described in the article below allow individuals with developmental disabilities to feel a sense of independence that they can’t find just anywhere. Although California has the largest amount of developmentally disabled individuals, we spend the least, and with program closures, beds and work options for this fragile population have been lost.

Please click on the link below to read the rest of this article.

Developmentally disabled to lose programs if California budget remains stagnant

Provided courtesy of the Los Angeles Daily News website, by Susan Abram.

One of SDC’s Crafts

June 8, 2015:

Working as a cobbler for the Sonoma Developmental Center, Lisa Glover has crafted shoes to fit those whose feet are contorted. She enables the residents to move around pain-free because of these shoes; propelling themselves in their wheelchairs, and protected their feet from bruises.

Please click on the link provided below to read more of this article or visit the website here to view the article at its source.

An anachronism, a cobbler and Alice

Provided courtesy of The Sacramento Bee website, by Dan Morain.

Update on Sonoma Developmental Center’s Southern California Counterpart

June 8, 2015:

With the recent closure of Lanterman Developmental Center, it has been decided that the land will be transferred to Cal Poly Pomona, despite that city’s desire to have a role in planning the reuse of the land. Due to the property’s size as well as the location of the center, if could have offered the ability for the city and the region to carry out pioneering projects that they would have benefited from for many years to come.

Please take a look at the article in the link below.

Closed SoCal developmental center will go to university, not private developers

Provided courtesy of the Sonoma Valley Sun website. The article first appeared in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, by Jason Henry and Monica Rodriguez.

Sonoma Developmental Center, Sonoma Land Trust Update

June 5, 2015:

Following on the heels of our Transform SDC public workshop, we learned that the Governor’s budget calls for an expedited closure plan of the Sonoma Development Center.

Ultimately, the plan for Sonoma Development Center needs to represent a public-private partnership which creates durable solutions that are derived from the ideas and interests of the community.

Please take a couple of minutes to read the SDC update provided in the link below.

Sonoma Developmental Center, Sonoma Land Trust Update

DDS Announces Closure and Stakeholder Outreach Plan for SDC

June 5, 2015:

On behalf of the Department of Developmental Services Director Santi Rogers, the following letter, addressed to residents, family members, employees, regional centers, and other interested parties explains the efforts being put forth and the plan moving forward for the Sonoma Developmental Center since the announcement of SDC’s proposed closure by 2018.

“The state is attempting to negotiate a settlement with the federal government to continue….”

Please click on the link below to read the rest of this letter.

DDS Announces Closure and Stakeholder Outreach Plan for SDC