Transform SDC Coalition

Governor Proposes Multi-Year Goal for Closure of All Three Developmental Centers

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May 14, 2015:

The following information is provided via CDCAN (CA Disability-Senior Community Action Network):

BREAKING NEWS:
GOVERNOR PROPOSES MULTI-YEAR GOAL FOR CLOSURE OF ALL THREE DEVELOPMENTAL CENTERS  
Target Date for Sonoma Developmental Center Closure 2018 With Closure of Fairview and Porterville Approximately 2021 – Closure Plan And Transition Will Be Based On Recommendations and Work of Developmental Centers Task Force; Includes Recognition of Need of Some Type of State Operated Facility or Crisis Center – Negotiations With Federal Government on Compliance Issues in Sonoma and Other DCs Will Continue Toward A Settlement

SACRAMENTO, CA [CDCAN LAST UPDATED 05/14/2015 – 10:10 AM] – In a stunning move, Governor Brown, in his budget revisions released this morning, includes a major proposal for a plan to close all three of the remaining state owned and operated developmental centers where currently 1,108 adults with developmental disabilities reside, based on the transition and process as recommended by the Developmental Centers Task Force last year.  The closure process would cover several years, with the focus first on Sonoma.

Under the Governor’s proposal, Sonoma Developmental Center in Eldridge, where 408 persons with developmental disabilities reside, would be targeted for closure by 2018, with the other two centers – Fairview Developmental Center in Pomona and Porterville Developmental Center near Bakersfield, slated for closure around 2021.

The Brown Administration made it clear that the closure process and transition would be different from the previous closures of developmental centers, including most recently the closures of Lanterman Developmental Center and Agnews Developmental Center, and be based on the new transition ideas as developed over a two year process by stakeholders who made up the Developmental Centers Task Force last year headed by California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Diana Dooley.

Those recommendations included looking at different ways the land, once closure of the facilities are completed, can be used and developed possibly for other uses by the Department of Developmental Services. The task force recommendations also recognize the need of some type of state operated facility or crisis center, which would be developed as part of the larger transition of closure of the developmental centers.

The Brown Administration said that negotiations with the federal government will continue on the compliance issues related to Sonoma Developmental Center and the other facilities with the goal of reaching an agreement, and continued support through the closure process.

While the Legislature will likely make adjustments and additions to the Governor’s closure plan, it appears all but certain both houses will approve it.

CDCAN will release a report later today with more details about this proposal and other proposals in the Governor’s budget revisions.

Provided courtesy of CDCAN website, by Marty Omoto.

‘Transform SDC’ Workshop Materials

/ Sonoma Land Trust / 2 Comments

May 11, 2015:

In case you were unable to attend the first workshop on May 2nd, but would like to browse or even have the material we gave out to participants, you can easily access them in the link below. You could also email Samantha at samantha@sonomalandtrust.org to either pick up a folder here at Sonoma Land Trust’s office or have one mailed directly to you.

Enjoy!

‘Transform SDC’ Workshop May 2nd 2015 Materials

‘Transform SDC’ Workshop a Success

/ Sonoma Land Trust / 2 Comments

May 7, 2015:

For those who attended the workshop, it was clearly seen through out the day how successful the event was. A few hundred people attended, prepared to share their comments, ideas, and concerns for the future of the Sonoma Developmental Center. Already in the beginning stages of organizing all the questions, comments, and ideas by going through the multiple post-it notes placed on the numerous idea boards throughout Vintage House, as well as flipping through the many comment cards,  it can be seen that a large majority of those who attended provided depth to their thoughts about the possible future of SDC.

If you were not able to attend the first workshop, please take a look at the article below for a great summary of the event. We hope to see you at our next workshop!

Ideas, passions raised at ‘Transform SDC’ workshop

Provided courtesy of the Sonoma Index-Tribune website, by Christian Kallen.

Sonoma Developmental Center, Draft Resource Assessment

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May 4, 2015:

The SDC Draft Resource Assessment is here, providing a great compilation of a lot of data about the existing conditions on the SDC property!

The Resource Assessment was prepared based on a review of previous studies completed on the property, local and regional reports and monitoring efforts, GIS mapping and analysis, outreach and interviews with individuals familiar with SDC and its regional significance, and assessments of cultural resources, wildlife permeability, and habitat connectivity completed for SLT.  It summarizes the following:

  • existing natural resource conditions, prepared by Prunuske Chatham, Inc.
  • wildlife permeability and habitat connectivity, prepared by UC Berkeley
  • cultural and historical resources, prepared by Tom Origer & Associates
  • water resources, prepared by Sonoma County Water Agency
  • existing recreational resources, prepared by Sonoma County Regional Parks
  • preliminary results of a hazardous materials assessment for areas outside the Core Campus, prepared by ECON/West Yost
  • additional data and input provided by Sonoma Ecology Center

You can also view the Resource Assessment on the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District’s website here.

Recent Articles on the Sonoma Developmental Center, Don’t Forget to RSVP

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April 29, 2015:

If you pay close attention to the Press Democrat, you’ve probably noticed the multiple articles about the Sonoma Developmental Center this week alone. If not, take a look for yourself and check them out in the links below.

Breathing room for Sonoma Developmental Center advocates

Charting path for developmental center’s site

The Transform SDC Workshop is this Saturday, May 2nd from 9-1, so don’t forget to RSVP by clicking here to register if you haven’t already done so.

Provided courtesy of the Press Democrat website, by Derek Moore. 

Hope, Despite Developmental Centers Legislative Struggle

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April 2, 2015:

Capturing the legislative struggles developmental centers have and continue to deal with pertaining to the care of this fragile population, Jay Gamel’s article explains how data shortages are creating problems when attempting to analyze expense claims; heightening the State’s desire to close the Centers. Therefore, through the help of the Sonoma Developmental Center Coalition there is hope that the May 2nd workshop at the Vintage House in Sonoma will be a successful community starting point in charting a course away from closure at the Sonoma Developmental Center and towards a transformed and revitalized Center.

Legislative battles looming for Developmental Centers 

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

Transform SDC Project Workshop Flyer for May 2

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April 2, 2015:

Join us for the first community workshop to Transform SDC, the Project Introduction and Community Visioning Launching on May 2, 9am to 1pm at the Vintage House in Sonoma. As the State is pushing to close SDC and other developmental centers, we invite you to learn more about this unique community resource and help us chart a course away from closure and towards a transformed and revitalized Center.

Please RSVP by April 25th to Samantha at Samantha@sonomalandtrust.org or by phone at (707) 526-6930 ext. 123 so we can adequately prepare.

Hope to see you there!

Transform SDC Project Workshop – Flyer for May 2

An Example, An Oasis of Care for the Disabled

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April 1, 2015:

The following poignant article speaks to the issues that have been described and demonstrated at numerous SDC meetings. Such topics as what would happen to this fragile population if services were not provided at Sonoma Developmental Center. By retaining the medical and dental clinic at SDC, the state is saving at least $4.7 million, which is what it cost to build the following Kentucky facility.

In Louisville, An Oasis of Care for the Disabled

Provided courtesy of The New York Times website, by Dan Barry.