July 2, 2015:
Please view DDS’s new website on the Sonoma Developmental Center here for all the latest correspondence, public comments and notices, as well as resources and links relating to the Transform SDC project.
Provided courtesy of the State of California Department of Developmental Services website.
July 2, 2015:
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!
July 2, 2015:
An agreement has been reached that secures continued federal Medicaid funding for the Eldridge facility, as previously stated here.
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.
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!
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.
Please take a few minutes to read this insightful article below.
Provided courtesy of the Valley of the Moon Magazine, with stories and photos by David Bolling and Caitlin Cornwall.
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.
Please take a few minutes to read this insightful article below.
Provided courtesy of the Valley of the Moon Magazine, with stories and photos by David Bolling.
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.
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.
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
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.
Transform SDC 