Major meeting on future of Developmental Center

A public meeting with legislators and state officials on the future of the Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC) will be held Saturday, March 14, 10 a.m. to noon, at the Eldridge facility.

The event is the annual Legislative Meeting of the Parent Hospital Association (PHA), which advocates for residents of the SDC and others with developmental disabilities in Northern California.

“This is a valuable opportunity to meet and speak with your representatives, particularly because so many who now represent us and the area served by the SDC are new to Sacramento or Washington,” said PHA President Kathleen Miller. “It is important that we hear their perspective on services for the developmentally disabled and offer our input.”

On the agenda with Miller are area legislators and the Director of the Department of Developmental Services. The panel includes:

▪               Michael Hawkins, PHA Vice President

▪               Senator Mike McGuire

▪               Assemblyman Bill Dodd

▪               Assemblyman James Wood

▪               Supervisor Gorin

▪               Stephen Gale, representing Congressman Thompson’s office

▪               Tracy Krumpen, representing Senator Wolk’s office

▪               Scott Alonso, representing Assemblyman Levine’s office

▪               Santi Rogers, Director, Department of Developmental Services

“Please plan to attend and share why services provided by the SDC continue to be important to you and your family member and the community at large,” Miller said.

The meeting will convene in the Wagner Building on Laurel Street near the historical red brick building known as the Public Education Center (PEC Building). A map is available on the PHA website at:

http://blog.parenthospitalassociation.org/2014/12/pha-meeting-location-changes-in-new-year.html

The Parent Hospital Association was established in the 1950s by parents, family members and friends of developmentally disabled people living at Sonoma Developmental Center, formerly called Sonoma State Hospital. Sonoma Developmental Center has been in existence and has served this unique population since 1891. SDC has been a major contributor to the Sonoma Valley economy throughout the past 100 years as generations of Sonoma Valley families have been, and continue to be employed there.

Contact the Parent Hospital Association at: [email protected].