This report represents a summary of the work PAI staff has
reported from August 1, 2007 through September 30, 2007. Many thanks to those
who provided the material to make this report possible.
communications
Press Releases Issued this Quarter on the victory of Capitol People First
v.
DDS,
California
state hospital memorials and PAI v. City of
Buena Park.
September 25—announcing
the significant victory of the decision of the Court of Appeals, establishing
that a PAI flagship case- Capitol People First v. Department of Developmental
Services –will now proceed as a class action on behalf of more than 7000
institutionalized Californians;
September
17—to promote recognition and attendance of the
seven sites around the state holding memorials in honor of thousands of
Californians who died in state hospitals or developmental centers;
August
31—to announce PAI’s lawsuit against the City of
Buena Park on behalf of
group home residents. Ann Menashe of the
San
Diego office is lead attorney.
As a result of the widely distributed press releases, and
the promotional work of the 3 sponsoring organizations, California Network of
Mental Health Clients, People First of California and PAI, attendance at the
California Memorial Project events far eclipsed previous years.
PAI Staff: Barb
Duncan, Eric Gelber, Rob Chittenden, Ann Menashe
Grant/Funding Source: Trust Fund
PAI is covered in Mainstream and Disability Media.
During August and September, the primary focus of coverage
was an on-going analysis of the spiraling costs of the Laguna Honda rebuild. In
three instances, PAI was able to position itself as an expert not only on the
expense of the rebuild but to articulate its position that the funding would be
far better spent on community-based housing and other services in San
Francisco. Consistently, the news peg or
lede has been the “astronomical costs,” but PAI has been successful at
expanding the issue to include consideration of what the LHH model says about a
progressive city, especially as it reverses a national trend towards
deinstutionalization.
Highlights were:
·
August 28—PAI attorneys Elissa Gershon and
Elizabeth Zirker described the advantages of community-based services in terms
of equity and anti-discrimination efforts in the City Star and KCBS News.
·
August 31— PAI attorneys Elissa Gershon and
Elizabeth Zirker described the advantages of community-based services in terms
of equity and anti-discrimination efforts in the San Francisco Business Times;
·
September—PAI’s director of litigation for
Southern California, Andrew Mudryk, featured in a 15 minute broadcast interview
by the Insider Exclusive, a television program that explains legal issues to
the public. Mudryk concentrated on examples of how PAI monitors abuse and
neglect, and works to reduce discrimination against Californians with
disabilities. Insider Exclusive has been featuring the work of non-profits that
provide legal advocacy to under-represented groups and PAI was one of the first
organizations selected for the series.
PAI Staff: Barb Duncan, Elissa Gershon, Elizabeth Zirker
and Andrew Mudryk
Grant/Funding Source: Trust Fund
New Website Features.
New PAI website features introduced during this period
include:
·
Recommended reading feature: Numerous staff are
contributing to this new feature on the homepage, resulting in wider awareness
of research reports, such as the Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism and the GAO
investigation into treatment of wounded veterans; in political developments such
as the threat of cutting transportation for children with disabilities from
Medicaid; and in disability culture events, such as the broadcast of more than
40 disability films on California’s public television stations during October
for disability awareness month;
·
The Peer/Self-Advocacy Unit developed a new
illustrated homepage and full description of its recent activities
During this period, all planning and review of web pages
for the new Spanish language website was completed by Barbara Silva, Jesse Magano
& Barb Duncan for a November 5 launch.
PAI Staff: Barbara Duncan, Rob Chittenden,
Alicia Mendoza, Jenny Olsen, Barbara Silva, Jesse
Magano
Grant/Funding Source: Trust Fund
PAI staff, Board & publications featured on homepage:
During this period, short reports by staff members about
external events with PAI involvement included:
·
A summary by Attorney Maggie Roberts about the
state summit on those with dual diagnosis of mental health and developmental
disability;
·
Field reports by Rob Chittenden, coordinator of
the Peer Self-Advocacy unit, about results of the California Memorial Project
events of September 17;
·
An announcement of the 80 page update on
Community Living in California, prepared by Attorneys Ellen Goldblatt and
Sujatha Jagadeesh Branch for presentation at the annual Supported Living
Conference;
·
An illustrated tribute to former board chair
Bill Compton, contributed to by a
Los
Angeles Times columnist and by the PAI executive
director and board, was featured on the homepage during September.
PAI Staff:
Barb Duncan, Maggie Roberts, Rob Chittenden,
Ellen Goldblatt, Sujatha Jagadeesh Branch, Catherine Blakemore
Grant/Funding Source(s): Trust Fund
Website visits show strong interest in special education rights &
services
Website visits slightly decreased during the August
vacation period to 15,314 and picked up again in September to 15,751 visits by
individuals. Consistently, the top 3 draws were: homepage news (around half the
visitors or 7500) publications (around 2000 visits) and jobs (around 1800) each
month.
In the August—September period, more than 4000 visitors
downloaded some or all of the PAI publication, “Special Education Rights &
Responsibilities,” and more than 1000 visitors a month visited the special
education section of the website. The next most popular publication on the
website is “Filing Claims against Public Entities under the California Tort
Claims Act,” which was accessed nearly 900 times during this period.
PAI Staff:
Barb Duncan
Grant/Funding Source(s): Trust Fund
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES
Legislative activities are current at the time this report
is prepared, however, the legislature moves quickly and things can change
overnight, so for the most current information on bills or other activities
reported here, check PAI’s legislative website:
http://www.pai-ca.org/legislature/2007legislation.htm
PAI Sponsored Legislation Signed by the Governor.
During the legislative year, PAI sponsored AB 1410. The legislation requires the state to apply
to the federal government for a Medicaid waiver to provide more services to
people with traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Each year an estimated 22,000 Californians sustain a
TBI
from violence, athletic injuries, motor vehicle accidents, military service or
other causes. However,
California
offers very few services for this rapidly increasing population. The state has never applied for available
federal home and community-based waiver services money which 25 other states
already receive. AB 1410 is a very modest bill, aiming to serve 100
Californians with
TBI, using
already-appropriated state money as a match to the federal funds.
During August and the first weeks of September, the
California Health and Human Services Agency negotiated with PAI over the
provisions of AB 1410. While PAI took many amendments, most were solely
technical and none diminished the legislation. The legislative cost estimate of
the bill, initially overestimated by state staff, finally descended to the amount
PAI staff initially specified. During the final negotiations, the bill received
final votes in the Senate Committees, picking up non-partisan momentum. The
governor signed the bill on October 14, 2007.
PAI Staff:
Deborah Doctor
Grant/Funding Source(s):
Equal Access
Other Key Legislation in 2007
PAI took positions on 115 bills during the legislative year. Of the total, 48 have made it to the
Governor’s desk. Representative legislation included:
AB 8 is the
Nunez-Perata “health reform” legislation, which creates the Cooperative Health
Insurance Purchasing Program as a statewide purchasing pool for health care
coverage by employers. PAI opposed the bill because of concerns about cost,
availability, scope of coverage and accessibility. The bill was vetoed by the Governor.
AB 1427 (Krekorian)
requires the Department of Developmental Services to establish a pilot program
to incentivize, reimburse, and assess the use of recognized training resources
for direct support workers in consumer directed services. PAI worked to get this bill passed, but
unfortunately the Governor vetoed the bill.
AB 66 (Dymally)
requires HIV testing for every inmate entering a correctional facility, state
prison, or state hospital, unless the testing is declined. PAI objected to the
bill’s lack of privacy safeguards. The
bill was held in Senate Appropriations Committee.
AB 1663 (Evans) makes
revisions conforming state law to federal requirements relating to pupil
identification, assessment, and eligibility, individualized education program
development, procedural safeguards, and pupil information confidentiality. PAI
opposed this bill because it will disrupt the continuity of services during a
crucial period of a child’s development.
This bill unfortunately made it through and has been enacted.
AB 1723 (Assembly
Judiciary Committee) enhances the program known as “IOLTA” – Interest on Lawyer
Trust Accounts, which is the major source of funding for legal services
programs for low-income people in
California. PAI supported this piece of legislation and
it made it through the legislative process and has been enacted.
SB 568 (Wiggins)
relates to existing law requiring a court-appointed psychiatrist to examine a
defendant found to be mentally incompetent and decide whether or not treatment
of the defendant with antipsychotic medication is appropriate and to notify the
court. It requires the psychiatrist to inform the court whether it is medically
appropriate to administer antipsychotic medication in a county jail. PAI
opposed this bill because county jails are not appropriately equipped to deal
with the needs of individuals with psychiatric disabilities, nor the
appropriate placement. It has been
enacted.
AB 759 (Karnette)
requires residential care facilities for the elderly, licensed to care for not
more than six residents, to have an approved, operable automatic fire sprinkler
system. PAI opposed this bill because it placed a requirement on housing for
people with disabilities that is not imposed on other residential homes and it
may reduce availability of housing. The
bill was held in Senate Human Services Committee.
SB 2 (Cedillo)
decreases the local land use barriers that hamper the establishment of
emergency shelters, supportive housing and transitional housing and emergency
shelters. PAI supported this bill and
it has been enacted.
PAI Staff: Evelyn
Abouhassan, Deborah Doctor, Margaret Johnson, Brandon Tartaglia
Grant/Funding Source(s): Trust Fund, Equal
Access
Healthcare Reform: The Debate Continues
The healthcare reform debate marched to and beyond the
legislative finish line – adjournment.
PAI did not support any of the competing bills because they did not
comport with our legislative principles related to healthcare reform, but
worked in coalition with disability and health advocacy organizations to push
improvements.
AB 8 passed but the governor vetoed the measure. During
the special session, which he called immediately, the governor presented
language for his own health care reform plan but has not introduced
legislation. Thus far, the
administration has taken no disability related suggestions. Staff continues to work with other advocates
to improve provisions affecting people with disabilities and people with low
income.
PAI Staff: Deborah
Doctor
Grant/Funding Source(s): Equal Access
LPIU Staff Attends and Participates at Conferences and Committee
Meetings
Olmstead Meetings:
Staff attended the August quarterly meeting of the Olmstead Advisory Committee.
Staff from the Department of Health Care Services gave a report about
difficulties with implementing PAI sponsored legislation, SB 634 (2005). This
prompted plans for a meeting that will happen in early November to address the
issue.
Home and Community Based
Services Conference: Staff attended the 23rd Annual Home and
Community Based Services Conference, sponsored by the National Association of
State Units on Aging. The four-day conference was intense and well-attended,
and included speakers from some of the states that are innovating and leading
the way in community-based long-term care.
People First Regional
Meeting: LPIU staff prepared
materials and presented at the regional meeting of People First. At that
meeting, staff provided a legislative update on the happenings at the state
capitol with respect to issues of importance to persons with developmental
disabilities. Staff also spoke about the
importance of individual advocacy and provided meeting attendees legislative
advocacy tips.
PAI Staff:
Evelyn
Abouhassan, Deborah Doctor,
Margaret Johnson, Rob Chittenden
Grant/Funding Source(s):
Trust Fund, Equal
Access
Education on the Dangers of Seclusion and Restraint
During the quarter, PAI legislative and investigations
unit staff worked to educate members of the legislature and their staff on the
dangers of using seclusion and restraint practices in school settings. PAI staff met with key legislative staff to
discuss PAI’s investigative report about restraint and seclusion in
California schools. PAI staff discussed the need for policy
reform including recommendations to restrict the use of restraint and end
seclusion practices.
PAI Staff:
Evelyn
Abouhassan,
Leslie Morrison
Grant/Funding Source(s):
Trust Fund, Equal
Access
PAI in Legislative Roundtables Chaired by Assemblyman Jim Beall
Assembly Member Jim Beall, Jr., Chair of the Assembly
Human Services Committee, is reaching out to consumers, their families, service
providers, and program administrators to help him identify how to "take
the Lanterman Act into the future. On
August 28, 2007, Mr. Beall held a roundtable discussion in
the Capitol at which, after short presentations on the current state of the
program and future needs, he solicited opinions on how the Act may need to be
updated to expand choices and opportunities for consumers and their families.
PAI Director Catherine Blakemore represented PAI at this
roundtable. A second Roundtable was held on October 3rd focusing on ways to
strengthen the IPP process, better serve consumers and families of color, and
the use of outcome and performance measures for assuring quality in the
delivery of developmental services. Ellen Goldblatt represented PAI on the IPP
and outcomes issues and submitted PAI's written suggestions on how to improve
the IPP process. ThoVinh Banh represented PAI on the issue of how to better serve
consumers from diverse ethnic and racial communities and submitted a written
statement on this issue.
On October 24th and November 16th Mr. Beall will hold
Assembly Human Services Committee hearings in
Sacramento
and
San Jose,
respectively, to further focus on needed program improvements and preparing for
the Lanterman Act for the future. PAI will participate.
Lanterman Act, Goals 2
and 3, Objective B
PAI Staff: Ellen Goldblatt, ThoVinh Banh --
many other workgroup members contributed to this process.
Grant/Funding Source(s): EA, PADD
LPIU Staff Participates in Outreach Events
Staff conducted outreach to people with psychiatric
disabilities on the importance of voting and how the legislative process works.
In a series of presentations at Turning Point, staff presented information and
answered questions in order to get clients interested in and actively involved
in the governmental process, legislative advocacy and voting.
At an outreach at the Sacramento Valley AIDS walk, LPIU
staff gave out information about PAI, provided information about PAI’s
publications, and spoke about the services that PAI provides.
PAI Staff: Suzanna
Gee, Leilani Pfeifer, Evelyn Abouhassan, Brandon Tartaglia
Grant/Funding Source(s): Trust Fund, Equal
Access, PAIMI
SELF ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES
Civic Involvement Project in
El Dorado
County
Focuses
on Transportation
Collaborative Projects helps people with disabilities
develop statewide
or local advocacy projects. See Advocacy Director Report Summer 2007 for
more background information about Collaborative Projects.
Collaborative Projects has focused on creating the
Community Involvement Project. The Community Involvement Project’s purpose
is to bring together people from different disability communities to advocate
for changes on an issue affecting everyone with disabilities and encourage more
civic involvement. People chose public
transportation as the first issue to work on.
In August, Community
Involvement Project members in
South Lake Tahoe
met with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) and Area Transit Management
(ATM) staff for a follow up discussion about the Unmet Transportation Needs
public hearing held on June 5th in
South Lake Tahoe. Of particular concern is that there are no
Paratransit services which violates the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA). Project members have requested a
timeline for the transportation services to become
ADA compliant.
Others involved in the project focused on transportation
between
South Lake Tahoe and the
Carson
Valley
in
Nevada. Many members have doctors and other health
care providers in that area.
In September, Community
Involvement Project members attended the Area Transit Management Board of
Directors to ask questions about changes in the transportation system to
establish Paratransit services. Project
members submitted comments on the draft Unmet Transportation Needs report
developed by the transit agency after the June public hearing. Others worked to identify organizations and
people to contact in the
Carson
Valley area who would be interested in working on
public transportation between
South Lake Tahoe
and the
Carson
Valley.
In October, Community
Involvement Project Members met to review the changes in public transportation
in
South Lake Tahoe. They identified concerns about the proposed
paratransit services and identified a smaller group to develop a strategy for
addressing their concerns. They plan to
meet with the owner of the Area Transit Management Company and the program
manager at Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.
PAI Staff:
Nakida Gooden,
Lori
Shepherd, Margaret Johnson
Grant/Funding Source(s): PAVA, Trust Fund
DDPSAU Empowering Through Trainings and New Material Development.
Unit staff provided several trainings and outreaches on a
variety of topics such as; IPP Rights, Civic Participation, Voting, Effective
Self Advocacy, and Self Directed
Services to people in groups such as
Thumbs Up in Sonora, Apoyo de Padres in Sacramento, Grass Valley People First,
Toolworks in Oakland, Bay Area People First Self Advocacy Conference, The Self
Advocacy Coordination Project, Seirra Vista intermediate care facility in Yuba
City, People First in
Alameda and
Goodwill in Sacramento. Unit staff also
collaborated with PAI legal and multi-cultural affairs staff to provide
outreach and training to a group of tribal representatives in Oroville on
voting rights, civic participation and regional center services.
DDPSAU staff finalized development of an abuse prevention
training presentation and a user friendly voting rights game which is modeled
in the style of the “Family Feud Game”.
Development of training materials on rights within relationships over
the life span, voting rights, IPP rights, employment re-entry options and
additional abuse prevention materials also occurred this quarter.
Developmental Disabilities
Peer Self Advocacy, Goal 1, Objectives 1 & 2
PAI Staff: Marinda Reed, Maria Marquez and
Daniel Meadows, Phyllis Preston, Leilani Pfeifer
Grant/Funding Source(s): PADD/ PAVA
DDPSAU Provides Peer Advocacy Services to People Living in Developmental
Centers.
Unit staff provided necessary self advocacy to plaintiffs
of the Capital People First litigation.
Staff visited clients at three developmental centers. One outcome of these visits was that, JW
wanted peer advocacy services in order to prepare for living in the community
after he leaves the developmental center and to strengthen his self advocacy
skills. In addition the visits provided
an opportunity for staff to outreach to others living in the developmental
centers and set up future training opportunities.
Developmental Disabilities
Peer Self Advocacy, Goal 1, Objective 3
PAI Staff:
Marinda Reed, Sujatha Branch,
Barbara Dickie, Maria Marquez, Jonathon Ellison
Grant/Funding Source(s):
PADD
DDPSAU Liaisons with Self Advocacy Groups Continues
The DDPSAU maintains liaison relationships with a number
of other regional, state and national stake holder and self advocacy
organizations such as People First of California, NDRN Consumer Advisory
Committee, The Self Advocacy Coordination Project, Bay Area People First,
Golden Gate Regional Center Guidance Team, Capitol People First and
Alta Regional Center Consumer Advisory
Committee. Staff are working with
Capital People first to revise the publication “Your IPP - It’s Not Just a
Piece of Paper” and recently established a work plan to ensure the publication
is updated quickly. Staff are
collaborating with Sacramento People First to increase outreach to young adults
and youth groups and to adapt materials to be user friendly.
Developmental Disabilities
Peer Self Advocacy, Goal 1, Objective 5
PAI Staff: Marinda Reed, Maria Marquez and
Daniel Meadows
Grant/Funding Source(s): PADD
Creekside Self Advocacy Group Members Attend Conference and Advocate for
Themselves
PSA staff provided training to and worked with members of
the Creekside Self Advocacy Group. As a result of these efforts group members
had a number of accomplishments including the following:
·
Six residents at the Creekside Self-Advocacy
Group wanted to attend a local client sponsored training about developing
client leadership with Dan Fisher of the
National
Empowerment
Center. Through their advocacy they were allowed to
attend without staff presence.
·
The self-advocacy group members successfully
argued for a longer time limit on the use of the facility’s one computer in
order to complete more computer related activities and access more information
when using the computer.
·
As a result of the things learned in the
self-advocacy group, several residents were successful in gaining third party
assistance and were released from conservatorships. Third party assistance under the Lanterman
Petris Short Act allows family and friends to help a person provide for their
food, clothing, and shelter and thus a conservatorsip is not necessary.
Peer/Self Advocacy,
Goal 4, Objective B
Peer/Self Advocacy Staff: Sharon Schmidt
Funding Source: PAIMI
Canyon Manor Self Advocacy Group Members Advocate for Themselves and for
the Group
PSA staff provided training to and worked with members of
the Canyon Manor Self Advocacy Group. As a result of these efforts group
members had a number of accomplishments including the following:
·
Two residents successfully demonstrated they
were not gravely disabled and were granted independent living situations by
their counties and taken off conservatorships.
·
Two transitional aged youths advocated with
their conservators and social workers and were given housing in a Transitional
Age Youth Program in the county.
·
The self advocacy group successfully advocated
for residents on all level systems, which is the system of gaining more
privileges and more access to the community, to go on community outings.
Peer/Self Advocacy,
Goal 4, Objective B
Peer/Self Advocacy Staff: Sharon Schmidt
Funding Source: PAIMI
PSA Staff Provided Training and Outreach in
Stockton,
Grass
Valley,
and
Sacramento
PSA staff
collaborated with PAI legal staff from the
Sacramento regional office and met with
residents at Crestwood Stockton to discuss the PASSR process and to find out
what services or information they had received through the PASSR process. PASRR is a federally mandated screening and
evaluation tool that is used to assess people with mental illness or
developmental disabilities who are being considered for nursing facility
placements to determine if nursing facility placement is appropriate or if
these individuals can be better served in a more integrative setting. The
evaluation also determines if the individual needs specialized services to
address his/her disability. PASRR is also used to re-assess the needs of
existing nursing facility patients whose conditions have changed or
stabilized. Information about the
Peer/Self Advocacy Unit and the services
PSA
provides were also discussed with residents.
PSA staff
gave a training on “Working while receiving Benefits”, a Social Security
workshop, at
Spirit
Recovery
Empowerment
Center, a client-run center, in
Grass
Valley.
PSA staff provided information about PAI services and
PSA services to
Wellness
Recovery
Center,
a client-run center, in
Sacramento.
Peer/Self Advocacy,
Goal 2, Objective A
Peer/Self Advocacy
and PAI Staff: Karyn Farr and Sean Rashkis
Funding Source: PAIMI
Napa Self Help Office Collaboration
Continues With
Boalt
Law
School
The
Napa
State
Hospital/
Boalt
Law
School
collaboration is in its third year.
Legal staff from the
Oakland regional
office,
PSA staff, and a graduate
from Boalt are working with
Napa
administration to have different self advocacy group meeting times to allow for
more law students to attend the groups.
This collaboration has been successful because
Napa residents have gained more legal
information and law students who are interested in disability law issues are
able to gain experience in mental health law.
Peer/Self Advocacy,
Goal 2, Objective A
Peer/Self Advocacy and
PSA
Staff: Steve Rosenbaum, Pam Cohen, and Amy Breckenridge
Boalt Graduate:
Erin
Orzel
Funding Source: PAIMI
Woodlake Woman’s Association “Asociacion de Mujeres de Woodlake” Works to
Improve Community
PSA staff provided training to and worked with members of
the Woodlake Woman’s Association. As a result of these efforts group members
had a number of accomplishments including the following:
·
Three members from the self advocacy group have
joined the local Poder Popular Health Council and participated in discussions
with representatives from Southern California and
Mexico on issues ranging from
access to health services to competency of local mental health service
providers.
·
Group members joined the Chief of Police, City
Council Members, members of the
Woodlake
School District and
representatives from various Community Based Organizations in an advisory
committee to improve the cultural competency of the services provided by these
entities to people with mental health disabilities.
·
The group worked to improve housing conditions
and advocacy for fair treatment of tenants with disabilities by working with
administrators of the two largest apartment complexes in Woodlake, to ensure
they complied with fair housing requirements.
The result of their work is that all residents of the complexes are
treated fairly.
Peer/Self Advocacy,
Goal 2, Objective A and Goal 4, Objective B
Peer/Self Advocacy
Staff: David Solis
Funding Source: PAIMI
PSA Unit Staff Provides Four Outreaches in
Southern
California
PSA Staff and PAI legal staff from the
Los Angeles regional office met with the
president and other members of the Los Angeles Client Coalition to discuss ways
in which we could assist one another and provide PAI’s services. PAI and
PSA staff regularly attend Los Angeles Client
Coalition meetings, but found that most of the meeting time was spent on the
election of officers and group process, making it difficult for us to help
clients. We agreed that time would be set aside at each Los Angeles
Client Coalition meeting so that PAI staff could present advocacy information
and meet with clients.
PSA staff has been meeting with the director of Un Paso
Mas, which is part of Project Return, peer support network, to arrange for
self-advocacy workshops for the Spanish-speaking community members of the
project. Some topics to be covered include "What is Self Advocacy",
"How to Get Out and Stay Out of the Hospital" and "How to Talk
with Your Doctor” as well as other frequently requested
PSA
topics.
PSA staff and PAI multicultural affairs staff had a PAI
booth at the Ventura Pride Festival on August 25, 2007 for the LBGTI community.
There was a lot of interest, especially from older adults, about PAI services
in the areas of obtaining public benefits or other services, such as IHHS.
Peer/Self Advocacy,
Goal 2, Objective A
Peer/Self Advocacy Staff and PAI Staff:
Robyn Gantsweg, Senobia Pichardo, and Rosy Tellez, Carman Varela, Matthew
Fischler
Funding Source: PAIMI
PSA Resolves Concerns about Cemetery Site Disturbances at
Patton
State
Hospital
There have been disturbances at the Patton burial site, so
the Patton California Memorial Project (CMP) team met with the head of plant
operations to verify that the cemetery grounds were not disturbed. The CMP team was given historic maps from the
1970's and 1930's documenting the cemetery site. As a result of the
collaboration over the location of the cemetery site, CMP project members held
a remembrance ceremony at the site.
Peer/Self Advocacy,
Goal 10, Objective A
Peer/Self Advocacy Staff and
California Memorial Project Members:
Alicia Mendoza, Garnet Magnus, and Linda Thompson
Funding Source: PAIMI
PSA & DDPSA Participate in Remembrance Ceremonies Held at Seven Sites
On September 17th the California Memorial
Project which consists of members from the Peer/Self-Advocacy Unit of
Protection and Advocacy, Inc., The California Network of Mental Health Clients
and People First of California celebrated their 5th annual
Remembrance Day Ceremony. The
Remembrance Ceremonies are to honor, respect and give dignity to our peers who
have lived and died at State Hospitals and Developmental Centers unrecognized.
This year the ceremonies were dedicated to the memory of
Karen Zimmer, who died from cancer this past year. Karen served on the Client Network of Mental
Health Clients Board of Directors and in 2006 was elected President of the
Board. She was the first Network staff
coordinator for the California Memorial Project. She was a friend and peer and will be missed
by all who knew her.
Highlights from the ceremonies around the state include
the following:
Patton Ceremony,
Patton
State
Hospital auditorium
As the mistress of ceremonies, Garnet Magnus welcomed the
61 guests and paid a special tribute to Carlos Luna, Director of Patton State
Hospital, Cindy Barrett-Administrative Assistant/Public Relations and staff for
all their assistance and cooperation in preparation for the ceremony. She gave updates concerning the
Patton
Cemetery
grounds. The purpose of
AB1448 and ceremony was summarized by Georgia
Degroat, Far South Director for California Network of Mental Health Clients.
Paul Mansell, President of San Diego People First, spoke about clients and
others involved in the mental health advocacy movement.
Linda Thompson, Secretary of People First of San Diego
County, presented a memorable personal story about her life with Cerebral
Palsy. Linda has a B.A. degree in
Journalism and an M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling and is a role model on how
to achieve goals. She reflected on how
over 2000 residents died and were buried at Patton in poor conditions and
anticipated the day when all the grounds at state hospitals and developmental
institutions are restored with respect and honor.
The guest speaker was Sue Moreland, CEO of Jefferson
Transitional Programs, West/Mid County Riverside County, who spoke about how
Patton
Hospital
is utilizing a model recovery program.
Jerry Wengeld, Mental Health Director for
Riverside
County,
was applauded for taking time to participate in the CMP Remembrance Day
Ceremony.
Larry Bear Rivera, Indian Affairs Chaplin, spoke movingly
about Indian Natives buried at Patton cemetery.
Joe Nelson and his television crew got some great footage
of the team placing flowers at the cemetery site, and interviewed Garnet and
Jerry Wengeld.
Agnews Ceremony, Agnews Developmental Center,
San Jose
This year the California Memorial Project Ceremony had
approximately 200 people in attendance.
The CMP Team members were Alicia Mendoza, Maria Marquez and Yvonne
McGough from Protection and Advocacy.
Photos were taken by Barbara Duncan of PAI. The CMP team was assisted by Agnews staff
Ruth Ritchy and Kathleen Lee. The
location of the ceremony was in the center courtyard of Agnews, which had a
small stage. The podium, microphone and
refreshments were provided by Agnews.
Maria Marquez kicked-off the ceremony, introducing Angela
Vrbance-Libby, Executive Director of Agnews.
Angela welcomed all to Agnews and expressed support for the CMP,
followed by
Alicia Mendoza who gave
an in-depth history of the CMP. Poems
were read by Yvonne McGough and Maria Marquez.
Interspersed throughout the ceremony were dances and songs by the Cambodian
Children Christian Choir. Advocates who
offered remembrances included Julie Wilsted, a prior resident of Agnews, Joe
Francisco and Jim Fields.
Finally, everyone took part in the moment of silence,
followed by the CMP team distributing flowers, which were later delivered to
the cemetery.
Napa Ceremony,
Napa
State
Hospital
About 60 individuals gathered by the old Oak tree at the
entrance to
Napa’s
burial grounds at
10:30 on
September 17. Advocates, activists,
clients, staff, mental health officials and family members came together to
honor those who had ended their lives at the state facility and to share the
healing of coming together as a community to commemorate.
Bill Holland, the Department of Mental Health’s
representative on the Memorial Project, gave a stirring talk in which he
acknowledged the past practices of the Department would no longer be tolerated
today.
Bill Waters and Frank Smith discussed the history of the
Project and the fight against stigma in and outside the system.
Among the speakers were Kathy Trevino and Lou Williamson,
who recounted their journeys through state hospitals to where they are today;
two women who told the stories of family members who had been in Napa in an
earlier era, stressing how much it meant to them to come and honor their loved
ones; an artist and poet from Santa Rosa who showed her picture “Napa, Sun,
Napa Moon,” which she created for the ceremony; and three clients from Napa
State Hospital, who showed us how far we have to go.
Sally Zinman, retiring director of the California Network
of Mental Health Clients, spoke about the powerful bond within the Self-Help
movement that helps members to go on and have courage.
Laurel Mildred, the California Network’s new Executive
Director, focused on how to improve
Napa
State
Hospital’s
treatment of clients today; and Nancy Thomas, the Network’s President, provided
inspiration through songs. A flock of wild turkeys stood on the periphery of
the cemetery, raising their heads as if to acknowledge the Spirit in us all.
Karyn Farr of PAI organized and coordinated every detail
of the ceremony.
Sonoma Ceremony,
Sonoma Developmental
Center
The ceremony was attended by 67 individuals, many from
outside of the Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC)
network, demonstrating substantial community interest to begin restoration and
participate in the task force. Thanks were expressed to the Director of
SDC and the Assistant Director, who were extremely
helpful in preparing for the ceremony.
The program featured presentations by Ruth Shelton and
Laura Lee, Peer Self Advocates, members of Capital People First, and past
residents of SDC, who described changes over 80 years and expressively
articulated the benefits of their current less restrictive community
placements; Roy Crew, who spoke about “Honoring Our Own”; John Ellis of the
State Department of Developmental Services and a member of the California
Memorial Project Task Force, who gave an update of the Napa and Stockton
project sites and funding difficulties; and readings of poems by clients of Interlink
Self Help Center.
The ceremony was held in the
SDC
gazebo, surrounded by doves made by residents and staff. A harpist and flutist
brought warmth to the ceremony, which concluded with a release of balloons by
residents as a remembrance of someone special in their lives. Refreshments were
served and provided by
SDC.
Marinda Reed of PAI’s Developmental Disabilities
Peer/Self-Advocacy Unit was recognized for her help and guidance throughout the
Ceremony.
Metropolitan
State
Hospital
Ceremony
Approximately 75 people attended the
Metropolitan
State
Hospital ceremony, many
of whom arrived early to network about the CMP and to get updated on
developments. About 30 were hospital residents and the others were staff of the
hospital, representatives of the three sponsoring organizations and of NAMI, as
well as a representative of Senator Calderon’s office.
Catherine Bond served as mistress of ceremonies, and
moderator for the open microphone session. Many hospital residents came up to
honor friends and loved ones who died while living in institutions. PAI staff
had the opportunity to talk to residents and have lunch with them after the
program ended.
A moment of silence was observed and a special dedication
was made to honor Karen Zimmer and Bill Compton, our peer advocate pioneers.
Participants were given commemorative CMP bracelets that
read “Honoring our Own” and commemorative T-Shirts reading “...reclaiming our
own by honoring our past”. It was a great success and wonderful serene
ceremony, thanks to all our committee members, attendees and volunteers.
Mendocino
State
Hospital
Ceremony, Ukiah
There were approximately 50 individuals that gathered at
Ukiah’s two burial sites. The attendees
included consumers, advocates, activists and family members joined together to
remember those that passed away while at
Mendocino
State
Hospital.
Kevin Murphy, from “A Healing Cooperative” and local
representative for Ukiah, opened the ceremony by introducing a few people that
that made it all possible. Participants sang “We Shall Overcome”.
Featured on the program were Rob Chittenden of PAI and the
CMP Task Force, who spoke about the progress of the restoration of Napa and
Stockton sites; Kevin Murphy, who gave
exciting news of the starting of Ukiah’s Restoration Team and the progress that
has already been accomplished; two women consumers, each of whom wrote and recited their poems; a
poem dedicated to Karen Zimmer; Glade Marshall, who performed a song that he
wrote specifically for the California Memorial Project; Marvin, a family member
also shared a song in remembrance of his grandmother; and a consumer member of the Mendocino State
Hospital Restoration Team, who reported on donations to be made by the cemetery
for restoration.
Rob Chittenden closed with a moment of silence for all
people who still may be forgotten in institutions today.
Stockton
State
Hospital
Ceremony
More than 150 people gathered at the
Stockton
Rural
Cemetery
on the morning of September 17 to remember those who lived and died at
Stockton
State
Hospital.
The Remembrance Ceremony began with haunting bagpipe playing by Bob Clemons and
a welcoming from the master of ceremonies, Tim Cabral of Person Centered
Services and Self-Advocacy Council VI.
David Solis, a CMP representative and
PSA coordinator, spoke about the project to
remember those who lived and died in California state hospitals and also said a
few words about Karen Zimmer, a dedicated clients’ and disability rights
activist, who passed away earlier this year.
The program had many speakers including Bruce Hopperstad,
Director of San Joaquin County Mental Health Services and Daniel Meadows, PAI
DDPSA Coordinator. Between speakers, the
Person Centered Services (PCS)
Choir sang and participants were given the chance to say a few words of
expression. Consumers, service providers, family members and community members
used this opportunity to talk about what the Remembrance Ceremony means to
them, why it’s important to gather annually at these sites, reflections on
living in an institution and the future of the disability rights movement.
At the conclusion of the program, hundreds placed their
flowers near grave markers as the
PCS
Choir sang Amazing Grace, followed by a moment of silence. Refreshments and
snacks were provided by Tuolumne People First and the Tuolumne County Food
Bank.
Peer/Self Advocacy,
Goal 10, Objective A
Peer/Self Advocacy and Developmental Disabilities
Peer Self Advocacy Staff:
Alicia
Mendoza, Karyn Farr, Sharon Schmidt, Amy Breckenridge, Yvonne McGough, David
Solis, Gabby Morales, Garnet Magnus, Senobia Pichardo, Rosy Tellez, Sheryl
Bradford, Martha Cook, Rob Chittenden, Maria Marquez, Daniel Meadows, Marinda
Reed, and
Jenny Olson
Funding Source: PAIMI and PADD