Sonoma Developmental Center group to get site updates from McGuire, Bargmann

Two meetings are scheduled this month at SDC to help the public and stakeholders understand the process of closing the longstanding facility for the state’s most vulnerable.|

Two meetings are scheduled this month at Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC) to help the public and stakeholders understand the process of closing the longstanding facility for the state’s most vulnerable.

The first is tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 14, and will feature State Sen. Mike McGuire, a stalwart legislative advocate for residents and their families. The two-hour meeting of the Parent Hospital Association begins at 10 a.m. at the Wagner building on the SDC campus. Senator McGuire will provide more information and updates on the recent proposal to fund a “healthcare hub” in Sonoma County, its $2.5 million RFP and the services that will be offered.

“The first priority that SDC families have always given us is to make sure that health care is going to be alive and well here in Sonoma County,” said McGuire. “This guaranteed investment will be opening up a full healthcare hub that be especially designed for individuals with developmental disabilities.”

The hub will offer high-quality health care, dental care, mental health and adaptive services, designed for individuals with developmental disabilities. It’s expected that a number Federally Qualified Health Centers will apply for the funds, which will be used to build new buildings or remodel existing ones to provide the specialized services that the developmentally disabled need for their health care. Cheryl Johnson, CEO of Sonoma Valley Community Health Center, acknowledged that they were reviewing the proposal, saying “We will have a better idea how to move forward in the next several weeks.”

McGuire will also describe the ongoing process for closing the Eldridge facility, which includes a full assessment of the site and the buildings on it to determine the valuen and codition of the assets. “We want to be as upfront as possible so that everyone knows what to expect in the next 12 to 24 months,” said McGuire.

The second meeting will be two weeks later, on Jan. 28, this one called by the state Department of Developmental Services for the parents and custodians of SDC residents, and will not be open to the public. Nancy Bargmann, who became Director of DDS last year, called the family information meeting to discuss the proposed state budget, especially as it relates to the state’s developmental centers and the proposed SDC closure date of Dec. 2018.

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