Clients’ Rights Advocate and

Volunteer Advocacy Services

Serving people residing in and transitioning from the Developmental Centers and Community Facility

Legal

Welfare and Institutions Code Section 4433 requires DDS to provide clients’ rights advocacy services for all consumers in its service delivery system. To avoid the potential for a conflict of interest or appearance of a conflict DDS contracts with SCDD to serve individuals residing in the three developmental centers and one community facility.

Partners in Advocacy

SCDD contracts with DDS to provide CRA and VAS services to individuals residing in the three DCs and one CF.

Disability Rights California contracts with DDS to provide CRA services to the individuals receiving services at the 21 Regional Centers.

Developmental Centers and Community Facility

• Sonoma

• Porterville

• Fairview

• Canyon Springs Community Facility

• Closed Facilities

• Lanterman (2014)

• Agnews (2009)

• Sierra Vista CF (2009)

• Camarillo (1997)

• Stockton (1996)

Population of Developmental Center and Community

Facilities

0

1500

3000

4500

6000

1994 2000 2005 2010 2018

460

1975

3044

3795

5713

Admission to Developmental Centers/CFs

• After July 1, 2012, Welfare & Institutions Code Section 6500 changed to limit commitment for those adjudicated as dangerous to self or others to be committed to DDS for six months instead of one year. The RC may petition the court for extension not to exceed 395 days.

• Sonoma DC and Fairview DC house the Northern and Southern STAR (Stabilization, Training, Assistance and Reintegration) program

• Not to exceed 5 beds at each facility

• STAR units are separate from DC general treatment area

• More home-like environment to provide person-centered services for faster transition to community placement

Sonoma Developmental Center• Located in Eldridge, CA. Sonoma County

• Opened in 1891

• Current population as of August 15, 2018: 54

• Levels of care: ICF, NF, General Acute care

• Decertification of four ICF units in 2014 resulting in loss of federal matching funds

• 5 bed Acute crisis unit called Northern STAR unit

• Short term treatment and stabilization not to exceed 395 days

• Scheduled for closure by December 31, 2018

Porterville Developmental Center

• Located in Porterville, CA in Tulare County

• Opened in 1953

• Current population as of August 15, 2018: 253 (199 in STA, 54 in GTA)

• Two treatment areas:

• General Treatment Area: ICF, NF, General Acute. The GTA is scheduled to close in 2021.

• Secure Treatment Area or Forensic serving individuals who are a danger to themselves or incompetent to stand trial (Penal Code 1370.1). Capacity is 211. STA is the only DDS facility offering competency training thus individuals remain jailed waiting for beds to open.

• The STA is not part of the DDS closure plan.

Fairview Developmental Center

• Located in Costa Mesa, CA in Orange County

• Opened in 1959

• Current population as of August 15, 2018: 104

• Levels of care: ICF, NF, General Acute care

• 5 bed Acute crisis unit called Southern STAR unit

• Short term treatment and stabilization not to exceed 395 days

• Scheduled for closure in 2021 (unofficial target date is 2019)

Canyon Springs Community Facility

• Located in Cathedral City, CA in Riverside County

• Opened in 2000

• Current population as of August 15, 2018: 49

• ICF level of care only

• Transition facility for people moving from a DC

• Specialized treatment planning for sexual offender registrants

• Senate Bill 175 to create Desert STAR unit

• Canyon Springs in not part of the DDS closure plan

Clients’ Rights Advocates • CRAs protect and assert the civil and service rights of all residents residing in California’s

developmental centers and community facility by:

• Investigating alleged rights violations or denial of rights

• File Writs of Habeas Corpus (requests for release)

• File Fair Hearings as necessary; provide technical assistance

• File Welfare & Institutions Code Section 4731 or CCR Title 17 Section 50540 Rights Complaint as needed

• Attend court and assist clients with pending legal matters; consult with court officials

• Attend IPPs, special team meetings, transition meeting

• Review all incident reports and submit recommendations

• Review DC or CF facility policy and procedures for rights violations

• Provide training to DC/CF and vendor staff on clients’ rights, denial of rights, Writs, least restrictive use, etc.

• Provide Self-Advocacy trainings to residents at least twice a year in conjunction with VAS Coordinator

• Liaison with all interdisciplinary team members including Regional Center, Regional Project, Community Vendors, Medical consultants, DHCS and CMS licensing, DDS consultants

CRA Committee Membership at DC/CF

• Human Rights Committee

• Behavior Supports Committee

• Incident Review aka General Events Review and/or Restraints Reviews

• Bioethics Committee

• Regional Project Liaison and Advisory Committee

• Social Sexuality Advisory Committee

• Dysphasia Committee

• Whole Person Review Committee

• Guests of the Community Association aka Parents/Family Association Groups

Volunteer Advocacy Services

• Provide individualized advocacy resources to residents of DC/CFs who have no legally appointed representatives to assist them in making choices or decisions.

• Each DC/CF has a Volunteer Advocacy Coordinator who:

• Recruits, screens, trains, coordinates and monitors the activities of the Volunteer Advocates

• Provides individual advocacy to residents receiving VAS services as necessary

• Provides on-going self-advocacy training, in cooperation with the CRA, through various means such as: consumer self-advocacy groups, People First chapters, etc.

Volunteer Advocates

• Screened for background checks by LiveScan

• Receive training by the VAS and CRA in I/DD service system, person centered planning, advocacy techniques, clients’ rights, working with challenging behaviors, personal boundaries, etc.

• Represent the best interests of the individual when no clear choice is conveyed

• Full access to all client records

• Participate as an interdisciplinary team member

• Attend all IPP related meetings including transition meetings and post placement meetings for up to one year after transition in addition to monthly contacts with each individual

• Notify the facility and VAS Coordinator if clients’ rights violations are suspected

CRA/VAS Roster as of Sept 17, 2018State Developmental Center Staff Person Address Telephone Number E-mail Address

Headquarters Holly Bins Program Manager

3831 North Freeway Blvd., #125 Sacramento, CA 95834

(408) 834-2458 holly.bins@scdd.ca.gov

Canyon Springs CRA

Robbin Puccio 69-696 Ramon Road Cathedral City, CA

92234

(760) 770-6251 robbin.puccio@cs.dds.ca.gov

Canyon Springs VAS Coordinator

Julie Hillstead 69-696 Ramon Road Cathedral City, CA

92234

(760) 770-6238 julie.hillstead1@cs.dds.ca.gov

Fairview VAS Coordinator

Tanzim Arastu 2501 Harbor Blvd WAC Building

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

(714) 957-5082 tanzim.arastu@fdc.dds.cagov

Fairview CRA

Laurie St. Pierre 2501 Harbor Blvd WAC Building

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

(714) 957-5690 laurie.st.pierre@fdc.dds.ca.gov

Sonoma VAS Coordinator

Ross Long Sonoma Developmental Center Nelson A Room 163 Eldridge, CA 95431

(707) 938-6757 ross.long@sonoma.dds.ca.gov

Sonoma CRA

Tobias Weare Sonoma Developmental Center Nelson A Room 161 Eldridge, CA 95431

(707) 938-6501 tobias.weare@sonoma.dds.ca.gov

Sonoma OT

Michele Sloane Sonoma Developmental Center Nelson A Room 162 Eldridge, CA 95431

(707) 938-6398 michele.sloane@sonoma.dds.ca.gov

Porterville VAS Coordinator

Judi Muirhead P.O. Box 2000Porterville, CA 93258

(559) 782-2431 judi.muirhead@pdc.dds.ca.gov

Porterville CRA

Vacant P.O. Box 2000Porterville, CA 93258

(559) 782-2431

Porterville OT Constance Wilson P.O. Box 2000Porterville, CA 93258

(559) 782-2431 connie.wilson@pdc.dds.ca.gov