sgprc

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Who Am I and Why This Blog?

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” Mother Teresa

I am the parent of two developmentally disabled Deaf adults and the son of a developmentally disabled parent.

The SGPRC has wreaked havoc on the lives of my children.  My son Cavan was homeless for thirteen months while under SGPRC vendor care.  In this blog I tell my children’s stories.

The State of California's Department of Developmental Services, and the SGPRC, have failed to meet their obligations to developmentally disabled Deaf persons as required by law.  They are now the target of a class action law suit.

Developmentally disabled Deaf persons are a minority within a minority.  In this blog I do what I can to bring attention to this community.

Click here to subscribe to this blog for updates.  Follow this blog on Twitter @CarlArgila #SGPRC.  Contact me at [email protected].

Read Our Family Story...

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Sentenced For Life

Cavan Argila, my intellectually disabled Deaf son, has been “sentenced” to a life-time of incarceration by the State of California’s Department of Developmental Services (DDS). Cavan’s only “crime” is that he is disabled and needs some help.

Cavan is held, against his will, in a group home operated by the DDS. Cavan cannot leave the home unless accompanied by group home staff. Cavan’s family can only visit him by requesting prior permission. Cavan’s family has been in probate court seeking to terminate the conservatorship which allows the DDS to incarcerate Cavan. (Case No. 17STPB10142) At a recent “mandatory settlement conference” an agreement was reached whereby the DDS would establish a number of objectives which, if met, would terminate Cavan’s conservatorship. Subsequently, in an e-mail from the DDS’s attorney Meredith Nixon (Calfornia Bar #240485), the DDS reneged on that agreement. See the following e-mail from Meredith Nixon (https://documents.sgprc.net/2024-04-29%20RE_%20Cavan%20Argila%20Conservatorship%20--%20Mandatory%20Settlement%20Conference.pdf). Therefore, at this time, the DDS has indicated that Cavan’s incarceration is indefinite. If any of this concerns you, we ask that you contact the office of Governor Gavin Newsom (see https://www.gov.ca.gov/contact/) and ask that his office investigate the conservatorship of Cavan Argila. Thank you! Carl Argila www.SGPRC.net

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Cavan Argila Conservatorship Hearing 5/10/2024 at 9:30AM

Our family is desperately seeking to terminate the State of California’s conservatorship of my son Cavan Argila.

Please consider attending the conservatorship probate court hearing remotely as an “interested party” to show support for our family. God bless you!

You may attend the probate court hearing remotely by registering with LA Court Connect (https://my.lacourt.org/laccwelcome). Please allow sufficient time for registration.

The required case information is: Case Number: 17STPB10142 ARGILA, CAVAN -CONSERVATORSHIP

05/10/2024 at 9:30 AM in Probate Department 5 at 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012

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The Real Abuse is Not Physical…

A recent article in the LA Times reported on the abuse of regional center clients, including a SGPRC client (see http://documents.sgprc.net/2024-03-26%20Adults%20With%20Autism.pdf). This is nothing new…

Recall the death of Timothy Cortinas (see https://sgprc.tumblr.com/post/179459354235/the-death-of-timothy-cortinas). The sexual abuse of clients (https://www.sgvtribune.com/2012/05/04/state-halts-funding-for-el-monte-facility-that-employed-man-convicted-of-sexual-assault/). My own son, Cavan Argila, has a permanently maimed pinky finger from a fight with a SGPRC vendor staff; to my knowledge the staff was never disciplined.

I believe that abuse of regional center clients is greatly under reported. Although regional centers have mechanisms in place to report abuse (the "special incident report"), service coordinators understand that vendors are hard pressed to hire competent staff. Maybe, in their mind, some level of client abuse is "tolerable?"

Also, we should remember that the current regional center system has its roots in the institutional system which inflicted grave harm on so many vulnerable innocents (see https://sgprc.tumblr.com/post/169171285085/engendering-an-institutional-mentality); this may be a cultural issue as much as a reporting issue.

I believe that state licensing and paying living wages would bring professional caregivers into the regional center system -- but who would pay for that?

My experiences of the past twenty-five years lead me to one conclusion: self determination. In my opinion the best and safest option for most regional center clients is services which a client has control over -- it's called accountability! Possibly family provided services. Thank God for those parents who had the courage, wherewithal and fortitude to pioneer the Self-Determination Program, which has created a good life for my son, Gerardo Argila.

All of the above being said, that's not the point of this blog post.

I believe that the real abuse inflicted on most regional center clients is denying those precious souls the tools to achieve their life potential -- their hopes and dreams. It may be hyperbole, but I believe that regional centers are where hopes and dreams go to die. That's been my observation.

As I've attempted to document on this blog, my son Cavan Argila lived his dream as a truck unloader at WalMart for nine years until family provided services for him were terminated. Regional center services led to Cavan's unemployment, homelessness and ultimately conservatorship. Conservatorship by the regional center itself!

God help our children!

Carl Argila www.SGPRC.net

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If It Looks Like A Duck…

…walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it just may be a duck. (Walter Reuther)

California's twenty-one regional centers perform the function of government agencies. Functionally they are branches of the State of California's Department of Developmental Services. The regional centers perform assessments to determine whether or not applicants are eligible to receive government funded services. They monitor how those services are implemented and they report their findings to the DDS, a government agency. However, these twenty-one regional centers are not government agencies; they are private, non-profit corporations under contract to the State of California. A distinction without a difference? Not quite. It seems that the twenty-one regional centers are also above the law.

As documented on this blog, it's a tough slog to hold regional centers accountable. I allege that the San Gabriel Pomona Regional Center) (SGPRC) has blatantly violated the Lanterman Act in their management of my son Cavan Argila's case and Cavan's subsequent conservatorship by the DDS. I believe that documents maintained by the SGPRC would show how tax payer funds were spent inappropriately, and possibly illegally, in terminating family provided services for Cavan and pursuing DDS conservatorship of Cavan. I can't obtain those documents using a California Freedom of Information Act request. Executive director Jesse Weller explains why in his April 2, 2024 letter to me (see https://documents.sgprc.net/2024-04-02%20FOIA%20Response.pdf).

This duck not only walks and quacks but it also stinks.

Carl Argila www.SGPRC.net

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Cavan Argila Conservatorship Hearing 2/23 at 9:30AM…

Our family is desperately seeking to terminate the State of California’s conservatorship of my son Cavan Argila.

Please consider attending the conservatorship probate court hearing remotely as an “interested party” to show support for our family. God bless you!

You may attend the probate court hearing remotely by registering with LA Court Connect (https://my.lacourt.org/laccwelcome). Please allow sufficient time for registration.

The required case information is: Case Number: 17STPB10142 ARGILA, CAVAN -CONSERVATORSHIP

02/23/2024 at 9:30 AM in Probate Department 5 at 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 Appointment Hearing - Conservator

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Judge Humberto Flores

This blog post concerns administrative law judge Humberto Flores (California Bar No. 84799). The opinions expressed are solely my own.

I allege that administrative law judge Humberto Flores crafted a Lanterman Act Fair Hearing [https://www.dds.ca.gov/general/appeals-complaints-comments/fair-hearings-complaint-process/] decision (No. 2015030338) which was biased in favor of the San Gabriel Pomona Regional Center [https://www.sgprc.org/]. The ultimate result of Judge Flores’ decision was the decompensation of my son Cavan Argila’s life. This included loss of employment, homelessness [https://sgprc.tumblr.com/post/160104975670/how-to-become-homeless-on-10000-a-month] and ultimately conservatorship by the State of California [https://sgprc.tumblr.com/post/667770604157616128/britney-spears-is-free-cavan-is-not].

In this blog post I document various aspects of this case in an attempt to seek justice for my son. I hope that my efforts will be of benefit for those who seek to create a more just system for our developmentally disabled children.

Background

As documented on this blog, my son Cavan, an intellectually disabled Deaf man, lived independently, in his own apartment, working as a truck unloader at WalMart. All of this changed on February 1, 2015 when the SGPRC terminated fourteen years of family provided services for Cavan. The SGPRC was unable to resume providing services for Cavan, with their own vendor, for nearly six weeks.

The failure of the SGPRC to provide services for my son for nearly six weeks became the issue of a fair hearing complaint filed by me. First, I wanted an administrative law judge to rule that a regional center could not simply stop providing services for a client without providing alternative services; this is a matter of clients’ health and safety. Second, I hoped that a judge would grant our family reimbursement for the limited services that we were able to provide over this transition period.

Judge Flores Decision

The face-to-face hearing was straight forward. The SGPRC and I agreed to the hearing issues. At the time the hearing ended the agreed to issues were:

I was stunned when I read Judge Flores decision and learned that he had changed the agreed to issues after the case was submitted. Judge Flores’ revised issues were:

Judge Flores then wrote a decision, based on his rewritten issues, which favored the San Gabriel Pomona Regional Center.

The Role of Judith Enright

I represented my son Cavan at this hearing. The SGPRC was represented by their long time attorney Judith Enright. I allege that Ms. Enright made false statements at this hearing. In fact, I subsequently filed a complaint with the California Bar Association [https://sgprc.tumblr.com/post/672870836065222656/who-is-judith-enright-and-why-should-you-care].

The Role of Disability Rights California

Early on in this process I contacted our Clients’ Rights Advocate, Aimee Delgado of Disability Rights California. Ms. Delgado came to my son’s apartment, accompanied by her assistant and an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter. Sadly Ms. Delgado could not understand the sense of desperation in Cavan’s “voice” as he pleaded, through the ASL interpreter, for help so that he could keep his family provided services. Ms. Delgado told Cavan that she was unable to take on his case and that he should “cooperate with the regional center.”

Ultimately Disability Rights California filed a class action law suit against the Department of Developmental Services on behalf of all Deaf regional center clients, including Cavan [https://sgprc.tumblr.com/post/617780793210716160/dds-target-of-class-action-law-suit].

Lessons Learned

Regional centers are not government agencies and their workers are not government employees. If regional centers satisfy their contractual obligations under the Lanterman Act it is because they choose to do so. If regional centers fail to meet their obligations under the Lanterman Act they can use tax payer funds to thwart accountability. Most aggrieved parents will never have the resources to find justice for their children in this one-sided system.

Another lesson learned is that those appointed to protect our children’s rights, such as Disability Rights California, may choose, at their discretion, to not “get involved.”

Today my son, Cavan Argila, resides in a group home. Cavan is not employed. His days are spent being bussed to various parks and shopping malls – they call it his “day program.” The State of California is his conservator. His life as an independent Deaf man is over. I will continue to do what I can to bring justice to my son’s life.

Carl Argila

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Cavan Argila Conservatorship Hearing 10/13 at 9:30AM...

Our family is desperately seeking to terminate the State of California's conservatorship of my son Cavan. Please consider attending the conservatorship probate court hearing remotely as an "interested party" to show support for our family. God bless you!

You may attend the probate court hearing remotely by registering with LA Court Connect (https://my.lacourt.org/laccwelcome). Please allow sufficient time for registration.

The required case information is: Case Number: 17STPB10142 ARGILA, CAVAN -CONSERVATORSHIP 10/13/2023 at 9:30 AM in Probate Department 5 at 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 Appointment Hearing - Conservator

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Cavan Argila -- Month #27

My son, Cavan Argila, an intellectually disabled Deaf man, begins his twenty-seventh month of conservatorship by the state of California.

At 350 pounds, Cavan is morbidly obese and is on track to develop obesity related conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, chronic kidney disease, and more. Cavan is already displaying stasis dermatitis, a sign of vascular insufficiency. Our family believes that Cavan's enormous weight gain over a relatively short period of time is due to medications Cavan is being given; medications with metabolic effects.

This is Cavan at 190 pounds, prior to conservatorship.

Please read this blog to learn how Cavan got from "then" to "now."

Our family is fighting vigorously to terminate Cavan's conservatorship and bring Cavan back to a normal, productive life. The state of California, however, is fighting us every step of the way with legal maneuvers which we could never match.

We're trying something new. At a recent IPP meeting Cavan asked the IPP team to include an objective for developing independence and independent living. The objective includes terminating Cavan's conservatorship.

Can a conserved regional center client be freed from conservatorship by an IPP objective?!!

We ask members of our community to continue to keep Cavan in mind. Please don't forget my son!

Sincerely,

Carl Argila

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I Object to the Settlement Agreement

Our family first became involved with the “regional center system” in 1999 when my son Gerardo, an intellectually disabled Deaf man, entered a regional center placement. Within weeks Gerardo was hospitalized – the first hospitalization of his life – as a result of failed vendor services.

Over the subsequent months and years it became obvious that our local regional centers had no services for Deaf persons and that Deaf clients, like my children, were simply “force fitted” into existing vendor programs, whether or not those programs were actually capable of providing services for Deaf clients. Regional centers had no Deaf persons managing or supervising those programs.

It was therefore an enormous relief, twenty years later, when On April 30, 2020 Disability Rights California and Disability Rights Advocates filed a Class Action complaint in the United States District Court, San Francisco (see McCullough v. California Department of Developmental Services). This complaint alleges that the failure of California’s Department of Developmental Services (DDS) to meet the needs of developmentally disabled Deaf persons “has been devastating.” See DDS Target of Class Action Law Suit.

Fast forward to today. We now have a “settlement agreement” in which DDS has agreed to certain conditions in exchange for dropping the class action law suit against DDS.

I object to the settlement agreement. See Objection to Settlement.

The basis for my objection is five-fold:

1. DDS denies all of the claims in the lawsuit.” In fact, DDS and their regional centers overtly discriminated against Deaf clients and refused to hire a Deaf service coordinator. See https://sgprc.tumblr.com/post/617780793210716160/dds-target-of-class-action-law-suit

2. Plan to Enhance Services for Individuals Who Are Deaf…” At our regional center, the San Gabriel Pomona Regional Center (SGPRC), these “enhanced services” mean giving titles like “Service Coordinator for the Deaf…” without the person having the necessary qualifications. It’s cosmetic change which won’t make a substantive difference in the lives of my Deaf children.

At minimum, all persons working with Deaf clients should have an American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI) administered by Gallaudet University.

3. Monitoring Implementation of the Agreement.” In my opinion the SGPRC has a long history of “gaming” systems intended to oversee the quality of services delivered to their clients.

Any Settlement Agreement should be monitored by members of the Deaf community. Notably, California State University Northridge (CSUN) maintain strong Deaf Education and Deaf Studies departments – they should be a part of any monitoring activity. Other relevant organizations include: the California Association of the Deaf, the National Association of the Deaf and Gallaudet University.

4. Attorney Fees and Costs.” In my opinion, it is outrageous that Disability Rights California and Disability Rights Advocates would receive over one million dollars for work which is part of their tax payer funded mandate by the State of California.

5. These lawsuits did not seek monetary damages. Class representatives and class members will not receive money as part of the Settlement Agreement.” The lives of these class members, including my children, have been profoundly and irrevocably altered. A goldmine of human resources has been squandered. Lives which had intent and purpose have been spent in desperation and frustration. Dreams have been shattered.

In my opinion, the class members should be awarded financial settlements, held in special needs trusts, with the understanding that these funds are to be spent in ways directed by individual class members for their own benefit and enjoyment.

Class members, including my children, have the right to withdraw from this settlement agreement but they must do so prior to August 16, 2023.

Carl Argila www.SGPRC.net

A response to my objection was received from Disability Rights California / Disability Rights Advocates. Their response corrects certain factual errors in my original post. Please see response.

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2023-06-28 SGPRC Board Meeting (Full Video)

We have been advised by the First Amendment Coalition (www.FirstAmendmentCoalition.org) that this video recording may be posted for public review in accordance with the Bagley-Keene Act.

During public comments, parent advocate Carl Argila asked the Board to terminate their conservatorship of his son Cavan Argila.

SGPRC Board of Directors President Gisele Ragusa, who became president before the pandemic, discussed her resignation from the board prior to the meeting. The official announcement was made later on.

She credited a number of individuals for their efforts. Several members and executive director Jesse Weller thanked her for her support and guidance.

“On behalf of the board, thank you for your incredible dedication,” said Bill Stewart. “Thank you for your leadership.”

Ragusa served six years on the board, including three as its executive director.

The new director is yet to be determined, but is expected to be chosen/elected by the board during July’s meeting. Four others, Mary Soldato, Preeti Subramaniam, Natalie Webber, Susan Stroebel and Wendy Ly are also resigning.

The incoming board members, all of who were approved at the meeting, are Sam Yi, a former board president, Rachel Mcgrath who previously served on the Community Relations Legislative Advisory Committee, current CRLAC member Paula Rodarte, Phillip Loy, current member of the Advisory Committee for Individuals Served and Their Families, and new Vendor Advisory Committee Chairperson Chris Schlanser.

Bruce Cruickshank showed concern over a “bumpy ride” that will result from a smaller budget the new board and all California RC’s are expected manage.

“We’re running a massive surplus for this year, over $50 million,” Cruickshank said during the Executive Finance Committee’s report. “It looks like next year the good times are not going to be rolling anymore.”

The budget is still unknown, but cuts are assured.

“We’re preparing,” said Dara Mikesell. “I don’t see that we won’t meet our obligations with purchase of service. Unfortunately there is that unknown factor until we get that full budget.”

#Youtube

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2023-05-24 SGPRC Board Meeting (Full Video)

We have been advised by the First Amendment Coalition (www.FirstAmendmentCoalition.org) that this video recording may be posted for public review in accordance with the Bagley-Keene Act.

During public comments, parent advocate Carl Argila asked Executive Director Jesse Weller and the board of directors to be honest in probate court reports when Argila presents his petition in June to end the regional center’s conservatorship over Cavan Argila, his hearing-impaired son.  Argila said Cavan thrived under family provided services until former SGPRC Executive Director Keith Penman terminated those services in 2015, and transferred Cavan’s care to a regional center vendor under which Cavan lost his job and became homeless despite $10,000 monthly payments to that vendor, twice the amount paid to Cavan’s family for home provided services. Penman placed Cavan under SGPRC’s official conservatorship in 2018.  “I’m requesting again that you end the conservatorship and that you not thwart the petition that will be heard on June 9, so that we can finally resolve this nightmare for our family.”  

The regional center maintains a surplus in operations and purchasing costs, according to the RC’s May financial report. Categories for purchase of service costs include out of home expenses, day programs, transportation, respite and other services.

The contracts discussed and approved consisted of housing or medical items. Board of Directors President Gisele Ragusa expressed intrigue and optimism over the discussion and approval of a contract with California Mentor, a family home agency providing specialized residential homes and other living services that has been working with the SGPRC since 1999.

The agency currently has 25 adult family homes in the SGPRC service area, serving 34 individuals.  This contract approval allows for individuals served to live with their children who are minors.

“This is indeed a unique opportunity for individuals served, particularly though that may not have family members,” Ragusa said. “I’ve been particularly intrigued by this service position.”

Home providers go through an intense training program in order to participate, said Tim Travis. Homes are reviewed, certain requirements for the home, ongoing training, background checks, even individuals who visit the homes on recurring bases are vetted.  

“The agency goes through a recruiting process,” Travis said. “They are at a lot of public and civic events looking for individuals who would like to receive the appropriate training to open their homes.”

An approval of two new contracts with the non-profit Brilliant Corners housing development organization allows for the purchase and renovation of two homes to be leased to service providers that are determined later. Currently, the housing development organization oversees 13 homes in the service area. Acquisition and renovation of the four-bedroom homes, one designated for four adults and one for four children with severe behavioral challenges, will occur this year. Funds for this contract come from the Department of Developmental Services’ community resource development plan.  

Travis highlighted recent news of LA County planning to move a more than typical number of individuals out of juvenile halls.

“Unfortunately, I don’t think we’ll have the resource ready in the next 90 days, but I wish we did,” Travis said.

A new contract with Columbus was approved. Columbus provides specialists in the area of nursing, equipment and technology assistance and speech and language pathology.

“We would love to have hired staff instead of contracted providers,” said Hortencia Taffoya, resource developer for the SGPRC. “We are working on plan to bring staff along. It is working.  Jesse Weller has created some part time positions. For some reason, people are more interested in part time positions.”

Board member Pretti Subramaniam reported during the Advisory Committee for Individuals Served and Their Families report that 115 individuals within the regional center are now enrolled in the self-determination program. Weller thanked SGPRC staff for working to drive enrollments.  

Vendor Advisory Committee Chairperson Susan Stroebel reported that 133,000 individuals statewide are expected to transition to adult services in the next four years, and expressed concerns of SGPRC’s preparedness.

“Just about every program is short staffed at this point,” Stroebel said. “The vendors have started to organize to make sure legislatures are aware of the issues, the barriers to hiring and retaining qualified staff. 35 vendors have agreed to participate.”

Ragusa pointed out the presence of many vendors in the meeting and thanked them for their work.

“We know it’s a very challenging time,” she said. “Anything we can do to support that legislative effort, we will.”

Weller asked attendees during the executive director’s summary to not panic at the news of projected budget cuts.

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2023-04-26 SGPRC Board Meeting (Full Video)

We have been advised by the First Amendment Coalition (www.FirstAmendmentCoalition.org) that this video recording may be posted for public review in accordance with the Bagley-Keene Act.

During public comments, parent advocate Carl Argila criticized the regional center’s notice of action denying requests for a Deaf service coordinator for his Deaf sons, citing noncompliance with the legislation.  Carl Argila requested that the SGPRC terminate their conservatorship of his son, Cavan Argila.

The San Gabriel Pomona Regional Center Board of Directors approved a $264,000 contract with the Children Dental Fund Zone in West Covina for an interceptive orthodontic program designed to benefit children six to nine years old. The SGPRC and Frank Lanterman Regional Center in Los Angeles will each enroll 10 children in the two-year pilot program.

Director of Client Services Lucian Garza said this treatment is meant to improve the quality of life earlier in the developmental stage, before they establish permanent teeth. The program’s results will then be presented to other entities.

“It’s going to cost less if we fix it up front, rather than we do it later in life,” she said. “Fixing the overcrowding and dentation issues, that’s the hope.”

The BOD amended a 2022 contract with Columbus, raising the payout for three specialists, a bilingual nurse, nurse practitioner, and a speech and language pathologist, to $516,000. Resource Developer Hortencia Tafoya said the amendment reflects deserved compensation due to rate changes and staff additions.

“Three people for 516,000 bucks, that’s pretty sweet,” said Bruce Cruickshank.

Tafoya and BOD President Gisele Ragusa both attributed the high costs to the industry’s current nursing shortage.

“We are very pleased we can use them this way,” Tafoya said.

SGPRC will rely on Columbus to meet client’s health and safety needs, but Executive Director Jesse Weller said internal salary structures should be reviewed for future considerations.

“It is important for the board to know we are trying to actively recruit, but our salary structures for our clinical staff are quite compressed,” Weller said. “Simultaneously, we need to look at salary structures for actual staff positions. We can navigate outside of the contractual piece as much as we can.”

During his director’s report, Weller specified the 30 job openings the regional center is attempting to fill, 13 of which are service coordinators, a mental health specialist, and an IT director. The number of individuals served continues to increase, to more than 16,000 as of April, up from the previous high of 15,830 set in March 31.  Weller credits the admissions department for bringing individuals in. Enrollments in the Self Determination have increased to 110.

“We continue to grow as a regional center, which is fantastic.”

Weller said SGPRC is partnering with the Association of Regional Center Agencies for a Mental Health Services Act grant request. The funding aims to improve the state’s behavioral health system to better serve those with and at risk of serious mental health issues as well as their families.

Collaboration and communication between regional centers, behavioral health centers, substance abuse agencies, and law enforcement is intended to increase under this project, he said.  

Weller also announced his appointment to Office of Administrative Hearings Lanterman Act Hearing Advisory Committee, for which he will attend semiannual meetings throughout a three-year term.  

“It is exciting that we can have SGPRC at the table providing a voice on how to improve processes,” Weller said.

Weller also hopes to host monthly “Coffee in The Community with Jesse” events for any providers or community members interested in hosting Weller. These meetings are open to the public, he said.

DDS directed regional centers to reimburse employees for up to $10,000 in tuition. Regional centers have 60 days to submit their specific plans for the process.

“We think this is a great thing for retention and recruiting,” Weller said.

Argila referenced a lawsuit on behalf of nearly 5,000 deaf clients against the SGPRC regarding the center’s lack of a deaf service coordinator, a position Argila claims is compliant with the Lantern Act’s requirement for hiring coordinators with the linguistic and cultural competency required to work with the deaf community.    

DDS and the State Council of Developmental Disabilities are partnering to provide orientation training that is in addition to training provided by the SGPRC, said Albert Feliciano, advocate for the SCDD and Westside Regional Center.  The orientations are also available in Spanish and Vietnamese. Feliciano also noted monthly self-advocacy meetings comprised of advocates scheduled for the first Thursday of every month at 1 p.m.

[sgprc]

2023-03-22 SGPRC Board Meeting (Full Video)

We have been advised by the First Amendment Coalition (www.FirstAmendmentCoalition.org) that this video recording may be posted for public review in accordance with the Bagley-Keene Act.

During public comments, parent advocate Carl Argila criticized the regional center’s notice of action denying requests for a Deaf service coordinator for his Deaf sons, citing noncompliance with the legislation.   “The Lanterman Act makes repeated references to the need for linguistic and cultural competency in services and support,” Argila said, citing WIC section 4622 (g)(1). “This fails to serve the Deaf Community as a cultural and linguistic minority.”

San Gabriel Pomona Regional Center Board of Directors approved funds for a million dollar project to secure five one-bedroom affordable housing units for SGPRC clients in an under construction Downtown Pomona apartment complex.

“It’s a great win,” said Lucina Garza, director of community relations. “We’ve been wanting to do this for the community.”

Rent will correlate to 30% of the average median income, which could be less than $300 monthly for clients on social security, she said.  SGPRC’s previous bid for affordable housing was denied in 2021.  

“We are now entering the world of affordable housing,” she said.

Increases in purchase of service costs can be attributed to a return to traditional services and rate modifications, said Dara Mikesell, Associate Director of Community Services. In-person services returned in full this year.

The Alternative service model ended at the start of the year, but a Department of Developmental Services’ directive continues to keep remote care options available through December 2023 to certain individuals in adult day, independent living, behavior development and infant development programs if they requested by client and families and deemed appropriate, Garza said.

“Some families and individuals prefer [remote] because they are still anxious about covid,” Garza said. “For some it works well, because they learned to like the remote service, kind of like college students. It’s not for everyone.”

Mary Soldato, SGPRC BOD client member, said she prefers in-person care because of the more dynamic nature of the function which allows more movement indoors and out.

In some cases, alternative services meant a shortening of days or limits and changes to certain services like drop off times and meeting places, such as meeting backyard and patios instead of indoors. Differing services were not exclusively remote.

“In terms of early intervention int was super hard to keep them engaged in a video screen, but for other kids it let their parent or caregiver to be more hands on,” said SGPRC BOD VAC Chairperson Susan Stroebel. “I know for some kids that were nonspeaking, it made them work really hard at their typing skills, and their typing skills improved remotely. For some people there are some magnificent stories, and for some it didn’t just go well.”

Financial reports on allocations, operations, purchase of services and restricted purchase of services will now be presented differently. Mikesell hopes the new format will make reports easier to understand.

Treasurer Bill Stewart said an easier understanding of finances will lead to improvements in all around focus.

“What I was trying to do is make the financial performance easier to understand, and that we really focus on the key metrics,” Stewart said. “What does our unencumbered budget look like? How does that compare to our budget? How can we look at trends month-to-month, and put things in context so we can understand the financial health?”

Vendors continue to struggle finding new employees qualified to work for clients, according to the Vendor Advisory Report, but as expressed in this and previous meetings, the desire to serve additional clients also continues.  Parent advocate Teiyana Muse inquired about improving outreach to potential clients and their families during a discussion regarding a strategic planning presentation.

“I have had nothing but successes through regional centers, and it really amazes me because some parents, they don’t know about the regional center,” Muse said. “If we don’t feel like were’ being treated equally, how do we address that?  and what steps do we take? As the African American community, or just the communities, period, the people within the communities, how do we address, or how do we reach out to different communities, different cultures?”

SGPRC Executive Director Jessie Weller, SGPRC Board President Gisele Ragusa, Manager of Communications and Public Relations Yvonne Gratianne, and Garza mentioned more than several outreach methods, including values regarding engagement, use of a family resource center, monthly meetings, participating in the strategic planning process, outreach to hospitals and elected officials who in turn promote the RC, fairs and similar events and activities, and use of community outreach specialists.

[sgprc]

2023-02-22 SGPRC Board Meeting (Full Video)

We have been advised by the First Amendment Coalition (www.FirstAmendmentCoalition.org) that this video recording may be posted for public review in accordance with the Bagley-Keene Act.

During public comments, Carl Argila said San Gabriel Pomona Regional Center Executive Director Jason Weller’s long-awaited letter to Argila regarding recent and longstanding inquiries fell short of expectations after hoping the new director may be “an agent for change.”

Weller “incorrectly” cites Title 17 [Section 50540], a state regulation protecting due-process rights, and fails to acknowledge the lawsuit on behalf of deaf clients against the SGPRC, Argila said.

“Sadly, the only thing I can do is bring about violations of the Lanterman Act, but it does not compensate for the lack of leadership,” he said.

During his executive report, Weller expressed optimism toward several items, including the prospect of assembly bills awaiting the state legislature’s vote.

AB 649 removes generic service and resource mandates Weller cites as barriers to best utilizing resources. Regional centers are prohibited from purchasing services already made available through Medi-Cal, Medicare and private insurance. Current law limits dental services for individuals three years or older unless there it is determined by appeal process that the request has merit.  

“This is an exciting one for our system if this passes,” Weller said.

The purpose of AB 1147, the Disability Equity and Accountability Act, is to eliminate disparities and increase transparency statewide.  If passed, the Department of Developmental Services will evaluate regional centers and establish metrics by 2024.

"We are really focused on eliminating disparities,” Weller said before adding that the Association of Regional Center Awareness has yet to take a position on the bill.

Regional centers may apply for grant funding through the Mental Health Services Act that aims to better serve individuals with, and at risk of, serious mental health issues, and their families, Weller said. Applications are due March 17.  

“Hortencia [Tafoya] and her team are reviewing our needs, and seeing if this is something we can pursue, and if we have resources to pursue,” Weller said. “Other regional centers are collaborating with each other to see if there can be some joint projects with this funding.”

Weller said he is excited about the Coordinated Family Support pilot program, a new service for adults who choose to live with families. He also encouraged promotion and attendance of upcoming “critical” Purchase of Service Expenditure Meetings, public meetings that highlight expenditures relative to age, ethnicity, age, disabilities and areas of residence.

The SGPRC received 299 new referrals for Early Start Admissions in January, 167 of whom were found eligible for Early Start Services. Weller credited the clinical team for eligibility and the admissions department for helping increase the numbers.

“It’s a great sign,” Weller said. “It means we’re connecting with people. We’re serving individuals.”

Starting in March, meetings with vendors will take place monthly instead of weekly.  Feedback from vendors showed that the frequency of meetings should be reduced.  They were originally increased in frequency because of the pandemic, Weller said. These meetings are in addition to Vendor Advisory Committee meetings.

Albert Feliciano, advocate for the State Council of Developmental Disabilities and Westside Regional Center said SCDD’s office offers Self Determination orientations in English, Spanish and Vietnamese, and participants receive certificates upon completion. The LA office is also hosting a monthly roundtable for independent facilitators to share and discuss information. Feliciano said he is currently creating a list of IFs, expanding the list from solely LA County names to include IFs throughout the state.

February’s Board of Directors meeting featured mental-health focused training presented by Dr. Stephen Mouton, clinical psychologist for the SGPRC and policy liaison for Los Angeles County’s seven regional centers.

Directions were provided on steps and procedures for handling potential crises, as well as the differences between common hospitals and health facilities designated for mental health crises through the DDS. It is recommended clients visit designated locations, such as the Las Encinas Psychiatric Hospital in Pasadena, or Charter Oak in Covina.  

“A crisis means different things to different people,” Mouton said, highlighting events that may affect a family but not necessitate action from health professionals or police. “To a family, a crisis is when a family member is out of control, or not listening, or they won’t complying, or having some kind of aggressive behaviors,” whereas “police or a hospital that may be responding to a request for an assessment, they are looking for is that the client or person a danger to themselves or others due to a psychiatric disorder, or currently gravely disabled.”

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2023-01-25 SGPRC Board Meeting (Full Video)

We have been advised by the First Amendment Coalition (www.FirstAmendmentCoalition.org) that this video recording may be posted for public review in accordance with the Bagley-Keene Act.

Parent Advocate Carl Argila chastised the San Gabriel Pomona Regional Center Board of Directors during public comments for not previously mentioning the active class action lawsuit against them alleging failures to serve deaf clients. He asked the board to provide monthly updates on the matter.  

Argila followed up previous requests for San Gabriel Pomona Regional Center Executive Director Jason Weller to terminate the regional center’s conservatorship over his son. Argila initiated this request in 2021, before Weller’s hiring in 2022, and expressed disappointment toward Weller’s inability to follow up on that, as well as the request to rescind the previous executive director’s notice of action to refuse the hiring of a deaf-service coordinator. Weller acknowledged the comments and said he will make note of them.

Regarding the overall state of the Self Determination Program, Weller said the regional centers have done a good job enrolling people into SDP, “but in the statewide discussions, the numbers still seem on the lower side.”

“The regional center addressed the big policy change in the form of centralization,” said Daniela Santana about SGPRC’s covid-hindered program with 98 current enrollees. “We took that model from [the East Los Angeles Regional Center],” and that “several [regional centers] are choosing to centralize, and everybody is just trying to make things better, quite frankly. We have definitely improved. You see it with the numbers. But the fact of the matter is we continue to struggle for various reasons. Some of them include the fact that our [Financial Management Services] are lacking. We’ve lost some.”

Jeanette Cabrerea hopes enrollments increase as current barriers weaken through increased training methods. The SDP pilot program received 850 inquiries for enrollment prior to the pandemic.

“They are understaffed,” Cabrerea said. “This causes delays in transitioning participants into SDP. This also causes delays in hiring SDP participant provides,” and “participants are having a difficult time acclimating to their role as the SDP employer. Also, some of our participants are challenged by not having a device available to them, or not having the skill level to download certain documents. They’re not able to utilize DocuSign. All these create barriers in transitioning individuals. Because of these barriers you may see the numbers drop. Previously we were enrolling anywhere from five to ten individuals per month, and now we might see that drop until we can adjust and support our FMS providers.”

Cabrerea said training FMS funds will be used to create training opportunities, such as a session on Feb 27, a waiting room that serves as a support group for SDP participants, a future technology training session, and instructional videos.

Susan Stroebel said families at a recent neurology clinic said they themselves are best qualified to write the plans and needed training to be able to do so. Dara Mikesell, SGPRC Chief Financial Officer, reported $14 million in 2023 expenditures with $30 million remaining, and that 60 new service coordinators will be hired this year in order to decrease caseloads.  

Luisa Garza, SGPRC Director of Client Services, said the signed policy from 2005 requiring vendors to be insured for items like commercial liability, workers comp, and sexual abuse cannot be found, and requested an updated version of the policy be signed and available.  Weller asked to make sure the policy is as modernized as possible prior to committee presentations.

The Coordinated Family Support program now requires service provision to include language appropriateness and cultural awareness, said Wendy Lai during the Advisory Committee for Individuals Served report.  Lai also shared that appeal processes must also include language appropriateness and cultural awareness.  

The inability for vendors to hire new qualified employees persists despite statewide efforts to promote working for individuals with disabilities. The new group of young adults expected to transition from public education to adult services in May could be impacted by a waiting list for services.

“It is a scary situation for vendors who can’t find employees,” Stroebel said, repeating concerns from her December report. “The good news is there is some really excellent training available to vendors,” through grants, but that “the attendance isn’t what we were hoping for.”  

Board of Directors President Gisele Ragusa agreed with the recommendation to reach out to younger populations in high schools and community colleges, and said she will help with coordinated efforts to promote and create jobs fairs.

[sgprc]

Please Don’t Forget My Son...

Please don’t forget that my son, Cavan Argila, remains confined in a group home, against his will, the only Deaf resident.  Cavan has only limited communication access and no access to the Deaf community.  The State of California’s Department of Developmental Services (DDS) has refused to terminate their conservatorship of Cavan.  Cavan wants to be with his family and become active within the Deaf community.  See https://sgprc.tumblr.com/post/667770604157616128/britney-spears-is-free-cavan-is-not

On October 13th, 2022 we appeared before Superior Court judge Michael Small for a “show cause” hearing.  He took no action but ordered the parties to appear again in six months.