Sacramento, CA – Senator Mike McGuire will co-host a Town Hall meeting next week to provide a community forum and overview of the issues and future of the Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC).

Senator Mike McGuire will be co-hosting the interactive Town Hall with Congressman Mike Thompson, Senator Lois Wolk, Assemblymember Bill Dodd, Assemblymember Marc Levine and Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Susan Gorin. The Director of the State Department of Developmental Services, Santi Rogers, will be presenting along with representatives from the Parent Hospital Association (the Assn. represents SDC residents and their family members) and the Sonoma Developmental Center Coalition/Transform SDC (the Coalition is made up of the County of Sonoma, Sonoma Land Trust, elected officials and community leaders from the Sonoma Valley).

The public is encouraged to attend, offer comments and feedback on the transition plan and closure process. A more detailed agenda will be available the middle of next week.

Here are the list of speakers:

1. Department of Developmental Services: Director Santi Rogers
2. Comments from the Sonoma County Legislative delegation:
   • Congressman Mike Thompson
   • Senator Mike McGuire
   • Senator Lois Wolk
   • Assemblymember Bill Dodd
   • Assemblymember Mark Levine
   • Supervisor Susan Gorin
3. Kathleen Miller, President, Parent Hospital Association
4. John McCaul, Sonoma Land Trust, representing the Sonoma Developmental Center Coalition/Transform SDC
5. Questions and Conversation

“Our top priority is the residents of the SDC, many of whom have called the Center home for decades. We want this transition process to be transparent, thoughtful and properly funded to ensure SDC residents get the services and programs needed to thrive in the community,” Senator McGuire said. “This Town Hall will be an opportunity for the greater North Bay community to join this important conversation and learn more about the details of the Department’s transition and funding plan and to ensure all are on the same page on what’s to come in the months ahead.”

The Sonoma Developmental Center is one of the longest state-run developmental centers in California. The nearly 400 residents who remain there today are some of the most medically fragile in the developmental services system.

As part of Senator McGuire’s ongoing efforts to work with everyone impacted by the future closure of the Sonoma Developmental Center, he held meetings this week with dozens of families of SDC residents, as well as employees of the developmental center to talk about the transition. These roundtable conversations were co-hosted by Supervisor Susan Gorin and the Department of Developmental Services also participated.

Here are the Sonoma Developmental Center Town Hall Details:

WHAT:  Sonoma Developmental Center Town Hall

WHEN:  Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015 – 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

WHERE:  Altamira Middle School Multipurpose Room, 17805 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, CA 95476

SAVE ROOM: Delectable treats will be available for all attendees.

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