2023-10-25 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. “Your conservatorship is inflicting grave harm on him,” Carl said. “For example, my son has experienced a 150lb weight gain during the period of time because you put him on psychotropic medications. Perhaps that is the only way you can put him in an institutional setting.” Carl accused the regional center of lying to the probate court in order to continue the now seven-year long conservatorship, criticized the fact a deaf service coordinator has yet to be hired despite a Department of Developmental Services directive from April that SGPRC do so. He also noted the presence of Judith Enright, an attorney for the regional center. “Mr. Argila and I go way back, and we agree to disagree to what he’s posted on his website about me,” said Judith Enright, an RC attorney prior to starting the annual training session on whistleblower rights and procedures. A whistleblower policy means to protect those making complaints against RC staff, administration, board of directors, volunteers, contractors, service providers and individuals served and their families, friends or patterns. “Whistleblower complaints are designed to provide just about everybody with a means of complaining or setting forth a concern about something going on at the regional center,” Enright said. “There will be no retaliation. The regional center welcomes the reports” if they are “in good faith.” Official complaints can be made about an individual or groups incompetency, but the complaint may not apply to situations that do not involve gross incompetence. “Not unless someone is grossly incompetent,” she said. “If you run into someone who does not listen to what you say, and ignore the law, and does not appear to understand what they’re supposed to do, then that’s pretty obvious.” Argila’s monthly comments to the board often refer to matters of competency. The complaints have not been put through the whistleblower process, but would be investigated if they were, she said. “[The comments] have become a monthly rant, alleging all kinds of malfeasance and lies and making serious allegations,” said Bruce Cruickshank, SGPRC board member. “Should it be investigated?” Enright did not directly respond to Cruickshank’s question if she feels libeled by what Argila publishes online. “Im not confident to comment on Mr. Argila’s motivations,” she said in response to Cruickshank’s. “There is stuff in there that’s really distasteful to me,” and that she puts effort into living “without concerns about him.” In addition to the complaint process, required linguistics and cultural competency training was provided. Lena Moran-Acereto, principal adviser for Bridging Voices, emphasized inclusion, equity and empathy over competency, “No one is going to be an expert after less than an hour,” Moran-Acereto said. “This is definitely a conversation that is ongoing, a lifetime journey.” People shouldn’t feel defensive over the topic, as people often point out their lack of prejudice and privilege, and that access inclusion occurs as individuals are provided with specific needs as opposed to equally spreading resources, which could result in individuals receiving resources that are not necessarily needed, she said. Moran-Accerete said she is unable to rate the success of SGPRC’s Service Access and Equity Department because of her limited interaction with individuals and families served by the RC, but the opportunity exists for the RC to equally analyze positive and negative feedback. “What we want to do is, and this is so in line with what regional centers do already, follow through on the person centered [experience],” she said. “Don’t base it on your one experience.” The presentation highlighted 13 identities, including gender, religion, class, mental function and appearance, that factor into inequity. Individuals who are not of the economic upper class naturally deal with fewer impediments than those with less money. “What we have discovered in focus group is reasons are lying in barriers,” she said. If passed, Senate Bill 525 will raise health care workers’ minimum wage to $25. Minimum wage for all California workers increases to $16 Jan 1. The state’s minimum will not supersede any minimum wages set at local levels, said Jesse Weller, SGPRC executive director during his monthly report. Weller continues to be optimistic about the direction of the next three-year strategic plan and again emphasized the importance of obtaining as much feedback as possible. Individuals served increased to 16,512 in September, and 171 individuals were found to be eligible for the early start program. The Self Determination Program has 137 enrolled participants.