Posted on the CAPT website
www.psychtechs.net
December 26, 2007

Agnews closure date approaches

With Agnews’ July 2008 scheduled closure date approaching, CAPT pledges to continue its work on behalf of our members and the residents we serve.

EMPLOYEES, FAMILIES CONCERNED

The threat of closure has hung over Agnews for more than a decade, and family, community and union members collectively fought to stop it. But despite our best efforts over these many years, barring another 11th-hour delay, closure appears inevitable for the San Jose facility.

Bargaining Unit 18 members talked about their feelings as the scheduled closure date approaches.

“My concerns are mostly about the clients,” said Ruby Striplin, a Psych Tech Instructor and who has been working for years on closure issues in her capacity as Agnews Chapter President. “The state is so gung ho about moving everyone out into the community, but will everyone have the medical attention and professional staff they need?”

When Agnews closes its doors, it will be the first time that state developmental center residents are moved directly into the community as the result of a facility closure.

While a few individuals with the most complex medical and behavioral needs are expected to be moved to Sonoma Developmental Center, the drive continues to place the majority of remaining Agnews clients in community settings.

Newlywed Michael Pagaduan, a PTA, is concerned about how the closure will impact his job and plans to start a family. But he’s also worried about what will become of the clients he’s worked with for 10 years.

“We’ve been working with them for a long time, and know how to address their behaviors and habits,” he said. “I’m concerned if they will receive the same care that they receive here. I don’t see them getting the same care and treatment in the community homes that they’re pushing clients into.”

Vicky Peralez loves her clients and shares her coworkers’ concerns.

“I’ve been here 23 years and have worked with every different client at Agnews,” said Peralez, a PTA. “I came out here as a student and I fell in love with the individuals. Some are being placed, and it’s sad to see them leave. I always ask how they’re doing in the community.”

Joanie Pepper’s son Brucie lived in Agnews for nearly 30 years. As part of the closure process, Pepper recently moved her son into one of the new “962" community homes for the medically fragile. While Brucie is doing well so far in his new home, his mother notes that these facilities are part of a never-seen- before pilot program and that work on this major program will be ongoing.

“It’s paramount in our minds as parents that our loved ones receive the quality of care they got at Agnews,” said Pepper. “Agnews was a miniature hospital. I wanted it to stay open or at least stay as a mixed-use community. We hope we continue to have that good quality of care at Brucie’s new home.”

WHAT’S AHEAD?

CAPT will continue working with family groups, legislators and department representatives so clients can continue to receive quality care and workers can find new jobs.

When an official closure notice is issued, the Department of Developmental Services will begin a series of meetings with Striplin and other Bargaining Unit 18 representatives relative to the impact of the closure. Employment options for Agnews workers will include:

Working with clients in the community. As professional staff who have cared for individuals for years -- and even decades -- Agnews workers are concerned about the quality of client care at community homes. CAPT strongly supported 2005’s Assembly Bill 1378 in order to provide consistent professional care, while at the same time preserving Agnews jobs. This law allows staff to work with clients out in the community for two years after the facility closure. The memorandum-of- understanding created as a result of this legislation opens up equivalent community positions for Agnews staff while allowing them to keep their state pay, benefits and union representation.

Transferring to other state facilities. DMH, CDCR and other DDS facilities are clamoring for experienced level-of-care staff. Union representatives will work closely with Bargaining Unit 18 members to help them find employment at our other state facilities, while reducing the stress of transfer as much as possible.

Training and employing PTAs and other unlicensed staff. As part of the millions of dollars of training funding we won this fall, CAPT is seeking priority training status for Agnews PTAs who wish to obtain licensure. Having or working on a license can make it easier for PTAs to find employment in state service, where many of the open positions require licensure. PTAs and other state staff also qualify for many of the staterelated positions becoming available in the community care homes, per our memorandum of understanding.

When the last facility closure happened with Camarillo in 1997, CAPT chapter and state representatives worked hard to place several hundred affected staff, ensuring they could continue making a difference through their efforts in state service. The union will pledges to do the same on behalf of Agnews members.

“This is an uncertain time for staff, clients and families alike,” said Tony Myers, CAPT President and a Lanterman Senior Psych Tech. “We’ll go through every effort to create a smooth transition for everyone involved.”

For more information, contact Agnews Chapter President Ruby Striplin at (800) 926-2278 (13#).