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The President’s ViewREFUSING TO GIVE INOur field and the environment inwhich we work is constantly changing.Whether we are implementing newtreatment models, operating and settingup new programs or downsizing units for closure, we are alwaysready to adjust and accept a new challenge. Psych Techs andrelated professionals such as PTAs are a unique group of peoplewho possess resiliency, adaptability and commitment. No matterwhat the task, our group of professionals are ready to deliver andrespond.actively involved in identifying issues with the alarm systems andworking out solutions to ensure that areas of concern are dealt withimmediately. We must do all that we can to prevent another horrifictragedy, like that at Napa, from ever occurring again.CorrectionsAs Corrections expands its mandatory inmate care, ourservices are needed in higher numbers. Fading positions withinDDS are being offset to a limited extent with new positions withinCDCR. With so much going on in Corrections, we addressed theWhat are some of the issues that we are faced with currently? makeup of the chapter and split it in two, Northern and SouthernChapters. In so doing, we have opened up additional opportunitiesDevelopmental Servicesfor activists to become more involved, to be effective voices andrepresentatives for our members. The many members that haveAt DDS, we are once again facing the inevitable reality of accepted the challenge to work in this department have helpeddownsizing and closures. I have been an activist since 2006 and pave the way and have brought much needed improvements. Evenin that time, I’ve seen the closure of two developmental centers: though the department is very challenging to deal with, Psych TechsAgnews (2009) and Lanterman (2014). The push to continue this refuse to give in and are speaking louder and clearer than ever toprocess is not slowing down, but only getting louder and it is all for hold the line firm on our hard-earned rights. As with post and bid,the sake of the bottomline. We argue and defend for the lives and we’ve seen management try to make adjustments to successful bidcrucial services of California’s most vulnerable citizens. There are positions before addressing a management position. Our activiststhose that see closures as a solution only through the eyes of saving and members are diligent in reminding management and holdingmoney. Fairview, Sonoma, Porterville and Community Facilities them accountable to their contractual obligations.still remain and we are doing all we can to halt this unnecessarymovement. CAPT is in the process of reaching out to other unionsThere is much to do and the battles seem to never end, but we areand groups to form a large coalition that will work to oppose further here to make sure that we are not stepped on. We must keep effectiveclosures. Just as the Safety Now Coalition was formed in DSH to communication with one another in order to keep the balance ouraddress the safety issues that came out of the tragic loss of life of contract brings to the workplace. Knowledge is power and refusing toour Psych Tech sister Donna Gross, we need to do the same in give in to what we stand for is what makes us who we are today. StayDDS and fight for the clients so they can continue to receive the involved, in touch and stick together. United we stand and united we’llbest care and services possible in developmental centers.continue to succeed!State HospitalsState Hospitals continue to expand and evolve with emergingtreatment models, some of which are being mandated by the courts.Our members have served as the backbone as these changes wereimplemented. The Psych Techs working at DSH Stockton, DSH’snewest program, are refusing to give in to the daunting challengesthey are faced with in maintaining operations. Our members, whoare being pressed with more work than should be assigned toone person, are not sitting by idly, but are voicing their concernsthrough CAPT activists. Also, through the Safety Now Coalition,we are keeping the pressure on the Department to ensure thatall new alarm systems are set to work in a safer manner. We are4 -MARCH / APRILIn unity,Juan NolascoCAPT State President(559) 217-6312captpres@att.net“Where there is unity, there is always victory.”- Publilius Syrus

ATTENTIONPSYCH TECH STUDENTSCAPT is now accepting applications for its 2015Anthony Myers Memorial Scholarship ProgramCAPT is now accepting applications for the eleventh round of scholarships it will award to students enrolled inPsych Tech education programs.Last year the CAPT Board of Directors voted to rename the union’s annual scholarship program the Anthony Myers Memorial Scholarship Program in honor of CAPT’sprevious state president who passed away from cancer.The Board agreed that it was only fitting to rename the program after Tony, who wasnot only instrumental in establishing the scholarship program, but dedicated to the education of Psych Techs and advancement of the profession.Tony was first elected as state president in 2000. He continued to be re-elected andheld office through 2013.For applications to be considered, they must be postmarked no later than July 20, 2015. The scholarship winnerswill be announced at CAPT’s 31st Annual Meeting, scheduled for September.CAPT will award up to 10 scholarships to help students with the cost of tuition, books and other expenses. Thisyear, eight scholarships may be awarded for 750 each. Two additional scholarships may be awarded to theindividuals whose applications are not only accurately completed, but whose signed statements are exceptionally inspiring and letters of recommendation are highly supportive. One top scholarship may be awarded in theamount of 1,500 and a runner-up awarded in the amount of 1,000.To receive a scholarship, an individual must be enrolled in a Psych Tech education program accredited or approved by the BVNPT. The recipient must also be a CAPT member, a relative of a CAPT member or someoneresiding in a CAPT member’s immediate household.The scholarships are funded from a grant by the American Association of Psychiatric Technicians, whichprovides services to mental health workers in the 46 states that do not license Psych Techs.Complete eligibility requirements and an application are available onlineat www.psychtechs.net. Just click ‘Latest From CAPT’ located onthe left side of our main page. Or, have one mailed to you by contactingCAPT Consultant Carol Wiesmann at (800) 677-2278 or e-maila request to her at wiesmann@psychtechs.net.MARCH / APRIL - 5

STAKEHOLDERS DEFEND SDC AGAINSTLEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO SHUT IT DOWNThe families of hundreds ofdevelopmentally disabled people,lawmakers and other stakeholders,including SDC Chapter PresidentMegan Gordon attended a legislativemeeting/rally on March 14 tooppose legislative efforts to closethe Sonoma Development Centerlocated in Northern California.SDC, which has been serving thedisabled since 1891, currentlyprovides professional services to419 residents who are unable tocare for themselves.“It’s always wonderful to seethe parents and family memberswho have supported SDC servicesfor decades,” Gordon said. “Theroom was packed and people werestanding in the yard. The legislatorson the panel really “get” SDC and thesignificance of the services providedthere. The economic influence to thevalley was also self-evident.”Gordon was pleased withthe event, especially the openingremarks made by SDC’s formerchief psychologist Dr. Sutton whoaddressed the complex issues andsensitivities surrounding differentcare settings. “He understands thesystems affecting us and is justterrific,” Gordon said about Dr. Sutton.“The thing I like best about him isthat he continues to talk about thelack of emergency services for thispopulation in community placements.They are at great risk for behaving inways that will be viewed as criminal.They can and do end up arrested or inemergency psych situations. It’s vitalthat we all keep that in mind. No oneis talking about closing Porterville, andit’s because of the Secure TreatmentArea available there.”Sutton now serves as aconsultant to the Parent Hospital6 -MARCH- OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER/ APRILAssociation. PHA hosted theday’s legislative event and is theliaison organization betweenSDC’s residents, its staff andthe community.There are currently 502 BU18 members working at SDC.All of them provide essentialcare services to this vulnerablepopulation. At one time, SDCcared for nearly 1,200 residents,but that number has beendwindling as they continueto be transitioned into lessSDC, shown above, has been servingthe disabled since 1891. It currentlyprovides professional services to 419residents who are unable to care forthemselves.costly community-based programs. Alsocontributing to the low residency numberis the loss of federal funding experiencedas a result of compliance issues and thedecertification of units in the center’sintermediate care facility.In its February report, the LegislativeAnalyst’s Office recommended closing SDCand Fairview DevelopmentalCenter located in OrangeCounty. Following the reportcame state legislationintroduced by stateAssemblywoman ShannonGrove (R-Bakersfield)and Senator Jeff Stone(R-Murrietta) to carry out theclosures. CAPT has filed itsopposition to both measures.As reported in the SonomaIndex-Tribune, Stone saidhis bill, SB 639, would “shutdown costly and inefficientdevelopmental centers inMegan GordonSDC Chapter PresidentInside Parent Hospital Association’sAnnual Legislative Meeting

Sonoma and Orange County” where “the annual cost oftreatment in these developmental centers is in excess of 500,000 per patient, as opposed to placing them backin the community where they thrive at an average costof 17,000 per year.”In a recent letter opposing these measures, CAPTquestioned the quality of care being received atjust 17,000 per resident, per year. Developmentalcenters provide specialized client services thatcannot be duplicated or found in a community-basedprogram or setting. Developmental centers staffdoctors and psychiatrists around the clock, providedental services, and wheelchair and medical devicesthat are constructed and fixed onsite. These servicesare not available in a single community location.Community-based clients often wait months beforereceiving the necessary products, devices and carethey need.Furthermore, all of the direct level-of-care staffworking in a developmental center are licensed orcertified and are mandated to report wrongdoings orface the consequences of losing their credentials.Community-based staff have little to no training. Withouta professional license or certification that can be revokedor suspended, there is no incentive or consequence forstaff to report wrongdoings, especially for a job that oftenpays minimum wage.Kathleen Miller, the president of PHA and mother of anadult child with severe autism and mental illness, balks atthe idea of price comparisons when it comes to providingquality care for the mentally and developmentally disabled.Miller’s son, now 47, has been a resident at SDC for15 years. Before that, he was transferred in-and-out ofcommunity-based centers. In an article published by theSonoma Index-Tribune, Miller shared the concerns she hadat the time she had to send her son back to a communitybased center after the closure of Camarillo State Hospitalin 1997:“What happens if his mental illness exacerbates andhe gets sick again?” Miller remembers asking at the time.“They said ‘No problem,’ and promised all this support.When he did get sick, they kicked him out of the home,and the only place they had for him was in an acutepsychiatric ward.”“It was a terrible place, and he ended up in the ICU.They had to take him off all of his behavior meds, and hewas in the worst shape I have ever seen him. He neverfully recovered from that awful experience,” said the formerschool counselor and social worker.Local state leg

Phone:oll Free (800) 677-CAPT (2278) T or locally at (916) 329-9140 CAPT is a non-profit corporation serving as the exclusive representative of all employees . in Psychiatric Technician Bargaining Unit 18 in California State Civil Service. CAPT is also the professional association