Porterville Developmental Center(PDC)

ByGuadalupe Rodarte

Porterville Developmental Center (PDC)

• PDC is one of four developmental centers in the state of California that serves individuals with developmental disabilities. The facility provides 24 hour supervision for individuals who are diagnosed with a developmental disability, who have serious medical or behavior problems.

• PDC provides services to a variety of clients and each client is assigned into one of the several programs found within the facility. Within the programs several units are found which is where the client live.

Organizational Structure

• The governing bodies over see the entire facility.

• Governing Bodies:

– Department of Developmental Services

– Executive Director

– Clinical Director

– Administrative Services Director

– Medical Director

Organizational Structure within the Programs

• Programs within PDC

– Program Director

– Assistant Director

– Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) of each home unit: the client, the family or legal representative, and PDC staff such as physicians, psychologists, nurses, psychiatric technicians, social workers, chaplains, rehabilitation and speech therapists, teachers, dietitians and pharmacists

Decision Making For the Client

• The IDT creates an individual program plan using a person-centered planning process, which states all the information known about the client, behaviors, medications, and recommendations.

• The IDT decides what treatment and programming is best for the client

• The client and family is involved in the planning process but ultimately the teams decides what services the client needs

• Clients states goals and it goes into the Individual Plan

• The client has the right to refuse treatment , programming, and medication

• Professional Judgment is used to limit the rights of providing input into Plan. This is because the client poses a hard to self and others.

• Treatment and programming is done to help client build skills that will help them once they enter the community and they are able to attain self-determination

Funding

• The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) is responsible for the funding of the facility

• The State General Funds Savings is a primary source of funding for the facility

• Facility also receives some Federal funding

• Facility also can receive state and federal grants if they apply for them

Community Context• Client’s background:

– Born developmentally delayed

– Born with a chronic medical problem

– Developed a chronic medical problem or mental disorder due to an accident

– Some have history of mental illness in family

– Some experience neglect as a child as well as come from low income families

– Some come from group homes, jail, and have experienced abuse themselves either by a family member or a stranger.

• The IDT is responsible in allocating the appropriate services to the clients based on their needs.

• IDT develops an Individual Program Plan using a person-centered planning process

• Services: health care, education for clients under age 22, on-site employment, preparation for independent living, leisure activities, behavior management, as well as life skills, substance abuse, and sex offender relapse trainings.

Population-at-Risk at PDC

• PDC provides services to developmentally disabled adolescences and adults• PDC is divided into two different areas

• General Treatment Area (GTA)

– Individuals diagnosed with a mental disorder/ Mental Retardation

– Many of the clients in the GTA are diagnosed with severe chronic medical or behavior problems

• Secure Treatment Area (STA)

– 1/3 of the clients in the STA require services in a secure treatment program

– Clients are diagnosed with mild to moderate mental disorder

– Face problems with the law: murder, rape, burglary, property destruction, or AWOL etc…

– Been determined to be a danger to self or others

– Are incompetent to stand trial

– Serve probation time at PDC

Mission and Aims

• “The mission of PDC is to empower individuals to become independent, competent, responsible and caring individuals through the provision of personalized supports and treatment programs.”

• “PDC is committed to providing World-Class Services for people who require a supervised, structured environment, inclusive of activities and programs designed to advance each person’s capabilities, level of independence and responsibility”.

• PDC is devoted in providing services to clients “that are individualized, responsive to needs and supportive of choices, while providing supports that foster good health, security, and development.”

Analyzing the Agency’s Practices

• To accomplish the mission and aims PDC staff receives monthly and yearly trainings that provide staff with information to better serve their population

• Psychologist of the IDT provides staff on the unit with training on a variety of information regarding how to work more effectively with clients.

• Professional staff has monthly meetings and receives training in the area of their expertise.

• Each program has morning meetings: The social worker, psychologist, program coordinator, unit supervisor of each unit attends along with the program director and assistant to discuss the previous day and ways to improve treatment and programming for a client who needs changes in program plan.

Social Justice and Human Rights at PDC

• PDC values the dignity of each client and provides services to each client irrespective of their history

• Weekly meetings are held with the Behavior Management Committee of the facility to ensure the clients rights are not being violated in regards to plans and medication

• Client’s have access to a Client’s Right Advocate

• The clients’ rights are protected by the law, by the facility policy, and by the practices in the facility

Social Work Values

• It is crucial for social workers at PDC to advocate for their clients and ensure that they are treated with dignity

• Treat each client equally without judging their past history and reason for placement

• Ensuring staff is treating clients with respect

• Empower the client: listening, talking, and providing training

• Social workers at PDC should work with the team and participate in the development, evaluation, and revision of program policies as related to the services needs, civil and legal rights, and psychosocial development of clients

• Keep current list of client’s relatives and provide the staff with the information

• Act as a liaison between parents, guardians/conservators, regional center, court, other agencies, and the facility

• Along with the IDT work together to prepare client to enter the community