FCA logo

    FCA Meets with State Senators and Assemblymembers to discuss California Caregiver Resource Centers

    As you are probably aware, Governor Brown’s proposed budget for FY 2012-13 would completely eliminate funding for the 11 state-wide California Caregiver Resource Centers (CRCs). Family Caregiver Alliance: Bay Area Caregiver Resource Center is one of the 11 CRCs. During the past month, staff from FCA have met with our elected officials and their staff members to discuss the need for the CRCs, especially as California’s senior population doubles by 2030. Our activities have included:

    Meetings with elected officials and their staff

    [[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_large”,”fid”:”428″,”attributes”:{“class”:”media-image size-medium wp-image-1832″,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”,”style”:””,”width”:”286″,”height”:”300″,”alt”:”FCA Staff meets with legislators”}}]]

    Edrena Harrison, ACSW, Information Programs Specialist, met with Andrae G. Macapinlac, Senior Field Representative for Assemblymember Bob Wieckowski, who represents Assembly District 20 (Newark, Union City, Milpitas, Parts of San Jose, Hayward, Pleasanton, Castro Valley, and Sunol).

    [[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_large”,”fid”:”429″,”attributes”:{“class”:”media-image”,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”,”style”:””,”width”:”300″,”height”:”225″,”alt”:””}}]]

    Michelle Venegas, LCSW, Director of Programs and Services at FCA, met with Assemblymember Fiona Ma, who represents Assembly District 12 (most of Western San Francisco and the Northern edge of San Mateo County) and is the Speaker Pro Tempore.

    [[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_large”,”fid”:”430″,”attributes”:{“class”:”media-image”,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”,”style”:””,”width”:”300″,”height”:”169″,”alt”:””}}]]

    Senator Mark DeSaulneir met with Carol Evans (family caregiver) Leah Eskenazi, MSW, Director of Operations and Planning at FCA and Nancy Baker (family caregiver).  Senator DeSaulneir represents Senate District 7 (most of Contra Costa County).

    [[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_large”,”fid”:”431″,”attributes”:{“class”:”media-image”,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”,”style”:””,”width”:”300″,”height”:”250″,”alt”:””}}]]

    Sean Coffey, MPA, Policy Specialist at FCA, met with Frances Fortini from Assemblymember Nancy Skinner’s office.  Assemblymember Skinner represents Assembly District 14 (Albany, Berkeley, parts of Oakland, and parts of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties).

    [[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_large”,”fid”:”432″,”attributes”:{“class”:”media-image”,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”,”style”:””,”width”:”300″,”height”:”261″,”alt”:””}}]]

    Chris Parman from Assemblymember Mary Hayashi’s office met with Alex Tejada, Program Assistant at FCA.  Assemblymember Hayashi represents Assembly District 18 (Dublin, Castro Valley, Hayward, San Lorenzo). Not pictured: Kathy Kelly, MPA, Executive Director of FCA, and Leah Eskenazi, MSW, met with Alex Sowyrda, from Senator Leland Yee’s office.   Senator Yee, PhD, represents Senate District 8 (western half of San Francisco and most of San Mateo County). Staff members at FCA have more meetings scheduled in the coming weeks with Senators, Assemblymembers, and their staff, so check back for an update.

    Testifying at State Hearings

    Kathy Kelly, the executive director at FCA, has testified twice in the last several weeks, including: 1) On February 23rd, Kathy testified at the California Assembly Select Committee on Disabilities in Sacramento.  You can read her testimony here  and a story about the hearing on HealthyCal here. 2) On March 13, Kathy testified at an information hearing held by Assemblymember Mariko Yamada (D-Davis), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Aging & Long-Term Care, and Assemblymember Jim Beall, Jr. (D- San Jose), Chair of the Assembly Human Services Committee.  You can read a story about the hearing in California Healthline here.  A video of the hearing is also available on the Cal Channel.

    Online Petition

    More than 3,000 people have signed the Petition against the elimination of the CRC’s, if you haven’t signed it yet, please do:  “Don’t balance California’s budget on the backs of family caregivers” We will continue posting on our efforts, and if you have time to also make a visit to your state Assemblymembers and Senators, or to call their offices, or send a letter, it is vitally important that elected officials hear from their constituents about the importance of the CRCs and supporting family caregivers.