Alegria Community Living, a newly formed, public benefit non-profit agency, is funded by the Regional Center of the East Bay (the agency locally designated by the Department of Developmental Services to provide mandated services to people with developmental disabilities under the Lanterman Act). In 2004, an invitation was issued to more than a dozen executive directors, parents of people with developmental disabilities and local advocates to develop a safe, stable agency focused on creating support services to individuals with developmental disabilities currently residing at Agnews Developmental Center. This state institution was closed in 2009 and Alegria was created in response to the need to support individuals moving from Agnews to homes in the east bay area of California (Alameda and Contra Costa Counties).
Funding for Alegria’s programs came via two bills passed to provide services for the individuals who resided at Agnews Developmental Center and moving into the community. The legislation, AB2100, made the vision and mission of Alegria Community Living a reality.
To date, Alegria has been awarded contracts from the Regional Center to develop 7 housing developments in collaboration with the Housing Consortium of the East Bay. These include 7 Special Residential Homes, serving adults and seniors with behavioral challenges and medical needs.
Members of Alegria’s Founding group also created the Respite Inn over 15 years ago— a very successful venture which has provided much needed services in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Many of Alegria’s founding board are still involved with the governance and operations of the Respite Inn.
Consistent with the state’s Bay Area Plan (the plan for the closure of Agnews) and the regional centers’ Unified Placement Plan, Alegria is committed to providing the support services in homes chosen by the person served (and their families). The ownership of those homes is provided by a separate nonprofit corporation dedicated to maintaining housing for people with developmental disabilities in perpetuity. These homes are clearly the client’s residence, not Alegria’s properties. Alegria focuses on providing excellent support services with the goal of maintaining the client in the home environment of their choice.
Members of he Alegria Founders Group Include:
(Board Members in Bold Type)
| • Carol Bohnsack | Regional Center of the East Bay |
| • Greg Clark | Mentor Network |
| • Barbara Garcia | Developmental Disabilities Planning and Advisory Council |
| • Jeanne King | President, Family Member |
| • Sister Marygrace Puchac | Vice President, East Bay Services |
| • Barbara Maizie | Treasurer, Contra Costa ARC |
| • Patricia Moix | Secretary, Retired Supervising Social Worker |
| • Sheryl Kuhn | Regional Center of the East Bay |
| • Jennifer Steneberg | Family Member |
| • Maureen Wright | Executive Director-Respite Inn |
| • Sherry Hanson | Family Member |
| • Sandra Jackson | Las Trampas |
| • Diana Jorgensen | Developmental Disabilities Council of Contra Costa County |
| • Judy Levin | Family Support Services of Bay Area |
| • Vivian Lura | Former Director of Special Education, Oakland |
| • Mar Smith | Fred Finch Youth Center |
| • Marge Watson | Retired Professional |
| • Eric Zigman | Zigma Consulting |
Current Status
In response to RCEB’s request to develop services for those leaving Agnews, the Founders Group has incorporated Alegria Community Living and delineated the purpose, vision, values and mission of the organization. Over many months, the founding group carefully planned the creation of Alegria, its governance and organizational structures and the services it intends to provide.
Clearly a values-based organization, the group envisions a strong emphasis on creating environments of wellness by addressing the specific needs and aspirations of the individuals to be served by the agency. Specifically, Alegria anticipates supporting individuals with medical, behavioral or age-related support needs. We envision providing this support with a service flexibility which can respond to clients’ changing needs. Given the long term commitment of the agency and its focus on serving those with diverse and wide-ranging needs, Alegria is strongly committed to staffing excellence. In particular, staff training and career development within an organizational culture which honors and respects staff members will be integral to Alegria’s development. We intend to provide top notch compensation packages and an agency which is committed to its human service workers.
Currently, the incorporating board is poised to increase its number, recruit membership on an important governance committee (the Community Support Committee). Alegria is currently in the process of hiring and training staff as well as considering initial referrals of those interested in moving from Agnews to east bay communities.
Future Plans
The agency intends to have a strong transition and support service (i.e., from Agnews into community living situations) for all the people it serves, especially those with age related support needs. Once again, Alegria wants to build a multifaceted array of services to both better serve the expressed needs of families and their loved ones at Agnews and continue to serve their clients as their needs evolve. This development of multifaceted support models and skills ought to serve the changing needs of elderly individuals as they spend their “retirement” years with Alegria.
Of the service models and categories currently available—and those under development for the near future— Alegria will be developing expertise in the following community living support model: Community Care Licensed 3 to 4 bed negotiated rate group homes (the behavioral type and the incidental medical type). In addition, Alegria Community Living will consider developing other types of service models as appropriate to meeting the needs and aspirations of Agnews’ residents (and their families).
