SO GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE, UM
, THIS HEARING OF THE ASSEMBLY
MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE IS CALLED TO ORDER WE
WILL BE JUST AN INTEREST OF
EVERYONE'S TIME AND TO RESPECT
THE FACT THAT FOLKS WERE HERE
EARLY. WE WILL BE OPENING AS A
SUBCOMMITTEE TO BEGIN THE
HEARING. AND SO I WANT TO
WELCOME EVERYONE WHO IS HERE
PRESENTLY, ALSO TO MY COMMITTEE
MEMBERS AND THE VICE CHAIR.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE
EXCITING THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY
MY FIRST COMMITTEE HAS A NEW
MEMBER AND THEN BEING ABLE TO
CHERISH THE TRUE JUST HONOR, SO
THANK YOU TO ALL OUR GUESTS WHO
ARE HERE. SO WE'RE GONNA AS I
MENTIONED TO MOVE ON AS JUST AS
A SUBCOMMITTEE BECAUSE WE DON'T
HAVE A QUORUM. UM WHAT WE'LL DO
IS YOU KNOW I WANT TO WELCOME
ALL OF YOU. TO THE FIRST HEARING
OF THIS SESSION. UM, I AM
HONORED AND EXCITED TO SERVE AS
THE CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE AND
ALSO TO HEAR TODAY FROM CALVET
AND IN PARTICULARLY FROM
SECRETARY VETO IN VAZIANI. THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE ON
THE SUBJECT OF TODAY'S HEARING
IS REFORM, CONSOLIDATION AND
TRANSITION. UM SO I'LL EXPLAIN
BRIEFLY. WHAT IT WHAT I MEAN BY
THAT. UM I THINK IT SHOULD BE
UNCONTROVERSIAL TO SAY THAT THAT
THE PERIOD BEFORE DR EMBASSY ON
HIS APPOINTMENT WAS ONE OF
UNDERPERFORMANCE FOR CALVET, AND
WE KIND OF CHATTED RIGHT NOW.
SIDEBAR DÂN. I THINK WE SHARE
SOME OF THE SENTIMENTS. UM AND
THAT, UM, WE ALSO SAW SCANDALS
BOTH MINOR AND MAJOR, WHICH,
WITH BRUISING AUDIT FINDINGS,
POOR CONDITIONS AT THE VETERANS
HOMES. UM AND SO I THINK THAT
THE RECORD IS CLEARED. IT'S NOT
A SECRET. UM AND SO WE ALSO HAVE
A RECORD, THOUGH THAT IS ALSO
CLEAR THAT DURING THE PERIOD
SINCE DR INVERSIONES APPOINTMENT
, HE HAS BROUGHT A GREAT DEAL OF
IMPROVEMENT. UM THE HOMES, THE
VETERAN HOMES ARE PERFORMING A
LOT BETTER ON FEDERAL
INSPECTIONS. CALVET HAS BROUGHT
A GREAT DEAL OF CONTROL AND
SCRUTINY TO HOW THE HOMES ARE
USED. AH WE ARE INVESTING
SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE HOMES WITH
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW NEW
SKILLED NURSING FACILITY AT
YONVILLE. AND THE DEPARTMENT HAS
SET A COURSE FOR THE FUTURE OF
ITS SERVICES TO VETERANS
ANTICIPATING A CHANGING
POPULATION WITH CHANGING NEEDS.
UM I WOULD ALSO BE REMISS TO OF
ME, NOT TO MENTION THE
DEPARTMENT'S PERFORMING AND
MANAGING THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC,
THE DEPARTMENT AND YOU
PERSONALLY MR SECRETARY HAVE
EARNED OUR GRATITUDE FOR
PROTECTING THE VETERANS, UM, IN
YOUR CARE WHEN THERE WERE SO
MANY EXAMPLES ACROSS THE COUNTY
OF SIMILAR FACILITIES, FAILING
WITH DEADLY CONSEQUENCES. YOU
GUYS DID AN EXTRAORDINARY JOB,
BUT THE SECRETARY'S IMPENDING
DEPARTURE TO THE CALIFORNIA
INSTITUTE FOR REGENERATIVE
MEDICINE AND I WANT TO AGAIN
CONGRATULATE YOU PUBLICLY, UM,
ON YOUR APPOINTMENT, BY THE WAY
, DEMANDS QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW WE
CAN SUSTAIN THESE IMPROVEMENTS.
UM, KEEP THE COURSE THAT WE'VE
SET. AND TURN THE BETTER
PLANNING AND POLICY OF THE LAST
FEW YEARS UNDER YOUR PURVIEW, UM
INTO PERMANENT OR SEMI PERMANENT
CONDITIONS SO THAT WE CAN
CONTINUE TO SERVE ALL OF OUR
VETERANS, UM, THE WAY THAT THEY
DESERVE TO BE SERVED, SO I WANNA
GO AHEAD AND BEGIN BY ALLOWING
DOCTOR IN BAZIYANI TO SAY IF YOU
REMARKS AND FOLLOWING THAT WE
WILL TALK ABOUT THE MASTER PLANS
FOR THE CALIFORNIA VETERANS
HOMES. AND CONCLUDE WITH A
DISCUSSION OF THE TWO OF TWO OF
THE KELVIN. IT'S NEW. IT'S
PROGRAMS, WHICH IS THE VETERAN
SUPPORT TO SELF RELIANCE PROGRAM
AND THE VETERANS HEALTH
INITIATIVE. BUT FIRST I'D LIKE
TO PROVIDE A BRIEF INTRODUCTION
OF DOCTOR IN BAZIYANI FOR THE
BENEFIT OF THE MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC AND ALSO FOR THE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. SO DOCTOR AND
BAZIYANI WAS APPOINTED BY
GOVERNOR JERRY BROWN AS THE 16TH
, SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
VETERAN AFFAIRS IN SEPTEMBER OF
2015, AND HE WAS RE APPOINTED BY
GOVERNOR NEWSOM ON JANUARY 22ND
2020. HE'S A PHYSICIAN BY
TRAINING, HAVING COMPLETED
MEDICAL SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF VERMONT. COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
AND HIS SURGICAL AND UROLOGICAL
RESIDENCY AT YALE NEW HAVEN
HOSPITAL IN THE WEST HAVEN VÀ
HOSPITAL AND HE IS ALSO A
SOLDIER. UM HE WAS COMMISSIONED
IN THE MEDICAL CORPSE OF THE
UNITED STATES ARMY IN DECEMBER
OF 1986 AND RETIRED AFTER 27
YEARS IN 2014 WITH THE RANK OF
COLONEL. UM HE DEPLOYED FOUR
TIMES IN SUPPORT OF THE WARS IN
THE GULF AND RECEIVED THE
MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD. THE
COMBAT MEDIC BADGE. THE ARMY
COMMENDATION MEDAL FOUR TIMES,
NOT JUST ONCE, AND THE
CALIFORNIA ORDER OF MERIT AND HE
EARNED CAMPAIGN RIBBONS FOR
OPERATION DESERT STORM, THE
LIBERATION OF KUWAIT AND THE
GLOBAL WAR AGAINST TERRORISM. HE
LEAVES CALVET TO ASSUME AN A
NUMERAL AS THE CHAIR OF THE
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE FOR
REGENERATIVE MEDICINE. UM WHAT A
REMARKABLE, UM, TRACK RECORD AND
JUST, UM, YOU KNOW, JOURNEY
TICKET HERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SERVICE. UM AND WE, YOU KNOW,
WE'LL WANT TO PROCEED, MR
SECRETARY TO SAY YOU REMEMBER
MARKS. AND THEN JUST FOR THE
PURPOSE FOR, UM, OUR COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. UM WE HAVE A SERIES OF
KIND OF VARIOUS PANELISTS. THAT
WILL BE, UM GIVING SOME WORDS
AND SHARING WHAT THE WORK
THEY'VE BEEN DOING. BUT YOU GUYS
, IF YOU GUYS HAVE QUESTIONS,
PLEASE KIND OF LET ME KNOW SO
THAT, UM AT THE FINALE OF EVERY
PRESENTATION, YOU GUYS CAN ASK
ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. SO, MR
SECRETARY. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM
CHAIR AND, UM MADAM VICE CHAIR
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE AND
THANK YOU FOR THAT WONDERFUL
PREAMBLE. UM VERY GRACIOUS OF
YOU TO SAY THOSE VERY NICE WORDS
ABOUT ME. AH IT'S BEEN A FEW
YEARS SINCE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO
DO THIS IN PERSON TO MEET
PUBLICLY DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. I
WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND PERSONAL
GREETINGS AND THANKS TO EACH OF
YOU RETURNING AND NEW COMMITTEE
MEMBERS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO TO
SUPPORT CALIFORNIA'S VETERANS.
THIS IS SADLY THE LAST TIME I
WILL ADDRESS THE COMMITTEE AS
SECRETARY OF THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
IN TWO WEEKS. I'M GOING TO BE
SWORN IN AS THE CHAIRMAN OF
SERM, CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF
REGENERATIVE MEDICINE, WHICH IS
THE AGENCY OF STATE GOVERNMENT
THAT FUNDS ALL THE STEM CELL
RESEARCH IN CALIFORNIA. SO TODAY
IS BITTERSWEET FOR ME BECAUSE IT
MEANS I HAVE TO LEAVE CAL VET
AND IT'S VERY DEDICATED AND
COMPASSIONATE STAFF. THAT I'M
SURROUNDED BY MY WONDERFUL
UNDERSECRETARY AND NINE DEPUTY
SECRETARIES AND SOME OF THEIR
STAFF. THIS HAS BEEN THE HONOR
OF A LIFETIME. THE FOLKS HERE AT
CAL VET TAKE TO HEART. THE HONOR
THE PRIVILEGE AND THE DUTY OF
CARING AND ADVOCATING FOR
CALIFORNIA'S ALMOST 1.6 MILLION
VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
TOGETHER WE'VE GROWN CAL VET
INTO A DEPARTMENT THAT IS
PREPARED TO FULFILL ITS MISSION
FOR THE COMING DECADES AND
BEYOND. TODAY I'M GOING TO SHARE
WITH THE COMMITTEE OUR GREATEST
ACCOMPLISHMENTS FROM THESE PAST
SEVEN YEARS, BUT I WANT TO SET
THE STAGE FOR WHERE WE CAN GO
NEXT, AND I'LL OFFER SOME
PARTING REMARKS, AND THEN YOU'RE
GOING TO HEAR FROM SOME OF MY
TALENTED TEAM WHO ARE THE REAL
SUBJECT MATTER. EXPERTS ON ALL
OUR PROGRAMS AND ALL THINGS
VETERAN HERE IN THE GREAT STATE
OF CALIFORNIA. BUT FIRST. WHEN
GOVERNOR BROWN POINTED ME TO
THIS POST IN 2015. IT CAME WITH
A MANDATE TO MODERNIZE AND
REINVIGORATE AN AGENCY THAT
LACKED A CLEAR IDENTITY AND
CULTURE. AT THE SAME TIME, MANY
OF OUR PROGRAMS REQUIRED GREAT
EXPANSION IN SCOPE AND SOME OF
OUR CHALLENGES REQUIRED
THOUGHTFUL PRIORITIZATION.
FORTUNATELY CALVET WAS BLESSED
WITH EXCELLENT DEPUTY
SECRETARIES AND STAFF ALREADY ON
BOARD, SOME OF WHOM YOU WILL
HEAR FROM TODAY. WITH OUR RECENT
ADDITIONS TO OUR DEPUTY
SECRETARY RANKS, THEY FORM WHAT
I BELIEVE TO BE AN EXCEPTIONAL
LEADERSHIP TEAM AND BECAUSE OF
OUR WORK OVER THE YEARS, I CAN
CONFIDENTLY SAY THAT MORE
VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES
THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA ARE NOW
CONNECTED TO CAL VET IN MANY OR
MULTIPLE WAYS. WE HAVE REGULAR
POSITIVE ENGAGEMENTS WITH OUR
MANY STAKEHOLDERS. AND THE
DEPARTMENT'S REPUTATION. I AM SO
PROUD TO SAY IS THAT AN ALL TIME
HIGH FIRST LET ME BEGIN WITH
DETAILS ABOUT OUR VETERANS HOME
IN 2015. THE EIGHT VETERANS
HOMES OF CALIFORNIA WHERE
STANDALONE ENTITIES THAT CAME
OUT OF OUR HISTORY. THEY LACKED
THE COHESION AND EFFICIENCIES OF
A MODERN HEALTHCARE NETWORK.
MANY OF THE HOMES WERE
STRUGGLING WITH LOWER THAN
ACCEPTABLE STAR RATINGS FROM THE
U. S. CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND
MEDICAID SERVICES. CMS THEY
OPERATED WITH DISPARATE
PROCESSES AND OUTDATED
TECHNOLOGIES WITH THE
LEGISLATORS HELP LEGISLATURES
HELP WE ORGANIZED THE EIGHT
HOMES INTO A SINGLE SYSTEM WITH
STANDARDIZED PRACTICES ACROSS
THE WORKPLACE. SO NOW I'M ABLE
TO REPORT THAT ALL SIX OF OUR
CMS RATED VETERANS HOMES ARE
RATED AT EITHER FOUR OR FIVE
STARS, PUTTING THEM AMONG THE
TOP SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES
NATIONWIDE. IN FACT, THE
NATION'S LARGEST AND OLDEST
CONTINUALLY OPERATING VETERANS
HOME IN THE NATION. OUR 139 YEAR
OLD YONVILLE HOME JUST RECEIVED
THE FIVE STAR RATING FROM CNN S
LAST MONTH. ADDITIONALLY ALL
EIGHT OF OUR HOMES CONSISTENTLY
EXCEL IN ANNUAL LICENSING
SURVEYS FROM THE V, A. AND C. M
S THREE OF THEM LANCASTER,
VENTURA AND FRESNO HAVE EARNED
THE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED JOINT
CREDIT COMMISSION ACCREDITATION
AS WELL. THAT'S A PILOT PROGRAM
THAT I EXPECT TO EXPAND TO ALL
EIGHT HOMES IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
THERE ARE TWO FLAGSHIP PROJECTS
UNDERWAY IN OUR HOMES THAT ARE
MOST PROUD OF WE'VE GOT A NEW
SKILLED NURSING FACILITY UNDER
CONSTRUCTION AT YONVILLE IN THAT
COUNTY. IT'S GOING TO OPEN IN
2025 WITH ITS 240 BEDS, THIS
STATE OF THE ART HOSPITAL WILL
REPRESENT THE FIRST NEW
FREESTANDING BUILDING AT THE
TOWNSVILLE HOME SINCE 1978. IT
WILL REPLACE THE CURRENT
HALDERMAN HOSPITAL, WHICH OPENED
IN 1932. AND WE'LL POSITION THE
HOME TO PROVIDE THE BEST IN
HEALTH AND MEMORY CARE FOR
DECADES TO COME. LAST FALL, WE
LAUNCHED OUR CALIFORNIA
ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD SYSTEM
CARE CHR AT OUR WEST LOS ANGELES
HOME. WE EXPECT TO HAVE HALF OF
OUR HOMES GO LIVE ON THIS
ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORD BY
THIS YEAR'S END AND ALL HOMES BY
THE END OF 2024. THIS PROJECT
HAS BEEN YEARS IN THE MAKING.
WHEN I ARRIVED, IT BECAME MY
FIRST STRATEGIC PRIORITY AND
REMAIN SO UNTIL IT, UM, WAS
DEPLOYED IN OCTOBER OF LAST
YEAR. THE NEW ELECTRONIC HEALTH
RECORD SYSTEM ENSURES THAT OUR
RESIDENTS RECEIVED MORE
EFFICIENT CARE THROUGH THE USE
OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY AND THROUGH
OUR NEW ELECTRONIC PRESCRIPTION
SERVICE CALLED E PRESCRIBE,
WHICH WAS UNVEILED IN 2021, OUR
RESIDENTS ARE NOW ENJOYING A
STREAMLINED PROCESS FOR GETTING
THEIR PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS.
THESE MILESTONES AND VETERANS
CARE. WE'RE ONLY ACHIEVABLE
BECAUSE WE SET OUT TO CREATE A
NETWORK OF VETERANS HOMES THAT
REGULARLY COMMUNICATES,
COLLABORATES AND RE STREET
RECEIVED STRONG SUPPORT FROM OUR
HEADQUARTERS TEAM. REPRESENTED
BY THE FRONT TABLE HERE. UM.
THIS STRUCTURE WAS ALSO CRUCIAL
WHILE BATTLING AT ONCE IN A
GENERATION GLOBAL PANDEMIC,
WHICH, AS YOU KNOW, HIT THE
ELDERLY POPULATION AND
ESPECIALLY LONG TERM CARE
FACILITIES, MUCH HARDER THAN
MOST. THESE LAST THREE YEARS
HAVE BEEN TOUGH ON OUR WORKFORCE
AND OUR RESIDENTS, BUT WE MADE
SMART DECISIONS ABOUT CLOSING
OUR HOMES TO VISITORS EARLY ON,
AND IT MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.
AND I BELIEVE AS A RESULT, WE
WERE ABLE TO SAVE MANY RESULTS
MANY LIVES. BECAUSE OF THE WORK
WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING AND THE
MILESTONES WE HAVE ACHIEVED. THE
CURRENT STATE OF OUR VETERANS
HOMES IS NOW DISTINGUISHED BY
COMPASSIONATE CARE, HIGH
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND
TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. WE DID
THIS WITH BOTH THE PRESENT AND
FUTURE OF THESE HOMES IN MIND,
AS WE HAVE LAID OUT IN GREAT
DETAIL IN A NETWORK WIDE MASTER
PLAN AND TO INDIVIDUAL MASTER
PLANS FOR INDIVIDUAL HOMES. WE
KNOW THAT CALIFORNIA'S AGING
VETERAN POPULATION TODAY IS
DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF PREVIOUS
GENERATIONS, OFTEN DISTINGUISHED
BY INCREASED RATES OF MULTIPLE
MEDICAL ARAB AILMENTS. AND THE
NEED FOR HIGHER LEVELS OF CARE.
THEREFORE IT IS CALVIN'S GOAL TO
MOVE AWAY FROM DOMUS SALIERI
CARE. THOMAS SILLY CARRIES ROOM
AND BOARD. OVER TIME AND FOCUS
PRIMARILY ON THOSE WHO NEED
HIGHER LEVELS OF CARE, MOST
NOTABLY SKILLED NURSING AND
MEMORY CARE. HIGHER NEED
POPULATION IN CALIFORNIA,
HOWEVER, MAY SIGNAL MORE DEMAND
IN THE FUTURE, INCLUDING
REQUESTS TO BUILD ONE OR NEW,
MORE VETERANS HOMES HERE IN
CALIFORNIA. FOR THIS REASON
CALVET HAS ESTABLISHED IN OUR
MASTER PLAN FIVE RULES TO LIVE
OR TO BUILD BY BEFORE ANY NEW
HOMES SHOULD BE ATTEMPTED. MY
STAFF AFFECTIONATELY REFERS TO
THESE FIVE RULES AS VITO'S RULES
WOULD BE HONORED IF YOU CONTINUE
TO DO SO. RULE NUMBER ONE DEMAND
. IF YOU'RE GOING TO BUILD A NEW
VETERANS HOME, PUT IT IN A PLACE
WHERE THERE'S A LARGE VETERAN
POPULATION NEARBY AND THAT
THERE'S EVIDENCE SHOWING
SUFFICIENT NEED FOR FACILITY
BASED AS OPPOSED TO HOME BASED
LONG TERM CARE. RULE NUMBER TWO
LOCATION. ANY NEW HOME SHOULD BE
NO MORE THAN AN HOUR AND IDEALLY
LESS THAN 30 MINUTES AWAY FROM
AN EXISTING V, A FACILITY. RULE
NUMBER THREE CARE. ENSURE THAT
THE LEVELS OF CARE OR OTHER
SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE AT THE
VETERAN'S HOME ARE REFLECTIVE OF
THE VETERANS NEEDS, WHICH ARE
OTHERWISE UNMET BY OTHER SERVICE
PROVIDERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
NUMBER FOUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
CHECK THAT THE LOCAL HEALTH CARE
INFRASTRUCTURE CAN MEET THE
HOMES OPERATIONAL AND CLINICAL
NEEDS BASED ON THE SIZE OF THE
HOME. TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH.
MAKE SURE THERE'S PEOPLE IN THE
COMMUNITY WE CAN HIRE TO WORK IN
THESE HOMES. RULE NUMBER FIVE.
WORKFORCE. WHERE THE COST OF
LIVING IS AFFORDABLE AND WE'RE
THE LOCAL AVAILABLE WORKFORCE OF
NURSES OR OTHER LICENSED OR
CERTIFIED SPECIALISTS IS OF
SUFFICIENT SIZE TO MEET OUR
STAFFING NEEDS. THAT ISSUE
NUMBER FIVE WORKFORCE AND IN
PARTICULAR OUR HEALTHCARE
WORKFORCE AT THE VETERAN'S HOME
HAS BECOME IN THE LAST TWO
YEARS, A TOP CONCERN THAT WE'RE
WORKING DAILY TO ADDRESS
CLINICAL NURSING POSITIONS IN
OUR VETERANS HOME ARE UNFILLED
RIGHT NOW DUE TO MANY FACTORS,
BUT IF WE ARE UNABLE TO FILL
THESE POSITIONS, WE WILL NOT BE
ANY LONGER ABLE TO ADMIT MORE
VETERANS INTO OUR CARE. AS WE
ESTABLISHED IN THE 2020 MASTER
CAN'T MASTER PLAN FOR ALL EIGHT
HOMES. SOME OF OUR LOCATIONS
HAVE MORE DIFFICULTY RECRUITING
FROM A POOL OF QUALIFIED AND
CERTIFIED PERSONNEL FROM THE
SURROUNDING AREA. THE SHIFTS AND
WORKFORCE AS A RESULT OF THE
PANDEMIC HAVE ONLY EXACERBATED
THIS CHALLENGE. TO ADDRESS THE
ISSUE OF WORKFORCE SHORTAGES
WERE PROACTIVELY WORKING ON
SEVERAL INITIATIVES, INCLUDING
BUT NOT LIMITED TO. RAMPED UP
RECRUITING AND HIRING FAIRS,
ACCELERATED HIRING PROCESSES AND
CONTINUED NEWS USE OF THE
NURSING REGISTRY. THIS IS A
PRIORITY ISSUE FOR OUR
DEPARTMENT, AS IT IS FOR OTHER
DEPARTMENTS OF STATE GOVERNMENT
AND THE TEAM CONTINUES TO
IDENTIFY POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS. WE
ALSO HAVE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE
NEEDS IN THE HOMES THAT MUST BE
PRIORITIZED IN THE BUDGET EVERY
YEAR, MAINTAINING THE WELCOMING
SAFE AND HOME LIKE ENVIRONMENT
OF OUR HOMES IS CRITICAL TO OUR
PROVIDING TOP NOTCH QUALITY CARE
TO OUR NATION'S HEROES. THOSE
ARE KEY CONSIDERATIONS WHEN IT
COMES TO EXPANDING THE VETERANS
HOME NETWORK. NEXT I'D LIKE TO
TALK ABOUT OUR SECOND OLDEST
PROGRAM AT CAL VET THE VETERANS
HOME LOAN PROGRAM, WHICH TURNS
102 YEARS OLD THIS SUMMER. IT
WAS FIRST ESTABLISHED BY THE
STATE LEGISLATURE IN 1921. THE
PROGRAM GAINED $1 BILLION IN
RENEWED BOND AUTHORITY AS PART
OF PROPOSITION ONE ON THE BALLOT
OF NOVEMBER, 2018. THIS IS A
LABELED US TO CONTINUE TO
PROVIDE HOME LOANS TO VETERANS
AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR AT LEAST
A FEW MORE YEARS. THIS CALVET
HOME LOANS PROGRAM, IN FACT,
PRECEDED THE FEDERAL VA'S
PROGRAM THAT IS SIMILAR IN MANY
WAYS TO OURS, INCLUDING SOME OF
THE FINANCING MECHANISM.
CALIFORNIA VOTERS HAVE SUPPORTED
ALL 27 PREVIOUS BALLOT MEASURES
TO CONVINCE CONTINUE FUNDING
THIS PROGRAM. WHICH BY THE WAY,
HAS GRANTED HOMEWORK. IT IS 2
426,000, CALIFORNIA VETERANS.
BUT WE CANNOT TAKE FOR GRANTED
THAT THEY WILL RUBBER STAMP 28TH
BALLOT MEASURE AS WELL. WE MUST
KEEP SUPPORTING THIS VALUABLE
PROGRAM. ANOTHER PIECE OF THE
PUZZLE THAT HELPS THE ENTIRE
STATE TACKLE ARE AFFORDABLE
LIVING CRISIS. WE'RE JUST ONE
PIECE OF THE BIG PUZZLE. WE KNOW
HOMEOWNERSHIP BUILDS
GENERATIONAL WEALTH. CALVERT'S
ABILITY TO LEND TO VETERANS THAT
MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RECEIVE ALONE
ELSEWHERE ON THE COMMERCIAL
MARKET SETS UP CALIFORNIA
VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR
GENERATIONS. THERE ARE OTHER
WAYS IN WHICH CALVET LEADS THE
NATION IN SERVING VETERANS TO
WHEN I ARRIVED IN 2015, WE WERE
JUST GETTING THE VHP PROGRAM
VETERANS HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION PROGRAM
OFF THE GROUND. THE VOTERS OF
CALIFORNIA HAD APPROVED PROP 41
THE YEAR BEFORE THAT PROVIDED
$600 MILLION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT
OF NEW, AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR
VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
EMPHASIZING VETERANS WHO ARE
HOMELESS OR WHO HAVE EXTREMELY
LOW INCOME. I'M VERY PROUD TO
SHARE THAT. AS OF TODAY WE HAVE
FUNDED 88 CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
TOTALLY MORE THAN $484 MILLION,
AND THESE PROJECTS WHEN
COMPLETED, WILL HAVE BUILT THREE
HUNT 3100 HOUSING UNITS
DESIGNATED SPECIFICALLY FOR
VETERANS. IN 2017. WE CREATED
THE CALIFORNIA TRANSITION
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, OR CAL TAP.
THIS HIGH ENERGY PROGRAM ALLOWS
OUR TEAMS TO INFORM VETERANS OF
ALL ERAS, NOT JUST 20 YEAR OLDS
LEAVING THEY'RE THE MARINE BASE
AT PENDLETON, BUT VETERANS OF
ALL AGES. TO CONNECT AND LEARN
ABOUT THEIR EARNED FEDERAL AND
STATE BENEFITS AND CONNECT THEM
TO COMMUNITY BASED SYSTEMS OF
CARE. CAL TAP ALSO PROVIDES
CONTINUED SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE
AS VETERANS NEEDS CONTINUE TO
CHANGE OVER TIME. SINCE ITS
INCEPTION, CAL TAP HAS SERVED
NEARLY 24,000 SERVICE MEMBERS
AND VETERANS PARTICIPANTS. THAT
TEAM ADJUSTED ON THE FLY WHEN
THE PANDEMIC HIT, SWITCHING FROM
IN PERSON VISITS TO WEBINARS IN
ORDER TO CONTINUE REACHING
VETERANS THEY HAVE HOSTED
ROUGHLY 475 WEBINARS, INCLUDING
103 OF THEM IN 2022 ALONE THAT
DREW MORE THAN 4100 PARTICIPANTS
WERE NOW BACK TO ABOUT A 50 50
SPLIT. BETWEEN IN PERSON
PRESENTATIONS AND VIRTUAL
EVENTS. WE PARTNER WITH 57
INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING
FROM THE U. C CAMPUSES TO THE
CSU CAMPUSES TO OUR COMMUNITY
COLLEGES, WE REACH MILITARY
PERSONNEL THROUGH 39 DEPARTMENT
OF DEFENSE INSTALLATIONS,
INCLUDING ALL ACTIVE DUTY
RESERVE AND NATIONAL GUARD
FACILITIES. MANY VETERANS PURSUE
A DEGREE OR A CERTIFICATE AFTER
MILITARY SERVICE, BUT
UNFORTUNATELY, NOT ALL SCHOOLS
AND PROGRAMS HAVE THE VETERANS
STUDENTS WELL BEING IN MIND. OR
CALIFORNIA STATE APPROVING
AGENCY FOR VETERAN EDUCATION OR
SAVE HAS ENSURED STRONGER
PROTECTIONS FOR STUDENT VETERANS
AND THEIR DEPENDENCE WHEN USING
THEIR EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS SAVE
HAS IDENTIFIED AND STOPPED. WITH
THE HELP OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE AMONG BAD
ACTOR IN INSTITUTIONS AS WELL.
OUR DIVISION FOR MINORITY AND
UNDERREPRESENTED VETERANS IS
VERY ACTIVE AND ENGAGING
VETERANS FROM THE LGBT Q AND BY
PARK COMMUNITIES THROUGH
PROGRAMS SUCH AS PATHWAY TO
CITIZENSHIP RECOGNITION,
WEBINARS AND OUTREACH EVENTS,
THE WOMEN'S VETERANS DIVISION
CONNECTS WITH THE ROUGHLY
163,000, CALIFORNIA WOMEN. WHO
HAVE SERVED IN THE MILITARY
THROUGH CAMPAIGNS LIKE WOMEN,
VETERANS VOICES, OPERATION DRESS
CODE AND ANNUAL RECOGNITION LIKE
MILITARY WOMEN'S MILITARY
HISTORY WEEK THIS WEEK. THESE
DIVISIONS ARE WELL POSITIONED TO
EXPAND THEIR REACH TO OUR
TRADITIONALLY UNDERREPRESENTED
VETERANS IN CALIFORNIA AND ARE
AT THE TABLE TO PROVIDE INPUT
ABOUT HOW WE CAN BETTER SERVE
THESE POPULATIONS. IN CONCLUSION
. I AM PROUD TO REPORT THAT I
LEAVE A CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS. THAT IS
STRONG. VIBRANT. HEALTHY
EFFECTIVE AND FORWARD LOOKING. I
WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND
THANK CALVERT'S DEDICATED
LEADERS AND STAFF FOR GETTING US
HERE, ESPECIALLY MY UNDER
SECRETARY AND NINE DEPUTY
SECRETARIES. I WANT TO EXPRESS
MY SINCERE GRATITUDE TO THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE NEW SUBMIT
MINISTRATIONS FOR THE STRONG
SUPPORT FOR THIS DEPARTMENT.
WITHOUT THIS ROBUST PARTNERSHIP
AND POSITIVE WORKING
RELATIONSHIP, WE WOULD BE SO
MUCH FARTHER AWAY FROM
FULFILLING OUR MISSION. WELL,
THERE'S ALWAYS MORE WORK TO BE
DONE. I LEAVE CALVET CONFIDENT
THAT WE ARE ACCOMPLISHING OUR
VISION OF MAKING CAL VET THE
NATIONAL MODEL FOR SERVING
VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
NOWHERE ELSE IN THE UNION. WILL
VETERANS FIND BETTER LONG TERM
CARE, STRONGER EDUCATION
PROTECTIONS ARE FRIENDLIER HOME
LOAN LENDER OR A BETTER
CONNECTED, COMMUNITY BASED
NETWORK OF CARE. CALIFORNIA IS
TRULY A GREAT STATE FOR
VETERANS. THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR. THANK YOU, SECRETARY FOR
THAT OVERVIEW WANTED TO CHECK IN
WITH MY COMMITTEE MEMBERS. SEE
IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS. UM
TO THE SECRETARY. I DON'T HAVE
QUESTIONS, BUT I JUST WANTED. SO
WE ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF HOMES
FOR VETERANS. BUT FOR HOMES IS
AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS BUILDING
56 HOMES IN THE CEREAL,
PALMDALE. YOU MENTIONED
LANCASTER. THAT'S ANOTHER SITE.
IN FACT, THE BETS WERE HOMES UP
THERE BALDIES LAST FRIDAY WHERE
WE ATTENDED, JUST WANTED TO
MENTION THAT THE ANTELOPE VALLEY
HAS MOST OF OUR DISTRICTS HAVE A
LARGE POPULATION OF VETERANS. I
AM HONORED TO BE PART OF THIS
COMMITTEE. AND I'M LOOKING
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU TO
CONTINUE TO PROVIDE HOUSING TO
OUR VETERANS SOMETHING THAT
AGAIN WE ARE VERY ACTIVE IN THE
ANTHEM OF ALREADY HIGH THE
HISTORY THAT I REPRESENT. THE
STREET NUMBER 39. LOOKING
FORWARD TO THAT COLLABORATION,
LOOKING FORWARD TO BRINGING
THOSE RESOURCES THAT ARE LACKING
IN THE ANTELOPE VALLEY. A LOT OF
THE MEMBERS HAVE TO GO ALL THE
WAY DOWN TO U C L A, WHICH IS
ABOUT A NOT AN HOUR WITH
TRAFFIC. IT TAKES SOMETIMES TWO
HOURS TO GET THERE. WE NEED TO
WORK ON GETTING THOSE RESOURCES
UP TO WHERE THERE ARE VETERANS
LEAVE AND NOT MAKE IT EVEN MORE
DIFFICULT FOR THEM. ESPECIALLY
BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF RELIABLE
TRANSIT MAKES IT EVEN MORE
CHALLENGING FOR THEM TO ACCESS
THOSE SERVICES AND THE RIGHT TO
WRITE MY COMMITMENT. I'M LOOKING
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. AND
IT'S A PLEASURE BEING IN THIS
COMMITTEE. THANK YOU FOR WHAT
YOU'VE DONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
WORDS, SIR. UM I SHOULD TELL YOU
THAT THE ANTELOPE VALLEY IS ONE
OF THE FASTEST GROWING AREAS BIG
BECAUSE OF THE COMMUNITY ITSELF,
BUT ALSO EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE
FURTHER UP THE ROAD OF VETERANS
IN THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE
DEVOTED A LOT OF OUR DOLLARS AND
SWEAT EQUITY UP THERE IN
ANTELOPE VALLEY. I HAVE BEEN AT
EVERY ONE OF THE RIBBON BREAK
OPENINGS FOR THE HOMES UP THERE.
UM AND IN FACT, ONE DAY VERY
MEMORABLE IS THE ONLY DAY I HAVE
BECAUSE IT WAS 120 DEGREES AND I
WAS IN THE DIRECT SUN THAT I
PUBLICLY TOOK MY BOW TIE OFF AND
THE ONLY TIME THAT I THINK IN 30
YEARS WE WILL CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY AT THE
HAT WITH ITS HOUSING NEEDS
EXTRAORDINARY. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, MARSHALL. SECRETARY THANK
YOU SO MUCH. AND THANK YOU FOR
LEAVING CAL VET IN SUCH GREAT
SHAPE THAN WHEN IT FIRST WAS
WHEN YOU CAME. SO WE THANK YOU.
FOR ALL YOUR EVIDENT. I KNOW
THAT YOUR STAFF AND TEAM YOU
KNOW, WE'RE BEHIND THAT AS WELL
. I, AS REPRESENTED 74TH
DISTRICT, AND THAT'S A SOUTH
ORANGE COUNTY AND NORTH SAN
DIEGO. SO I'VE GOT CAMPAÑA
LYNTON. OCEANSIDE VISTA AND SAN
CLEMENTE. SO WE HAVE A LOT THERE
AND I AM VERY GRATEFUL AND
BLESSED TO HAVE THIS UPPER TO
NITTY TO SERVE ON THIS COMMITTEE
AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING
YOU'VE DONE AND LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH EVERYONE IN THE
ROOM. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH ORANGE COUNTY MORE CLOSELY
IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. IF NO
OTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU,
SECRETARY. I DO HAVE ONE
QUESTION FOR YOU AS YOU DID A
REMARKABLE JOB IN OUTLINING, UM
, REALLY THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AND
REALLY MAKING SURE THAT CALVIN
IS A NATIONAL MODEL FOR UM TO
ENSURE THAT WE'RE SERVING OUR
VETERANS, BUT I DID HAVE A
SPECIFIC QUESTION. UM AS IT
RELATES TO, YOU KNOW EVERYTHING
THAT YOU'VE DONE. SO WHAT DO YOU
FEEL FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE,
GIVEN THAT YOU'RE TRANSITIONING
OUT THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO
ENSURE THAT EVERYTHING THAT
YOU'VE DONE WITH YOUR TEAM,
OBVIOUSLY, UM IN IN IN TERMS OF
POLICIES AND INITIATIVES FROM
YOUR TERM, UM, ARE CONTINUED TO
BE CARRIED FORWARD BECAUSE WE
ARE SEEING YOU KNOW SOME OF THE
SUCCESS OF IT. AND THEN WHAT DO
YOU BELIEVE IT'S OUR OUR ROLE AS
MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE TO
ENSURE THAT THE VISION THAT YOU
SAID THE GOALS AND THE STRATEGIC
PLANNING THAT YOU GUYS HAVE PUT
IN PLACE CONTINUES TO BE
FOLLOWED. CHAIRWOMAN UM THANKS
FOR THE QUESTION. UM I WOULD NOT
CHANGE ANYTHING, ACTUALLY,
BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE AND I
FEEL THE LOVE FROM ALL SIDES.
BOTH HOUSES EVERYONE, BECAUSE
THAT'S THE NATURE OF THE VETERAN
. UM EXPERIENCE AND WORLD.
EVERYONE IN CALIFORNIA SUPPORTS
ITS VETERANS. THE LEGISLATURE
HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARY AND OPEN
YOUR DOORS. TO OUR TO MY STAFF
AND YOUR EARS WHEN WE BRING YOU
PROBLEMS WHEN WE CRY ON YOUR
SHOULDER. SOMETIMES WE HAVE SOME
REAL NEEDS SOME OF OUR HOMES,
INCLUDING YONVILLE, AND TO SOME
EXTENT, BARSTOW, THE OLDER HOMES
HAVE EXTRAORDINARY. UM, UM
WHAT'S THE WORD? I'M LOOKING
INFRASTRUCTURE? YES THE KIND OF
REPAIRS THAT NEED TO BE DONE ON
OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. THE
BUILDINGS, THAT YOUNG FELLA
WE'RE OLD ON PRO HARBOR DAY.
OKAY SO, UM, LIKE WE HAVE THREE
STORY HOSPITAL. WE'RE GOING TO
MOVE INTO THE NEW BUILDING. BUT
WHEN ELEVATORS BREAK WHILE THE
MANUFACTURER OF THOSE ELEVATORS
THEY WENT OUT OF BUSINESS 40
YEARS AGO, SO TOOL AND DIE
MAKERS HAVE TO RECREATE PIECES
FOR US PIECEMEAL, AND SOMETIMES
THE VETERANS THAT LIVE IN OUR
HOMES ARE IMPATIENT. BUT UM, SO
KEEP AN OPEN HEART AND OPEN MIND
TOWARD OUR EXTRAORDINARY, UM,
ISOLATED NEEDS. THAT'S NUMBER
ONE. BUT YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN
DOING THAT. SO I WOULD NOT
CHANGE THAT, UH, THAT THE WHAT I
REFERRED TO AS THE MOST ACUTE
PROBLEM, AND IT'S ONE NOT ONLY
FACED BY CAL VET BUT THE STATE
HOSPITALS, THE DEVELOPMENTAL
CENTERS, THE PRISONS. AND EVERY
OTHER NURSING AND HOSPITAL
FACILITY IN THE NATION'S
CIVILIAN MILITARY. WE'RE ALL
FACING A WORKPLACE, UM, SHORTAGE
THAT WAS EXACERBATED BY, UM NOT
JUST THE PANDEMIC, BUT THE
BIZARRE, ALMOST PREDATORY
PRACTICES OF CREATING THESE
PROGRAMS WHERE YOU GIVE
EXTRAORDINARY HIRING BONUSES AND
, UH OTHER KINDS OF ALLOTMENTS
TO PEOPLE WHO TRAVEL YEAH. UH
SOMETIMES AND I SAY TRAVEL. I
MEAN, IT'S IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT
WE HIRE A NURSE FROM ARKANSAS
BUT A NURSE FROM U C L A WILL GO
ACROSS THE STREET TO WORK FOR
CEDARS SINAI IN L, A AND AS A
TRAVELER. YEAH. SO THESE
EXTRAORDINARY THINGS THAT HAVE
PUT TREMENDOUS PRESSURE ON THE
OUR ABILITY TO HIRE ENTRY LEVEL
NURSES, TECHNICIANS, THERAPISTS
, DIETITIANS, THE WHOLE PANOPLY
OF SERVICES. WE ARE NO LONGER
COMPETITIVE. WITH THE FREE
MARKET. WHY IS THIS A CRISIS?
BECAUSE I'M FROM STEALING YOUR
YOU GUYS FROM THEIR GREAT YOU
GOT IT. WE HAVE TO OPERATE UNDER
THE SAME STATE LAWS SET BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AT
EVERY OTHER ENTITY, WHETHER IT'S
KAISER, ROSEVILLE, OR, YOU KNOW,
A SOUTHERN HOSPITAL OR CEDARS,
OR U C L, A STAFFING RATIOS,
DEPENDING ON THE LEVEL OF CARE
MEDICINE, URGED NURSING, ICU
NURSING NEONATAL NURSING. IN LAW
ARE STAFFING RATIOS, MEANING HOW
MANY HOURS A DAY MUST A HUMAN
WITH A MEDICAL OR NURSING
CREDENTIAL? TOUCH A PATIENT?
WHEN YOU DROP BELOW THOSE
STAFFING LEVELS. YOU HAVE TO NOT
ADMIT TO THAT UNIT. WE HAVE
ALREADY CORRECT ME. IF I'M WRONG
. WE'VE ALREADY STOPPED
ADMITTING TO OUR VETERANS HOMES
, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A LONG
WAITING BECAUSE I CANNOT MEET
THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS OF
BECAUSE I CAN'T HIRE ENOUGH
PEOPLE. SOME OF OUR HOMES NOT
ONLY, BUT THANK YOU. HE'S HERE
TO KEEP ME HONEST AND SOME OF
OUR HOMES SO, UH, YEAH. I WOULD
NOT CHANGE ANYTHING BECAUSE THE
LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN
EXTRAORDINARILY SUPPORTIVE. AND
SO HAS THE ADMINISTRATION. I
THINK WITH OUR GOOD REPUTATION,
THEY TRUST US THAT WHEN WE COME
TO YOU, IT'S WITH THE TRUE
SITUATION. YOU CAN BELIEVE US,
UM AND WE WELCOME YOUR HELP. AND
I'M HOPING THAT I CAN'T TELL THE
GOVERNOR WHOM TO REPLACE ME WITH
. I'M HOPING THAT HE FINDS US
SOMEONE, SOME MAN OR SOME WOMAN
WHO IS ABLE TO HIT THE GROUND
RUNNING. AND KNOWS AS MUCH ABOUT
THESE PROGRAMS AS I HAVE COME TO
LEARN. THANK YOU SO MUCH
SECRETARY, AND I APPRECIATE YOU
BRINGING UP THE ISSUE OF THE
WORKFORCE BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING
THAT BE AN ISSUE. REALLY AN
ISSUE OF OUR TIME. YOU KNOW, IN
MY DISTRICT ALONE, WE JUST HAD A
HOSPITAL CLOSURE. BECAUSE THAT
WAS ONE OF THE FACTORS YOU KNOW
, ON TOP OF OTHER FACTORS IN
TERMS OF WORKFORCE 40% OF THE
NURSES BEING TRAVELERS. AND SO,
UM, WE DEFINITELY HAVE TO FIGURE
OUT HOW WE TACKLE THAT. SO THANK
YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR. MR SECRETARY. THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK ON
THIS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. TOPIC
AND DEMOGRAPHIC. UH A QUESTION
THAT I HAVE IS IN YOUR
EXPERIENCE OF SERVICE. WHAT DO
YOU THINK HAS YIELDED THE BEST
RESULTS IN TERMS OF WHAT IN YOUR
EXPERIENCE HAS YIELDED THE BEST
RESULTS IN TERMS OF INVESTING IN
OUR VETERAN COMMUNITY, RIGHT.
HAS IT BEEN VETERAN HOUSING?
VETERAN HEALTHCARE? UH SPECIFIC
SERVICES THAT THE STATE PROVIDES
TO VETERANS MOVING FORWARD? I
THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME
VERY CANDID CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
, UH, THE STATE OF THE STATE OF
THE FISCAL STATE THAT WE'RE IN.
SO JUST SOMETHING THAT MAYBE YOU
CAN LEAVE US WITH YOUR WELL, UM
THE PEOPLE THROUGH THE
LEGISLATURE ASK CALVET TO BE
CREATED TO DO THREE THINGS
RIGHT. WHICH IS WHY I'M HERE.
ONE IS TO TAKE CARE OF OUR
DESTITUTE AND ELDERLY AND ALONE
VETERANS, AND WE DO THAT THROUGH
OUR VETERANS HOMES OF CALIFORNIA
, BUT WITH ONE WE HAVE 1.6
MILLION VETERANS, BUT HOW MANY
ARE IN THE HOMES? 2300 LITTLE
OVER 20 2300 AND YET THE
VETERANS HOMES OF CALIFORNIA, UM
, OCCUPY THREE QUARTERS OF MY
WORKFORCE AND ABOUT THREE
QUARTERS OF MY BUDGET. OKAY SO
THERE'S A DISPROPORTION THERE.
THE SECOND PROGRAM IS THE HOME
MORTGAGE PROGRAM EXTRAORDINARILY
SUCCESSFUL. IN A SENSE, IT'S A
MODEL FOR THE NATION BECAUSE WE
LOAN MONEY TO VETERANS WHO CAN'T
COMPETE BECAUSE OF LOW CREDIT
RATING LOW FICO SCORES ON THE
COMPETITIVE MARKET. AND YET
CALVET DOES THIS WITH ONE OF THE
LOWEST FORECLOSURE AND
DELINQUENCY RATES IN THE NATION
COMPARED TO ANY BANK. HOW WE DO
THAT. MAYBE IS A LITTLE OUTSIDE
THE SCOPE OF THIS MEETING, BUT
I'M HAPPY TO SHARE THAT WITH
YOU. IT'S LEGAL AND ABOVE BOARD.
OKAY IT REALLY IS. BUT IT'S VERY
SUCCESSFUL. AND LIKE I SAID,
WE'VE WE'VE GIVEN MORTGAGES TO
ALMOST A HALF MILLION VETERAN
FAMILIES. THE THIRD PROGRAM IS
WHERE WE REACH EVERY OTHER
VETERAN, AND THAT'S THROUGH THE
VETERANS SERVICES. THE THREE
REASONS WHY CAL THAT EXISTS AND
IT'S SUCH A BIG PROGRAM AND WE
HAVE THREE DEPUTIES SITTING
BEHIND ME NOW. ONE UM VIRGINIA
WIMMER IS MAYBE SHE'LL RAISE HER
HAND IS OUR UM, DEPUTY SECRETARY
WOMEN'S VETERANS SOCIAL UM.
RODRIGUEZ MARIA IS DEPUTY
SECRETARY FOR MINORITY AND
UNDERREPRESENTED AND KEITH
BOYLAN FOR VETERANS SERVICES.
THESE ARE THE PROGRAMS THROUGH
OUR WHETHER WE'RE GOING ONTO THE
ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PROGRAMS,
MILITARY INSTALLATIONS, WHETHER
WE'RE GOING TO THE VETERAN
RESOURCE CENTERS ON EVERY SINGLE
ONE OF THE COMMUNITY PRACTICALLY
OF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND
èC SYSTEMS, WHETHER WE'RE GOING
INTO ALL THE PRISONS UH, ONE
PERSON GOES IN TO EACH PRISON.
ALMOST EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK.
ONE DAY A WEEK PER PRISON
DIVERSION COURTS. UM THE
DISABLED VETERAN BUSINESS
ENTERPRISES IS SUPPORTED BY
VETERAN SERVICES. UM SO THE
QUESTION IS, HOW CAN WE DO EVEN
BETTER AT CAPITALIZED? I WOULD
LOVE TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT TO
ALL 1.6 MILLION VETERANS IN
CALIFORNIA. WE STRUGGLE WITH THE
FEDERAL V A AND THE D O D TO BE
ABLE TO DO THAT. THERE ARE
FEDERAL PROCESSES IN PLACE THAT
MAKE IT DIFFICULT, BUT THE FOLKS
BEHIND ME ARE CONSTANTLY COMING
UP WITH NEW PROGRAMS. WEBINARS
OUTREACH CITIZENSHIP PROGRAMS.
LGBT UM, FORUMS FOR VETERANS WHO
WERE KICKED OUT OF THE MILITARY
BECAUSE IT DON'T ASK. DON'T TELL
. WE HELP THEM TO GET BACK INTO
THE GOOD GRACES OF THE AND
CONNECT TO THEIR FEDERAL
BENEFITS. IT'S UM, CONNECTIVITY
. THAT'S THE FUTURE OF CAL VET
AND OUR CAL TAP TRANSITION
PROGRAM ARE ONLINE CURRICULUM,
WHICH WE'VE DEVELOPED THAT'S
ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE, I THINK
THE FEDERAL VÀ RECOGNIZED THIS
AS THE FIRST IN THE NATION. THEY
HONORED US WITH AN AWARD. THEY
THINK THAT OH, MY GOD, EVERY
STATE SHOULD DO THIS. THIS IS A
CURRICULUM NOT JUST FOR THE 20
YEAR OLD WHO IS LEAVING THE AIR
FORCE IN ELMENDORF IN ALASKA OR
THE SELLER IN OKINAWA OR THE
MARINES AT PENDLETON? THE 23,000
OF THEM EVERY YEAR WHO MAKE
CALIFORNIA THEIR HOME THEY MUST
KNOW ABOUT CALIFORNIA'S BENEFITS
BECAUSE WE ARE THE MOST GENEROUS
STATE IN THE UNION. WITH ONE
EXCEPTION ABOUT TAXATION AND
MILITARY BENEFITS, IN WHICH CASE
WE'RE THE ONLY STATE IN THE
UNION THAT DOESN'T DO THAT, BUT
, UM, AND THEN WE HAVE PART OF
THIS CURRICULUM. IF YOU ARE A 30
YEAR OLD LOOKING FOR JOB
TRAINING IF YOU'RE A 45 YEAR OLD
AND YOU WANT TO EDUCATE YOUR
CHILDREN OUT OF CSU COLLEGE
THROUGH OUR COLLEGE FEE WAIVER
PROGRAM. IF YOU'RE 60 YEAR OLD
NEED A MORTGAGE IF YOU IF YOU'RE
75 YOU HAVE NO FAMILY LEFT. AND
YOU YOU WANT TO COME INTO ONE OF
OUR VETERANS HOMES OR IF YOU'RE
A SURVIVING SPOUSE AND WANT TO
BURY YOUR VETERAN SPOUSE IN ONE
OF OUR CEMETERIES THAT THE
CURRICULUM IS CRADLE TO GRAVE.
IT WAS GENIUS. WE APPRECIATE THE
LEGISLATORS HELP AND CREATING
THIS, UM EVERY OTHER STATE
WISHES THEY COULD COPY US. I
HOPE I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTIONS
YOU DID. THAT DEFINITELY GIVES
ME A SENSE AND DIRECTION AND AS
A FORMER ANAHEIM CITY COUNCIL
MEMBER THAT SUPPORTED THE
APPROVAL OF THE VETERANS
CEMETERY IN OUR LOVELY CITY OF
ANAHEIM, AND THEN NOW IS THE
NEWLY ELECTED ASSEMBLY MEMBER. I
LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE. ITS
PART ARE VETERAN COMMUNITY HERE
IN CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. I THINK IF THERE
ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS WILL MOVE
ON TO THE SECOND PART OF THE
AGENDA, WHICH IS THE MASTER PLAN
FOR THE CALIFORNIA VETERANS
HOMES. I KNOW THAT WE HAVE
CALVET STAFF HERE, STARTING WITH
DEPUTY SECRETARY FROM THE HOMES
DIVISION. KOBE PETERSON AND
CHIEF OF THE VETERANS HOME
OPERATIONS. THOMAS MARTIN. UM
AND IF YOU GUYS COULD GO AHEAD,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR MEMBERS
OF THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS
KOBE PETERSON. I'M THE DEPUTY
SECRETARY FOR THE VETERANS HOMES
AND AS WAS MENTIONED, I HAVE
WITH ME MY RIGHT HAND MAN,
THOMAS MARTIN, WHO IS THE CHIEF
OF FUTURE OPERATIONS AND PLANS
THOMAS MARTIN AND HIS TEAM ARE
THE ARCHITECTS OF THE MASTER
PLAN, AND WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO
COME HERE TODAY TO TALK A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT THAT. AND I WILL BE.
I'LL TRY TO GET QUICKLY THROUGH
MY PORTION BECAUSE I'M SURE
THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR
ABOUT IS THE MASTER PLAN. WE ARE
HAPPY TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SHARE WITH YOU. SOME UPDATES
ABOUT OUR PROGRAM TO CAVEAT
WITH, THE SECRETARY SAID, AND
KIND OF TALK THROUGH WHAT WE
THINK OF THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR
OUR VETERANS HOMES. I WOULD LIKE
TO START, HOWEVER, BY
ACKNOWLEDGING AND THANKING OUR
SECRETARY SECRETARY EMBOSSED
YANI, WE ARE ALL OVER AT CALVIN
. VERY SAD TO SEE HIM LEAVE. UM,
WE ARE VERY HAPPY FOR HIM. WE
KNOW WHERE HE'S GOING. HE'S
GOING TO BE A TREMENDOUS ASSET
TO THAT ORGANIZATION. AND I CAN
I CAN ASSURE THE COMMITTEE HERE
THAT HE'S LEAVING CALVET IN A
MUCH STRONGER AND MORE EFFECTIVE
ORGANIZATION THAN HE FOUND IT. I
CAN GUARANTEE THAT AND I CAN'T
THANK HIM ENOUGH FOR THE SPORT
THAT HE'S GIVEN TO THE VETERANS
HOMES. AND HIS STRONG LEADERSHIP
AND WE ARE CERTAINLY GOING TO
MISS HIM. BUT THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, SIR. SO TODAY I SIT HERE
BEFORE YOU AND I'M VERY PROUD TO
SAY THAT EVERY ONE OF OUR EIGHT
VETERANS HOMES IS OPERATING AT
AN EXTREMELY HIGH LEVEL. QUITE A
CONTRADICTION FOOT FROM WHAT YOU
TALKED ABOUT AT THE BEGINNING,
BUT I WAS HERE BACK THEN I JUST
STARTED AND SORT OF INHERITED
THAT, BUT IT'S REALLY NICE TO BE
ABLE TO SIT HERE FULL CIRCLE
SEVERAL YEARS LATER TO TALK
ABOUT HOW FAR WE'VE COME. MANY
OF THE HOMES ARE ARE AND HAVE
BEEN RATED AS BEING AMONG THE
BEST IN THE COUNTRY BY SUCH
ORGANIZATIONS AS THE JOINT
COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION.
PUBLICATIONS LIKE NEWSWEEK AND
U. S NEWS AND WORLD REPORT,
WHICH IS, UH, WHICH IS RANKED
SEVERAL OF OUR VETERANS HOMES
FOR THE PAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS
AS BEING SOME OF THE BEST IN THE
IN IN THE COUNTRY. MEDICARE HAS
RATED ALL SIX OF OUR SKILLED
NURSING HOMES IN THE FOUR AND
FIVE STAR RATINGS AND AS OF
TODAY, FIVE OF MY HOMES ARE AT
FIVE STAR AND ONE IS AT FOUR
STAR, WHICH IS TREMENDOUS AND
THAT ONE THAT'S AT FOUR STAR
JUST PASSED AT CMS SURVEY A FEW
WEEKS AGO WITH VERY FEW
DEFICIENCIES, SO WE'RE REALLY
EXCITED ABOUT THAT HOME. THIS
PUTS THOSE HOMES IN THE TOP TIER
OF NURSING HOMES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, WHICH IS WHICH IS
REMARKABLE COMPARED TO WHERE WE
WERE. CALVIN HAS ALSO RECEIVED
NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR ITS
RAPID EFFECTIVE RESPONSE TO
COVID 19. AND I HAVE NO DOUBT
THAT THE HOMES HAVE SAVED MANY
LIVES IN THE PROCESS. THESE
ACCOMPLISHMENTS WOULD BE
IMPRESSIVE ENOUGH. IT WAS IF IT
WAS NORMAL OPERATIONS, BUT WE
SPENT THE LAST 3.5 YEARS PLUS
GOING INTO OUR FOURTH YEAR OF
THE PANDEMIC AND BEING ABLE TO
ACHIEVE THOSE TYPES OF SUCCESSES
WITH THE EFFECTS ON STAFFING,
MORALE AND OPERATIONS IS JUST
TRULY A TESTAMENT TO THE STAFF
THAT WE HAVE THE AMAZING
LEADERSHIP. AND WE ARE
INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR THE TEAM
THAT WE HAVE. THE FOLKS THAT ARE
ON THE GROUND DEALING WITH THIS
DAY IN AND DAY OUT BECAUSE UM
WITH A NATIONAL SHORTAGE ON
NURSING AND BEING ABLE TO
ACHIEVE NATIONAL RECOGNITION,
AND SO MANY BUCKETS IS A
TESTAMENT TO THOSE FOLKS, AND WE
CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THEM FOR
THE PAST EIGHT YEARS HOMES
DIVISION HAS SIMULTANEOUSLY BEEN
OPERATING ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS
OF TRYING TO IMPROVE WHEN WE
STARTED WE WERE. WE HAD A LOT OF
STOVEPIPES, AND WE'RE IN A
POSITION RIGHT NOW WHERE WE HAVE
PRETTY MUCH STANDARDIZATION
ACROSS THE BOARD. BUT WE'VE
NEVER LOST FOCUS ON PLANNING FOR
THE FUTURE. UM WE ARE WELL AWARE
THAT WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF A SEA
CHANGE WITH REGARDS TO THE
VETERAN POPULATION. AND I THINK
THOMAS'S FOLKS HAVE CALCULATED
IN THE NEXT 25 YEARS WE'RE GOING
TO LOSE 40% OF OUR VETERAN
POPULATION. AND THAT VETERAN
POPULATION ON THE NEXT 25 YEARS
IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT THAN
THE POPULATION THAT WE SERVE
TODAY. SO AS WE BEGAN TO MOVE
AWAY FROM THE EMERGENCY PANDEMIC
RESPONSE. REDEDICATING OUR
EFFORTS INTO THE LONG TERM
PLANNING THAT'S BEEN LAID OUT IN
THE MASTER PLAN. WHEN I CAME TO
CAL VET UM WE WERE PRIMARILY
SERVING WORLD WAR TWO VETERANS.
AND KOREAN WAR, MORE VETERANS
AND THAT WAS 89 YEARS AGO. SADLY
TODAY WE HAVE FEW WORLD WAR TWO
VETERANS REMAINING AND OUR
MAJORITY POPULATION INVESTORS
THAT WE'RE SERVING OUR VIETNAM
VETERANS, PEACETIME VETERANS AND
GULF WAR VETERANS. AND THEN 10
TO 20 YEARS. THAT'S GOING TO
CHANGE COMPLETELY. SO AS THE
VETERAN POPULATION CHANGES WE
HAVE TO, UM, PLAN FOR HOW THEIR
NEEDS ARE GOING TO CHANGE AS
WELL. AND THAT'S WHAT LEADS US
TO THE MASTER PLAN. SO AT THE
DIRECTION OF THE LEGISLATURE AND
THE GOVERNOR. WE BEGAN A FORMAL
PROCESS TO REASSESS THE VETERANS
HOME SYSTEM BY DEVELOPING TWO
TYPES OF MASTER PLANS. FIRST
MASTER PLAN IS A COMPREHENSIVE,
COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM WIDE PLAN
THAT LOOKS OUT A DECADE OR MORE.
AT THE VETERAN POPULATION THAT
CALIFORNIA WILL HAVE AND HOW TO
BEST MEET THOSE NEEDS. THE
SECOND TYPE IS A MASTER PLAN. IT
IS AN ONGOING SERIES OF HOME
SPECIFIC PLANS THAT TAKES A LOOK
AT EACH LOCATION SEPARATELY AND
EVALUATES THE BEST ONGOING USE
OF THE PROPERTY. SO THE 2020
MASTER PLAN EXPLORED THE
CHANGING VETERAN LANDSCAPE, THE
CURRENT STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
OF OUR VETERANS HOMES AND
PROVIDED A ROADMAP FOR THE
FUTURE. WHICH WE ARE CURRENTLY
FOLLOWING, BY THE WAY. THIS
DOCUMENT WAS SO COMPREHENSIVE SO
IMPRESSIVE THAT IT HAS BEEN
SOUGHT OUT BY OTHER STATES.
OTHER STATES VETERANS SOMETHING
I THINK VITO TOLD ME AND THOMAS
TOLD ME THE OTHER DAY THAT FIVE
STATES HAVE SEEN IT AND ARE
USING IT AS THEIR OWN MODEL,
TOO. TO CREATE, UM PLANNING FOR
THEIR FUTURE BECAUSE THEY SEE
THE SAME THINGS THAT WE'RE
SEEING. SO IT'S REALLY
INCREDIBLE. IT FOLLOWED YEARS OF
RESEARCH BY OUR TALENTED STAFF,
THOMAS'S TEAM. IT INCLUDED
STAKEHOLDERS AND ELECTED
LEADERS. SO IT WAS A VERY
COMPREHENSIVE DOCUMENT. THE
COMMUNITY SUPPORTED IT. THE
VETERANS COMMUNITY SUPPORTED IT.
AND IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO READ IT, IT'S
WORTH READING. AND WE'VE ALREADY
BEGUN THE SECOND ITERATION
BECAUSE BY LAW, WE ARE REQUIRED
TO UPDATE THAT EVERY FIVE YEARS,
SO MASTER PLAN TO WILL BE OUT IN
2025 NOW WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN
ADDITION TO THE ORIGINAL MASTER
PLAN IS WE'VE CREATED TWO HOME
SPECIFIC PLANS ONE IN ONE FROM
BARSTOW AND FY 21 1 FOR YA NOVEL
IN FY 22. I AM GOING TO HAND IT
OVER TO THOMAS, WHO'S GOING TO
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
SPECIFICS AND THEN WE'LL WRAP IT
UP IN THE ANIMAL ADDRESS ANY
QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. AH! THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. SO AS CØNG MENTIONED
WE HAVE THE TWO TYPES OF MASTER
PLANS. SO THE FIRST SYSTEM WIDE
MASTER PLAN CAME OUT IN 2020,
AND THAT FOCUSED ON ESTABLISHING
A BASELINE FOR THE SYSTEM, SO
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE TRENDS
IN THE VETERAN COMMUNITY, UM AS
WELL AS WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR
HOMES. SO WHAT ARE THE
STRENGTHS? WHAT ARE THEIR
CHALLENGES? AND HOW TO HOW TO
THINK ABOUT HOW THEY HOW WE
SHOULD PLAN FOR THE FUTURE BASED
AROUND THAT, UM, AS DISCOVER
MENTIONED THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PROCESS
AS PART OF IT WITH ELECTED
REPRESENTATIVES WITH OUR STAFF
VETERANS GROUPS. PROBABLY MOST
IMPORTANTLY, ARE THE RESIDENTS
IN OUR HOMES TO TRY TO GET A
FEEL FROM FOR WHAT THEY NEED
FROM US. UM AND THAT WAS REALLY
BIG PART OF IT. BECAUSE
PHILOSOPHICALLY, UM, WE TRY TO
FOCUS ON NEED AND NOT
NECESSARILY DEMAND. SO WHERE'S
THE UNMET NEED, AND THAT EXISTS
IN THE VETERAN COMMUNITY THAT
ISN'T MET BY OTHER SERVICES, OR
AT LEAST NOT FULLY MET BY OTHER
SERVICES. UM AND THAT'S WHERE WE
GET THAT'S WHERE WE START TO
LOOK AT LOOKING AWAY FROM THINGS
LIKE THE DOMUS SALIERI, THE
INDEPENDENT LIVING ROOM AND
BOARD PROGRAM SECRETARY
MENTIONED TOWARDS THINGS LIKE
SKILLED NURSING THINGS THAT, UM,
ARE EXPENSIVE. THERE'S NO WAY
AROUND THAT AND ARE AND ARE
DIFFICULT FOR OTHER PROVIDERS TO
BE ABLE TO OFFER NONPROFITS,
THOSE TYPES OF ENTITIES. IT'S
HARD FOR THEM TO OPERATE SKILLED
NURSING FACILITY, WHEREAS THERE
ARE OPTIONS FOR, UM HOUSING
PROGRAMS OR THINGS LIKE THAT, TO
INCLUDE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT
CALVERT HAS SO AS PART OF THIS,
UM WELL AND UNDERSTANDING THE
CURRENT STATE OF HOMES AND THE
CURRENT STATE OF THE VETERAN
COMMUNITY. THAT'S AH, WHERE THE
GOAL IN AND OF ITSELF BUT WE
ALSO RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO
DEFINE OUR PATH GOING FORWARD,
UM, SIMILAR TO THE MASTER PLAN
ON ON AGING, UM, TRYING TO HAVE
A BROAD, COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT
EVERYTHING THAT EXISTS
EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING ALL
THE RESOURCES. WE HAVE ALL THE
PROGRAMS WE HAVE. AND DECIDE
FROM THERE, BUILD A VISION FROM
THERE FOR WHAT ROLE WE SHOULD
PLAY. UM. AND IN WHAT PART OF
THE BROADER ECOSYSTEM WE YOU
KNOW WHAT? WHAT AN ISSUE WAS.
YOU FEEL SO THE FIRST MASTER
PLAN, THE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE
FOCUSED ON MEETING ON FINDING
THOSE UNMET NEEDS AND ADDRESSING
SOME OF THE MOST CRITICAL
CHALLENGES IN THEIR HOMES, MANY
OF WHICH INVOLVED THE BARSTOW
AND YONVILLE HOMES, EITHER
BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE
FACILITIES, PRIMARILY NOVELS,
CASE OR BECAUSE OF GEOGRAPHY
THAT MIGHT THAT MIGHT HINDER
THINGS LIKE, UM UH, BEING ABLE
TO CONNECT WITH THE VETERAN
POPULATION OR GET BUILDING A
STRONG WORKFORCE THOSE TYPES OF
AREAS UM, THE MASTER PLAN WAS
RELEASED A COUPLE MONTHS AGO.
AND AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, UH
, BARSTOOL MASTER PLAN WAS
RELEASED THE YEAR PRIOR. THEY'RE
GOING TO BE UPDATED EVERY FIVE
YEARS. EACH OF THESE SITES
SPECIFIC MATCH PLANS GETS
UPDATED ON A ROTATING BASIS,
JUST LIKE THE SYSTEM WIDE MASTER
PLAN. AND THE GOAL OF THE 2020
MATCH PLAN WAS WAS LIKE AS I
SAID, IT'S TO BUILD A BASELINE
AND HAVE ALL THE OTHER MASTER
PLANS. JUST BUILD ON TOP OF IT.
THAT THERE BE A GENERAL VISION
THAT WE COULD WORK FROM, AND THE
OTHER PLANS WOULD BE ITERATIVE
OR ADDING MORE, UM, ADDING MORE
VALUE TO THEM, AND THAT'S AND
THAT'S THAT'S WHAT WE DO WITH
THE BAR'S DOING, YONVILLE
REPORTS SO THEY FALL DOWN THE
STEPS AND THEY WERE REITERATED
AND BUILT ON SOME OF THE GOALS
THAT WERE OUTLINED IN THE 2020
PLAN. SO SOME OF THE SOME OF THE
KEY ONES THERE WERE 27 IS QUITE
A FEW BUT SOME OF THE KEY ONES
FOR THOSE HOMES WERE MOVING AWAY
FROM ONE OF OUR OUTDATED LEVELS
OF CARE ARE INDEPENDENT CARE
PROGRAM, UM AND REPLACING IT
WITH ASSISTED LIVING, WHICH IS
MORE MODERN. EASIER TO MANAGE,
UM, SOMETHING YOU'D FIND IN THE
PRIVATE SECTOR. UM AND AS A
SECRETARY MENTIONED, STEPPING
AWAY FROM OUR INDEPENDENT LIVING
PROGRAM UM PARTICULARLY BURSTOW
WITH THE GOAL OF REPLACING IT
WITH MORE SKILLED NURSING BEDS,
WHICH WE SEE AS THE TRUE THE
GREATER UNMET NEED PARTICULAR
THAT REGION AND THEN MOST
IMPORTANTLY, AS A SECRETARY
MENTIONED BUILDING THE SKILLED
NURSING FACILITY IN YONVILLE, UM
, BEING PROBABLY THE SINGLE MOST
IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATION COMING
OUT OF THE OF THE 2020 MASTER
PLAN. WHICH WE WHICH WE'VE
REITERATED HMM. SO THOSE GIRLS
ARE ALL THEY'RE ALL BEING
IMPLEMENTED AT THIS TIME. BY THE
TIME THEY'RE DONE, THOSE TWO
HOMES IN PARTICULAR WILL LOOK
VERY DIFFERENT. UM THERE'S GONNA
BE FEWER INDEPENDENT LIVING
BEDS. UM THE LEVELS OF CARE WILL
BETTER ALIGN WITH THE COMMUNITY
NEED, WHICH IS BASED OUT OF
VETOS RULES WILL WILL MAKE SURE
THAT 25 MATCH PLAN IF YOU DON'T
SEE ANY MEMORIAL, SOMETHING
SOMETHING ROLLS IT WILL BE IN
THERE. UM AND, UM, UH AND ALSO,
UH, THE OTHER BIG THING BIG
CHANGE FOR THE CAMPUS REALLY
GOING TO REVITALIZING YONVILLE
REINVESTING IN IT? UM UM,
ADDRESSING KEY, UH, KEY
MAINTENANCE CHALLENGES, THE MOST
IMPORTANT ONE BEING REPLACING
THE GREAT DEPRESSION ERA SKILLED
NURSING FACILITY WITH A NICE NEW
MODERN ONE. SO OVERALL, SO
VETERANS ARE CHANGING, LIKE LIKE
KOBE SAID. WE'RE WE'RE IN THE
MIDST OF A SEA CHANGE VETERANS
WE HAVE TODAY. UM THEY'RE NOT
THE VETERANS WE HAD 10 YEARS
AGO. AND THE VETERANS WE HAVE 10
YEARS FROM NOW WE'RE NOT GONNA
BE THE ONES WE HAVE TODAY. BY
THE END OF THE DECADE WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE WE'RE GOING TO
LOSE ALMOST OVER WORLD WAR. TWO
VETERANS WERE VERY, VERY FEW
KOREAN WAR VETERANS. AND WE'RE
REALLY GOING TO BE SERVING
VIETNAM VETERANS PRIMARILY AND
THE FIRST WAVE OF GULF WAR
VETERANS. THEY'LL EIGHT.
THERE'LL BE AGING UP INTO OUR
TYPE OF PROGRAMMING. UM AND SO
WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT
THE FUTURE MEANS IT'S NOT JUST
ABOUT BUILDINGS. IT'S NOT JUST
ABOUT WHERE WHERE THEY ARE. IT'S
ALSO ABOUT WHAT EXACT SERVICES
AND CARE THOSE VETERANS ARE
GOING TO NEED. WHAT ARE THEIR
CARE NEEDS? WHAT ARE THEIR
PREFERENCES? UM, FROM A WHOLE
RANGE OF TOPICS, NOT JUST
MEDICAL CARE, BUT DIETARY WOULD
. WHAT DID THEY WHAT PREFERENCES
THEY HAVE. THEY'RE JUST NOT THE
SAME AS WHAT WE'VE WE'VE BEEN
SEEING. SO THE THESE MASTER
PLANS AND THE UPCOMING 2025
MASTER PLAN. UM THEY'RE GONNA BE
SETTING CALVET ON THE BEST
FOOTING TO BE ABLE TO MEET THEIR
NEEDS IN THE FUTURE. UM AND
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO BE ONLY
USING THAT FOR THE NEXT 10 AND
20 AND UNKNOWN NUMBER OF YEARS
TO BE ABLE TO GUIDE OUR DECISION
MAKING PROCESS SO UM WITH THAT
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU AND YOUR REPRESENTATIVES ON
THE NEXT MASTER PLAN WILL HAVE
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT COMING
SOON ON THAT, UM AND JUST WANT
TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO DISCUSS WHAT WE'RE WORKING
ON. HAND IT BACK TO KOBE. SO AS
YOU CAN SEE, THERE WAS A REASON
WHY WE PICKED THOMAS TO LEAD THE
MASTER PLAN. UM HE REALLY
UNDERSTANDS AND HE'S COMMITTED
TO THE NEEDS OF OUR VETERANS IN
THE FUTURES AT THE FOREFRONT.
WE'VE GOT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
FOLKS THAT WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT
AND GET INVOLVED. SO WE WERE
GETTING TREMENDOUS LEVELS OF
SUPPORT. SO I FEEL THAT WE'RE IN
A GREAT POSITION. WE'VE GOT A
GREAT ORIGINAL DOCUMENT THAT WE
CAN BUILD ON AND THEN WE'VE GOT
A SERIES OF DOCUMENTS THAT WILL
CONTINUE TO COME FORWARD. SO AS
WE CONCLUDE, I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT AND
LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT WE FEEL
LIKE WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE TEAM
RIGHT NOW. IN CALVET IN THE
HOMES DIVISION, PROBABLY SOME OF
THE BEST LEADERS WE'VE EVER HAD
IN FOLKS DOWN ON THE GROUNDS. UM
IN THE TRENCHES ON A DAILY BASIS
. IT'S FUNNY. YOU SAY THAT
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, CMS, UM IS
THAT YONVILLE ON DAY TWO OF
THEIR SURVEY. SO AND IT PRETTY
MUCH NEVER ENDS, BUT WE'RE READY
FOR THAT, AND WE'RE PREPARED. UM
WE'VE HAD A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
ACCOMPLISHMENTS. I KNOW IT
SOUNDS LIKE IT'S JUST BEEN IN
THE LAST FEW YEARS, BUT IT'S
BEEN SEVERAL YEARS AND IT'S
TAKEN A WHILE AND IT AND IT
DIDN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, AND IT
CERTAINLY WAS AIDED BY THE
SECRETARIES, LEADERSHIP AND
PRIORITIZATION AND SUPPORT. BUT
IT'S REALLY BEEN. IT'S BEEN
REALLY NICE FOR ME TO SEE
BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE
WHERE WE WERE AND WHERE WE'RE AT
AND WHERE WE'RE GOING INTENSE
AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT
WAS ASKED EARLIER. ARE WE GOING
TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THIS?
THIS LEVEL OF UM SUCCESS, AND I
THINK THE ANSWER IS WE HAVE THE
SAME TEAM NOW THAT WE HAD TO
DEVELOP WHERE WE'RE AT NOW, WITH
THE EXCEPTION OF THE BOSS. HE'S
TAUGHT US MANY LESSONS. AND I
THINK THAT WE YOU KNOW, WE ARE
COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT WE
CONTINUE DOWN THIS PATH. I THINK
THE MASTER PLAN GUIDES A LOT OF
THE DECISIONS GOING FORWARD FOR
THE HOMES DIVISION. AND I'M SURE
KEITH UM, CAN TALK THE SAME
THINGS ABOUT HIS DEPARTMENT WHEN
HE GETS UP HERE IN A MINUTE,
BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE IN
REALLY GOOD SHAPE. I DO WANT TO
CAUTION AND LET EVERYBODY KNOW
THAT WE STILL HAVE CHALLENGES
WITH THE PANDEMIC. I HAVE HOMES
RIGHT NOW, WITH CASES OF COVID.
AND WE'RE TESTING FOLKS ON A
REGULAR BASIS, AND WE'RE
ISOLATING FOLKS, AND WE'RE STILL
DEALING WITH COVID. UH LIVING
WITH COVID. I GUESS THE BEST WAY
TO EXPLAIN IT. UM BUT IN SPITE
OF ALL OF THAT, WE'RE INCREDIBLY
PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO
ACCOMPLISH. UM IT CERTAINLY
DIDN'T HAPPEN THAT BY BY MY
LEADERSHIP, BUT I THINK YOU KNOW
GOOD LEADERS SURROUND THEMSELVES
WITH GREAT PEOPLE. AND I THINK
WE'VE DONE THAT. UM AND WE'RE
PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE. THOMAS
IS COMMITTED TO HAND IN THIS
TOO, WHEREVER HE ENDS THIS, TOO,
AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO IT
BECAUSE IT'S JUST A GREAT
FRAMEWORK FOR THE FUTURE. AND I
THINK THE FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT
FOR THE VETERANS HOMES. I DON'T
THINK THERE'S A WHOLE LOT TO BE
TOO CONCERNED ABOUT RIGHT NOW.
UM AND WE APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY HERE TODAY, AND WE
WELCOME ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION
, DEPUTY SECRETARY. AND THEN
ALSO, UM THOMAS. FOR ALL THAT
INFORMATION, I HAD SOME JUST
FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS AND THEN
I'LL ALSO ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO
SEE IF THEY HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS WHEN I WANT TO GO BACK
TO A COMMENT THAT I THINK WAS
MENTIONED BY THE SECRETARY ABOUT
YOU KNOW THE CHALLENGES IN THE
WORKFORCE AND THEN SOME OF THE
STOPPED ADMISSIONS TO SOME OF
THE HOMES. CAN YOU IDENTIFY?
MAYBE WORK HOMES ARE THE ONES
THAT WERE YOU GUYS HAVE KIND OF
THAT OFF ON ADMITTING FOLKS.
WE'RE TALKING. WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT NURSING SHORTAGE HOMES
SPECIFICALLY, OKAY? YEAH THE VET
HOMES. YEAH. SO, UM IT WAS
REALLY INTERESTING, BECAUSE, UM,
WHEN I GOT HERE WE I ALWAYS HAD
A LITTLE BIT OF CHALLENGE
RECRUITING AND RETAINING FOLKS
IN TWO OF OUR HOMES. THEY'RE
LOCATED IN THE MOST HIGH COST OF
LIVING AREAS. YONVILLE IN WEST
L. A. BUT YET WE STILL WERE ABLE
TO GET FOX AND WHAT WE STARTED
TO SEE IS A TREND CHANGE. WHEN
THE PANDEMIC HAPPENS, WE WERE
ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTING TO SEE
NURSING CHALLENGES HIRING IN
FRESNO. IN READING. AND WE WERE
NEVER SEEING THESE BEFORE. UM I
HAVE MY FOLKS GIVE ME THE REPORT
ON A WEEKLY BASIS OF HOW WE'RE
DOING REGARDING CENSUS AND WE'RE
OPERATING RIGHT NOW ABOUT 70
LITTLE OVER 70% CENSUS FULFILLED
PART OF THE PANDEMIC. WE'RE IN
THE HIGH EIGHTIES. SO WE HAVE
HAD AN EFFECT AND WE'VE HAD TO
SHUT DOWN. SOME OF THE HOMELESS
BASED ON PATIENT ARE PER DAY
BASED ON WHAT LICENSING
REQUIREMENTS. AND WE DON'T. I
MEAN, WE'RE NOT LOSING SIGHT OF
THAT WE WERE ON TOP OF THAT
DAILY. IT'S MY NUMBER ONE
PRIORITY. IT'S BEEN MY NUMBER
ONE PRIORITY FOR SEVERAL YEARS
AS TO HOW DO WE IMPROVE? UM
VACANCY RATES SO THAT WE CAN
INCREASE CENSUS RATES, SO WE
TALKED ABOUT ALL THE TIME AND I
WAS ACTUALLY ENCOURAGED WHEN I
GOT THE REPORT LAST NIGHT THAT
SOME OF OUR VACANCY RATES FOR
NURSES AND GOING DOWN AND I'M
ACTUALLY HEARING OUR WEEKLY
MEETING. ABOUT. NEW EMPLOYEE
ORIENTATION. WE JUST PICKED UP
FIVE MORE CIENA'S TO SEEING IT
INTO R N S A PSYCHOLOGIST. AND
SO I AM SEEING A LOT AT THE END
OF THE TUNNEL. UM THE BIGGEST
CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE HAVING
RIGHT NOW ARE OBVIOUSLY
CONTINUE. THE WESTERLY YONVILLE
, FRESNO WAS A CHALLENGE AND
READING, BUT I THINK BOTH OF
THOSE ARE ON THE MEND OR
ACTUALLY ADMITTING WE JUST
ADMITTED A FEW FOLKS IN
PRESIDENT AND READING RECENTLY,
SO I THINK THOSE ARE MOVING IN
THE RIGHT DIRECTION. SO UM,
LIKE, THE SECRETARY SAID, WE'VE
REALLY DONE A GREAT JOB RAMPING
UP OUR HIRING EVENTS AND OUR
MEDIA CAMPAIGN THROUGH THE HELP
OF LINDSAY AND HER TEAM. WE'RE
GETTING THE WORD OUT. MANY OF
OUR HOMES AND TO DRIVE BY THE
FENCE. YOU'LL SEE A GIANT BANNER
THAT SAYS WE'RE HIRING. OR
YOU'LL SEE SOME SORT OF AN
ADVERTISEMENT ON FACEBOOK. WE
ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO
GET FOLKS IN. AND AS IT SAYS, AS
THE BOSS SAID, WE'RE
ACCELERATING. THE PROCESS WILL
SETTLE ARE ACCELERATING. THE
PROCESS MEANS DOING ON SITE
SCORING AND INTERVIEWS AND
TESTING AND HOW TO GET A JOB AND
THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, SO I
THINK IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING.
AND OF COURSE, WE DO HAVE TO
RELY AT SOMETIMES UNDER
REGISTRY, BUT I'M HOPING THAT
WE'RE HEADING IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION, AND THEY WERE DOING
ALL THE RIGHT THINGS RIGHT NOW,
AND I FEEL PRETTY GOOD ABOUT IT,
ACTUALLY. OKAY GREAT. I HOPE
THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION. YES
AND I LOVE TO JUST KIND OF
CONTINUE TO BE UPDATED ON THE
FRESNO ISSUE. FOR ME. THE
WORKFORCE ISSUE IS A BIG I'M YOU
KNOW, TRYING TO WORK DURING THIS
LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO FIGURE
OUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO INCREASE
THAT PIPELINE BECAUSE IT'S NOT
JUST IN. YOU KNOW, THIS WAS THE
FIRST TIME I HEAR THAT THAT'S
ALSO A CHALLENGE THAT YOU GUYS
ARE EXPERIENCING. UM WE'RE
SEEING UP AT THE LOCAL HOSPITALS
ACROSS THE STATE. SO UM, IT'S
GONNA BE IMPORTANT THAT THAT WE
REALLY LASER FOCUS ON THAT
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PEACE SO
THAT WE HAVE EVERY SINGLE HOPE.
STAFFED SO THAT BECAUSE THE NEED
IS GREAT, RIGHT? YOU MENTIONED
THERE ARE ABSOLUTELY WAITLIST
ABSOLUTELY NEED TO FIGURE OUT
EVERY POSSIBLE WAY THAT PIPELINE
SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE PEOPLE
WAITING WHEN THERE'S BEDS.
THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY THAT'S THE
SADDEST THING. ABSOLUTELY 100%
WANT TO REALLY KEEP ON THIS
ISSUE AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN
WORK TOGETHER. UM TO BUILD THAT?
YES, MA'AM. ABSOLUTELY. 100%
COUPLE OTHER JUST QUESTIONS THAT
I HAD. OBVIOUSLY MASTER PLANTS
ARE GREAT, YOU KNOW, AND I AND I
THINK LIKE YOU SAID, IT REALLY
HAS PUT FORWARD THE FOOTPRINT.
UM AND THAT YOU GUYS ARE GOING
TO CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THAT TO
REALLY SEE THE CONTINUED CHANGE
IN THE DEPARTMENT AND IN THE
HOMES. BUT I'M WONDERING WHAT,
UM SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS.
HAVE YOU GUYS IMPLEMENTED OF THE
MASTER PLAN? OR HOW ARE YOU GUYS
DOING? UH, SO AND CAN YOU DO IT
WITHIN THE BUDGET, YOU KNOW THAT
YOU GUYS ARE GIVEN SURE I CAN
SPEAK TO THAT. SO THE MASTER
PLAN 2020 MASTER PLAN CAME OUT.
IN 2020 PROBABLY DIDN'T NEED TO
SAY THAT WHAT CAME OUT IN
JANUARY 2020. MAYBE THAT'S WHAT
I SHOULD HAVE SAID, UM, AND WAS
WAS ACCOMPANIED WITH SOME BUDGET
BUDGET CHANGE PROPOSALS TO BE
ABLE TO START THE IMPLEMENTATION
PROCESS. SO WE APPRECIATE THE
SUPPORT FROM LEGISLATURE TO GET
SOME OF THOSE TO GET THOSE BCPS
THROUGH. SO WE WERE ABLE TO
CHANGE. UM, UH, SOME OF THE
LEVELS OF CARE. PRETTY AGAIN,
PARTICULARLY ON FROM BARSTOW.
THOSE WERE SOMETHING TO KEY
HOMES FROM THE REPORT. WE
CHANGED SOME OF THE LEVELS OF
CARE. UM AND WE MOVED FORWARD
WITH FUNDING FOR THE NEW SKILLED
NURSING FACILITY. UM WE ALSO
EXPANDED OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
STAFFING IN THE HOMES BECAUSE WE
SAW THAT AS A GROWING NEED THAT
IT'S GOING TO BE A GREATER NEED
IN THE FUTURE. BUT WE KNEW WERE
AT LEAST OR AT LEAST KIND OF
COMING INTO. UH HUMP RIGHT NOW.
UM AND, UM SO THOSE ITEMS WE GOT
. WE GOT FUNDING FOR THOSE
THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE SO AGAIN
APPRECIATE APPRECIATE THAT
SUPPORT FROM THOSE LEGISLATORS.
UM SO WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF
IMPLEMENTING THOSE, SO EACH OF
THOSE ITEMS TAKES TIME. SO THE
SCHOOL NURSE FACILITY, UM, THAT
IT'S GOING TO BE I THINK
CONSTRUCTION FINISHES AND NEXT
SOMETIME NEXT YEAR, I BELIEVE
AND, UM, THE LEVELS OF CARE
CHANGES THAT THAT TAKES SEVERAL
YEARS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT
DISCHARGING ANYONE'S PART OF IT,
SO WE HAVE TO KIND OF SLOWLY
DRAW DOWN AND THEN MOVE
RESIDENTS AROUND. UM SO THERE
WAS A LOT OF THOSE ARE GOING TO
BE IMPLEMENTED RIGHT AROUND THE
TIME THE 2025 MASTER PLAN COMES
OUT IN WHICH CASE WE CAN THEN
KIND OF LOOK AT WHAT SOME OF
THOSE NEXT STEPS ARE, UM, SO BUT
AGAIN RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE WE HAVE
WHAT WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT THOSE
THOSE KEY PROVISIONS FROM THE
MASTER PLAN. PERFECT THANK YOU
FOR THAT. AND THEN JUST TO
FOLLOW UP. YOU MENTIONED THAT
EVERY HOME HAS THEIR OWN MASTER
PLAN, RIGHT? KIND OF, LIKE MORE
SPECIFIC, JUST WONDERING WHAT'S
THE STATUS ON THE FRESNO REPORT?
I REPRESENT, UH, YOU KNOW,
FRESNO COUNTY. UM, AS PART OF MY
DISTRICT, AND SO, YES, SO EACH
EACH FACILITY HAS IT'S BASED ON
A ROUTINE SCHEDULED FOR LAW. AH
AH, AND THE FIRST TWO THAT CAME
UP WERE BARSTOW AND, YEAH, IT'S
BASED AROUND WHEN THE HOME WAS
OPENED. UM SORRY, BARSTOW.
UNIONVILLE ACTUALLY PRESENT THE
FRESNO HOME IS GONNA BE DUE IN
2028. BECAUSE AT HOME IS STILL
RELATIVELY NEW EACH EACH
FACILITY BECAUSE THEY'RE
PARTIALLY FUNDED BY FEDERAL
FUNDS. WE CAN'T MAKE SIGNIFICANT
CHANGES TO IT WITHIN 20 YEARS.
SO FOR THE NEWER HOMES, UM, THE
LAW BUILT IN A DELAY FOR THE
FIRST REPORTS FOR THEM BECAUSE
WE CAN'T CHANGE TOO MUCH YET.
BUT AGAIN THAT ONE CAN BE IN
2028. THEN EACH HOME IS GOING TO
BE ROTATING AGAIN EVERY FIVE
YEARS AFTER THEIR FIRST REPORT
COMES OUT, SO THE PROCESS STARTS
IN 2028, OR THAT THE DOCUMENT
WILL BE THE DOCUMENTS ADOPTED IN
2028. WE START THE PROCESS AND A
HALF ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF
BEFORE, UM, WE ACTUALLY WOULD
PRODUCE IT, SO THAT'S KIND OF
WHEN THE STAKEHOLDER PROCESS
STARTS AND WE START DOING MORE
OF THE SPECIFIC SITE ASSESSMENTS
. AND THEN MAYBE IF YOU CAN JUST
BRIEFLY EXPLAIN WHAT IS THAT
STAKEHOLDER PROCESS LOOK LIKE?
SURE YES, SO WE HAVE, UM IT'S
TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE A LITTLE BIT
TO THE TO THE TO THE AREA. BUT
WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE
THE FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE WE MEET WITH THE
RESIDENTS. WE HAVE RESIDENT TOWN
HALLS. WE MEET WITH THE ALLIED
COUNCILS, WHICH IS THE ELECTED
BODY AND OF THE RESIDENTS. WE
ALSO MEET WITH OUR STAFF. UM AND
GET THEIR FEEDBACK. UM AND WE
SCHEDULE MEETINGS WITH ELECTED
REPRESENTATIVES STATE FEDERAL,
LOCAL UM AND SOLICIT THEIR
FEEDBACK, SO WE TRY TO HAVE A
PRESENTATION ON THIS IS THE
CURRENT STATE THAT WE SEE. THESE
ARE SOME IDEAS THAT WERE
THINKING OF TELL US WHAT WE'RE
MISSING. BASICALLY UM AND, UH
AND THEN WE TAKE THAT WE
CAPTURED AND SO IF YOU'VE SEEN
THE ARE BARSTOW AND YOUNG FOOL
REPORTS WE HAVE WE HAVE CHAPTERS
DEDICATED JUST TO THE
STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK. EVEN IF
OUR GOAL IS EVEN IF IT'S NOT
SOMETHING WE AGREE WITH, EVEN IF
IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S NOT
POSSIBLE. WE WANT TO AT LEAST
MAKE SURE IT'S REFLECTED BECAUSE
I THINK STAKEHOLDERS ARE THAT
AND SO WE AGAIN WE HAVE CHAPTERS
DEDICATED JUST TO THAT AGE OF
THOSE REPORTS. GREAT. THANK YOU
. HMM I THINK WE'RE GONNA MOVE
ON TO THEIR NOT EVERYTHING. ANY
QUESTIONS FROM. THE MEMBERS
PERFECT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
GENTLEMEN WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO
THE NEXT PART OF THE AGENDA,
WHICH IS THE NEW PROGRAMS AND
INITIATIVES. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M
KEITH BOYLAN, DEPUTY SECRETARY
FOR VETERANS SERVICES. I WILL
JUST JUMP RIGHT IN IN IN BE
BRIEF. I KNOW WE'RE TIME'S OF
THE ESSENCE HERE. I DID WANT TO
JUST FOLLOW BACK ON ONE OF THE
QUESTIONS THAT ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
VALENCIA HAD REGARDING, UM, KIND
OF PRIORITY PRIORITIZATION OF
SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY AND
KIND OF WHAT'S THE BEST FIT. AND
IN TALKING HERE TODAY, I'VE
HEARD THAT THE TERMS PHILOSOPHY
AND AS WELL AS COMMUNITY USED
SEVERAL TIMES, I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO, UM TO REALLY POINT
OUT THAT THAT'S IN SOMETHING.
WE'RE VERY PROUD OF IT. THE
DEPARTMENT IS SOMETHING WE'VE
REALLY PUSHED FORWARD WITH. UM
WITH OUR COMPLETE OUR PHILOSOPHY
IN TERMS OF THE WAY WE SEE
SERVICE WITHIN THE STATE. THE
SECRETARY ALLUDED IT, TOO, WHEN
HE TALKED ABOUT THE CRADLE TO
GRAVE, BUT GENERALLY IT'S MORE
OF A LIFE CYCLE CONCEPT FOR THE
VETERANS, UM FROM EVEN PRE
ENLISTMENT TILL THE MOMENT WHEN
THERE WHEN THERE IS, THE
SECRETARY SAID, MEMORIALIZED AT
ONE OF OUR VETERANS, CEMETERIES
AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN, AND
TRULY BEING THERE AT THOSE
MOMENTS THAT MATTER. UM WE
REALIZED REALLY EARLY I KNOW IN
MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
COMING UP THROUGH THE NONPROFIT
COMMUNITY IN SAN FRANCISCO, UM,
THE DEPARTMENT BACK WHEN I
PROCEEDED THE SECRETARY BY A FEW
YEARS, UM, WHEN I GOT THERE IT
IT CERTAINLY HAD HIS CHALLENGES,
BUT ONE OF ITS BIGGEST
CHALLENGES WAS THINKING IT
NEEDED TO BE ALL THINGS TO ALL
VETERANS. AND THAT WAS THAT WAS
REALLY, UM A BIG CHALLENGE. SO
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT
PRIORITIZATION WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY OF WHAT SERVICE NEEDS
, I THINK WE'RE IN A GREAT PLACE
NOW WITH THAT COMMUNITY BASED
SYSTEM OF CARE THAT WE REALLY
LEAD AND ALSO HAVE CONSTRUCTED
IN IN ALL OF YOUR COMMUNITIES,
UM TO REALLY DEPENDING ON THAT
COMMUNITY, REALLY IDENTIFY WITH
THOSE GAPS IN SERVICE ARE IN
THAT PARTICULAR NEED FOR THAT,
PARTICULARLY COMMUNITY IS AND
ADDRESS THEM VERY EFFECTIVELY,
AND IN A VERY FOCUSED WAY NOW,
SO I HOPE THAT I HOPE THAT HELPS
. UM AS I SAID KEITH BOYKIN,
DEPUTY SECRETARY OF VETERANS
SERVICES. MANY OF THE THINGS
THAT SECRETARY TALKED ABOUT FALL
UNDER MY PURVIEW, INCLUDING
STATE CEMETERIES. ALL THE
COMPENSATION AND PENSION FOR THE
STATE AS WELL AS SEE SAVE. UM
STATE OF PROVEN AGENCY FOR
VETERANS EDUCATION AS WELL AS A
LOT OF OTHER PROGRAMS. BUT WE
ARE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT TWO
OF OUR NEWEST AND THE LATEST AND
GREATEST PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE
VERY EXCITED ABOUT, UM, WITHIN
OUR SPACE. WE'VE BEEN VERY
FORTUNATE OR I'M NOT SURE IF
IT'S FORTUNATE, BUT TO OUR OUR
ARE WITHIN THE VETERAN COMMUNITY
. MANY OF OUR PRIORITIES ALIGNED
WITH THE REST OF CALIFORNIA AND
THE CONCEPT OF CALIFORNIA FOR
ALL AND WE'VE BEEN THREE OF THE
MAJOR ONES THAT HAVE HAVE BEEN
AN ISSUE THAT WE'VE BEEN
ADDRESSING VERY DIRECTLY IN THE
ADMINISTRATION HAS AS WELL.
THREE ARE HOUSING, MENTAL HEALTH
AND OUR AGING VETERAN POPULATION
. UM AND BOTH OF THESE PROGRAMS
REALLY ADDRESS ALL THREE OF
THOSE AREAS WHO ARE REALLY
EXCITED ABOUT HIM. THE FIRST IS
THE CALIFORNIA VETERAN HEALTH
INITIATIVE. THIS IS A CONCEPT
THAT WHEN THE GOVERNOR CAME TO
THE SECRETARY LAST VETERANS DAY
AND REALLY WANTED TO SEE
SOMETHING THAT ADDRESSES THE
ISSUE OF SUICIDE AMONG THE
VETERAN POPULATION WITHIN THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA, SO WE WENT
TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND PUT
TOGETHER WHAT'S CALLED
CALIFORNIA VETERAN HEALTH
INITIATIVE. UM AS YOU CAN SEE,
SUICIDE IS NOT IN THE NAME OF
THE PROGRAM. UM AND THAT WAS
PURPOSEFUL. UM, MUCH OF WHAT
WE'RE DOING AT THE DEPARTMENT IN
ALL OUR WAYS, WHETHER IT'S THE
MASTER PLAN FOR THE HOMES AND SO
FORTH. IS REALLY CHANGING OUR
PHILOSOPHY, UNDERSTANDING THAT
WE CAN'T BE ALL THINGS TO
VETERANS AND THAT WE NEED TO
ENLIST UNLESS THE COMMUNITY
BASED SYSTEM OF CARE AND WORK
BETTER WITH OUR OTHER STATE
AGENCIES AS WELL AS OUR FEDERAL
PARTNERS. BUT MORE SO I'M REALLY
IDENTIFY AND LOOK UPSTREAM AND
REALLY TRY TO BE THERE AT THESE
MOMENTS THAT MATTER FOR THESE
VETERANS AND THEIR TRANSITION AT
WHATEVER POINT THAT IS IN THEIR
LIFE, THAT REALLY, UM PROVIDES
THAT AND THAT WAS OUR APPROACH
FOR THIS PROGRAM. UM SUICIDE IS
DEATH BY SUICIDE AS AN OUTCOME.
UM BUT WE REALLY FELT IT
NECESSARY TO REALLY ENGAGE THOSE
MOMENTS. UM, WELL UPSTREAM THAT
, UM IF PROPERLY ADDRESSED AT
THOSE TIMES, UM PERHAPS WOULD
LEAD TO VERY DIFFERENT OUTCOMES.
SO MUCH OF THE PROGRAM IS BASED
ON THAT. UM, THE GOVERNOR GAVE
US $50 MILLION TO ESTABLISH THIS
PROGRAM. AH UNHEARD OF UNHEARD
OF SUPPORT FOR SUCH A PROGRAM
ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY. UH C V
H I WILL DELIVER COMPREHENSIVE,
COORDINATED STATEWIDE APPROACH,
UM, FOCUSING ON PREVENTION,
EARLY INTERVENTION AND DIRECT
SERVICES. TO COMBAT AS I SAID
THE RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH
SUICIDAL IDEATION. THE PROGRAM
ITSELF HAS COMPILED COMPOSED OF
THREE MAIN THREE MAIN AREAS, THE
FIRST PIECES, OUTREACH,
EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY. THE
CENTERPIECE IS PREVENTATIVE AND
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. AND THEN
THE LAST PIECE BEING
SURVEILLANCE RESEARCH AND
EVALUATION. UM BETWEEN THOSE 33
PARTS WERE REALLY WERE TRYING
TO, UM AND OBVIOUSLY THE BACK
SIDE OF IT, UNDERSTANDING THE
WHO, WHAT? WHERE, WHEN, WHY, AND
HOUSE OF THAT? TO THIS
SURVEILLANCE, RESEARCH AND
EVALUATION SIDE OF IT WOULD
REALLY HELP INFORM OUR OUTREACH
AND EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY ON
THE FRONT END AS WELL AS ANY,
UM, FUTURE POLICY. WELL SHE
DIRECTIONS IN TERMS OF HOW TO
ADDRESS THIS. THIS TRAGEDY, UM,
AMONG ALL POPULATIONS, BUT
VETERANS ARE OBVIOUSLY
DISPROPORTIONATELY REPRESENTED
IN THIS ISSUE. THE FAR AS AN
UPDATE ON THAT THE CBS I
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT. THIS
IS THE, UM WE'LL GO OUT. IT'S
GONE OUT TO EAT, PROCURE THE
STATEWIDE PROCUREMENT SYSTEM.
THAT IS CURRENTLY OUT IN
AVAILABLE, UM, THE AWARDEE OF
THAT CONTRACT WILL ASSIST THE
DEPARTMENT AND, UM DEVELOPING,
UM, A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PARTS
OF THIS, BUT MORE SO HELPING US
MANAGE THE SERVICE PROVIDERS
THAT ARE FUNDED THROUGH THIS
GRANT. UM THE MIDDLE PIECE OF
THE GRAND IS THE PURPOSE BEHIND
IT IS TO REALLY TRY TO BUILD A
NETWORK. AS I SAID, BEFORE.
WE'VE REALLY BEEN VERY
SUCCESSFUL IN DEVELOPING OPINION
BASED SYSTEM OF CARE THAT WORKS
VERY CLOSELY WITH THE DEPARTMENT
NOW. AND THROUGH THAT THIS IS
JUST ANOTHER PILLAR OF SERVICE
IN MENTAL HEALTH SPECIFICALLY
THAT WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD OUT
NOW, SO PART OF THAT IS JUST
INCREASING THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE
ALREADY IN COMMUNITIES DOING
GREAT WORK. UM FOR INSTANCE,
WHEN I WAS IN WORKED IN SAN
FRANCISCO, IT'S SWORDS TO
PLOWSHARES. I WAS IN A LEGAL
UNIT THAT WE HAD A UNITED WAY.
GRANT AND THAT GRANT ONLY
ALLOWED US TO PROVIDE LEGAL
SERVICES FOR FOLKS IN SAN
FRANCISCO IF SOMEONE CALLS FROM
ALAMEDA CONTRA COSTA OR SO FORTH
, ALTHOUGH I MAY HAVE THE TIME
AND ABILITIES, UM BY THE DETAILS
OF THE GRANT. UM I WAS UNABLE TO
PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES SO
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THAT THIS
WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE THEM
INCREASE THEIR CATCHMENT AREA OR
PERHAPS BRING ON ADDITIONAL
STAFF TO PROVIDE MORE SESSIONS
AVAILABLE WITHIN THAT WITHIN
THEIR, UM, REGULAR HOURS. UM
ADDITIONALLY, THIS WILL BE ABLE
TO LOOK AT FOLKS LIKE, UM NAMI,
UM, THE COHEN, VETERAN CLINICS
AND A VARIETY OF OTHERS. THAT
REALLY HAVE A COMMUNITY OF
NETWORK PROVIDERS THROUGHOUT THE
STATE ALREADY TO GET THEM MORE
VERSED IN PROVIDING VETERANS,
SPECIFIC MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT
, AS WELL AS TELEHEALTH
THROUGHOUT THE STATE AS WELL, SO
REALLY TRYING TO BE
REPRESENTATIVE AND MAKE SURE YOU
KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THE PUSHING
FORWARD PULL FACTORS AROUND
DEATH BY SUICIDE ARE VERY
DIFFERENT WHEN YOU LOOK AT A
WHEN YOU LOOK AT A I A SENIOR
VETERAN, UM UP NORTH RURAL
CALIFORNIA VERSUS PERHAPS A 28
YEAR OLD. IN SKID ROW IN L. A.
UM YOU KNOW, THE REASONS AND THE
COMPLICATIONS AND BARRIERS
AROUND THAT ARE VERY DIFFERENT.
SO WE'RE HOPING THAT WE HAVE A
GOOD INFLUX IN A GOOD
REPRESENTATION OF THE ENTIRE
STATE, BUT THEN ALSO WITH
PROVIDERS THAT ARE ABLE TO
PROVIDE WHATEVER THAT LEVEL OF
CARE WHETHER IT BE BASIC PEER
SUPPORT AND SOCIALIZATION ALL
THE WAY UP TO HIGH ACUITY AND
EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN, SO REALLY
EXCITED ABOUT THAT PROGRAM. UM
UNLESS ANYONE IF ANYONE HAS ANY
QUESTIONS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT
SYRIA H I CAN MOVE ON TO THE
SSR. UM OR DO YOU WANT TO JUST
DO THAT? NOW WE'LL CIRCLE QUICK
QUESTION IN TERMS OF THE NETWORK
OF CLINICS THAT YOU JUST SPOKE
ABOUT. UM HOW? UM HOW WOULD THAT
WORK LIKE AND HOW DO YOU
IDENTIFY WHERE THOSE CLINICS
WOULD BE? YOU KNOW,
GEOGRAPHICALLY, OBVIOUSLY, YOU
MENTIONED THERE'S A DIFFERENCE
RIGHT BETWEEN RURAL AND SOME OF
THE URBAN SURE, AND THAT'S
ALWAYS THE CHALLENGE WHEN YOU
LOOK AT THE RURAL COMMUNITY THAT
COMMUNITY THAT THAT FOOTPRINT OF
THAT COMMUNITY BASED SYSTEM OF
CARE IS USUALLY VERY LIMITED. I
MEAN UNDER UNDER REPRESENTATIVE
COMMUNITIES ARE OFTEN UNDER
REPRESENTED FOR A REASON, AND
THAT'S BECAUSE THAT NETWORK IS
NOT THERE. WE EXPERIENCED THE
SAME THING WHEN WE ROLLED OUT
OUR VETERANS HOUSING AND
HOMELESS PREVENTION PROGRAM OR
ANY OF OUR PROGRAMS FOR THAT
MATTER, SO THAT'S ALWAYS IN THE
BACK OF OUR HEADS ABOUT HOW WE
INCREASE THAT, UM THERE'S A
VARIETY OF DIFFERENT ENTITIES
THAT WILL BE WORKING WITH THAT,
ACTUALLY. UM FIND COMMUNITY
PROVIDERS AND THESE CAN BE
PRIVATE PROVIDERS AS WELL TO BE
TO WORK THROUGH THE NONPROFIT
AND, UM, PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES
IN THAT AREA. OFTEN TIMES IT'S
VERY, VERY DIFFICULT. UM IT
TAKES A LOT OF DETAIL, FOR
INSTANCE, GETTING APPLICATIONS
TO COME IN FOR OUR VHP PROGRAM.
UM L A THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. YOU
KNOW THE DEVELOPERS EVERYBODY.
WE'RE VERY COORDINATED. THEY
UNDERSTOOD HOW TO PUT TOGETHER
THE APPLICATION AND SO FORTH. UM
WHEN YOU GET TO THE RURAL
COMMUNITIES, IT TAKES A LOT OF
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. YOU NEED
TO GO OUT. YOU NEED TO HAVE A
LOT OF COMMUNITY GATHERINGS. YOU
NEED TO GET FOLKS IN THE ROOM.
YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THE RIGHT
PEOPLE ARE THERE. YOU REALLY
NEED TO, UM, HOLD SOME HANDS AND
HELP THEM ACROSS THE FINISH LINE
AND HELP THEM PARTICIPATE IN THE
PROGRAM. SO IT'S THAT WILL ALL
BE PART OF IT AS WE MOVE
FORWARD. UM SOME OF THAT WILL BE
MANAGED. I THINK IN SOME WAY BY
TELEHEALTH ON SOME LEVEL, UM,
BUT THE WHAT WE'VE SEEN COMING
OUT OF THE PANDEMIC. UM, IT WAS
AN EFFECTIVE USE OF. ZOOM AND SO
FORTH DURING THAT TIME, PERIOD,
BUT FOLKS, UM PERHAPS THAT
INITIAL THAT THE DATA THAT I'VE
SEEN COMING BACK THE INITIAL
APPOINTMENTS. PEOPLE STILL
PREFER TO BE IN PERSON, PERHAPS
FOLLOW UPS WHEN YOU'RE
COMFORTABLE WITH A COUNSELOR,
UM, ARE MORE ACCESSIBLE THROUGH
ZOOM AND FOCUS ON MORE THEIR
COMFORT LEVELS A LITTLE HIGHER
AT THAT POINT, BUT THOSE INITIAL
MOMENTS IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO
HAVE SOME OF THE COMMUNITY
THAT'S THERE FOR THEM AND ABLE
TO TAKE THEM IN PERSON. SO THAT
WILL CERTAINLY BE ONE OF THE
CHALLENGES THAT WE WILL ALL
FACED WITH THIS, UM BUT WE HAVE
A LOT OF A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE
INVOLVED THAT ARE WELL VERSED IN
THIS WORLD. SO, UM WE'RE VERY
EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY.
AND I THINK ALSO, ONE BIG PART
OF THAT IS SIMILARLY, UM, WHEN I
FIRST CAME IN BACK AND 2013, I
THINK, UM, THE V A AT THE TIME
HAD A BACKLOG OF COMPENSATION
AND PENSION CLAIMS OF NEARLY
70,000 SO GOVERNOR BROWN TIME
ADMINISTRATION SUPPORTED ME AND
GETTING 36 POSITIONS TO
BASICALLY GO INTO THE DISTRICT
OFFICES THAT I HAVE THROUGHOUT
THE STATE. THAT ARE CO LOCATED
IN THE FEDERAL REGIONAL OFFICES
AND SIT DOWN THAT HE'S BACKLOG
CLAIMS. SO I HAD 36 STATE
EMPLOYEES BASICALLY DOING THIS
FEDERAL JOB. BUT OBVIOUSLY FOR
CALIFORNIA VETERANS, SO WE
COULDN'T NOT HELP. UM SO
FORTUNATELY, ADMINISTRATION WAS
AMAZING IN SUPPORTING THAT
EFFORT. UM AND WE GOT IN AND 26
MONTHS. I THINK IT WAS. WE
BROUGHT IT FROM 70,000 DOWN TO
6000. SO IT WAS A TREMENDOUS
EFFORT. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT REALLY CAME OUT OF THAT
THAT WAS KIND OF AN UNEXPECTED
CONSEQUENCE. WAS OUR
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNTIES
THAT I OVERSEE THE ALL THE
CLAIMS WORK FOR ALL OF OUR ALL
THE COUNTIES IN CALIFORNIA. UM
AS WELL AS OUR NEW ACCESS TO THE
FEDERAL WORLD AND HOW THEY
OPERATE ON THE DAY TO DAY BASIS
BEING INVOLVED IN THAT KIND OF
SEEN BEHIND THE CURTAIN ALLOWED
US TO CONNECT SO MANY OTHER
STRANDS OF OUR BUSINESS AND
PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES AND
UNDERSTAND HOW THE COUNTY'S
WORKED AND UNDERSTAND HOW THE
STATE WORKED BETTER. I MEAN, HOW
THE FEDS WORKED BETTER. AND WHEN
WE CAME OUT OF THERE, NOT ONLY
DID WE SOLVE THE BACKLOG
PROBLEM, BUT WE REALLY LAID OUT
ON NEW FRAMEWORK FOR
COMMUNICATION WITH OUR PARTNERS
ON THE FEDERAL TO COMMUNITY
LEVEL, UM, PROCESS AND
PROCEDURES AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
AND WHEN I SAY A NETWORK OF
MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, PART OF
IT WILL BE BUILDING THIS. THIS
COMMUNITY OF MORE THAT HAS MORE
ROBUST MORE SESSIONS AVAILABLE
IN EVERY COMMUNITY IDEALLY, BUT
IT WILL ALSO BE A BIG PART OF
THAT WILL BE THE CONNECTIVITY
BETWEEN THESE ORGANIZATIONS
WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES TO
UNDERSTAND WHO'S DOING WHAT
WITHIN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY AND
UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT IS, UH,
THAT THEY'RE PART OF A COMMUNITY
BASED SYSTEM OF CARE. OFTEN
TIMES, PARTICULARLY IN THE
VETERAN SPACE, YOU'LL HAVE AN
INDIVIDUAL SEEKING A GRANT. THAT
GRANT COMES TO THEM AND THEY
FEEL LIKE IT'S THEM AND THEIR
GRANT AGAINST THE WORLD WHEN
THERE MIGHT BE FOLKS NOT VERY
FAR AWAY, UM, IN A SIMILAR
SITUATION THAT COLLECTIVELY THEY
CAN YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE.
THERE THERE IS. SOME IS MUCH
GREATER THAN THEIR PARTS. UM SO
WITH THAT, AND THEN WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY IS MOVING FORWARD WITH
THAT. CONNECTIVITY THEY'LL ALSO
HAVE SOME INCREASED
OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOME SOME
COUNTY SUPPORT. IN TERMS OF
THEIR COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH
PROGRAMS COLLECTIVELY, SO SURE.
DO YOU WANT TO MOVE ON TO THE
NEXT UNLESS THERE ARE OTHER
QUESTIONS. UM THE SECOND PROGRAM
IS THE VETERAN SUPPORT FOR SELF
RELIANCE PROGRAM. VÆ SSR, THE
ACRONYMS AND YOU GUYS, I KNOW
SOME OF YOU ARE NEW TO THE
COMMITTEE, SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU AND MYSELF AND
MY STAFF ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE.
WE CAN MAKE A CHEAT SHEET FOR
ACRONYMS, IF NECESSARY. ALL THE
PROGRAMS OR HAVE NUMEROUS, UM,
BUT THE VETERAN SUPPORT FOR SELF
RELIANCE REALLY NEAT. IT'S A
PILOT PROGRAM THAT WERE FUNDED
$25 MILLION TO PUT IT OUT FOR
THREE YEARS, AND THE CONCEPT OF
THE PROGRAM IS TO REALLY GO INTO
PERMANENT, SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
AND SUPPORT THOSE VETERANS THAT
ARE EITHER SENIOR OR HIKE. YOU
HAVE HIGH ACUITY NEEDS AND THE
IDEA BEHIND IT IS THE FOLKS THAT
ARE IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING UNDER A HUD VASH
VOUCHER. UM WELL, WILL THIS
MONEY WILL ALLOW FOLKS TO
PROVIDERS TO HIGHER UP
ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL TO PROVIDE
A MORE ROBUST, INCREASED LEVEL
OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR THESE
FOLKS WHILE THEY'RE IN THERE.
THE IDEA BEHIND IT IS TO
INCREASE THE STABILITY OF THE
HOUSING AMONG THESE POPULATIONS.
AND OBVIOUSLY THEIR OVERALL
WELLNESS AS WELL. UM THE PILOT
IS JUST KICKING OFF. WE JUST DID
THE FIRST ROUND OF GRANTS WE
WERE. WE HAD EVERY RESPECT TO
YOUR QUESTION, MA'AM. WE HAD
EVERY REGION WITHIN THE STATE
EXCEPT THE CENTRAL COAST IN
CENTRAL VALLEY REPRESENTED IN
THIS PROGRAM. UM THAT WAS THE
CHALLENGE. TRY AND WE SHOPPED
HARD FOR GRANT APPLICATIONS IN
BOTH THOSE LOCATIONS. WE DO HAVE
SAN DIEGO. WE DO HAVE L A. WE
HAVE THE ONE EMPIRE. WE HAVE.
SONOMA SACRAMENTO, SAN
FRANCISCO. UM BUT UNFORTUNATELY
NOT REPRESENTED IN THERE IN THE
CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE, WHICH
IS IN THE ONGOING CHALLENGE. UM,
HOWEVER, THROUGH THIS PROGRAM
ABOUT THERE'LL BE A JUST OVER
700 VETERANS TO TAKE PART IN THE
PILOT PROGRAM. AS I SAID EACH OF
THOSE ORGANIZATIONS WILL BE
PROVIDED ADDITIONAL FUNDING. TO
BRING ON ADDITIONAL STAFF,
MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS, PEER
SUPPORT SPECIALIST SOCIAL
WORKERS, REGISTERED NURSES,
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS, UM,
SERVICE ASSISTANCE. THIS KIND OF
GOES BACK TO THE PHILOSOPHY AND
THE DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS HAS
CHANGED DRAMATICALLY UNDER THE
SECRETARY'S TIME THERE, WHICH
OUR OUR PROGRAMS. AS WE HEARD
ABOUT THE HOMES, WE REALLY LOOK
AT ALL OF THIS IS WHAT IN THIS
CRADLE TO GRAVE CONCEPT. HOUSING
IS OBVIOUSLY ONE PART AND THAT
CONTINUUM OF HOUSING IS ANOTHER
PART. YOU KNOW WHAT KIND OF
PROGRAMS IN THE DEPARTMENT OFFER
IN THAT WHOLE CONTINUUM OF
HOUSING, AND WE HAVE, YOU KNOW,
LONG TERM CARE. THERESA THERESA
GUNS PROGRAM OFFERS OUR FARM AND
HOME LOAN PROGRAM. THERE ARE
SOME ADDITIONAL SWEAT EQUITY
ASPECTS TO THAT AS WELL THAT
WE'RE VERY PROUD OF. UM AND THEN
WHEN YOU GET INTO VET SERVICES
WE GET INTO MY SPACE, WHICH IS
MORE PARENT, SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, JUST SHY
OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. BUT
ADDITIONALLY, HOUSING WITH
WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND IN IN
THAT ASPECT, SO WE'RE REALLY
EXCITED. IDEALLY WHEN THIS IS
ALL SAID, AND DONE, UM, ASSUMING
THAT THE RESULTS ARE WHAT WE
WOULD EXPECT THEM TO BE A
WONDERFUL SUCCESS. AH THE PUSH
WILL THEN WILL BE TO THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AND ASKING THE
FEDERAL V A TO REALLY CONSIDER
AN EXPANSION OF THEIR HUD VASH
PROGRAM TO START LOOKING AT, UM
, REALLY MAKING THE CASE
MANAGEMENT SERVICES AND
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THAT GO
ALONG WITH OUR HUD VASH VOUCHERS
MUCH MORE ROBUST, CONSIDERING
THE POPULATION IN THE IN THE
BARRIERS THAT POPULATION HAS SO
. JUST 11 CLARIFICATION. THIS VÆ
SSR PROGRAM. IT'S GEARED TOWARDS
SENIORS AND WHAT OTHER BETTER
POPULATION THE HIGH ACUITY
VETERANS WHO HAVE, UM, A LARGER
ISSUE HEALTH CARE ISSUES. THANK
YOU. SURE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
TO. I MEAN, IT'S A YOU KNOW,
SHORT OF A SKILLED NURSING
FACILITY. THERE'S THIS REALLY
THIS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF AGING.
WE'VE WORKED REALLY CLOSELY WITH
THEM. THEY WERE JUST PRESENTED,
UM AT OUR AT THEIR DIRECTOR IN
SEVERAL OTHERS IN THE CREATORS
OF THE MASTER PLANNER, UM
PRESENTED OUR CONFERENCE OUR
LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE WE HAD
DOWN AT SAN DIEGO. HIS
DEPARTMENT OF AGING IS REALLY
INTERESTED IN SEEING HOW THIS
MODEL WORKS IS OBVIOUSLY
VETERANS OR JUST A SUBSET OF THE
POPULATION. BUT IN THEORY THAT
IF THIS WORKS FOR THE VETERAN
POPULATION, IT'S CERTAINLY
SCALABLE TO THE LARGER
POPULATION. BECAUSE THERE IS
THIS GAP. THERE'S THIS
PARTICULARLY THIS IS PERMANENT,
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. SO THESE ARE
PEOPLE THAT GENERALLY DON'T HAVE
FAMILY IN PLACE. BUT A LOT OF
THE SERVICES THAT WILL BE
PROVIDED TO THESE FOLKS OR THOSE
THINGS THAT A FAMILY MEMBER
WOULD GENERALLY TAKE CARE OF
WHETHER IT'S BATHING AND
CLEANING THAT APARTMENT. YOU
KNOW, A LOT OF A LOT OF SENIOR
VETERANS ARE EVICTED FOR
HOARDING ISSUES AND OTHER
CONNECTED MENTAL HEALTH
CHALLENGES. SO IT WILL BE
ADDRESSING ALL OF THOSE, UH,
MEDICATION MANAGEMENT. THOSE
KIND OF THINGS. GREAT THANK YOU
FOR THAT. THE ONLY THING THAT I
WANTED TO FOLLOW UP BECAUSE YOU
DID MENTIONED, UM, THAT THE
CENTRAL VALLEY WASN'T
REPRESENTED. WHAT CAN WE DO TO
ADDRESS SOME OF THE CHALLENGES?
ARE YOU GUYS LOOKING AT DOING
ANYTHING TO ENSURE THAT WHEN
THERE'S THESE TYPES OF
OPPORTUNITIES THAT SOME OF THESE
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE MUCH MORE
DISADVANTAGED. UM AREN'T LEFT
OUT. YEAH IT'S HARD. IT'S HARD.
UM THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR WAS A
LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT BECAUSE
YOU HAD TO BE ABLE TO THERE ARE
OR THERE'S AN ORGANIZATION
CALLED DOWN THERE. CDVA F.
THAT'S A MEMBER OF THE CAVS
ORGANIZATION, WHICH IS A
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
VETERANS SERVICE AGENCIES, WHICH
ARE ALL THE KIND OF THE BIG
VETERANS SPECIFIC ONES
THROUGHOUT THE STATE. THERE IS A
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE IN
BAKERSFIELD, BUT UNFORTUNATELY
THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO FOR A
VARIETY OF REASONS. PARTICIPATE
IN THIS, UM JUST BECAUSE OF
THINGS THEY HAVE GOING ON THERE,
LIFT. IN SHORT OF THEM IN THAT
CENTRAL VALLEY AREA. THERE'S NO
THERE'S REALLY NONE HAVE THIS
SIZE ENOUGH TO BE PART BECAUSE
IT IS A PILOT PROGRAM, SO ALL
THINGS KIND OF NEED TO BE EQUAL
AMONG THE GRANTEES IN ORDER TO
MAKE SURE THE OUTCOMES ARE ARE
SIGNIFICANT, AND YOU CAN ARE
PROVABLE. UM SO IT'S VERY
DIFFICULT IN THIS PARTICULAR
SITUATION TO DEAL WITH FOLKS
THAT MIGHT HAVE UM, EIGHT FOLKS
, ONLY IN THEIR PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, YOU KNOW,
BECAUSE WE NEEDED EACH OF THEM,
EACH OF THEM AVERAGE ABOUT 123
RESIDENTS WITHIN THEIR PROGRAM
THAT WILL BE PART OF THE PILOT.
SO SCALE WISE, UM CENTRAL VALLEY
REALLY ONLY HAD ONE OPTION AND
THAT OPTION WASN'T ABLE TO TAKE
PART. SO THAT REALLY MADE IT
DIFFICULT. WE CONSIDERED TRYING
TO DO MAYBE 56 SITES, BUT EVEN
WITH THAT, WHEN YOU BRING ON
ADDITIONAL UM, EMPLOYEES LIKE,
SAY YOU BROWN, A REGISTERED
NURSE. THAT REGISTERED NURSE AT
THAT POINT NOW HAS TO GO TO SIX
DIFFERENT SITES TO TRY AND THEN
YOU START QUESTIONING. DID THOSE
FOLKS RECEIVED THE SAME LEVEL OF
CARE THAT THE FOLKS THAT ARE ALL
HOUSED AT ONE SITE WHERE THAT
WHERE THAT THOSE EMPLOYEES WERE
ABLE TO SHOW UP FOR THAT ENTIRE
AMOUNT OF TIME AT THE SAME
FACILITY AND SO FORTH, SO THEN
YOU START HAVING TO ADJUST
PERHAPS THE DATA ON THE BACKSIDE
BASED ON SOME OF THOSE FACTORS,
SO WE TRIED TO KEEP IT AS APPLES
TO APPLES AS POSSIBLE, AND
UNFORTUNATELY, THE CENTRAL
VALLEY THAT JUST WASN'T POSSIBLE
WITHOUT VFC PARTICIPATION, SO
THE DENSITY WAS THE FACTOR?
CERTAINLY OKAY. PERFECT. THANK
YOU FOR THAT. NO OTHER QUESTIONS
FROM THE MEMBERS. SO I'D LIKE TO
OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW IF
THERE'S ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC
THAT HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS. THE TIME IS NOW.
AFTERNOON. GOOD EVENING. CHAIR
NUMBERS SEPARATE WITH THE
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS QUICK,
THANK YOU. DR VETO. IT'S BEEN
INCREDIBLE TO BE ABLE TO WORK
WITH. YOU STARTED IN 2017 DOING
THIS WORK, SO I STARTED RIGHT
AROUND THE SAME TIME. AND IT'S
BEEN WONDERFUL WORKING WITH HIM
AND THE TEAM. SO THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THANK YOU. MR SECRETARY,
DO YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING
JUST OCCURRED TO ME THAT YOU
KNOW, KOBE MENTIONED THAT WE
HAVE THE SIGNS OUTSIDE OUR
VETERANS HOME JUST HIRED HIRING
NOW I'VE GOT THAT SAME SIGN
HANGING OUTSIDE MY WINDOW. WELL
UM, THANK YOU. SO MUCH FOR THAT
COMMENT. WE'LL MAKE NOTE. UM BUT
I DID WANT TO JUST SINCERELY
THINK, UM THE SECRETARY.
OBVIOUSLY YOUR TENURE AND THE
REMARKABLE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE
ALONG WITH. OBVIOUSLY IT TAKES A
TEAM, UM, TO GET TO WHERE YOU
GUYS ARE ALL AT. AND SO I'M
LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO
WORK WITH. YOU OBVIOUSLY WISH
YOU WELL IN YOUR NEXT CHAPTER,
KNOWING THOUGH, THAT YOU'VE
REALLY DEVELOPED SOME GOOD
INFRASTRUCTURE SO THAT WE CAN
CONTINUE TO MOVE THE DEPARTMENT
IN THE POSITIVE DIRECTION. SO
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE
TODAY. I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE
YOUR MARKS DIRECTED ME
PERSONALLY, BUT I REALLY THINK
THAT THIS EXERCISE THAT WE'VE
BEEN ENGAGED IN CALVERT JUST AS
PROOF OF THAT GOOD GOVERNMENT
WORKS. BECAUSE IT WAS
COLLABORATIVE WITH THE
LEGISLATURE AND OUR BOSS. AND
I'M VERY PROUD THAT THIS WAS A
COLLABORATIVE EFFORT. I
CERTAINLY COULD NOT HAVE DONE
THIS BY MYSELF. ABSOLUTELY THANK
YOU SO MUCH AGAIN TO ALL THE
PRESENTERS TODAY, UH, APPRECIATE
ALL THE INFORMATION AND LOOKING
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU GUYS
AT THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION. UM
AND YEAH, SO THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE. THANK YOU. AND WE WILL BE
A JOURNEY. THIS MEETING OR THE
HEARING FOR TODAY. THANK YOU.