Displacing Native American patients from their families
How does the proposed plan of transporting these marginalized, pregnant women, and their children, far away from their families and any support systems help them overcome their issues long term? These treatments are temporary (90-120 days) and these patients, and their children, will most likely be transported back to their current residences once they complete their treatment, although that is not clear. If their children are of school age, they will need to be placed, temporarily, into a brand-new school situation, and then uprooted once again once the treatment is completed. If they are not transported back or they leave the facility before completing treatment, they will be in an area with no services for them. Loving family members will not be able to participate or support this treatment in person as they likely will be unable to travel the long distances to Rescue to stay in touch with the patients and their young children. Yes, even people vulnerable to or experiencing homelessness have families who care and are desperate for their loved ones to get the help they need. There are no hotels or services nearby, further discouraging visits. Is that really in the best interest of the people being treated? This approach lacks the necessary continuum of care and long-term support essential for sustainable recovery.
Proximity to Care
The United States Government has a poor history of “transporting” Native American people “for their benefit.” Some in our Rescue Deer Valley community have Native American heritage, and their families have experienced displacement. They are truly concerned that native Americans are again being treated differently, and for the well-being of these future patients and their children as this proposed facility uproots them from loved ones and any support network and sends them far away, to these unsuitable Rescue locations. These facilities should be close to where the patients live and their support systems (family, medical). Shouldn’t these treatment centers be built in peaceful and safe locations closer to where the patients currently live?
Patients Transported 100s of Miles for Treatment
The facilities that are being planned for El Dorado County (EDC) are for predominantly San Joaquin patients (per published news reports).
The planned development doesn’t make sense for EDC. San Joaquin County is a large county, encompassing 1,500 square miles, with Stockton, Lodi, Tracy, Manteca, Escalon and many other towns. There are plenty of properties in San Joaquin that could provide a blend of rural, with rapid access to health care and medical services, reliable water and sewer sources, and lower fire risk than the proposed Rescue location.
Patients of these facilities will need to be transported to and from their program, adding cost and inconvenience. It is over 100 miles from NDI Manteca location to the proposed Rescue locations. If these patients have relationships with local care providers, they will not be able to utilize those providers.
The appropriate location for these facilities should be in San Joaquin County. The care provider, Native Directions (NDI) has years of experience servicing and supporting the Native American San Joaquin population through their male SUD facility – Three Rivers Lodge (link). San Joaquin County is a participating county for this Dept. Health Care Services (DHCS) program, the Community Care Expansion program, while El Dorado County is not. NDI and the developer should work with San Joaquin County to partner on these facilities.
- Why would these patients want to be shipped over 100 miles away?
- Why would these patients want to be placed into a facility that extremely high fire risk, has no nearby services and has delayed emergency responses if they need help?
- Why aren’t these facilities being built in San Joaquin County, much closer to family support for these patients?
- Where do these 200+/year San Joaquin patients go when they are released from their 90-120 day program? Are they transported back to San Joaquin County?
Rescue Deer Valley! 