SACRAMENTO – During an emotional and informative Senate Human Services oversight hearing on the over-prescription of psychotropic drugs among California’s foster care youth, Senator Mike McGuire declared that the state must to do a better job of protecting its most vulnerable children.

“There’s no question that California’s foster care system has grown more addicted to mind-altering medication since the legislature’s original hearing on this disturbing subject nearly a decade ago,” Senator McGuire said. “Our state's foster youth deserve better, including access to proactive and sustained mental health services. When medication does become necessary, we need to create a better system that includes assessment and accountability measures.”

During the hearing, Senator McGuire also acknowledged that the issue is bigger than a reliance on over-medication.

“What I see is a system of care that is in need of a new approach and reinvestment. Foster kids have witnessed unspeakable trauma and we must push aside the old excuses and politics and ensure foster youth have the services they need to heal and thrive,” said McGuire.

During the hearing, more than a dozen witnesses testified to the issue of over-prescribed psychotropic medication in the foster care system – from a former foster youth who has survived the system and “found her voice” to directors of mental health and social service organizations.

Over the past several months, numerous experts and media outlets have reported that the state’s most vulnerable children – foster youth – have been over-prescribed mind-altering psychiatric drugs to control their behavior at alarming rates.

Nearly one in four youth in the state’s foster care system have been prescribed psychotropic medication and 56 percent of foster kids living in group homes are prescribed psychotropic drugs.

Of the youth given those medications, nearly 60 percent were prescribed an anti-psychotic – the powerful drug class most susceptible to debilitating side effects.

“We can’t continue with the status quo. We can’t continue to rely on a pill as the primary method of treatment,” McGuire said.

Concluding the four hour hearing, McGuire said the committee will continue to advance the issue with several pieces of legislation that will be moving forward over the next two years.

“We must do better for our kids and we will do better by moving these critical bills forward and holding the state accountable with additional hearings this fall,” McGuire said.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The Lake County Democratic Central Committee will hold its regular monthly meeting on Thursday, March 5.

The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Lower Lake Methodist Church community meeting room 16255 Second St.

The map link can be found here: http://goo.gl/maps/A8oiW .
 
The agenda for the March 5 meeting includes reports from representatives for Congressmen Mike Thompson and John Garamendi, Assemblyman Bill Dodd and State Senator Mike McGuire, as well as reports from the Stonewall Democratic Club Chair and the representative from the Lake County Democratic Club.
 
Meetings are open to the public and committee membership is open to all registered Democrats.
 
The Lake County Democratic Central Committee is the official governing body of the Democratic Party in Lake County.
 
For more information about the Democratic Party in Lake County visit www.lakecountydemocrats.org or www.facebook.com/LakeCountyDemocrats .
 
Contact the Democratic Party of Lake County at 707-533-4885 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Public Works Department advised that traffic control will be in effect much of Friday, Feb. 27, due to work at the intersection of Lakeport Boulevard and S. Main St.

AT&T will be working at the intersection starting at about 8:30 a.m., with no estimated time of completion available, Public Works reported on Thursday.

Officials said traffic control will be in effect.

Drivers are advised to expect delays and use alternate routes if possible.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Black History Month celebration will take place this weekend in Clearlake.

The event will take place from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, at 14111 Lakeshore Drive.

This year's celebration will feature guest speakers ranging from community leaders to local pastors.

There will be a potluck, and all who attend will find a great variety of food.

The event is sponsored by Hair by Mz C in conjunction with One Step Forward, a nonprofit 501(c)3 that helps benefit the homeless and is working towards offering transitional housing and positive guidance in life.

LAKEPORT, Calif – The Lake County First 5 Lake Commission will hold a regular meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 25.

The meeting will begin at 2:30 p.m. in the Child Welfare Services Conference Room, 1222 S. Main St. in Lakeport.

Agenda items include approval of an amendment to the First 5 Lake Tobacco, Alcohol & Drug Prevention Policy, and consideration of approval of the adoption of a healthy beverages policy.

The commission also will approve the signature authorization form designating either Jim Brown or Carol Huchingson to sign financial documents while Executive Director Tom Jordan is on vacation, consideration of a request for $500 from the Childcare Planning Council for Provider Recognition Night, a program presentation on the Early Learning Center in Clearlake and a presentation by Shelly Mascari regarding the Hero Project.

Also on the agenda are the executive director's report, commissioners' reports, public comment and announcements, and a closed session to conduct the annual performance review of the executive director.

The commission's next regular meeting will take place May 27.

For more information call the Lake County First 5 Lake Commission at 707-263-6169 or visit www.firstfivelake.org .

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Friends of Middletown Library Board has an opening for a new member.

If you are interested in library fundraising, helping out with book sales, movies or book club, please come to the group's next board meeting at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, in the community room at the Middletown Library, 21256 Washington St.

Applications may also be picked up at the library or by calling 707-349-8985.