These free two-session workshops will help co-parents who have trouble resolving disagreements with each other.
Facilitated by Mary McMillan, MFT, the workshops can offer hope to parents who have been arguing for a long time, by providing new tools for them to change their communication style.
The goal is for parents to build a cooperative style, so they can share their children.
“Co-parents who can cooperate and communicate effectively will protect their children from the harm caused by chronic conflict,” McMillan said.
These two-session workshops will be offered in two locations and at two different times.
On Tuesday evenings, June 7 and June 14, they will take place at 14147 Lakeshore Blvd., in Clearlake, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dinner will be provided.
On Friday mornings, June 3 and June 10, workshops will be offered in Kelseyville at the Presbyterian Church Hall, 5340 3rd St., from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch and childcare will be provided.
Parents who are divorced or separated often have trouble discussing issues related to the children.
“We want to prevent the emotional damage children experience when they are trapped between parents who can’t cooperate,” McMillan said. “Over time, if the parents stay stuck in conflict, these children can develop serious emotional problems, and become vulnerable to substance abuse, gang involvement and crime.”
During the two-session workshops, co-parents will learn tools for working together when they need to resolve issues related to custody and visitation.
Because feelings can become intense when discussing these issues, McMillan will provide ways to manage emotions and strategies for respecting each other’s differences.
Parents will learn to set boundaries with each other and develop effective ways to resolve disagreements.
McMillan, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and author of “Get Inside Your Relationships, Tools and Strategies for Building Attachments,” coaches local co-parents to improve their cooperation, and provides therapy to heal children and families stressed by chronic conflict.
Since space is limited, early registration is encouraged.
For more information about the workshops, contact Mary McMillan at 707-972-3913 or
To register, call Sunrise Special Services, 707-274-9121, Extension 8.
McMillan is providing these workshops in conjunction with Sunrise Special Services Foundation and Dr. Katherine Andre, director of Family Court Services. They are funded by the Mental Health Services Act, through a grant from Lake County Mental Health.
Activities will include a motorcycle ride around the lake, poker run, bike contests and games.
The $30 registration fee includes a campsite for three nights and three meals.
Speakers will share their experience, strength and hope of living life without drugs.
Firearms, pets, alcohol and other drugs are not welcome at this event.
For more information visit www.naride4recovery.com.
For more information about Narcotics Anonymous vist www.lakecountyna.org or call 707-262-0132.
Residential care facilities for the elderly, or RCFEs, are currently allowed to write 30-day cancellation notice requirements into their care agreements.
Under current law, RCFEs can enforce this 30-day notice, even after a resident dies. Chesbro’s AB 1142 would clarify the law, requiring RCFEs to stop charging after a resident dies.
“Families who have suffered a loss of an elderly loved one shouldn’t be forced to pay for care for a month afterwards,” Chesbro said. “This clarification of the law will give seniors more peace of mind when they enter assisted living communities.”
At Tuesday’s committee hearing, Chesbro also praised the California Assisted Living Association (CALA) for sponsoring the bill.
“This is a good example of an industry coming forward and taking responsibility and I applaud them for it,” Chesbro said.
AB 1142 would:
Prohibit enforcement of any 30-day cancellation requirement after a resident has passed away.
Ensure that all fees for resident care end immediately once the community is notified of a resident’s death.
Require that residency fees are no longer charged after a deceased resident’s personal property has been removed.
“CALA believes that attempts to enforce a 30-day residency cancellation agreement after a resident has passed away are inappropriate and should be prohibited,” said Sally Michael, CALA’s president.
The Health and Human Services Committee voted 6-0 to move AB 1142, which next goes to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for consideration.
AB 1142 enjoys bipartisan support. The bill’s coauthors are Assemblymembers Linda Halderman (R-Fresno) and Bonnie Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) and Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco).
CVS Pharmacy will reimburse California more than $1.76 million as part of a $17.5 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice and nine other states, including Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Nevada and Rhode Island.
“CVS chose to short-change taxpayers and undermine our healthcare safety net with these actions,” said Harris. “We are all better off now that this deception has been uncovered.”
Starting in late 2002 and continuing through 2010, CVS submitted prescription drug claims to Medi-Cal for individuals who were covered by both Medi-Cal and a third-party insurance plan.
The pharmacy should have first billed the primary insurer – and sought Medi-Cal reimbursement only for the remaining amount, typically the co-pay.
In 2008, a CVS pharmacist in Minnesota stepped forward to alert the authorities of the overbilling.
A multistate investigation, in which billing and payment information was analyzed and cross-referenced to private insurance payment, found that CVS billed more than the amount allowed for so-called dual-eligible claims.
Investigating the case and negotiating the settlement with CVS were the California Attorney General's Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse, along with the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Wisconsin, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, and the attorneys general of the other settling states.
As part of the agreement, CVS will train its employees in accurate billing procedures. CVS has started working with individual states to make sure it bills correctly for dual-eligible beneficiaries. Pharmacy payments will also be audited on a regular basis by an independent review organization.
The funds recovered for California will be paid to the Department of Health Care Services to reimburse the state's Medi-Cal program.
The California investigation and settlement negotiations were overseen by Supervising Deputy Attorney General Nicholas Paul and Deputy Attorneys General Erika Hiramatsu, Matt Kilman and Eliseo Sisneros.