📢 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟬𝟲: 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝘂𝘁 𝗟𝗼𝘂𝗱 📢
It’s been a whirlwind of a week, one that’s left me both stunned and more determined than ever.

🔍 𝗞𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗕𝗛𝗥𝗦 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀' 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: This week, we uncovered more misinformation in KernBHRS’s statements during a client’s hearing. On Monday, I received a call from Alison Burrowes, the head of KernBHRS, asking me to attend a meeting with her staff and the Kern County Board of Supervisors Chairman. I went into the meeting prepared for an honest discussion about continuity and transition of care for our clients. I spent hours preparing, hoping that the negligence regarding 𝗕𝗛𝗜𝗡 𝟭𝟴-𝟬𝟱𝟭—the document KernBHRS failed to follow—was simply an oversight. My approach was to be open and offer grace, seeing this negligence as an opportunity to make things right. hoped they would accept the olive branch and fulfill our request to allow us continue to serve our clients and community and provide the back pay owed for not following 𝗕𝗛𝗜𝗡 𝟭𝟴-𝟬𝟱𝟭 when we first opened in 2020. But from the first words spoken by KernBHRS, I knew this was not a meeting about making things right.

💡 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼f 𝗞𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗕𝗛𝗥𝗦’𝘀 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: KernBHRS refused to acknowledge their violations. Despite overwhelming evidence, they doubled down on falsehoods. Here’s what I presented to them:
1. 𝗕𝗛𝗜𝗡 𝟭𝟴-𝟬𝟱𝟭 clearly states that clients must be informed that part of their transition of care reassessment includes assessing whether they meet the medical necessity to stay in their current program. KernBHRS did not follow this protocol. Instead, they told clients that staying at Cornerstone wasn’t an option, leading them to refuse reassessment because they were misinformed.

2. KernBHRS claimed they couldn’t contact the clients to reassess their care, but in their own documentation submitted to the court, they admitted to speaking with these clients. Despite this, they failed to inform the clients about their right to stay. In one case, they explicitly told a client that leaving was the only option, a direct violation of the clients' rights under 𝗕𝗛𝗜𝗡 𝟭𝟴-𝟬𝟱𝟭.

3. I confronted KernBHRS about 𝟮𝟰 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘀 that occurred during our first year in operation, wondering how many lives could have been saved if they had been willing to work with us while the contracted clinic remained unopened. They sidestepped the question, providing no answers.

4. I shared evidence of 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀. KernBHRS issued requests for proposals that required applicants to cover large territories, effectively preventing small businesses or nonprofits from being considered. In 2020, I was told we couldn’t be considered for a Medi-Cal contract until we received certification. However, the contract was awarded to another provider that did not have Medi-Cal certification at the time. This blatant inconsistency highlights the barriers small businesses and nonprofits like ours face.

5. Finally, I debunked misinformed claims KernBHRS made about our programs, showing that their representations were factually incorrect and based on misinformation.

Despite this overwhelming evidence, KernBHRS continued to evade responsibility for over an hour and a half. By the end of the meeting, it was still either our fault or the clients' fault—never theirs. This is not just bureaucratic failure. In my opinion, it is intentional misrepresentation of the facts, and it violates our clients' rights.

⚖️ 𝑾𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲: These continued failures aren’t just delays—they’re costing lives. How many more lives will be lost before KernBHRS is held accountable?

👂 𝗔 𝗚𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗼f 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲: While KernBHRS’s actions were disheartening, the chairman of the board of supervisors seemed to recognize the seriousness of the situation. He didn’t say much during the meeting, but as I was leaving, he mentioned wanting to talk further and share some ideas. While I didn’t leave encouraged, I left with a glimmer of hope.

📢 𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙤 𝘼𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣: It’s clear we need more help to ensure justice prevails. If you have contacts, resources, or ideas on how we can continue fighting for our clients’ rights and holding KernBHRS accountable, please let me know. This is a fight for the future of our community, and we need every voice to make it count.

💬 𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤: Share your thoughts, spread the word, and help us ensure this kind of negligence doesn’t continue. Together, we can push for accountability and a system that truly serves every person, every family, and every community. 

#AdvocatingOutLoud