The family of Colby Thompson invited me to the signing by Governor Christine Gregoire of the Colby Thompson bill related to those that provide unlicensed care. Colby's parents Jamie and Chris have a reserve of energy, spirit, determination and tenacity that is powerfully driven by what happened to their son.
http://tvw.org/media/mediaplayer.cfm?evid=2011050102&TYPE=V&CFID=5714887&CFTOKEN=51168213&bhcp=1
The Colby Thompson Act signing is about 12 minutes into the video
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." A quote from Margaret Mead, anthropologist who died in 1978.
Events sometimes emerge and merge at certain intersections of history and Jamie had questions about the history of child care licensing. Marilyn Ward wrote in 1976, "The Evolution of the Department of Social and Health Services". As well as Jamie others who may not have the historical memory, likely, will find Marilyn Ward's analysis, as being one of the creators of DSHS, interesting.
From Marilyn's report she wrote that in the country in 1965 the strongest child abuse law was passed in Washington State. One part of that original bill did not get passed which was the "Child Care Licensing Bill". The Catholic Church, a few "propriatory" and non-profit agencies resisted any effort to be accountable to the state. One representative from an orphanage testified to a legislative committee against the bill and mouths dropped open when he said: "..the state would impose such restrictions as insisting that we provide a bed and pillow for each child." Since some senators were on the board of that orphanage and the Catholic Church lobbyist "was well thought of" the bill did not pass until the 1967 legislative session "...but only because of a tragic fire that killed some foster children strapped in their beds and left unattended."
The federal government in the 1960s had opened a money conduit and Washington State competently acquired copious amounts of federal money. From the git-go power personality and turf issues framed the characteristics of the DSHS unelected bureaucracy.
Marilyn did a study on day care in the early 70s: "I learned how poorly information flows from one source to the other. The budget and accounting folk did all their payments, statistical analysis and data collection in isolation from the program people who monitored, licensed and established rules and regulations." Marilyn and her staff dug up the important money information to connect the dots...to correct and not have the organizations be in isolation and ignorant of their information. But guess what? "...the powers-that-be finally cut off this rich storehouse of information. The worst frustration was finding that no one cared who could do something about it. The taxpayers, as usual, were the losers."
Makes me think of the recent King 5 News Investigators story of that one little day care provider Anne Ladale Moore in Marysville, bringing in $232,000.00 in one year. I got a copy of some of that licensing record. Looks like she not only had time to do her daycare 24/7 she also had another job she was doing.
There use to be an "Office of Citizen Participation" that Marilyn Ward was tapped to head up. Ward's perspective from becoming part of the bureaucracy was: "...from the "inside" was a fascinating, educational but disquieting experience." She went on to write: "My own sense sf outrage with DSHS's bureaucratic denial of its responsibilities to provide humane services in a fiscally responsible manner was not shared by many of my co-workers".
Marilyn wrote: "DSHS as presently constituted is immune to any normal directives. It has a life of its own at least as far as the concerned citizens are concerned. Even the legislators seem impotent to affect priorities." "These legislators have tried through budget provisions, directives or legislation to move the department, but with little affect. The bureaucrats serve the organization, not the Governor, legislators, clients, or the public."
Reminds me of Frederick Winslow Taylor, the father of scientific management who said in 1911: "In the past the man has been first; in the future the system must be first.." It's been a 100 years this year since that quote.
What Jamie and Chris bring to this table at this juncture in Washington State history is that quality expressed in Margaret Mead's quote. I thank them for inviting me to come to the bill signing.
Governor Gregoire was sweet and engaging with the children in the Governor's conference room at the bill signing. If Christine will accept Jamie and Chris' spirit and energy of making a difference, it can be done.
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