June 1, 2011 UPDATE from Jan Null who contacted the author to affirm he did not use the term "simply" forgotten:
"Hi Margo....That’s not a term I would use, because there is nothing simple about this issue that I have been working on for 10 years in July. Each case is a tragedy on many many levels, including the families, responders, researchers, child safety advocates etc. I am affected by each case I document, not only as a scientist but as a parent and recently a grandparent.
All of my research and time has been self-funded. I am part-time faculty at SF State Univ. and don’t receive time or money for research. But it is an important issue that needs to be addressed and I am blessed to be able to at least try and make a difference.
Regards,
Jan
My sentiments are the same in the information I publish to the parent, the public, elected officials and advocates.
To obtain compelling information please copy and paste into your browser Jan Null's website: http://ggweather.com/heat/#faq
Or simply Google:
Hyperthermia Deaths of Children in Vehicles by Jan Null, CCM Department of Geosciences, SFSU
Here's the original article I linked and addressed. A thank you to Jan Null for the clarification and for the work he's doing to prevent this rising tragedy.
Kennesaw PD continues investigating death of child left in car | ajc.com
I hope expert Jan Null, expert in babies dying in hot cars was misquoted in saying people simply forgot a baby in the back seat.
When I worked as a child care licensor for 13 years, not once did I "simply" forget to go to work.
People may have tragically forgotten, but not simply forgotten
Importantly, Null gives us a heads up on his research that almost 1/2 of the babies died while with a caregiver which could be a licensed or unlicensed adult responsible for the baby.
Strikingly, the deaths have increased since we've been required to keep the kids in the backseat.
From the news article: "Jan Null, a researcher in the Department of Geosciences at San Francisco State State University was quoted in this news article as saying, It happens to a lot of people, Null said. There have been doctors and school principals and day-care owners. People across the board.And in half those cases it was because people simply forgot the child was in the backseat, Null said."
See Jan Null's website at: http://ggweather.com/heat/#faq
"Airbags vs. Hyperthermia Deaths
In the three-year period of 1990-1992, before airbags became popular, there were only 11 known deaths of children from hyperthermia.
In the most recent three-year period of 2006-2009, when almost all young children are now placed in back seats instead of front seats, there have been at least 108 known fatalities from hyperthermia...a ten-fold increase from the rate of the early 1990s. (graphic) [Important note: This in no way implies that it is advocated that children be placed in the front seat or that airbags be disabled.]
"Circumstances
An examination of media reports about the 494 child vehicular hyperthermia deaths for an thirteen year period (1998 through 2010) shows the following circumstances:
51% - child "forgotten" by caregiver (253 Children)
30% - child playing in unattended vehicle (150)
17% - child intentionally left in vehicle by adult (86)
1% - circumstances unknown (5)
Children's thermoregulatory systems are not as efficient as an adult's and their body temperatures warm at a rate 3 to 5 times faster than an adult’s."
What I know as a former licensor the secret kept from the public and parents related to licensed day care is the serious problem of day care providers and centers operating at overcapacity and not having enough staff.
Overcapacity and lack of supervision is a BIG health and safety issue for your baby, your kid...your children in unlicensed and licensed child care.
People don't simply forget to go to work and people don't simply forget about a baby in the backseat.
Why they forgot is a vital life and death issue to figure out. I'll send my article to Jan Null. Maybe the University can conduct research to answer the "why" question.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
A cute child laughing hard at papers
This is what we should be hearing in day care. The wonderful laughter of children and with staff laughing along with them.
Thank You to the Washington State Legislature - Unlicensed day care around the World
Eyewitness News: Illegal day care centres encouraged to register before deadline
When the Colby Thompson Act regarding unlicensed care is enacted, the Department of Early Learning (DEL)in Washington State may want to follow South Africa's first steps in getting unlicensed folks to come in to apply for a license.
A thank you to the Washington State legislature, in particular, Senator Eide and Colby's mom and dad, Jamie and Chris for working on this bill.
With the non-expiring license law, also, coming into effect licensors will have more time to get the monitoring and oversight done on facilities with long histories of non-compliance as well as make visits on reports of unlicensed care.
The licensed provider community from my days as a licensor, it was clear licensed day care providers are pretty much in tune in their neighborhoods and know who is doing unlicensed care.
Those licensed day care providers involved with the Washington Child Care Association and the SEIU can make those reports now to DEL for action that has been a long time in coming.
I would be glad to do some pro bono consulting to help DEL out...A Change Gonna Come (a tip of my hat to Sam Cooke).
When the Colby Thompson Act regarding unlicensed care is enacted, the Department of Early Learning (DEL)in Washington State may want to follow South Africa's first steps in getting unlicensed folks to come in to apply for a license.
A thank you to the Washington State legislature, in particular, Senator Eide and Colby's mom and dad, Jamie and Chris for working on this bill.
With the non-expiring license law, also, coming into effect licensors will have more time to get the monitoring and oversight done on facilities with long histories of non-compliance as well as make visits on reports of unlicensed care.
The licensed provider community from my days as a licensor, it was clear licensed day care providers are pretty much in tune in their neighborhoods and know who is doing unlicensed care.
Those licensed day care providers involved with the Washington Child Care Association and the SEIU can make those reports now to DEL for action that has been a long time in coming.
I would be glad to do some pro bono consulting to help DEL out...A Change Gonna Come (a tip of my hat to Sam Cooke).
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Pinocchio Thy Name is Elizabeth Winter (DEL), Child Care Licensing Manager
Pasco day care's actions anger parents (w/ pdf of complaints) | Tri-City Herald - The News Tribune
A thank you to the Tri-Cities Herald, the Tacoma Tribune and other media outlets (King 5 News) for doing the job that the Department of Early Learning (DEL) with its millions of dollars is not doing.
Unelected child care licensing manager (DEL), Elizabeth Winter's nose might be growing longer or her training in child care licensing was seriously flawed.
As former licensor and now expert analyst/witness on the failings of the unelected bureaucratic managers let me present that training.
Getting a license is not an entitlement. Like a driver's license, a cosmetology license or dog grooming license getting a child care license is not an entitlement. An initial license is not a job training program. Getting 4 initials license is not an entitlement.
When all Washington Administrative Code (WAC) that can be observed by the licensor are met then an initial license is issued only for DEL to do it's job of observing the day care in action.
DEL is required to make observations when actual children are in care. You see if the provider is still in compliance with the requirements observed at the licensing visit. Then you look at the children. How many are there? Are they happy? Are they treated well? Are staff watching the children? Are there enough staff?
Most important as we learned in Michelle Dupler's, Herald Staff Writer's story on March 27, 2011...ARE THE CHILDREN STILL THERE?
From Dupler's report: "Elizabeth Winter told the Herald, "It doesn't rise to an immediate health and safety danger, however, that would cause us to force them to close immediately."
Two toddlers gone for at least 12 minutes does rise to an immediate health and safety danger. Yes, it does.
DEL would have done their job and taken action if the Tribune had known and written the story back in August 2010.
Like King 5 News story of day care provider Anne Ladale Moore getting $232,000.00 in one year from the taxpayer by the time the story aired, DEL took action to revoke her license.
The Fourth Estate and the reason why our founding fathers with the insistence of Patrick Henry put in the First Amendment in our Constitution, the importance of freedom of the press is demonstrated in the work the media did on these stories.
As a 20 year plus former employee of DSHS and as a former child care licensor, and whistle blower a number of times in my state government career these stories are only the tip of the iceberg.
Parents were and are so dismissed by the unelected bureaucratic managers. It is my opinion there are thousands of parents out there who were treated in a denigrated manner by some day care providers and then treated dismissively by the child care licensing agency.
A thank you again to the Tacoma News Tribune, Tri-Cities Herald, Columbian Newspaper, Willamette Week and King 5 News among others for the work they do.
It is citizens standing up for their children, whistle blowers on the inside and the media who will expose the failures of child care licensing in Washington and other states.
A thank you to the Tri-Cities Herald, the Tacoma Tribune and other media outlets (King 5 News) for doing the job that the Department of Early Learning (DEL) with its millions of dollars is not doing.
Unelected child care licensing manager (DEL), Elizabeth Winter's nose might be growing longer or her training in child care licensing was seriously flawed.
As former licensor and now expert analyst/witness on the failings of the unelected bureaucratic managers let me present that training.
Getting a license is not an entitlement. Like a driver's license, a cosmetology license or dog grooming license getting a child care license is not an entitlement. An initial license is not a job training program. Getting 4 initials license is not an entitlement.
When all Washington Administrative Code (WAC) that can be observed by the licensor are met then an initial license is issued only for DEL to do it's job of observing the day care in action.
DEL is required to make observations when actual children are in care. You see if the provider is still in compliance with the requirements observed at the licensing visit. Then you look at the children. How many are there? Are they happy? Are they treated well? Are staff watching the children? Are there enough staff?
Most important as we learned in Michelle Dupler's, Herald Staff Writer's story on March 27, 2011...ARE THE CHILDREN STILL THERE?
From Dupler's report: "Elizabeth Winter told the Herald, "It doesn't rise to an immediate health and safety danger, however, that would cause us to force them to close immediately."
Two toddlers gone for at least 12 minutes does rise to an immediate health and safety danger. Yes, it does.
DEL would have done their job and taken action if the Tribune had known and written the story back in August 2010.
Like King 5 News story of day care provider Anne Ladale Moore getting $232,000.00 in one year from the taxpayer by the time the story aired, DEL took action to revoke her license.
The Fourth Estate and the reason why our founding fathers with the insistence of Patrick Henry put in the First Amendment in our Constitution, the importance of freedom of the press is demonstrated in the work the media did on these stories.
As a 20 year plus former employee of DSHS and as a former child care licensor, and whistle blower a number of times in my state government career these stories are only the tip of the iceberg.
Parents were and are so dismissed by the unelected bureaucratic managers. It is my opinion there are thousands of parents out there who were treated in a denigrated manner by some day care providers and then treated dismissively by the child care licensing agency.
A thank you again to the Tacoma News Tribune, Tri-Cities Herald, Columbian Newspaper, Willamette Week and King 5 News among others for the work they do.
It is citizens standing up for their children, whistle blowers on the inside and the media who will expose the failures of child care licensing in Washington and other states.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Just Checked-In to See What Condition CPS Intake was In & a Suggestion to the Legislature
A word of praise in that the Department of Early Learning (DEL) added to their website by telling parents "for any licensing complaints" to call the CPS Intake phone number (which is a call center).
"To report suspected or known child abuse or neglect, or for any licensing
complaints, call 866-END-HARM (363-4276)."
I call every once in awhile to CA CPS Intake to see how they answer the phone. And as usual their phone message as well as how they answer, they say we take child abuse and neglect reports.
When I mention child care licensing complaints, it's "Oh, yeah, we take those, too."
I told the guy tonight I've been bringing this up since 1996. From 1993 to 1996 when I had a caseload of about 250, we took and investigated licensing complaints.
That changed in 1996 with the decision that parents could only call in licensing complaints to CPS Intake. CPS Intake should not be taking licensing complaints.
When I left in 2006 my caseload was down to 100. Licensing complaints should come out of DSHS CA CPS Intake and come back to licensing.
I'd get a complaint in the morning and I would be out that afternoon if there were any allegations children could be in a risky situation.
So I told this Intake guy, like I've told the others, DSHS CPS Intake should not be taking licensing complaints. He's been around since 1997, but he missed the big decision of 1996.
I told him parents calling in, just by the intake message might likely hang up because it only says reporting child abuse and neglect.
He said he'd take my suggestion up the chain. My suggestion to legislators is to sponsor a bill to make that happen. Child licensing complaints go to DEL. Simple and practical.
Maybe I should contact the Guinness Book of World Records.
"To report suspected or known child abuse or neglect, or for any licensing
complaints, call 866-END-HARM (363-4276)."
I call every once in awhile to CA CPS Intake to see how they answer the phone. And as usual their phone message as well as how they answer, they say we take child abuse and neglect reports.
When I mention child care licensing complaints, it's "Oh, yeah, we take those, too."
I told the guy tonight I've been bringing this up since 1996. From 1993 to 1996 when I had a caseload of about 250, we took and investigated licensing complaints.
That changed in 1996 with the decision that parents could only call in licensing complaints to CPS Intake. CPS Intake should not be taking licensing complaints.
When I left in 2006 my caseload was down to 100. Licensing complaints should come out of DSHS CA CPS Intake and come back to licensing.
I'd get a complaint in the morning and I would be out that afternoon if there were any allegations children could be in a risky situation.
So I told this Intake guy, like I've told the others, DSHS CPS Intake should not be taking licensing complaints. He's been around since 1997, but he missed the big decision of 1996.
I told him parents calling in, just by the intake message might likely hang up because it only says reporting child abuse and neglect.
He said he'd take my suggestion up the chain. My suggestion to legislators is to sponsor a bill to make that happen. Child licensing complaints go to DEL. Simple and practical.
Maybe I should contact the Guinness Book of World Records.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Daddy Day Care
Daddy Day Care Trailer B - Trailer Addict: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"
I recommended Daddy Day Care as a licensor to folks who came to our full day orientation class. It shows how doing day care badly leads to chaos then when the guys get a clue and up their game the transformation is wonderful to see.
Rent or buy the DVD. The outtakes are great and you also see that the film works by how the children are treated in the filming of this movie.
For parents watch your children's behavior when taking them to day care and picking them up. Always make time for unannounced drop in visits. Research shows that 70% of all communication is non-verbal. Trust your intuition.
Even though the Department of Early Learning (DEL) in Washington State's website "looks" like they give parents information, it is the information that DEL is not giving you that can be the most damaging to your child.
It's been now over a year since I have repeatedly attempted to have DEL comply with a law the legislature enacted in 2007. The law is written in very basic plain language and it's a "shall". When the legislature makes it a "shall" under law the agency "must" do it.
For any of you out there in internet land who email, twitter and blog you know how easy it is to get a website up and going in 5 minutes.
The "shall" that DEL does not want you to know about? It is the information about day care providers who have seriously put children at risk, where children seriously got hurt, and where children died.
I've asked the Attorney General, Rob McKenna, of Washington State to tell DEL to do it. The AG's Office said they couldn't make them, they can only advise DEL under law. And, indeed, an AAG did advise them of such about that law in 2007. I have that email.
I asked the State Auditor, Brian Sonntag, to investigate DEL's failure to comply. Their investigation consisted of calling DEL and asking them. There is a phrase in the law that says "upon development of an early learning website". Well, they have a website, they have Facebook and a blog. Supposedly, there was some backroom deal or something, that until DEL gets a lot more taxpayer money for another computer program, DEL will not comply with the law.
Our 14 year old children, grandchildren, godchildren, nieces, nephews and other such children could create this in a blink of an eye.
The child care licensing agency was put under the Governor's watch in 2006 to make "it better"! Or so the story goes. So the Governor is now the head honcho over child care licensing for the last 4 years.
It's Governor Gregoire at the top of the chain of command, then director Betty Hyde, then Deputy director, Bob Hamilton, then Northwest, Southwest and Eastern Service Area managers who all have assistant managers. DEL's Chief Information Officer is Corina McCleary. This is the unit that would handle all that computer stuff. She has 14 employees under her.
And they can't create something many 14 years old could do in a heart beat?
The Governor's the boss over child care licensing so I asked her to make DEL obey the law.
Nothing. Who's the Boss? What is going on in my home state?
I will try again and send this article to the Governor, the State Auditor and the Attorney General.
The governor was so sweet and engaging with the children at the Colby Thompson bill signing it would be hard to believe she'd support to keep information secret from parents.
With what happened to 9 month old Colby Thompson in unlicensed care in 2010, a new law was signed by Governor Christine Gregoire on May 10, 2011 which says DEL must post folks who have done unlicensed care and not applied to get a license on the DEL website.
So parents and other concerned folks, please, enjoy watching Daddy Day Care and it will give you an example (towards the end of the film)of what good day care can look like.
Parents please contact me through my website if you need support. I can put you in touch with others who can give you support as well.
http://childcareconsultinginwashingtonstate.com/
I recommended Daddy Day Care as a licensor to folks who came to our full day orientation class. It shows how doing day care badly leads to chaos then when the guys get a clue and up their game the transformation is wonderful to see.
Rent or buy the DVD. The outtakes are great and you also see that the film works by how the children are treated in the filming of this movie.
For parents watch your children's behavior when taking them to day care and picking them up. Always make time for unannounced drop in visits. Research shows that 70% of all communication is non-verbal. Trust your intuition.
Even though the Department of Early Learning (DEL) in Washington State's website "looks" like they give parents information, it is the information that DEL is not giving you that can be the most damaging to your child.
It's been now over a year since I have repeatedly attempted to have DEL comply with a law the legislature enacted in 2007. The law is written in very basic plain language and it's a "shall". When the legislature makes it a "shall" under law the agency "must" do it.
For any of you out there in internet land who email, twitter and blog you know how easy it is to get a website up and going in 5 minutes.
The "shall" that DEL does not want you to know about? It is the information about day care providers who have seriously put children at risk, where children seriously got hurt, and where children died.
I've asked the Attorney General, Rob McKenna, of Washington State to tell DEL to do it. The AG's Office said they couldn't make them, they can only advise DEL under law. And, indeed, an AAG did advise them of such about that law in 2007. I have that email.
I asked the State Auditor, Brian Sonntag, to investigate DEL's failure to comply. Their investigation consisted of calling DEL and asking them. There is a phrase in the law that says "upon development of an early learning website". Well, they have a website, they have Facebook and a blog. Supposedly, there was some backroom deal or something, that until DEL gets a lot more taxpayer money for another computer program, DEL will not comply with the law.
Our 14 year old children, grandchildren, godchildren, nieces, nephews and other such children could create this in a blink of an eye.
The child care licensing agency was put under the Governor's watch in 2006 to make "it better"! Or so the story goes. So the Governor is now the head honcho over child care licensing for the last 4 years.
It's Governor Gregoire at the top of the chain of command, then director Betty Hyde, then Deputy director, Bob Hamilton, then Northwest, Southwest and Eastern Service Area managers who all have assistant managers. DEL's Chief Information Officer is Corina McCleary. This is the unit that would handle all that computer stuff. She has 14 employees under her.
And they can't create something many 14 years old could do in a heart beat?
The Governor's the boss over child care licensing so I asked her to make DEL obey the law.
Nothing. Who's the Boss? What is going on in my home state?
I will try again and send this article to the Governor, the State Auditor and the Attorney General.
The governor was so sweet and engaging with the children at the Colby Thompson bill signing it would be hard to believe she'd support to keep information secret from parents.
With what happened to 9 month old Colby Thompson in unlicensed care in 2010, a new law was signed by Governor Christine Gregoire on May 10, 2011 which says DEL must post folks who have done unlicensed care and not applied to get a license on the DEL website.
So parents and other concerned folks, please, enjoy watching Daddy Day Care and it will give you an example (towards the end of the film)of what good day care can look like.
Parents please contact me through my website if you need support. I can put you in touch with others who can give you support as well.
http://childcareconsultinginwashingtonstate.com/
Back to the Future - Marilyn Ward & the birth of DSHS - Then to the Present: Colby Thompson
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.
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.
Save Taxpayer Money, Reverse Taxpayer Unions, Save Democracy and Remember Colby Thompson
To the Taxpayers of Washington State and their Senators and Representatives I share a personal tale and make a suggestion.
Taxpayer unions that came in through the legislative process must be reversed. These so-called unions, are not unions as citizens and workers historically knew them to be. As I've written previously, and provided testimony to the legislature for a number of years such folks as Andy Stern, the past head honcho of the SEIU (Service Employees International Union), in his early career was a government employee. Andy Stern saw what a cash cow state governments were and got busy lobbying for taxpayer money.
These so-called unions (including the Washington state employees union, AFSCME, of which I had been a member) are merely folks involved in shenanigans, doublespeak, doubletalk, fear-mongering and behind the scenes threats to those who might oppose them to ensure their goal of getting an uninterrupted flow of taxpayers' money.
Now...this last year coming into this year I got to experience the SEIU "organizing of workers" first hand in Oregon. It fully supports my testimony to the legislature these last four years.
I had an individual client in Oregon. I heard SEIU was "organizing" and my name and contact information had to be turned over to them. Well, I thought I'll be experiencing the SEIU "organizing" drill. I waited. I waited. I waited. I waited. At Christmas time I got a postcard. It was blue with white snowflakes. After scrutinizing it I realized it was from the SEIU. There was no message about SEIU organizing or that they were a union or that they cared about me.
Well, I thought, I'll just wait some more. I waited. I waited. I waited. I waited.
Mid-May 2011 I get a letter from the Employment Relations Board that they were mailing me a SECRET BALLOT. I am told if I make any other marks on my ballot (say, that I am not afraid for them to know how I voted and signed my name) my ballot won't count, "because that would destroy the secrecy of your ballot and may void it." My name and address are on the back of my "secret" ballot envelope with my signature. This is NOT how it's done in a real election.
Plus the only folks allowed at the ballot counting are SEIU and "authorized representatives of the employer." Again this is not done in a real election.
The letter says, "...you should consider yourself as having the same rights and responsibilities as a voter in a voting booth." Were they being nostalgic or ironic?
Thus SEIU NEVER contacted me to ask me how I felt about joining their union or even if I wanted to be in a union. SEIU did not call me or send me a letter telling me how much they cared about me or my client. They DID NOT.
Recently, I was invited and appeared for the Governor's signing of the Colby Thompson Act on May 10 2011, named in honor of then 9 month old Colby who at an unlicensed home received permanent brain damage. There were some SEIU members in the Governor's conference room for the signing and picture taking. I heard family members asking each other who those people were at Colby's bill signing.
I went to SEIU 925 website to see what they had to say about now 19 month old Colby and how much they honored and cared about this little guy; and how they supported Colby's mom and dad in getting this bill passed.
NOT A WORD ABOUT COLBY.
SEIU was first most excited about the non-expiring license bill (full paragraph) then excited about the portable criminal history check that they could use and lastly mentioned about upping the fine on unlicensed homes and centers.
Nothing about the new criminal history check which requires all applicants to be fingerprinted (thus an increased safety to children) and nothing about 9 month old Colby and his injuries from being in an unlicensed home; and his parents spearheading the drive to address unlicensed care.
The more unlicensed homes get licensed the more opportunity SEIU will have to get that flow of uninterrupted taxpayer money.
My suggestion to the public is to contact all the representatives and all the senators to ask them to work on reversing these so-called unions. They are not unions. Your senators and representatives want to hear from you.
Taxpayer unions that came in through the legislative process must be reversed. These so-called unions, are not unions as citizens and workers historically knew them to be. As I've written previously, and provided testimony to the legislature for a number of years such folks as Andy Stern, the past head honcho of the SEIU (Service Employees International Union), in his early career was a government employee. Andy Stern saw what a cash cow state governments were and got busy lobbying for taxpayer money.
These so-called unions (including the Washington state employees union, AFSCME, of which I had been a member) are merely folks involved in shenanigans, doublespeak, doubletalk, fear-mongering and behind the scenes threats to those who might oppose them to ensure their goal of getting an uninterrupted flow of taxpayers' money.
Now...this last year coming into this year I got to experience the SEIU "organizing of workers" first hand in Oregon. It fully supports my testimony to the legislature these last four years.
I had an individual client in Oregon. I heard SEIU was "organizing" and my name and contact information had to be turned over to them. Well, I thought I'll be experiencing the SEIU "organizing" drill. I waited. I waited. I waited. I waited. At Christmas time I got a postcard. It was blue with white snowflakes. After scrutinizing it I realized it was from the SEIU. There was no message about SEIU organizing or that they were a union or that they cared about me.
Well, I thought, I'll just wait some more. I waited. I waited. I waited. I waited.
Mid-May 2011 I get a letter from the Employment Relations Board that they were mailing me a SECRET BALLOT. I am told if I make any other marks on my ballot (say, that I am not afraid for them to know how I voted and signed my name) my ballot won't count, "because that would destroy the secrecy of your ballot and may void it." My name and address are on the back of my "secret" ballot envelope with my signature. This is NOT how it's done in a real election.
Plus the only folks allowed at the ballot counting are SEIU and "authorized representatives of the employer." Again this is not done in a real election.
The letter says, "...you should consider yourself as having the same rights and responsibilities as a voter in a voting booth." Were they being nostalgic or ironic?
Thus SEIU NEVER contacted me to ask me how I felt about joining their union or even if I wanted to be in a union. SEIU did not call me or send me a letter telling me how much they cared about me or my client. They DID NOT.
Recently, I was invited and appeared for the Governor's signing of the Colby Thompson Act on May 10 2011, named in honor of then 9 month old Colby who at an unlicensed home received permanent brain damage. There were some SEIU members in the Governor's conference room for the signing and picture taking. I heard family members asking each other who those people were at Colby's bill signing.
I went to SEIU 925 website to see what they had to say about now 19 month old Colby and how much they honored and cared about this little guy; and how they supported Colby's mom and dad in getting this bill passed.
NOT A WORD ABOUT COLBY.
SEIU was first most excited about the non-expiring license bill (full paragraph) then excited about the portable criminal history check that they could use and lastly mentioned about upping the fine on unlicensed homes and centers.
Nothing about the new criminal history check which requires all applicants to be fingerprinted (thus an increased safety to children) and nothing about 9 month old Colby and his injuries from being in an unlicensed home; and his parents spearheading the drive to address unlicensed care.
The more unlicensed homes get licensed the more opportunity SEIU will have to get that flow of uninterrupted taxpayer money.
My suggestion to the public is to contact all the representatives and all the senators to ask them to work on reversing these so-called unions. They are not unions. Your senators and representatives want to hear from you.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Unlicensed Child Day Care in Washington State - Remembering 11 week old Jenna Knudtson
11 week old Jenna Knudtson suffocated December 21, 2004 after being placed on her stomach alone upstairs in the day care home of Jennifer Florentin.
In January 2004 Florentin told her licensor she had stopped doing child care and returned her license.
When the paramedics arrived Florentin, the only adult on the premises, had 12 children in her care. A number of people reported that Florentin "didn't like all the red tape" in being licensed. After Jenna died Florentin continued to unlicensed care.
Staci Sturges her former licensor did two stakeouts and Darcy Taylor, the supervisor one in February 2005. The department issued a cease and desist and fined Florentin $18,000.00. Then DSHS reduced her fine to $5000.00.
Florentin continued to do unlicensed care. I took a voice message on May 24, 2005 from a referent advising the department Florentin was still providing unlicensed care. I forwarded the message to supervisor, Darcy Taylor and phoned in the information to DSHS CPS Intake. Taylor did nothing. I made yet another whistle blower report.
DSHS did an investigation on 3 of my whistle blower complaints including Florentin and Taylor's lack of investigating and/or taking action.
The DSHS investigators before investigating Taylor and talking to other DSHS staff made "clear statements indicating that there would be no retaliation or discipline as a result of their cooperation or giving of information."
On Florentin Taylor wrote her narratives late in violation of DSHS policy, Taylor the investigators wrote: "...admits to being chronically behind in her documentation." Taylor called the referent back on June 16, 2005, 23 days after the complaint was called in. Taylor then didn't go out until July 26, 2005, almost a month and a half later. Taylor only talked to Florentin who claimed "a cranky neighbor" made the call. Taylor closed the case the next day as "invalid".
The DSHS investigators wrote regarding the May 24, 2005 licensing complaint on Florentin wrote about Taylor: "She staked out the residence on two separate occasions and contacted neighbors." No, Taylor did not. The narrative records (SERs, now called "FamLink provider notes")show no such activity.
The DSHS investigators talked to Taylor's boss (with the same promise of no retaliation or discipline), Marjory Johnson, about the lateness of Taylor's documentation. Johnson told them there was no time frames on writing case narratives. The investigators found CAMIS Policy #25 which states 30 days. Johnson declared under penalty of perjury in a Superior court document that she was an expert on writing SERs, yet told the DSHS investigators there was no time frames in writing SERs.
Columbian newspaper reporter Erin Middleton in Vancouver wrote on findarticles.com: "In 2004, Rice and I wrote a story about the shaking death of a child in an unlicensed child care home. In interviews, state officials said they didn't have the resources to go after unlicensed child care facilities in Washington. We wondered: How well does the state police the ones that are licensed? "
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3720/is_200904/ai_n32128789/
It was not about resources. DSHS managers wouldn't let me do my job. In the early 2000s it was "known" that licensed providers were quitting licensed care and continuing to do unlicensed care. One had not only been on my caseload, but I noticed she was still president of the day care association. When I mentioned this to another provider on my caseload and wondered if she knew anything; by the next week she was no longer listed as the president. I wanted to go out and verify her status and my supervisor Mary Oakden would not let me.
In 2003 we had an excellent supervisor Glen Berringer who not only let me do my job including doing a stakeout on an unlicensed provider operating right across the street from a licensor provider, he went with me to the unlicensed provider's door to inform her to stop.
In the 1990s we licensors checked the local newspaper listings for people who advertized they were doing day care. We called them. We warned them. We contacted the local paper to not take their ads without verification or at least keep a blurb in there that having a license was required. We contacted the schools to not allow ads for day cares be posted at the school without verification that they were licensed.
2004 the Columbian newspaper wrote an article about a shaken baby in an unlicensed day care home. Another baby Jenna Knudtson suffocates in a formerly licensed home in 2004.
In April 2005 I believe the father of Jenna make a public disclosure request for the licensing file of Florentin. With the CAMIS computer system when you clicked to print the Service Episode Records (SERs), which are basically, the notes licensors/supervisors made on licensing files, a window popped up "reminding you" that if this print job was for a public disclosure request to be sure you checked all records.
I wanted to call the requester, to see if he or she wanted any and all emails related to the provider file. Darcy Taylor, the supervisor would not let me call the requester. Taylor wouldn't tell me who the requester was. I can only guess it was Jenna's father Greg Knudtson.
6 years later, 9 month old Colby Thompson was shaken and permanently hurt. As the insider, the whistle blower on and off, for most of my career inside the DSHS Vancouver Office the disrespect shown to parents, the disregard shown to parents, the denigration of parents and the ignoring of parents was and is abominable.
DSHS child care licensing, the unelected bureaucratic managers, who continually say that the taxpayers don't cough up enough money as the reason why children are treated meanly, hurt, maimed and some die, created a special manager position at headquarters just for day care providers to call in complaints on licensors. No such special position was created for parents.
RCW 43.215.370 was passed in 2007. It has very clear language that the Department of Early Learning (DEL) "shall" post on their website providers who treated children meanly, providers who hurt children, providers who maimed children and/or where children died; and had enforcement action taken against their license.
This is a "shall" under the law, the unelected bureaucratic DEL managers say there was a deal cut that until they get millions more in taxpayer money they won't post this information so parents can have a chance to know about such people who could like Jennifer Florentin continued to do unlicensed care...even after a baby's death.
A note of appreciation for the courage of Colby's parents with all they must contend with and manage in Colby's life now and for their other children, they cared so much that this not happen to other parents; they spoke out and a bill got passed before the one year anniversary of Colby's being maimed.
In January 2004 Florentin told her licensor she had stopped doing child care and returned her license.
When the paramedics arrived Florentin, the only adult on the premises, had 12 children in her care. A number of people reported that Florentin "didn't like all the red tape" in being licensed. After Jenna died Florentin continued to unlicensed care.
Staci Sturges her former licensor did two stakeouts and Darcy Taylor, the supervisor one in February 2005. The department issued a cease and desist and fined Florentin $18,000.00. Then DSHS reduced her fine to $5000.00.
Florentin continued to do unlicensed care. I took a voice message on May 24, 2005 from a referent advising the department Florentin was still providing unlicensed care. I forwarded the message to supervisor, Darcy Taylor and phoned in the information to DSHS CPS Intake. Taylor did nothing. I made yet another whistle blower report.
DSHS did an investigation on 3 of my whistle blower complaints including Florentin and Taylor's lack of investigating and/or taking action.
The DSHS investigators before investigating Taylor and talking to other DSHS staff made "clear statements indicating that there would be no retaliation or discipline as a result of their cooperation or giving of information."
On Florentin Taylor wrote her narratives late in violation of DSHS policy, Taylor the investigators wrote: "...admits to being chronically behind in her documentation." Taylor called the referent back on June 16, 2005, 23 days after the complaint was called in. Taylor then didn't go out until July 26, 2005, almost a month and a half later. Taylor only talked to Florentin who claimed "a cranky neighbor" made the call. Taylor closed the case the next day as "invalid".
The DSHS investigators wrote regarding the May 24, 2005 licensing complaint on Florentin wrote about Taylor: "She staked out the residence on two separate occasions and contacted neighbors." No, Taylor did not. The narrative records (SERs, now called "FamLink provider notes")show no such activity.
The DSHS investigators talked to Taylor's boss (with the same promise of no retaliation or discipline), Marjory Johnson, about the lateness of Taylor's documentation. Johnson told them there was no time frames on writing case narratives. The investigators found CAMIS Policy #25 which states 30 days. Johnson declared under penalty of perjury in a Superior court document that she was an expert on writing SERs, yet told the DSHS investigators there was no time frames in writing SERs.
Columbian newspaper reporter Erin Middleton in Vancouver wrote on findarticles.com: "In 2004, Rice and I wrote a story about the shaking death of a child in an unlicensed child care home. In interviews, state officials said they didn't have the resources to go after unlicensed child care facilities in Washington. We wondered: How well does the state police the ones that are licensed? "
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3720/is_200904/ai_n32128789/
It was not about resources. DSHS managers wouldn't let me do my job. In the early 2000s it was "known" that licensed providers were quitting licensed care and continuing to do unlicensed care. One had not only been on my caseload, but I noticed she was still president of the day care association. When I mentioned this to another provider on my caseload and wondered if she knew anything; by the next week she was no longer listed as the president. I wanted to go out and verify her status and my supervisor Mary Oakden would not let me.
In 2003 we had an excellent supervisor Glen Berringer who not only let me do my job including doing a stakeout on an unlicensed provider operating right across the street from a licensor provider, he went with me to the unlicensed provider's door to inform her to stop.
In the 1990s we licensors checked the local newspaper listings for people who advertized they were doing day care. We called them. We warned them. We contacted the local paper to not take their ads without verification or at least keep a blurb in there that having a license was required. We contacted the schools to not allow ads for day cares be posted at the school without verification that they were licensed.
2004 the Columbian newspaper wrote an article about a shaken baby in an unlicensed day care home. Another baby Jenna Knudtson suffocates in a formerly licensed home in 2004.
In April 2005 I believe the father of Jenna make a public disclosure request for the licensing file of Florentin. With the CAMIS computer system when you clicked to print the Service Episode Records (SERs), which are basically, the notes licensors/supervisors made on licensing files, a window popped up "reminding you" that if this print job was for a public disclosure request to be sure you checked all records.
I wanted to call the requester, to see if he or she wanted any and all emails related to the provider file. Darcy Taylor, the supervisor would not let me call the requester. Taylor wouldn't tell me who the requester was. I can only guess it was Jenna's father Greg Knudtson.
6 years later, 9 month old Colby Thompson was shaken and permanently hurt. As the insider, the whistle blower on and off, for most of my career inside the DSHS Vancouver Office the disrespect shown to parents, the disregard shown to parents, the denigration of parents and the ignoring of parents was and is abominable.
DSHS child care licensing, the unelected bureaucratic managers, who continually say that the taxpayers don't cough up enough money as the reason why children are treated meanly, hurt, maimed and some die, created a special manager position at headquarters just for day care providers to call in complaints on licensors. No such special position was created for parents.
RCW 43.215.370 was passed in 2007. It has very clear language that the Department of Early Learning (DEL) "shall" post on their website providers who treated children meanly, providers who hurt children, providers who maimed children and/or where children died; and had enforcement action taken against their license.
This is a "shall" under the law, the unelected bureaucratic DEL managers say there was a deal cut that until they get millions more in taxpayer money they won't post this information so parents can have a chance to know about such people who could like Jennifer Florentin continued to do unlicensed care...even after a baby's death.
A note of appreciation for the courage of Colby's parents with all they must contend with and manage in Colby's life now and for their other children, they cared so much that this not happen to other parents; they spoke out and a bill got passed before the one year anniversary of Colby's being maimed.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Michael Shinn, Senior Assistant Attorney General
"Criminal penalties including fines and imprisonment will be assessed for the intentional destruction of public records." Quote from website below:
http://www.mrsc.org/publications/mrscpubs.aspx
I received a May 4, 2011 letter from Nancy E. Hovis Deputy Attorney General with a copy to Michael Shinn.
I know Michael Shinn. I worked with Michael Shinn. I like Michael Shinn. On one case we worked together on I helped give Michael his Perry Mason moment that many attorneys wait a life time to get. You know, when on the witness stand and under oath the person admits they lied. On that case, in addition, an apology was made to me on the record by the appellant. We did excellent work together.
Ms Hovis wrote in her May 4, 2011 letter: "...you state that "a reasonable person could conclude that the Attorney General's Office has been covering up wrongdoing." This opinion appears to be related to accusations you make that the Department of Social and Health Services and Department of Early Learning managers somehow (bolding mine)have violated the Public Records Act and the Records Retention Act and is based on the mistaken assumption that the Attorney General is responsible for enforcing criminal statutes prohibiting the destruction, alteration and concealment of public records. The Attorney General has limited criminal authority and may only exercise jurisdiction upon the request of an elected Prosecuting Attorney or others specified under RCW 43.10.232."
One of the subsections (1)(b) Ms Hovis failed to mention is the Attorney General upon the request of the Governor "shall have concurrent authority and power with the prosecuting attorneys to investigate crimes and initiate and conduct prosecutions..."
"somehow"?
I think a reasonable person could conclude that if the Attorney General's Office received allegations that DSHS and DEL managers ordered current and established original public records destroyed...the Attorney General and Assistant Attorney Generals would say, "What!" "Whoa, Nelly!" Then they would say, "We are looking into this!" In addition, if any AGO state employee had information that such allegations may well be true...well...those employees like all state employees could and should make a whistle blower report to the State Auditor to be fully investigated.
"somehow"?
I have documents of my attempts on and off since 2002 to get an opinion directly from the Attorney General herself (Gregoire) and now Rob McKenna, himself, to step forward boldly to proclaimto the unelected bureaucratic managers, "Quit concealing, quit altering and quit destroying public records!"
When the State Auditor decided to not complete a "full" investigation on my whistle blower assertions in 2005, I appealed to the Attorney General and the Governor (allowed under law) to have the full investigation completed. The AG and the Governor did not so direct.
"RCW 40.16.010
Injury to public record.
Every person who shall willfully and unlawfully remove, alter, mutilate, destroy, conceal, or obliterate a record, map, book, paper, document, or other thing filed or deposited in a public office, or with any public officer, by authority of law, is guilty of a class C felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in a state correctional facility for not more than five years, or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars, or by both."
We have unelected bureaucratic managers who I allege broke this law and I have documents which I do believe a reasonable person could conclude this law was broken by specific unelected bureaucratic managers.
I appreciate Nancy Hovis taking the time to write and copying Michael Shinn and would love to work with them to serve the greater good of the citizens of Washington State.
I'm not an unknown entity and Washington is my home state. I served on Governor Booth Gardner's steering committee. I went to the Governor's Ball with one of the Governor's AAGs. Doug Cochran in the State Auditor's Office is a long time friend, and his wife, Bettie Ingham, a longer time friend. I was her scheduling coordinator in her first election campaign many years ago.
I am here to help. I'm here to be the witness. And I am here to protect children. Just give me a call. We're all looking for heroes. It's never too late to be a hero.
http://www.mrsc.org/publications/mrscpubs.aspx
I received a May 4, 2011 letter from Nancy E. Hovis Deputy Attorney General with a copy to Michael Shinn.
I know Michael Shinn. I worked with Michael Shinn. I like Michael Shinn. On one case we worked together on I helped give Michael his Perry Mason moment that many attorneys wait a life time to get. You know, when on the witness stand and under oath the person admits they lied. On that case, in addition, an apology was made to me on the record by the appellant. We did excellent work together.
Ms Hovis wrote in her May 4, 2011 letter: "...you state that "a reasonable person could conclude that the Attorney General's Office has been covering up wrongdoing." This opinion appears to be related to accusations you make that the Department of Social and Health Services and Department of Early Learning managers somehow (bolding mine)have violated the Public Records Act and the Records Retention Act and is based on the mistaken assumption that the Attorney General is responsible for enforcing criminal statutes prohibiting the destruction, alteration and concealment of public records. The Attorney General has limited criminal authority and may only exercise jurisdiction upon the request of an elected Prosecuting Attorney or others specified under RCW 43.10.232."
One of the subsections (1)(b) Ms Hovis failed to mention is the Attorney General upon the request of the Governor "shall have concurrent authority and power with the prosecuting attorneys to investigate crimes and initiate and conduct prosecutions..."
"somehow"?
I think a reasonable person could conclude that if the Attorney General's Office received allegations that DSHS and DEL managers ordered current and established original public records destroyed...the Attorney General and Assistant Attorney Generals would say, "What!" "Whoa, Nelly!" Then they would say, "We are looking into this!" In addition, if any AGO state employee had information that such allegations may well be true...well...those employees like all state employees could and should make a whistle blower report to the State Auditor to be fully investigated.
"somehow"?
I have documents of my attempts on and off since 2002 to get an opinion directly from the Attorney General herself (Gregoire) and now Rob McKenna, himself, to step forward boldly to proclaimto the unelected bureaucratic managers, "Quit concealing, quit altering and quit destroying public records!"
When the State Auditor decided to not complete a "full" investigation on my whistle blower assertions in 2005, I appealed to the Attorney General and the Governor (allowed under law) to have the full investigation completed. The AG and the Governor did not so direct.
"RCW 40.16.010
Injury to public record.
Every person who shall willfully and unlawfully remove, alter, mutilate, destroy, conceal, or obliterate a record, map, book, paper, document, or other thing filed or deposited in a public office, or with any public officer, by authority of law, is guilty of a class C felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in a state correctional facility for not more than five years, or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars, or by both."
We have unelected bureaucratic managers who I allege broke this law and I have documents which I do believe a reasonable person could conclude this law was broken by specific unelected bureaucratic managers.
I appreciate Nancy Hovis taking the time to write and copying Michael Shinn and would love to work with them to serve the greater good of the citizens of Washington State.
I'm not an unknown entity and Washington is my home state. I served on Governor Booth Gardner's steering committee. I went to the Governor's Ball with one of the Governor's AAGs. Doug Cochran in the State Auditor's Office is a long time friend, and his wife, Bettie Ingham, a longer time friend. I was her scheduling coordinator in her first election campaign many years ago.
I am here to help. I'm here to be the witness. And I am here to protect children. Just give me a call. We're all looking for heroes. It's never too late to be a hero.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
King 5 news Story on child care subsidy and the Cash Cow that is the unelected government bureaucracy system
King 5 News ran the story last week regarding family home child care provider Anne Ladale Moore in Des Moines who collected $232,000.00 in one year.
One year I talked to the Fraud Division and the Child Care Subsidy unit about investigating licensed child care home provider Connie King in Clark County.
I found records where King reported to another state agency she made $2280.50 in June 2004 and worked 160 hours a month. But she did 24 hour day care? The child care subsidy records showed she collected $7,421.00 from child care subsidy in that same month of June 2004. This was the provider I conducted a complaint investigation on in September 2004 who hid 8 children upstairs including 2 babies in unlicensed space; and had a total of 21 children (only licensed for 12) on the premises in that moment; and was the only adult in the home. She was also collecting "fee activity" money for taking the children to McDonald's.
What did I find out? Providers weren't required to send copies of sign in and out attendance sheets with their billing. They just had to put a number in a box on the printed form. Child Care Subsidy program did no investigations of possible concerns, that's what licensing was for I was told or go to the Fraud Division.
With the fraud division I learned being overcapacity was not an issue under their regulations if King, indeed, had 21 children in care at one time and they were all on subsidy. It only became an issue if there weren't 21 children in care at that particular time.
I requested of my supervisor, Darcy Taylor, to be allowed to make a monitor visit on the weekend. She said no.
King's license per RCW and WAC was required to have been revoked in September 2004. This provider was on the "high risk targeted monitor project" that started in January 2005 by the director of the child care licensing agency, Rachael Langen; and then melted away very quickly.
I documented my assessment that her license be revoked in February 2005. I made a number of whistle blower reports that year regarding supervisor, Darcy Taylor, the regional manager and director not taking action as required by RCW and WAC on this and other facilities (as well as them concealing, directing staff what to write in a new SER (the written record on a file) and then having the original SER destroyed in violation of law). That investigation remains open until the State Auditor writes his report.
The pattern of complaints and non-compliance continued. It wasn't until July 2006 her license was revoked. Almost 2 years later.
What does the legislature do with managing the budget? DEL salaries were greatly upped in 2006. Amy Blondin, the Communications Manager who makes $93,000.00 a year with great benefits told King 5 News:
"Now our job is to go in regularly and monitor and make sure they are offering safe and healthy care." What Blondin didn't say is that "regularly" means once every 18 months for family homes, and not at night or on the weekends. If she has data otherwise she should disclose those records to the legislature, King 5 and the public now, please.
"Blondin also points out the big earners may be paying licensed assistants to meet staffing levels." "may be" Again for a family home provider who made $232,000.00 in one year why doesn't this unelected bureaucratic communications manager know that?
Remember the term "sliding fee scale"? In days past before the cash cow that is government grew bigger and bigger there was the concept of community and sliding fee scale.
Also I think it's notable that the junk bond king, Michael Milkin, who went to prison for fraud, got into the daycare business starting back in 1998. Then SEIU has been busy the last number of years bringing their feeding trough to the legislature to get some of that rich tax payer money that was floating around. Andy Stern, the now former president of the SEIU venture, had been a former social worker inside his unelected government bureaucracy and saw the cash cow there.
Perhaps some of these cash cows need to be put out to pasture?
One year I talked to the Fraud Division and the Child Care Subsidy unit about investigating licensed child care home provider Connie King in Clark County.
I found records where King reported to another state agency she made $2280.50 in June 2004 and worked 160 hours a month. But she did 24 hour day care? The child care subsidy records showed she collected $7,421.00 from child care subsidy in that same month of June 2004. This was the provider I conducted a complaint investigation on in September 2004 who hid 8 children upstairs including 2 babies in unlicensed space; and had a total of 21 children (only licensed for 12) on the premises in that moment; and was the only adult in the home. She was also collecting "fee activity" money for taking the children to McDonald's.
What did I find out? Providers weren't required to send copies of sign in and out attendance sheets with their billing. They just had to put a number in a box on the printed form. Child Care Subsidy program did no investigations of possible concerns, that's what licensing was for I was told or go to the Fraud Division.
With the fraud division I learned being overcapacity was not an issue under their regulations if King, indeed, had 21 children in care at one time and they were all on subsidy. It only became an issue if there weren't 21 children in care at that particular time.
I requested of my supervisor, Darcy Taylor, to be allowed to make a monitor visit on the weekend. She said no.
King's license per RCW and WAC was required to have been revoked in September 2004. This provider was on the "high risk targeted monitor project" that started in January 2005 by the director of the child care licensing agency, Rachael Langen; and then melted away very quickly.
I documented my assessment that her license be revoked in February 2005. I made a number of whistle blower reports that year regarding supervisor, Darcy Taylor, the regional manager and director not taking action as required by RCW and WAC on this and other facilities (as well as them concealing, directing staff what to write in a new SER (the written record on a file) and then having the original SER destroyed in violation of law). That investigation remains open until the State Auditor writes his report.
The pattern of complaints and non-compliance continued. It wasn't until July 2006 her license was revoked. Almost 2 years later.
What does the legislature do with managing the budget? DEL salaries were greatly upped in 2006. Amy Blondin, the Communications Manager who makes $93,000.00 a year with great benefits told King 5 News:
"Now our job is to go in regularly and monitor and make sure they are offering safe and healthy care." What Blondin didn't say is that "regularly" means once every 18 months for family homes, and not at night or on the weekends. If she has data otherwise she should disclose those records to the legislature, King 5 and the public now, please.
"Blondin also points out the big earners may be paying licensed assistants to meet staffing levels." "may be" Again for a family home provider who made $232,000.00 in one year why doesn't this unelected bureaucratic communications manager know that?
Remember the term "sliding fee scale"? In days past before the cash cow that is government grew bigger and bigger there was the concept of community and sliding fee scale.
Also I think it's notable that the junk bond king, Michael Milkin, who went to prison for fraud, got into the daycare business starting back in 1998. Then SEIU has been busy the last number of years bringing their feeding trough to the legislature to get some of that rich tax payer money that was floating around. Andy Stern, the now former president of the SEIU venture, had been a former social worker inside his unelected government bureaucracy and saw the cash cow there.
Perhaps some of these cash cows need to be put out to pasture?
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