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/
Sunday, May 22, 2011
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?
Friday, April 29, 2011
Washington State Whistle Blower Margo Logan steps forward to address child care licensing in Washington State
To parents, grandparents, the public, child care advocates, the media, senators and representatives of Washington State,
On April 22, 2011 the Superior Court of Thurston County affirmed my status as a whistle blower against DSHS (I have the court transcript approved by the judge). I had filed a lawsuit in 2008. I had kept that part of my life private and separate from my new career as a consultant, researcher, analyst and trainer.
At that time in 2008 in an email sent from the Attorney General's Office to the newest name of the state child care licensing agency, The Department of Early Learning (DEL) was told I had right to file a claim and the agency was not discuss to my case. In 2009 another email shows DEL contacted the Attorney General Office about my case. The Attorney General Office emailed back that they couldn't give information about my case, because my case was against DSHS. The DEL manager replied, "Can I call you?"
In February 2011, this year, Deputy Director, Bob Hamilton (who makes $112,000.00 a year and has great taxpayer benefits) email attached a letter to me with copies to senators, representatives, public individuals and another DEL employee) and wrote that I had a lawsuit against DEL. I didn't and I don't. DEL seemingly will use any avenue to not discuss and address why DEL managers don't comply with laws enacted by the legislature.
Since DEL made my case public in February and Thurston County Superior Court found this month in April I was (and am)a statutory whistle blower, I am making my whistle blower status public and I am willing to talk to the media, parent groups, child care provider groups (or individuals) and discuss the wealth of documentation I have to back up my testimony.
I will continue to testify to legislators. I thank so many of them who took right action in passing laws to protect your children.
My first and top priority is children being treated kindly and nurtured, and to expose those who hurt, maimed and in some cases killed children; or because of neglect children died in licensed and unlicensed homes.
My focus goes deeper to expose the unelected bureaucratic DSHS and DEL managers who failed in their duties to protect children through not adhering to the child care licensing laws and regulations.
I have also been an expert witness for child care providers whose rights were violated by DEL's unelected bureaucratic managers. Those cases were stunning in DEL's actions towards those licensed child care providers.
Thus the cases I have been on as an expert witness have been fairly balanced between helping parents whose children were hurt or died; and providers whose rights were violated.
I was certified by Pierce County Superior Court and the Yakima Office of Administrative Hearings as an expert on licensed child care.
In verifying to the Court of my whistle blower status I submitted over 500 pages of documents. Most of those documents I acquired myself, DSHS was either not asked by the Attorney General's Office to give discovery or DSHS once again on their own decided to conceal public records.
In 2002 I had made whistle blower reports, I was harassed, retaliated against, the usual drill when one reports wrong doing on the managers. The managers were having public records altered then they had the originals destroyed. DSHS didn't want the public and parents to know about applicants who had criminal histories, domestic violence, drug, child abuse, termination of parental rights, potential risks of homicidal and/or suicidal behaviors, etc. I fought their retaliation and won in 2003. DSHS settled with me and for a short time I got to do my job without being ordered to break the law. In 2003, we had the best supervisor, high productivity and high morale. Then he left in 2004. The settlement the DSHS managers and I signed was to be kept confidential. I did so. But just like in February of this year by 2004 it was not kept confidential by the DSHS managers.
In 2004 the DSHS managers started up again concealing, altering and destroying public records as well as not revoking licenses on child care providers that put children at risk.
Yesterday King 5 News reported on Anne Ladale Moore in Marysville making more than $232,000.00 in one year doing day care. Amy Blondin, Communications manager who makes $93,000.00 a year with great benefits from your tax dollars told King 5 News DEL monitors the 24/7 daycare homes. No they don't. DEL is open Monday-Friday 8 am -5 pm. Now today DEL has closed Moore down and taken her off the website in violation of RCW 43.215.370, a law to post on the website what enforcement action had been taken on the provider.
Overcapacity has been a huge issue for years. DSHS and DEL managers would not enforce the licensing capacity laws. I found Connie King in Vancouver alone with 21 children (after I looked upstairs and found 8 up there, 6 in one room, and 2 babies each in separates rooms with the doors closed. There was no fire escape from the 2nd floor. These were repeat violations. My supervisor would not revoke her license. King discouraged parents from coming into her home to pick up their own children. They had to sign in and out at the door.
Parents have been treated so badly by these unelected bureaucratic managers. Information is hidden from them. Child Care Resource and Referrals are another way to cut the budget. It is no more than a smoke screen giving the illusion that because they have a list of names of providers they know the providers histories. Resource and Referrals aren't allowed access to the histories. Parents believe because they are licensed they are safe, kind places for their children. At least one company head of that agency makes over $100,000.00 a year again your tax payer money.
I am not a disgruntled former DSHS employee, I am a determined former DSHS employee and any elected government official who will step forward to hold and expose these unelected bureaucratic managers I will be there to support and honor their courage in taking those steps.
Yesterday I made a visit to the State Auditor, Brian Sonntag's office. I was treated most courteously and respectfully by Jim Brittain and other staff in Brian's office. I have a request in to meet with Brian Sonntag. Until the State Auditor writes a report addressing every assertion (it's part of the whistle blower law) I made in 2005 all those whistle blower investigations remain open.
I am willing to move forward to help the State Auditor,Brian Sonntag, Governor Gregoire and Attorney General Rob McKenna to address this problem the state of Washington has with these unelected bureaucratic managers who did not and the ones currently who will not follow the laws enacted by the Washington State Legislature.
If the whistle blower laws needs to be strengthened I will be glad to testify to how that can be done.
On April 22, 2011 the Superior Court of Thurston County affirmed my status as a whistle blower against DSHS (I have the court transcript approved by the judge). I had filed a lawsuit in 2008. I had kept that part of my life private and separate from my new career as a consultant, researcher, analyst and trainer.
At that time in 2008 in an email sent from the Attorney General's Office to the newest name of the state child care licensing agency, The Department of Early Learning (DEL) was told I had right to file a claim and the agency was not discuss to my case. In 2009 another email shows DEL contacted the Attorney General Office about my case. The Attorney General Office emailed back that they couldn't give information about my case, because my case was against DSHS. The DEL manager replied, "Can I call you?"
In February 2011, this year, Deputy Director, Bob Hamilton (who makes $112,000.00 a year and has great taxpayer benefits) email attached a letter to me with copies to senators, representatives, public individuals and another DEL employee) and wrote that I had a lawsuit against DEL. I didn't and I don't. DEL seemingly will use any avenue to not discuss and address why DEL managers don't comply with laws enacted by the legislature.
Since DEL made my case public in February and Thurston County Superior Court found this month in April I was (and am)a statutory whistle blower, I am making my whistle blower status public and I am willing to talk to the media, parent groups, child care provider groups (or individuals) and discuss the wealth of documentation I have to back up my testimony.
I will continue to testify to legislators. I thank so many of them who took right action in passing laws to protect your children.
My first and top priority is children being treated kindly and nurtured, and to expose those who hurt, maimed and in some cases killed children; or because of neglect children died in licensed and unlicensed homes.
My focus goes deeper to expose the unelected bureaucratic DSHS and DEL managers who failed in their duties to protect children through not adhering to the child care licensing laws and regulations.
I have also been an expert witness for child care providers whose rights were violated by DEL's unelected bureaucratic managers. Those cases were stunning in DEL's actions towards those licensed child care providers.
Thus the cases I have been on as an expert witness have been fairly balanced between helping parents whose children were hurt or died; and providers whose rights were violated.
I was certified by Pierce County Superior Court and the Yakima Office of Administrative Hearings as an expert on licensed child care.
In verifying to the Court of my whistle blower status I submitted over 500 pages of documents. Most of those documents I acquired myself, DSHS was either not asked by the Attorney General's Office to give discovery or DSHS once again on their own decided to conceal public records.
In 2002 I had made whistle blower reports, I was harassed, retaliated against, the usual drill when one reports wrong doing on the managers. The managers were having public records altered then they had the originals destroyed. DSHS didn't want the public and parents to know about applicants who had criminal histories, domestic violence, drug, child abuse, termination of parental rights, potential risks of homicidal and/or suicidal behaviors, etc. I fought their retaliation and won in 2003. DSHS settled with me and for a short time I got to do my job without being ordered to break the law. In 2003, we had the best supervisor, high productivity and high morale. Then he left in 2004. The settlement the DSHS managers and I signed was to be kept confidential. I did so. But just like in February of this year by 2004 it was not kept confidential by the DSHS managers.
In 2004 the DSHS managers started up again concealing, altering and destroying public records as well as not revoking licenses on child care providers that put children at risk.
Yesterday King 5 News reported on Anne Ladale Moore in Marysville making more than $232,000.00 in one year doing day care. Amy Blondin, Communications manager who makes $93,000.00 a year with great benefits from your tax dollars told King 5 News DEL monitors the 24/7 daycare homes. No they don't. DEL is open Monday-Friday 8 am -5 pm. Now today DEL has closed Moore down and taken her off the website in violation of RCW 43.215.370, a law to post on the website what enforcement action had been taken on the provider.
Overcapacity has been a huge issue for years. DSHS and DEL managers would not enforce the licensing capacity laws. I found Connie King in Vancouver alone with 21 children (after I looked upstairs and found 8 up there, 6 in one room, and 2 babies each in separates rooms with the doors closed. There was no fire escape from the 2nd floor. These were repeat violations. My supervisor would not revoke her license. King discouraged parents from coming into her home to pick up their own children. They had to sign in and out at the door.
Parents have been treated so badly by these unelected bureaucratic managers. Information is hidden from them. Child Care Resource and Referrals are another way to cut the budget. It is no more than a smoke screen giving the illusion that because they have a list of names of providers they know the providers histories. Resource and Referrals aren't allowed access to the histories. Parents believe because they are licensed they are safe, kind places for their children. At least one company head of that agency makes over $100,000.00 a year again your tax payer money.
I am not a disgruntled former DSHS employee, I am a determined former DSHS employee and any elected government official who will step forward to hold and expose these unelected bureaucratic managers I will be there to support and honor their courage in taking those steps.
Yesterday I made a visit to the State Auditor, Brian Sonntag's office. I was treated most courteously and respectfully by Jim Brittain and other staff in Brian's office. I have a request in to meet with Brian Sonntag. Until the State Auditor writes a report addressing every assertion (it's part of the whistle blower law) I made in 2005 all those whistle blower investigations remain open.
I am willing to move forward to help the State Auditor,Brian Sonntag, Governor Gregoire and Attorney General Rob McKenna to address this problem the state of Washington has with these unelected bureaucratic managers who did not and the ones currently who will not follow the laws enacted by the Washington State Legislature.
If the whistle blower laws needs to be strengthened I will be glad to testify to how that can be done.
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