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.
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