Audit Finds Fund Mismanagement

A new audit indicates that the past practices of the Cook County Public Administrator’s Office cost taxpayers at least $227,871 in missing funds and possibly millions more in sweetheart contracts.

The office is supposed to protect the assets of those who die without a will or with an executor who is incapable. But an audit by county auditor Laura Burman found that before 2003, estate funds were commingled and estates with negative balances were subsidized by others with positive balances.

At least some checks were outright stolen from one estate to the tune of $3,198, and about $3 million was spent on estate services that were questionable, the account found. Burman found that some of the companies hired to “manage” estates weren’t even incorporated or registered with the state when they were given the contracts.

Nicholas G. Grapsas, the new county public administrator who took over in November, told county board members that he has since separated each estate and instituted many of Burman’s recommendations for cleaning up the office.

Still, he admitted, county taxpayers had to fork out at least $227,871 to make up for a deficit in the office’s fund that had to be repaid to the estates.

Full Article and Source:
Cook Co. fund mismanagement cost taxpayers $227,871

>Audit Finds Fund Mismanagement

>

A new audit indicates that the past practices of the Cook County Public Administrator’s Office cost taxpayers at least $227,871 in missing funds and possibly millions more in sweetheart contracts.

The office is supposed to protect the assets of those who die without a will or with an executor who is incapable. But an audit by county auditor Laura Burman found that before 2003, estate funds were commingled and estates with negative balances were subsidized by others with positive balances.

At least some checks were outright stolen from one estate to the tune of $3,198, and about $3 million was spent on estate services that were questionable, the account found. Burman found that some of the companies hired to “manage” estates weren’t even incorporated or registered with the state when they were given the contracts.

Nicholas G. Grapsas, the new county public administrator who took over in November, told county board members that he has since separated each estate and instituted many of Burman’s recommendations for cleaning up the office.

Still, he admitted, county taxpayers had to fork out at least $227,871 to make up for a deficit in the office’s fund that had to be repaid to the estates.

Full Article and Source:
Cook Co. fund mismanagement cost taxpayers $227,871

Too Many Placed in Foster Care

A task force has concluded the same thing several judges have been saying about Michigan’s child welfare system: The state is too quick to permanently terminate parental rights, throwing too many children into foster care. That was among the deficiencies cited in a draft report by the Michigan Child Welfare Task Force.

The task force, established by Human Services Director Ismael Ahmed, said a disproportionate level of state funding goes to programs such as foster care or group living that pull children from their homes. Not enough is being spent on programs to quell abuse or delinquency.

Judge Kenneth Tacoma: “The foster care system can’t handle the influx of additional children made “legal orphans” under a 1996 law change that increased parental terminations.”

Judge Milton Mack and others have recommend that terminations be slowed and judges be given more discretion. Judges should be able to appoint temporary guardians, they say, and if the parents can be rehabilitated, the children could be returned to them.

Full Article and Source:
Too many children are unnecessarily placed in foster care

>Too Many Placed in Foster Care

>

A task force has concluded the same thing several judges have been saying about Michigan’s child welfare system: The state is too quick to permanently terminate parental rights, throwing too many children into foster care. That was among the deficiencies cited in a draft report by the Michigan Child Welfare Task Force.

The task force, established by Human Services Director Ismael Ahmed, said a disproportionate level of state funding goes to programs such as foster care or group living that pull children from their homes. Not enough is being spent on programs to quell abuse or delinquency.

Judge Kenneth Tacoma: “The foster care system can’t handle the influx of additional children made “legal orphans” under a 1996 law change that increased parental terminations.”

Judge Milton Mack and others have recommend that terminations be slowed and judges be given more discretion. Judges should be able to appoint temporary guardians, they say, and if the parents can be rehabilitated, the children could be returned to them.

Full Article and Source:
Too many children are unnecessarily placed in foster care

Overseers Are Wrong

After eight months, the state of Wisconsin has finally released its report on Dane County’s actions in a child protection case that ended in six-year-old Deshaunsay Sykes-Crowder being brutally murdered. Not surprisingly, the state found something to criticize in Dane County’s handling of the case.

But not as much as it should have. While the state faulted Dane County for a few infractions, it ultimately concluded (in a line that was not part of earlier drafts): “It is impossible to predict what, if anything, could have resulted in a less tragic outcome.”

The truth is there were plenty of big, red warning flags. Actions could and should have been taken to avoid the clear possibility that Deshaunsay Sykes would be harmed.

Full Article and Source:
A tear for Deshaunsay

See also:
Unfit Guardian?

Second Guessing

>Overseers Are Wrong

>

After eight months, the state of Wisconsin has finally released its report on Dane County’s actions in a child protection case that ended in six-year-old Deshaunsay Sykes-Crowder being brutally murdered. Not surprisingly, the state found something to criticize in Dane County’s handling of the case.

But not as much as it should have. While the state faulted Dane County for a few infractions, it ultimately concluded (in a line that was not part of earlier drafts): “It is impossible to predict what, if anything, could have resulted in a less tragic outcome.”

The truth is there were plenty of big, red warning flags. Actions could and should have been taken to avoid the clear possibility that Deshaunsay Sykes would be harmed.

Full Article and Source:
A tear for Deshaunsay

See also:
Unfit Guardian?

Second Guessing

CPS Caseworker Turnover

Child Protective Services has seen greater turnover in caseworkers despite added investigators and reduced caseloads, according to a state audit released this week.

Turnover among caseworkers grew from 23 percent in fiscal year 2004 to 34 percent in fiscal 2007, the audit found.

In Tarrant County, the turnover rate was 31 percent last year, an official said.

Statewide, workers cited poor working conditions, issues with supervisors and better pay or benefits at another job as reasons for leaving.

Full Article and Source:
CPS caseworker turnover up despite changes

More information:
Child Protective Services was designed as a state agency to speak for those who can’t. But an audit obtained by FOX 26 News shows that may not be happening. It shows despite the state pumping more than $300 million into CPS over the last three years the agency still has major problems. Bobby Parnell, former CPS worker: “It’s scary when our most vulnerable are at risk because our system has failed them.”
Officials Release CPS Audit

A new report says legislative efforts in 2007 led to more caseworkers for Child Protective Services but failed to solve high turnover rates and rising overtime costs.
CPS Report: More caseworkers, but less stay

A new audit of Child Protective Services finds there’s a long way to go to protect kids in San Antonio from being abused. That report shows the efforts to cut down on the number of cases for investigators and reduce turnover rate aren’t working.
CPS problems could keep sisters apart

>CPS Caseworker Turnover

>

Child Protective Services has seen greater turnover in caseworkers despite added investigators and reduced caseloads, according to a state audit released this week.

Turnover among caseworkers grew from 23 percent in fiscal year 2004 to 34 percent in fiscal 2007, the audit found.

In Tarrant County, the turnover rate was 31 percent last year, an official said.

Statewide, workers cited poor working conditions, issues with supervisors and better pay or benefits at another job as reasons for leaving.

Full Article and Source:
CPS caseworker turnover up despite changes

More information:
Child Protective Services was designed as a state agency to speak for those who can’t. But an audit obtained by FOX 26 News shows that may not be happening. It shows despite the state pumping more than $300 million into CPS over the last three years the agency still has major problems. Bobby Parnell, former CPS worker: “It’s scary when our most vulnerable are at risk because our system has failed them.”
Officials Release CPS Audit

A new report says legislative efforts in 2007 led to more caseworkers for Child Protective Services but failed to solve high turnover rates and rising overtime costs.
CPS Report: More caseworkers, but less stay

A new audit of Child Protective Services finds there’s a long way to go to protect kids in San Antonio from being abused. That report shows the efforts to cut down on the number of cases for investigators and reduce turnover rate aren’t working.
CPS problems could keep sisters apart

ADDMS and Fortuna Estate

A state assistant attorney general recently interviewed the new conservator of Frank Fortuna’s estate, which will be paid $50,000 by the insurance company of the targeted company, ADDMS Guardianship Services.

According to court records, ADDMS had removed all of the furniture in Fortuna’s home, tried to sell his home for about 70 percent of its value and lost $17,000 in a risky investment.

A state investigator’s two January interviews of Marguerite Hanes, the new conservator of Fortuna’s estate, followed an investigator’s December visit to Macomb Probate Court in Mount Clemens to review wills and estates cases to which ADDMS was appointed as guardian and/or conservator.

According to State Court Administrator Carl Gromek, ADDMS was cited in an audit of Probate Court by The Whall Group as having “multiple problems in accounts for assets and income in cases it handled.”

Full Article and Source:
State probes Warren estate case

See also:
State Probe of Guardianship Firm

>ADDMS and Fortuna Estate

>

A state assistant attorney general recently interviewed the new conservator of Frank Fortuna’s estate, which will be paid $50,000 by the insurance company of the targeted company, ADDMS Guardianship Services.

According to court records, ADDMS had removed all of the furniture in Fortuna’s home, tried to sell his home for about 70 percent of its value and lost $17,000 in a risky investment.

A state investigator’s two January interviews of Marguerite Hanes, the new conservator of Fortuna’s estate, followed an investigator’s December visit to Macomb Probate Court in Mount Clemens to review wills and estates cases to which ADDMS was appointed as guardian and/or conservator.

According to State Court Administrator Carl Gromek, ADDMS was cited in an audit of Probate Court by The Whall Group as having “multiple problems in accounts for assets and income in cases it handled.”

Full Article and Source:
State probes Warren estate case

See also:
State Probe of Guardianship Firm