Social Services diet tips for government

Social Services  Transportation  K-12  Higher Education Local Government  Budget & Taxes  Health Care Audit Reports  Complete List  Success Stories How can we be sure social service dollars are being spent on those who need them most? Try some of the ideas below: Get DSHS off the phone Washington's Department of Social and Health Services operates over 400 different toll-free hotlines at a cost to taxpayers of more than $350,000 per year. These lines include a year-round public survey and polling hotline, a "holiday magic" hotline, and a hotline for folks who want help setting up a phone line in their home...more Turn in thieves DSHS employees knew about an investigation of up to $156,000 in stolen veteran's benefits, but according to state law they couldn't say anything...more Send the managers to rehab A Vocational Rehabilitation manager in DSHS is planning a $100,000 ski retreat for his staff. Meanwhile, the agency spent over $1 million to purchase hundreds of brand new laptop computers, new SUVs, and other cars for staff...more Take fugitives off welfare Felons in our state receive welfare checks. DSHS staff know they are sending our money to felons, but don't say anything until police contact the agency about specific criminals...more Stop sending worker's comp to illegal aliens The Department of Labor and Industries is sending workers' compensation benefits to illegal aliens in blatant violation of state and federal law...more Avoid hiring felons A recent background check in the Department of Social & Health Services (DSHS) found 27 employees with felony convictions for rape, incest, assault, and other crimes...more

The rest of the story . . .

Get DSHS off the phone posted on 2/28/03 - WW33 Washington's Department of Social and Health Services operates over 400 different toll-free hotlines at a cost to taxpayers of more than $350,000 per year. These lines include a year-round public survey and polling hotline, a "holiday magic" hotline, and a hotline for folks who want help setting up a phone line in their home. According to the Department's Information Systems Services Division, the average monthly cost for each of the 322 "T-1 readyline" numbers is $67.53. The average monthly cost for each of the 78 additional "dedicated lines" is $95.56. Many of the toll-free lines ring at local offices that serve only a local area, and some are duplicates or triplicates, such as the three different toll-free numbers that ring into the Tacoma office for the Division of Children and Family Services. While many of these services may be helpful, are they essential for government? Does one government agency really need to operate over 400 different hotlines at a cost to taxpayers of hundreds of thousands of dollars each year? 3/28/03: Looks like DSHS may have dialed another wrong number. [Started just this past December] DSHS' Centralized Intake Hotline for child-abuse complaints has come under fierce criticism. It seems those calling have been disconnected or kept on hold for hours, leading critics to claim the hotline is endangering children. DSHS is reviewing its options, including possible dismantling of the hotline. Call the DSHS Information Systems Services Division at their toll-free hotline (1.888.437-0549) and remind them government doesn't need to do everything for everyone. top   Stolen veteran's benefits posted on 12/26/02 - WW13 Paul Taylor retired from the Air Force and spent the end of his life in a state home for veterans. He died owing the state $156,000 in unpaid bills, but it wasn't his fault. His daughter, Leslie Goos, had been responsible for handling his veteran's benefits of over $3,000 per month. But instead of paying her dad's bills, Goos went on a shopping spree. In one year, she made over $30,000 in ATM withdrawals, and wrote checks worth nearly $45,000-all with her dad's money and our taxes. But the story doesn't end there. While Goos was stealing from the state, she was also working for the state. Goos worked for the Department of Social & Health Services (DSHS) as a financial services specialist. It was her job to decide who should get state money and benefits. So how did DSHS punish someone who plead guilty to felony theft in April 2002? Goos was simply reassigned to a new job in the department. KING 5 News also learned that DSHS employees were aware of the Goos investigation, but said nothing to Goos's supervisors. State law does not allow that kind of information to be shared unless the perpetrator is someone who has unsupervised access to vulnerable clients. Sounds like it's time for legislation that empowers state employees to blow the whistle when their co-workers break the law. Click here to visit the DSHS website and leave feedback, or call 800-737-0617. top   DVR spends a bundle on itself posted on 12/26/02 - WW12 The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) within the Department of Social & Health Services (DSHS) has been in financial trouble for some time. Last year there were employee layoffs and a 6,000-person waiting list for services. So how is the division's new director, Mike O'Brien, budgeting for the recession? How about a $100,000 weekend staff retreat at a cozy resort lodge earlier this month, complete with a nationally known comedian? Or maybe $260,000 worth of brand-new Chevy Blazers for managers. And if that doesn't balance the books, then maybe it's a good idea to add $750,000 worth of high-tech Del laptop computers for nearly every division employee. Mike O'Brien thinks so. We think taxpayers will disagree. But hey, at least DVR managers will look good in their new rides. Click here to view more details about this story on the EFF website. You can contact DVR Director Mike O'Brien at obriend@dshs.wa.gov or call 360-407-8010. You can also click here to visit the DVR website and send them your thoughts. top   Fugitives on welfare posted on 12/18/02 - WW11 There are about 300,000 wanted felons in our state. And state officials know exactly where to find many of them. But instead of putting them away, they're sending them money. In the middle of a $2 billion budget deficit, when other programs are suffering, the Department of Social & Health Services (DSHS) is sending welfare checks to wanted men and women who are not eligible for benefits. Last month, King 5 News compared DSHS welfare records with a list of outstanding felony warrants from the Washington State Patrol. In King County alone, they found that 347 felons were receiving welfare checks. So why are these fugitives spending your money on borrowed time? Because the two agencies don't share data base information. Even more alarming, DSHS officials admit that state workers often uncover a warrant for the arrest of a welfare recipient. But instead of alerting authorities, the agency sits back and waits to hear from police. "Information that may lead to the arrest of a felon is not being readily shared," said King County Sheriff Dave Reichert. Meanwhile, the fugitives continue to collect welfare. DSHS employee Phyllis Lowe defended the agency's actions in a statement to Fox News: "To deny a person the ability to eat or to get adequate medical treatment when we're not sure exactly what's going on is a complex issue." So let's make it really simple. State law already requires the DSHS to hand over fugitive addresses when asked. Common sense says they also should be handed over when found. 3/27/03: Looks like DSHS is beginning to feel the heat. They are now involved in a program with the Washington State Patrol (WSP) to cross-check felony warrants against certain benefit lists. As a result of an EFF inquiry, WSP is now considering expanding the program to include benefit lists maintained by the departments of Employment Security and Labor & Industry. Contact Lt. Sean Hartsock of WSP and encourage him to pursue this further. 360-570-5240. Contact Phyllis Lowe directly through email at lowepm@dshs.wa.gov or call 360-413-3200. You can also click here for the DSHS website, or call 800-737-0617. top   L&I for illegals posted on 12/18/02 - WW10 In a recent public statement, L&I Director Gary Moore wrote: The 1972 law that revamped Washington's workers' compensation system is explicit: All workers must have coverage. Both employers and workers contribute to the insurance fund. the Department of Labor and Industries is responsible for protecting worker safety, ensuring that all workers be paid at least the minimum wage and providing workers with medical care and wage replacement when an injury or an occupational disease prevents them from doing their job. The agency has and will continue to do all that without regard to the worker's immigration status. But this is in blatant violation of state and federal law. State law says, "Benefits shall not be paid...unless the alien is...lawfully present...in the United States." And the federal code prohibits anyone from encouraging an alien to reside unlawfully in the United States. Arguably, providing free benefits will motivate aliens to remain illegally. Contact L&I Director Gary Moore directly at 360-902-4203. You can also click here to visit the L&I website, call their main line at 800-547-8367, or call their Report-a-Fraud hotline at 888-811-5974. top   DSHS hires criminals posted on 12/18/02 - WW08 A recent background check in the Department of Social & Health Services (DSHS) found 27 employees with felony convictions for rape, incest, assault, and other crimes. The disturbing news is that they all work with vulnerable children and adults. At least they used to. While 20 employees voluntarily quit when their criminal records were discovered, the other seven were transferred to non-caregiving positions. One worker in the welfare division was a registered sex offender. Another at a juvenile corrections institution had convictions for incest and the rape of a child. Agency officials tried to downplay the discovery by pointing out the total number of employees who were evaluated. Sure, 27 out of 13,000 isn't too bad! But try telling that to a parent whose child was in harm's way. Applicants for state jobs must answer the following question: "Have you been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony within the past 10 years that might unfavorably affect your fitness for this job?" But according to DSHS officials, the question is too broad and subjective to effectively screen potential employees. Are they surprised that convicted rapists and registered sex offenders believe they're just as fit as anyone else for the job? Why not just ask potential caregivers if they've ever been convicted, period? Then state officials can hold them accountable to a straight yes or no answer. 3/27/03: It seems DSHS still has trouble finding good employees. The Seattle Times reports the conviction of a former DSHS employee on charges of third-degree rape and second-degree extortion. Seems this ex-public servant told needy women they wouldn't receive food stamps, medical coverage, or other welfare benefits if they didn't comply with his demands. Contact DSHS Secretary Dennis Braddock at 360-902-7800. You can also click here to visit the DSHS website or call 800-737-0617. top

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