DCF's new boss pledges reforms on contracting

DCF's new boss pledges reforms on contracting

By Mark Hollis Tallahassee Bureau Posted December 14 2004

TALLAHASSEE · Eager to erase stains from a contracting scandal that
has vexed Florida's social services agency, the new head of the state
Department of Children & Families vowed Monday to usher in reforms
that could put her at odds with Gov. Jeb Bush.

Bush has whittled away at the number of state employees who enjoy
civil service protections. But DCF Secretary Lucy Hadi said she may
advise Bush to restore civil-service job protections -- or what she
called ``a safety net'' against political pressure -- for certain
state workers handling corporate contracts.

To ``restore confidence and accountability,'' Hadi said she also wants
DCF to have more auditors known as contract ``monitors'' in DCF
district offices to scour for potential ethics breaches in the
agency's dealings with private firms.

Her predecessor, Jerry Regier, had stripped the DCF districts of many
of those government watchdog jobs to save money and to put those
positions in the state's headquarters' office. Hadi said she moved
those jobs closer to where the bulk of the DCF contracting is done --
at the local offices.

The proposed changes, Hadi said, would be on top of numerous reforms
already under way since she began filling in to replace Regier in
September.

Already, hundreds of high-level DCF staffers are undergoing a
three-hour crash course in ethics training, and she's strongly
discouraging her employees from meeting with lobbyists.

In addition, dozens of workers are beefing up their
contract-management skills through a state certification process. And
she's also put a halt to the department's practice of issuing
``no-bid'' contracts with private social services providers without
the agency's head's specific permission.

``You can never legislate all aspects of human behavior, but we can
provide controls that protect, as much as possible, the public against
abuses and malfeasance,'' Hadi said. ``As an agency head, that's what
I want to look at.''

Hadi said she hopes to eliminate no-bid contracts with state
universities.

Hadi's remarks were largely a response to several questions from state
Sen. Skip Campbell, a Fort Lauderdale Democrat heading the Senate DCF
Committee. Campbell, who endorsed Hadi's hiring for the top DCF job,
has said one of the panel's top priorities will be to deal with
reforms in the way DCF handles private contracts.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/leg...ws-legislature
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FWD to ascps

has vexed Florida's social services agency, the new head of the state
Department of Children & Families vowed Monday to usher in reforms
that could put her at odds with Gov. Jeb Bush.


And why would she be at odds with Bush?
Doesn't he want an administration cleaner than Regier's?

Hadi said she also wants
DCF to have more auditors known as contract ``monitors'' in DCF
district offices to scour for potential ethics breaches in the
agency's dealings with private firms.

Ethics breach? How about Medicaid fraud?

How about kids being labelled *special needs* for more juice in the system.
From fosters getting more cash, to physicians writing script without knowing
the child. Or knowing his client.

Hadi said she moved
those jobs closer to where the bulk of the DCF contracting is done --
at the local offices.

Well, already we have contract awarded by DCF in FL for a friend of a former HR
employee, who got a contract tailored to his sole qualifications.

Why not standard contracts for service providers? Bring em up to standards the
STATE ESTABLISHES.

Already, hundreds of high-level DCF staffers are undergoing a
three-hour crash course in ethics training, and she's strongly
discouraging her employees from meeting with lobbyists.

Hundreds of high level drones, that is.

And
she's also put a halt to the department's practice of issuing
``no-bid'' contracts with private social services providers without
the agency's head's specific permission.

NO-BIDS are the big ones.

Wex sent in:

Subject: DCF's new boss pledges reforms on contracting
From: wexwimpy
Date: 12/14/2004 10:14 A.M. Eastern Standard Time
Message-id:

DCF's new boss pledges reforms on contracting

By Mark Hollis Tallahassee Bureau Posted December 14 2004

TALLAHASSEE · Eager to erase stains from a contracting scandal that
has vexed Florida's social services agency, the new head of the state
Department of Children & Families vowed Monday to usher in reforms
that could put her at odds with Gov. Jeb Bush.

Bush has whittled away at the number of state employees who enjoy
civil service protections. But DCF Secretary Lucy Hadi said she may
advise Bush to restore civil-service job protections -- or what she
called ``a safety net'' against political pressure -- for certain
state workers handling corporate contracts.

To ``restore confidence and accountability,'' Hadi said she also wants
DCF to have more auditors known as contract ``monitors'' in DCF
district offices to scour for potential ethics breaches in the
agency's dealings with private firms.

Her predecessor, Jerry Regier, had stripped the DCF districts of many
of those government watchdog jobs to save money and to put those
positions in the state's headquarters' office. Hadi said she moved
those jobs closer to where the bulk of the DCF contracting is done --
at the local offices.

The proposed changes, Hadi said, would be on top of numerous reforms
already under way since she began filling in to replace Regier in
September.

Already, hundreds of high-level DCF staffers are undergoing a
three-hour crash course in ethics training, and she's strongly
discouraging her employees from meeting with lobbyists.

In addition, dozens of workers are beefing up their
contract-management skills through a state certification process. And
she's also put a halt to the department's practice of issuing
``no-bid'' contracts with private social services providers without
the agency's head's specific permission.

``You can never legislate all aspects of human behavior, but we can
provide controls that protect, as much as possible, the public against
abuses and malfeasance,'' Hadi said. ``As an agency head, that's what
I want to look at.''

Hadi said she hopes to eliminate no-bid contracts with state
universities.

Hadi's remarks were largely a response to several questions from state
Sen. Skip Campbell, a Fort Lauderdale Democrat heading the Senate DCF
Committee. Campbell, who endorsed Hadi's hiring for the top DCF job,
has said one of the panel's top priorities will be to deal with
reforms in the way DCF handles private contracts.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/leg...4,0,6737735.st
ory?coll=sfla-news-legislature
Defend your civil liberties! Get information at http://www.aclu.org, become
a member at http://www.aclu.org/join and get active at
http://www.aclu.org/action.

Fern5827 wrote:
FWD to ascps

has vexed Florida's social services agency, the new head of the
state
Department of Children & Families vowed Monday to usher in reforms
that could put her at odds with Gov. Jeb Bush.


And why would she be at odds with Bush?
Doesn't he want an administration cleaner than Regier's?

Hadi said she also wants
DCF to have more auditors known as contract ``monitors'' in DCF
district offices to scour for potential ethics breaches in the
agency's dealings with private firms.

Ethics breach? How about Medicaid fraud?

How about kids being labelled *special needs* for more juice in the
system.
From fosters getting more cash, to physicians writing script without
knowing
the child. Or knowing his client.

Hadi said she moved
those jobs closer to where the bulk of the DCF contracting is done
--
at the local offices.

Well, already we have contract awarded by DCF in FL for a friend of a
former HR
employee, who got a contract tailored to his sole qualifications.

Why not standard contracts for service providers? Bring em up to
standards the
STATE ESTABLISHES.

Already, hundreds of high-level DCF staffers are undergoing a
three-hour crash course in ethics training, and she's strongly
discouraging her employees from meeting with lobbyists.

Hundreds of high level drones, that is.

And
she's also put a halt to the department's practice of issuing
``no-bid'' contracts with private social services providers without
the agency's head's specific permission.

NO-BIDS are the big ones.

It's obvious you know how to encourage and get the best out of people,
Fern. I just know your kids turned out to be world beaters, or did they
just turn out?

Why would you want CPS to fail in it's job, Fern?

Kane


Wex sent in:

Subject: DCF's new boss pledges reforms on contracting
From: wexwimpy
Date: 12/14/2004 10:14 A.M. Eastern Standard Time
Message-id:

DCF's new boss pledges reforms on contracting

By Mark Hollis Tallahassee Bureau Posted December 14 2004

TALLAHASSEE =B7 Eager to erase stains from a contracting scandal that
has vexed Florida's social services agency, the new head of the
state
Department of Children & Families vowed Monday to usher in reforms
that could put her at odds with Gov. Jeb Bush.

Bush has whittled away at the number of state employees who enjoy
civil service protections. But DCF Secretary Lucy Hadi said she may
advise Bush to restore civil-service job protections -- or what she
called ``a safety net'' against political pressure -- for certain
state workers handling corporate contracts.

To ``restore confidence and accountability,'' Hadi said she also
wants
DCF to have more auditors known as contract ``monitors'' in DCF
district offices to scour for potential ethics breaches in the
agency's dealings with private firms.

Her predecessor, Jerry Regier, had stripped the DCF districts of
many
of those government watchdog jobs to save money and to put those
positions in the state's headquarters' office. Hadi said she moved
those jobs closer to where the bulk of the DCF contracting is done
--
at the local offices.

The proposed changes, Hadi said, would be on top of numerous reforms
already under way since she began filling in to replace Regier in
September.

Already, hundreds of high-level DCF staffers are undergoing a
three-hour crash course in ethics training, and she's strongly
discouraging her employees from meeting with lobbyists.

In addition, dozens of workers are beefing up their
contract-management skills through a state certification process.
And
she's also put a halt to the department's practice of issuing
``no-bid'' contracts with private social services providers without
the agency's head's specific permission.

``You can never legislate all aspects of human behavior, but we can
provide controls that protect, as much as possible, the public
against
abuses and malfeasance,'' Hadi said. ``As an agency head, that's
what
I want to look at.''

Hadi said she hopes to eliminate no-bid contracts with state
universities.

Hadi's remarks were largely a response to several questions from
state
Sen. Skip Campbell, a Fort Lauderdale Democrat heading the Senate
DCF
Committee. Campbell, who endorsed Hadi's hiring for the top DCF job,
has said one of the panel's top priorities will be to deal with
reforms in the way DCF handles private contracts.


http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/leg...4,0,6737735.st
ory?coll=3Dsfla-news-legislature
Defend your civil liberties! Get information at
http://www.aclu.org, become
a member at http://www.aclu.org/join and get active at
http://www.aclu.org/action.=20