October 14th 03, 03:41 PM
DCF fires manager in Miami district
A high-ranking employee of the troubled agency is fired after 21
years, creating an opening for new leadership. The fired chief, Imran
Ali was paid $94,556 annually.
BY CAROL MARBIN MILLER
The head of the Department of Children & Families' child welfare
program in Miami was abruptly fired Monday by officials citing the
need for a ``change in leadership.''
The termination of Imran Ali, a 21-year employee with DCF and its
predecessor agency, the Department of Health & Rehabilitative
Services, comes less than two weeks after the agency's highest-ranking
Miami attorney was fired, along with another DCF lawyer and a foster
care supervisor.
Chuck Hood, DCF's district administrator in Miami, Monday confirmed
only that Ali had resigned.
''He gave me his resignation,'' Hood said. ``I have not at this point
had the opportunity to read the letter, it happened so quickly.''
Ali acknowledged, however, that he had been asked to leave the
department. Ali was hired in August 1982, and rose through the ranks
to become director of DCF's Family Safety program in Miami eight years
ago. The job paid $94,556, said Peter D. Coats, an agency spokesman.
''I really don't know where this came from, at this point,'' Ali said.
``Basically, they just said they wanted a change of leadership, and
that was it.''
`TERRIFIC TECHNICIAN'
Hood, who took over DCF's largest and most troubled district only a
few months ago, would not discuss the reasons for Ali's departure. He
did say, however, that a vacancy atop the child welfare office would
give the department a chance to start anew, as the agency moves closer
to private management.
''We just let Tallahassee know he resigned, and it gives us an
opportunity to look for fresh leadership in family safety,'' Hood
said. Ali, he added, ''was a terrific technician, and he clearly
served well'' the department's clientele of abused and neglected
children, and their parents.
Charles Auslander, who was district administrator in Miami for about
four years until resigning in September 2002, also praised Ali as a
capable administrator in a very difficult job.
''Imran has done a lot of solid work, and he has done it for many
years,'' said Auslander, now a private attorney in Miami.
``Anyone who has managed, or is managing, a family safety program can
tell you that it is a very difficult task. You are always hanging
about in explosive situations, and things do, and are going to, go
wrong.''
''It is a sad day,'' Auslander added.
TOUGH TIMES
Ali's departure comes at a difficult time for the agency. DCF has
never completely recovered from the disappearance last year of Rilya
Wilson, a then-5-year-old foster child who was sent by the agency to
live with a family friend. The scandal surrounding the case ultimately
led to a change of leadership throughout DCF.
More recently, on Oct. 2, DCF administrators in Tallahassee fired
three DCF employees in Miami-Dade: Elizabeth Anon, head of the
agency's legal department in Miami, Aleida Jacobo, a supervisory
attorney, and a foster care supervisor.
Agency officials said the three were responsible for ignoring -- for
months -- court orders mandating that they remove a 4-month-old baby
from his 14-year-old disabled mother.
The infant was never removed, and he suffered a skull fracture while
in his mother's care Oct. 1.
Anon has demanded a ''name-clearing hearing,'' in which DCF officials
would be forced to publicly disclose the reasons for her termination.
In addition, all eight juvenile court judges in Miami have asked DCF
Secretary Jerry Regier in writing to reinstate both attorneys.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/7007096.htm
A high-ranking employee of the troubled agency is fired after 21
years, creating an opening for new leadership. The fired chief, Imran
Ali was paid $94,556 annually.
BY CAROL MARBIN MILLER
The head of the Department of Children & Families' child welfare
program in Miami was abruptly fired Monday by officials citing the
need for a ``change in leadership.''
The termination of Imran Ali, a 21-year employee with DCF and its
predecessor agency, the Department of Health & Rehabilitative
Services, comes less than two weeks after the agency's highest-ranking
Miami attorney was fired, along with another DCF lawyer and a foster
care supervisor.
Chuck Hood, DCF's district administrator in Miami, Monday confirmed
only that Ali had resigned.
''He gave me his resignation,'' Hood said. ``I have not at this point
had the opportunity to read the letter, it happened so quickly.''
Ali acknowledged, however, that he had been asked to leave the
department. Ali was hired in August 1982, and rose through the ranks
to become director of DCF's Family Safety program in Miami eight years
ago. The job paid $94,556, said Peter D. Coats, an agency spokesman.
''I really don't know where this came from, at this point,'' Ali said.
``Basically, they just said they wanted a change of leadership, and
that was it.''
`TERRIFIC TECHNICIAN'
Hood, who took over DCF's largest and most troubled district only a
few months ago, would not discuss the reasons for Ali's departure. He
did say, however, that a vacancy atop the child welfare office would
give the department a chance to start anew, as the agency moves closer
to private management.
''We just let Tallahassee know he resigned, and it gives us an
opportunity to look for fresh leadership in family safety,'' Hood
said. Ali, he added, ''was a terrific technician, and he clearly
served well'' the department's clientele of abused and neglected
children, and their parents.
Charles Auslander, who was district administrator in Miami for about
four years until resigning in September 2002, also praised Ali as a
capable administrator in a very difficult job.
''Imran has done a lot of solid work, and he has done it for many
years,'' said Auslander, now a private attorney in Miami.
``Anyone who has managed, or is managing, a family safety program can
tell you that it is a very difficult task. You are always hanging
about in explosive situations, and things do, and are going to, go
wrong.''
''It is a sad day,'' Auslander added.
TOUGH TIMES
Ali's departure comes at a difficult time for the agency. DCF has
never completely recovered from the disappearance last year of Rilya
Wilson, a then-5-year-old foster child who was sent by the agency to
live with a family friend. The scandal surrounding the case ultimately
led to a change of leadership throughout DCF.
More recently, on Oct. 2, DCF administrators in Tallahassee fired
three DCF employees in Miami-Dade: Elizabeth Anon, head of the
agency's legal department in Miami, Aleida Jacobo, a supervisory
attorney, and a foster care supervisor.
Agency officials said the three were responsible for ignoring -- for
months -- court orders mandating that they remove a 4-month-old baby
from his 14-year-old disabled mother.
The infant was never removed, and he suffered a skull fracture while
in his mother's care Oct. 1.
Anon has demanded a ''name-clearing hearing,'' in which DCF officials
would be forced to publicly disclose the reasons for her termination.
In addition, all eight juvenile court judges in Miami have asked DCF
Secretary Jerry Regier in writing to reinstate both attorneys.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/7007096.htm