wexwimpy
August 5th 04, 04:38 PM
Schools Lose DCF Work
By SHERRI ACKERMAN
Published: Aug 5, 2004
TAMPA - The Florida Department of Children & Families canceled
training contracts with three state universities Wednesday after
finding agreements differed substantially from the original bid
request.
DCF Administrator Bob Fagin said the department's decision does not
reflect adversely on the universities.
http://www.tampatrib.com/FloridaMetro/MGBU9R4BIXD.html
Two of the schools have trained state child protection workers for
more than a decade. All three - the University of South Florida,
Florida International University and the University of Central Florida
- will be allowed to bid again on new contracts, Fagin said.
The universities have covered costs for the state's child protection
training since July 1, the beginning of DCF's fiscal year, due to
funding delays. Last week, school officials complained they could not
continue without payment.
Now they're told they'll have to reapply.
``We are somewhat disappointed,'' said John Mullins of USF's Louis de
la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, which has trained state
workers for 16 years. ``We do plan to respond to the RFP [request for
proposals] assuming it's reasonable and viable.''
Ray Thomlison of FIU in Miami, a 12-year training participant, echoed
those concerns.
``It took six weeks to get the first one in,'' he said. ``It was
difficult, lengthy and internally inconsistent.''
Thomlison said he's unsure whether FIU will compete again.
DCF is thick in controversy amid allegations of wrongdoing by
department Secretary Jerry Regier and his staff.
A report, released three weeks ago by the inspector general's office
of the governor, found top DCF officials took trips, accepted gifts
and possibly awarded contracts to people with ties to Regier.
Two DCF administrators resigned. In a recent internal memo, Regier
vowed to continue leading the agency.
The primary problem with the training contracts involves the
University of Central Florida in Orlando, which this year won its
first state contract worth $2.2 million to train workers in North
Florida.
The school is a partner with Upper Mohawk Inc., of Titusville, a
training and business- management company new to child welfare work.
Upper Mohawk's vice president, Ron Harp, worked for Regier in
Oklahoma's juvenile justice department.
UCF and Upper Mohawk made bids to conduct training in another region
of the state with only minor changes to that proposal instead of
creating two distinct plans as required by DCF, the South Florida
Sun-Sentinel recently reported.
DCF officials plan a settlement payment to the universities for
approximately $438,000, though the final amount will be determined by
the state comptroller's office.
DCF will enter into an emergency contract for about $288,000 with each
school to continue training while the agency accepts new bids, which
should begin in a few weeks, Fagin said.
``We cannot have workers not properly trained,'' he said. ``It's a
life-and-death decision.''
Also, DCF will change training curriculum to comply with national
standards.
That came as a surprise to State Rep. Sandra Murman, R- Tampa, who
said she thought training issues were resolved in the 2003 legislative
session.
That's when lawmakers fulfilled recommendations from the governor's
Blue Ribbon Panel Committee, organized in the wake of Rilya Wilson,
the 5-year-old Miami girl who turned up missing while in state care.
Rilya never was found.
http://www.tampatrib.com/FloridaMetro/MGBU9R4BIXD.html
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.
By SHERRI ACKERMAN
Published: Aug 5, 2004
TAMPA - The Florida Department of Children & Families canceled
training contracts with three state universities Wednesday after
finding agreements differed substantially from the original bid
request.
DCF Administrator Bob Fagin said the department's decision does not
reflect adversely on the universities.
http://www.tampatrib.com/FloridaMetro/MGBU9R4BIXD.html
Two of the schools have trained state child protection workers for
more than a decade. All three - the University of South Florida,
Florida International University and the University of Central Florida
- will be allowed to bid again on new contracts, Fagin said.
The universities have covered costs for the state's child protection
training since July 1, the beginning of DCF's fiscal year, due to
funding delays. Last week, school officials complained they could not
continue without payment.
Now they're told they'll have to reapply.
``We are somewhat disappointed,'' said John Mullins of USF's Louis de
la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, which has trained state
workers for 16 years. ``We do plan to respond to the RFP [request for
proposals] assuming it's reasonable and viable.''
Ray Thomlison of FIU in Miami, a 12-year training participant, echoed
those concerns.
``It took six weeks to get the first one in,'' he said. ``It was
difficult, lengthy and internally inconsistent.''
Thomlison said he's unsure whether FIU will compete again.
DCF is thick in controversy amid allegations of wrongdoing by
department Secretary Jerry Regier and his staff.
A report, released three weeks ago by the inspector general's office
of the governor, found top DCF officials took trips, accepted gifts
and possibly awarded contracts to people with ties to Regier.
Two DCF administrators resigned. In a recent internal memo, Regier
vowed to continue leading the agency.
The primary problem with the training contracts involves the
University of Central Florida in Orlando, which this year won its
first state contract worth $2.2 million to train workers in North
Florida.
The school is a partner with Upper Mohawk Inc., of Titusville, a
training and business- management company new to child welfare work.
Upper Mohawk's vice president, Ron Harp, worked for Regier in
Oklahoma's juvenile justice department.
UCF and Upper Mohawk made bids to conduct training in another region
of the state with only minor changes to that proposal instead of
creating two distinct plans as required by DCF, the South Florida
Sun-Sentinel recently reported.
DCF officials plan a settlement payment to the universities for
approximately $438,000, though the final amount will be determined by
the state comptroller's office.
DCF will enter into an emergency contract for about $288,000 with each
school to continue training while the agency accepts new bids, which
should begin in a few weeks, Fagin said.
``We cannot have workers not properly trained,'' he said. ``It's a
life-and-death decision.''
Also, DCF will change training curriculum to comply with national
standards.
That came as a surprise to State Rep. Sandra Murman, R- Tampa, who
said she thought training issues were resolved in the 2003 legislative
session.
That's when lawmakers fulfilled recommendations from the governor's
Blue Ribbon Panel Committee, organized in the wake of Rilya Wilson,
the 5-year-old Miami girl who turned up missing while in state care.
Rilya never was found.
http://www.tampatrib.com/FloridaMetro/MGBU9R4BIXD.html
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.