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YMCA Vows To Improve Flawed Foster Care Program

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By TODD RUGER, Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Published: October 31, 2007

Video: Program Criticized

Previous Coverage: Review Blasts YMCA Foster Care Work

SARASOTA - The Sarasota Family YMCA board pledged Tuesday to make changes to its foster care program, the day after a state report blamed arrogance and defensiveness for the agency's recent poor performance.

A special team appointed to review the YMCA's performance aired those and other criticisms at the board's meeting Tuesday night, which also drew caseworkers and agency critics. The Sarasota YMCA was the first private agency to take on child welfare duties when the state began to privatize those services.

The state is deciding whether to renew $72 million in contracts to provide foster care in five counties, including Sarasota, Pinellas and Pasco. The agency's contracts will not be renewed if the YMCA does not make changes in how it deals with subcontractors and the community, the team's preliminary report states.

'This was not a pleasant read, but a necessary read,' YMCA board chairman Ron Gelbman told the state-appointed review team.

From the review team and foster care workers who spoke during the meeting, the board heard details about how the attitudes of the YMCA management have affected the care given to abused, neglected or abandoned children.

Children Hurting, Board Hears

Businesses reported their contracts were judged more on political standing with the agency than on past performance. Children sometimes had multiple case managers; in one case, a child had four case managers in the span of one court case.

'The children we're trying to stabilize don't have consistency,' review team member and 12th Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Lee Haworth said.

The review team also discussed the need for an ombudsman to hear complaints and concerns about the YMCA. The team noted in its draft report released Monday that concern was reinforced by the wording of a YMCA public records request for all the team's interview notes 'in order to deal with these people or respond to the committee about any allegations.'

Board member Jim Bos said the leadership at the YMCA is working to 'turn that ship around.'

For YMCA Chief Executive Officer Carl Weinrich, that meant going up to Judi Lee after the meeting and reopening a dialogue with a foster parent who has repeatedly criticized the YMCA's actions.

It was the first time they had spoken face-to-face about foster care issues in years, Lee said.

The team's report will be forwarded to the Department of Children & Families today. The YMCA contracts with the state end June 30, meaning a decision will have to be made soon.

Clearwater Agency Supports YMCA

While the report reveals serious concerns about the YMCA's performance and community perception, one agency that provides child welfare case management for the YMCA remains a supporter.

'We have not been part of that lack of confidence at all,' said Thomas Riggs, president and chief executive officer of Directions for Mental Health Care in Clearwater. 'The YMCA has done a good job.'

The YMCA came into a horrible situation with too many cases and too few workers, Riggs said. He said the problem can't be remedied quickly but is improving.

'I knew when we went into this, it was going to take more than a few years,' Riggs said.

One outcome of the review is the reorganization of the Pinellas County Community Alliance, a group of residents, child welfare advocates and others who help guide community-based care.

The group meets for the first time in two years at 2 p.m. today at the Mary Grizzle Building at 11351 Ulmerton Road in Largo.

Tampa Tribune Reporter Sherri Ackerman contributed to this report and can be reached at (813) 259-7144 or sackerman@tampatrib.com.

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