*Below is the letter that was quoted in the 2/4/10 Providence Journal article

 

 

 

2 February 2010 

 

Secretary Gary Alexander

Office of Health & Human Services

Pastore Complex

600 New London Avenue

Cranston, Rhode Island   02920

           

Dear Secretary Alexander:

 

I am writing to express my sincere concern and dismay at the number of positions in critical areas under your control that are not being filled despite the overwhelming need.  At the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) in the Northern Region alone, we are presently down more than nine Social Caseworker II positions.  This is only the tip of the iceberg.  Due to the increased workload, and laborious paperwork more than forty percent (40%) of the entire caseload at DCYF is without case plans or the case plans have expired.   As you know, DCYF performs one of the most critical functions in the State in responding to children who are victims of abuse and neglect.

 

At the Department of Human Services (DHS), matters are just as dire.  There is not enough staff to provide the very necessary services that our citizens need.  The safety net is unraveled.  In Long Term Care, with the new Global Waiver Program in place, we are down more than 20 positions statewide.   Rhode Island Works has never been properly funded or staffed, and will never do what it is designed to do with patches and band-aids holding it together.  At the Office of Child Support Enforcement, an office that brings money into our state, an office where most positions are 66% federally funded, we have two supervisors for fifty (50) staff; and that is just the beginning of the story.  The Food Stamp program is under the scrutiny of the courts and employees are working fast and furiously to try to keep up.  How long do you think this can continue without proper staffing? 

 

The Office of Rehabilitation Services is also a serious area of concern.  In the division of Disability Determination Services (DDS) alone, we are down fourteen (14) positions that are 111% federally funded—all benefits, salary, and retirement with an additional 11% administrative allowance.  At present Rhode Island DDS has one of the worst ratings in the country.  How can you justify not filling these positions? 

 

The Department of Mental Health, Retardation, and Hospitals, is not faring much better.  They provide care to our most ill and marginal citizens and do not have enough people to staff the hospital most days.  In addition there is a lack of clinical staff—social caseworkers, clinical social workers, clinical psychologists, behavioral specialists, and others, in all divisions--who provide the service and treatment that these clients require to live a life of purpose. 

 

I could go on, but I believe that you understand where I am coming from.  This cannot continue.  It is not good for our citizens who are in need of our care and services; and it is not good for the few employees who are struggling to provide that care.  We cannot allow this to become the status quo—people are hurting and more disenfranchised than ever.  We need to repair the safety net and help all who need our help in a timely manner.  We need to do it with care and compassion.  We need to restore Hope to our citizens and rebuild our State.

 

Very sincerely yours, 

 

Philip M. Keefe

President

 

PMK/kab

 

CC:      G. Sasse

            P. Martinez

            C. Stenning

            R. Perry