Dec. 25, 2008

<The Spirit of Christmas is Alive and Well in Monroe County

~ WES Junior High Students Make Christmas a Little Brighter ~

Woodsfield Elementary Junior High students are making Christmas a little brighter for needy children of Monroe County. Janet Schuerman asked her students to each bring in one item for gift boxes. The teacher estimated that there would be 120 items. When they began wrapping the packages, there were 653 items, which included toys, books, hygiene products, clothing and school supplies! The boxes, labeled with the child’s age, were given to Monroe County Job and Family Services Secret Santa program. Shown with their gaily wrapped packages, from left, are, front: Valarie Rife, Morgan Thompson, Hunter Thomas; center: Alyssa Brown, Lacey Plotner, Josie Mahoney, Renea Briggs, Cheyenne Nelson, Sasha Alleman, Brittany Piatt, Justin Casto, Johnny Hupp; back: Emily Williamson, Adam Archer, Austin Straw, Cordell Gauding, Tyler Kinney, Mike Jones and Taylor McGarry.                  

Photos by Martha Ackerman

~ Pamida Donates to SOMA ~
        Jon Price, manager of the Pamida store in Woodsfield, presented Rev. Frank Lehosky, president of the Switzerland of Ohio Ministerial Association, with a check for $750. The money will be used for the Manna program, sponsored by SOMA. According to Lehosky, the Manna program is helping six to eight new families each week. Most of the food is purchased through the Mid-Ohio Food Bank. The food bank is closed the first Wednesday of each month when the food is delivered, but is open succeeding Wednesdays. Woodsfield Riesbeck’s Food Market also provides a large amount of food to the program. The Manna food bank is located at  St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Woodsfield, where Rev. Lehosky is the pastor. According to Rev. Lehosky, the food bank will be closed on Christmas Eve, but will be open on New Year’s Eve.

~ Festival Committee Donates to Needy Children ~
        Needy children of Monroe County will find a little more under their tree this year thanks to the generosity of county organizations and schools.        Members of the Woodsfield Festival Committee raised $557 through a Deck the Halls contest and silent auction held during the festival. The check presentation was held recently. Shown, from left, are: festival committee member Sally Seidler, Monroe County Job and Family Services’ Secret Santa coordinators Laura Cline and Karen Potts, committee members Ruth Workman and Margie Yoss.         

~ American Legion Donates to Warm the Children ~
        Warm the Children, a program which provides new, warm clothing to the needy children of the Switzerland of Ohio Local School District, is serving over 500 children. According to coordinator Pandora Neuhart, volunteer shoppers have already shopped for over 350 children. “There is still a need for donations,” she said. Ed Frank, shown, right, vice commander of the Woodsfield American Legion Post 87, presented a check for $200 to Neuhart for the Warm the Children program, which is sponsored by the Monroe County Beacon and Woodsfield Kiwanis.               

<Director Terminated: Officials Affirm no Wrongdoing
Deb Haney Submits Open Letter to Monroe County Commissioners

by Arlean Selvy
Publisher
        Deborah Haney, who served as director of Monroe County Job and Family Services for nearly two years, met with Monroe County Commissioners last week to inform them she would not sign the Separation Agreement and General Release handed to her on Nov. 25. In addition, she asked officials to publicly affirm that she has done nothing wrong.
        In light of the abruptness and finality of actions taken by commissioners, Haney said she found that “... many people have wondered what happened and  you assured me there was nothing that I’d done wrong; it’s just that we had a different vision for the agency,” she said. “I understand that even privately you have made comments that ‘Debbie didn’t do anything illegal or immoral. Now I’m asking you to publicly affirm that so that I can move forward with my employment ...” she added.
        “Debbie, I think that’s why we offered that agreement to you …” said Commissioner Bill Thompson. Noting her years of service with the departments of Job and Family Services, Thompson went on to say they were not accusing her of anything illegal or immoral. “I don’t think any of us here are trying to drag you through the mud …”
        Haney explained that on two occasions at a family gathering, family members said co-workers had asked them what she had done - had she done something illegal. “Because of that I wanted to hear a public explanation that that’s not what happened. I can understand ‘we had a different vision’ but I don’t want to leave here, leave  Monroe County with my integrity left behind – I won’t have that,” said Haney.
        “And I understand that completely …” said Commission President John Pyles.
        With regard to Haney’s decision not to sign the separation agreement, she said her attorney told her it would not be in her best interest. She indicated her attorney suggested perhaps negotiation for of an additional four weeks of pay and health benefits so that she could continue her search for employment.
        Following the approximate hour and a half meeting, which included two  executive sessions, officials voted to withdraw the administrative leave, which was part of the separation agreement Haney had been asked to sign.
        On the heels of that action, a motion to terminate Haney from her position was passed. Both motions were made by Pyles and approved by Commissioners Thompson and Sonny ‘Francis’ Block.
        Commissioners held a short executive session prior to the meeting with Haney. That session was to contact their attorney regarding Haney’s request for an open meeting as opposed to being behind closed doors. “I have nothing to hide,” Haney told them.
        In the second secret session, called at 1:50 p.m. for disciplinary action, Haney and her daughter, Amanda Haney-Cech remained in the meeting until 2:20 p.m. at which time they were excused. Regular session resumed again at 2:43 p.m.
        Haney submitted an open letter to commissioners listing many improvements at Monroe County JFS since her employment. In the three page letter she also comments on the Nov. 25 meeting, in which she was asked for her irrevocable resignation, and speaks briefly to her staff.
        The open letter to Pyles, Block and Thompson, reads:
        “On Jan. 5, 2007 in a completely unexpected meeting, a frantic Sonny Block came to my  place of employment and spoke with my employer about the possibility of my assisting Monroe County Job and Family Services until a permanent replacement could be  hired for the vacancy  of the director's position. An agreement was quickly made to ‘loan’ me to Monroe County, which found me working every other day in the two neighboring counties (while on vacation time from my current employer).
        The agency I entered at that  point in time was filled with turmoil, strife, and, due to the loss of several senior staff members to early retirement or resignation, a strong need for guidance and direction. Community members had publicly and frequently commented on their concerns with the agency's actions or lack of actions. Funding for Economic Development was a major topic of concern at every turn. The agency’s image had suffered greatly through a period of about three or four years. Yet, armed with this knowledge and in spite of queries about  my own sanity, I applied for and accepted the position as Director of Monroe County Department of Job and Family Services, beginning full-time on March 5, 2007.
        Why? With all the problems facing this agency, and throughout the county, why would I choose to take on this challenging job? Many of you know my rock-solid answer to that question - it was a Plan that was not within my control. I had 25+ years of experience and knowledge in the Job and Family Services field, and I know that those years could be beneficial in building Monroe County’s Department. I had years of reading and digesting the Ohio Revised Code, of analyzing budgets, and, through years of networking, I had a pocket full of phone numbers for a myriad of experts on any subject I would encounter. I needed to come home to Monroe County.
        Over the next 20 months, many new initiatives were undertaken, many community meetings were held, many new staff members were hired, many new partnerships were formed, and progress was made in all areas of the agency. I ask that the community take the opportunity to view http://jfs.ohio.gov/county/cntypro/pdf07/Monroe.pdf in order to truly see and understand the positive outcomes in all areas of this multiple agency.
        In the Child Support arena, you will find that current child support collections for the period of FFY’07 increased from that of FFY’06 (from 76.1% to 77.6%). Remarkable, this was accomplished during a period of time when brand new staff were learning and administering their duties. In the Public Assistance division, there are comparisons of CY’06 to CY’07 in the Food Stamp and Ohio Works First (OWF - cash assistance) caseload activities. What is not captured on this website is the fact that the State measures how well the staff performs their jobs in food stamp eligibility , by randomly selecting and reviewing cases. During the current performance year, Monroe County had thus far only one case reviewed with an error, leaving them well below the recommended threshold set by the State. And, in review of the number of OWF (cash) cases, CY06 reveals an average of 68 adults receiving cash assistance each month, CY’07 averaged 46 adults monthly,
 and as of November, 2008, there were only 12 adults in receipt of OWF cash, who were identified as able-bodied, and their cash was time-limited. Those reductions can be attributed to some getting employment, some getting approved for disability benefits through Social Security, some relocating, and some withdrawing from the cash assistance. Again, these results were achieved by staff members who were learning how to do things in a different, effective, manner. Finally, in the Public Assistance group, Child Care is also an activity. This involves certification of child care facilities, as well as authorization for families to receive subsidized child care. While the number of children in care was reduced, what is not reflected is the fact that each child care facility was inspected by the department during the last year. Any safety issues were addressed and corrected, or, in a few cases, the licenses were revoked. The pages on the website that identify
 the activities of the Public Children’s Service Agency (Social Services) portion of MCDJFS, indicate that in calendar year ’06 there were 104 reports and investigations of alleged child abuse and neglect. the following year CY’07), this had increased to 120 reports and investigations. Additionally, that same department is responsible for investigating reports of possible abuse or neglect of Monroe County’s aged population through Adult Protective Services. In CY’06 there were no reported investigations, while in CY’07, there were 11 such claims investigated. As with all the other departments, The Social Services division had faced staffing challenges, with the most senior caseworker just celebrating her second anniversary with the agency.  The newest portion of the agency, One-Stop and Workforce Investment Agency services, also has statistical information of the website, but from a time prior to its being placed with MCDJFS. Those numbers
 should be available in the future for review. What won’t show on any statistical report, however, is the collaboration that has been created with several employers in the county, specifically in the area of hiring assistance. Everything from creating and placing ads in the newspapers for openings, to accepting, screening, and forwarding applications is done on behalf of the employer. Employee services are also provided in researching job opportunities and training needs. Again, in review of the website, there is statistical information showing the gain in Monroe County’s labor force from 5100 to 5600 from CY’06 to CYC’07. At the same time, the unemployment rate fell from 11.3 % to 8.2%. As of October 2008, Monroe County ranked 11th in Ohio in the unemployment rate. While this is understandably due, in part, to the resumption of Ormet’s work activities, the work being done by MCDJFS cannot be overlooked as vital to getting and keeping Monroe
 County’s citizens employed.
        Last, and certainly not least, on page three of nine of the website report, there is a clear indication of the many changes that have been made in the utilization of the TANF funding. During CY’07, there was nearly a $95,000 decrease in funding spent from CY’06 (in part, due to reductions in funding). Even with the decreased total, funding for ‘Training, Employment and Career Advancement’ increased from $39,752 to $85,741: for ‘Child Welfare and Family Support’ there was an increase from $0 to $12,587: ‘Youth Education and Support’ was increased from $76,707 to $115,641. These categories represent opportunities made available such as: Youth Employment Program, Learning is For Everyone (LIFE) Program, gas cards for employed food stamp customers, wage subsidies, employment needs, summer reading program; summer youth program; summer career camp; build-your-own-computer lab and their new initiatives. Notably, the decrease in ‘Community and
 Economic Development’ expenditures from $226,747 to $34,832 allowed those dollars to be shared throughout other programs. This was possible due to the decision to add those duties to the MCDJFS staff Workforce / Economic Developer, rather than contracting annually for those services.
        On Nov. 25, 2008, in another unexpected meeting (i.e. Executive Session with the Board), I was presented with a document entitled ‘Separation Agreement and General Release’, prepared by your attorneys, asking for my ‘irrevocable resignation’ as Director of Monroe County Department of Job and Family Services, effective Dec. 31, 2008. The document also indicated that I should be placed on paid Administrative Leave effective immediately, until the Dec. 31, 2008 date. When I asked for any rationale for this decision, I was given the explanation that ‘the agency was not going in the direction that we’d like for it to go’, I had ‘failed to effectively manage the agency’ and that this was to be considered a ‘separation of services’ and not a ‘termination’. I was sent back to my office to pack and when I had an inquiry made (by phone) as to whether or not I could say goodbye to my supervisory staff (at minimum), I was told that I could
 not. With the abruptness and finality of these actions, not only the MCDJFS staff, but the public in general, (including my family and friends), were left wondering exactly what happened. While I understand that comments have been privately made by members of the board that there was no wrongdoing on my part (either illegal or immoral), I am asking that the Board reaffirm this publicly to clear any doubt. According to what I was told, we just did not share the same vision for the agency.
        As recommended by the Commissioners, and identified in the Separation Agreement, I have consulted with counsel and will not be signing the agreement as it is written. If it is still the intention of the Board of Commissioners to separate me from service effective 12/31/08, my journey with MCDJFS will be completed at their request. Since I did not have a chance to speak with my staff, I’ll take this opportunity to wish them all ‘Good Luck’ in all their future endeavors and wish them all success and happiness in their personal and professional lives. And, as I said to three of my staff members who were with me at the end of my day on Nov. 25, I only wonder what the next Plan is for me? I’ll be ready for that next chapter of my journey when it comes!