HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0193.021 1996-1998 Gtis~s
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' The Family Crisis Shelter ~hhc.
~ Q= r P x 612 • Hilo, Hawaii 9672 1-06 1 2 ~ •
u„ e.,Pl~ 14, Q3~-i~Q9 1 ~x (808) 934-7600
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Council Member John Ray COUN I'~ 0.= HAVdAII
County of Hawaii
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, HI 96720
Re: Response to Joe Tully's Concerns
Dear Council Member John Pay:
I would like to clarify ii~e comments made regarding The Family Crisis Shelter,
Inc. and the lawsuit that was settled. The Family Crisis Shelter, Inc., as a result
of the Attorney General's Report, reviewed and revised all of its policies and
procedures to insure that the public's trust in how its funds were being used was
not being compromised in any way. A corrective action plan was submitted to
the Department of Human Service (DHS) by the Board of Directors if policies
were found to be problematic and completed by June of 1994. Former
Department of Hum?n Services Director Winona Rubin, was kept appraised of
all changes made.
The Board also subrr,itted a review of funds that was completed by Big Island
Auditors: Taketa, Iwata, Hara and Associates with findings reported to DHS in
1994.
The current administration at the Family Crisis Sheiter, Inc., implemented a
completely new personnel pc'~cies and procedures in June, 1994. Additionally,
an extensive interns! financ~.~l control system was instituted by our Business
Manager, a Certified Public i>,ccountant. It assured that a check and balance
system for the receiving and disbursing of both public and private funds was in
place.
In almost four years since the Attorney General's Report was issued, the Family
Crisis Shelter, Inc. has been carefully scrutinized by other funders such as the
Judiciary and Hawaii Island United Way. The Judiciary completed a fiscal and
site review of their programs while the Hawaii Island United Way's Ad Hoc
Agency Participation Allocation Committee has been meeting with the board of
the Family Crisis Sha~lter, Inc. quarterly, and recently, semi annually. Yearly
audits of all programs are completed by Taketa, Iwata, Hara and Associates and
the most recent copy was sllbrriitted with our County request for non-profit
funding.
As testimony to the Department of Human Services' confidence in The Family
Crisis Sheiter, Inc.; ':a contr2:. for Biennium Year 1995-97's deliverance of
services was issued. Muni;; ing of the program was completed and a report
issued noting satisfacli~~n in the services to battered victims and their children.p
i:omn. Dla ~ 7 2.~
>:ISe x~. l~ ~
r11 A United Way Agency ~ pies=n4ed nf~pL-
~7' R.ef. 1?ate_~~:
Should you have questions, please feel free to contact Ms. Gail Ninamoto,
Program Specialist at DHS fog the Shelter program at 974-4000, ext. 65-669.
It is unclear as to what Mr. Tully refers to in page 2, paragraph 1: as I am not
aware of the newspaper accounts which are referenced. As such, I am unable to
comment on this matter.
1 would like to say that the settlement and apology made to the former
employees in their recent litigation against The Family Crisis Shelter, Inc.; did
not agree that the allegations made were true and was not an admission of
wrongdoing. In the interest of providing service to battered victims, their children
and to helping perpetrators change their behaviors, we agreed to settle the case.
The Administration of The Family Crisis Shelter, Inc. is new. The commitment of
the Board and staff to have successfully weathered this storm is commendable.
We all have the same goal in mind, to provide the best services to an at-risk,
vulnerable populatioi7: battered women and their children and to be accountable
to the public and our funding sources.
Thank you for this opportunity to provide information.
Sincerely,
Wendy Mow-Taira, ACSW
Executive Director
Cc: Family Crisis Shelter, Inc. Board
Virginia Isbell