HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0150.028 1998-2000 4~1V Oi 4~w'
J. CURTIS "TYLER, III ~yd,,,;,, Tel: (808) 961-5273
CounefLnember ~ Fax: (808) 969-3291
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COUNTY COUNCIL
County of Har+~aii
Haeoaii Counh/ Building
25 Aupuni Street RECEIVID
Hilo, Hawuii 96720
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County Council. ,
Apri121, 1999
MEMORANDUM
TO: James Y. Arakaki, Chair and Councilmembers
FROM: J. Curtis Tyler, III, Chair
Human Services and Economic Development Committee ~
SUBJECT: YWCA/Sexual Assault Support Services and Recommended onditional ra'nt`,
Award for FY 1999-2000
Subsequent to the application evaluation and site visit conducted by the Human Services Grants
Review Committee in February-Mazch 1999, new information has been obtained relating to the
status and operations of the Sexual Assault Support Services (SASS) program administered by the
Hawaii Island YWCA. The correspondence and reports relating to these findings have been
retrieved only in recent days, too late to be noticed on today's agenda. I will be circulating these
materials to all Council members, however.
At the present time, I wish to call attention to the most significant concerns. It is my ethical and
fiduciary responsibility as a member of this Council to bring this information forward, so that we
may make a wise and prudent decision about the expenditure of public funds.
The program's primary funding source, Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children,
which administers a Department of Health master contract for delivery of sexual assault support
services statewide, has informed the committee chair of the following concerns:
(1) The YWCA/SASS program has undergone an alarmingly high rate of staff turnover
during the past year, including the clinical/program director, Kona support/treatment
specialist, Hilo prevention educator and coordinator, and additional part-time members
of the 24-hour crisis response team.
(2) State funding for the YWCA/SASS progam has been reduced by over $61,000 during
the past year due to failure to meet contractual targets for delivery of essential clinical
and counseling services.
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(3) A clinical consultant, Gerald Correa, M.D., was hired by Kapiolani in January, 1999 to
conduct a formal site review. Dr. Correa's review was prompted by an eazlier
investigative site visit by Kapiolani's director of gants and contracts and director of
the Sex Abuse Treatment Center in Honolulu. They jointly determined that there were
"a number of serious contract non-compliance and progam deficiencies." Dr.
Correa's report states that "there is serious concern for the viability of the YWCA
SASS progam on the Island of Hawaii." He concludes that "the SASS progam as it
currently exists is not equipped to provide basic mental health counseling services on
an on-going basis."
(4) Adriana Ramelli, Kapiolani's administrator of statewide sexual assault treatment
services, has informed the Legislative Auditor that within several weeks Kapiolani will
issue an RFP seeking qualified providers on the Big Island. If a qualified new provider
does not emerge, she says the Sex Abuse Treatment Center in Honolulu may itself
assume responsibility for sexual assault support services on the Big Island.
These findings point to some considerable problems. I am concerned that the YWCA director
and staff did not disclose the seriousness and extent of the progam's documented shortcomings
when they met with our site review team in Mazch.
However, my primary concern centers on the likelihood that a new provider will begin
performing these critical services effective July 1 s` and, accordingly, that this Council will uphold
its historical commitment to victims of rape, assault and incest in Hawai` i County.
For many yeazs, the sexual assault support services team has played a key role in our
community. They work with our police, our prosecutor's office, the nurse examiners at our
hospitals, the children's advocacy centers in Hilo and Kona, and most importantly, with the victims
of brutally invasive injury and trauma. This is a gave responsibility. We daze not abandon these
women and children.
As such, I recommend that we keep our funding recommendation of $50,000 intact, with a
critical stipulation. We have little precedent for making grants conditional. But, in this case I
recommend that we approve this appropriation with the provision that, upon submittal and review
of an application for funds not to exceed $50,000, the Council will re-appropriate funds to the
provider approved by the state contractor, Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children,
effective July 1, 1999.
To assure that this fund transfer is allowable under our County Code, I will soon introduce a bill
to amend Chapter 2, Article 25, relating to procedures for awarding grants. That bill also proposes
measures to strengthen the reporting requirements and fiscal accountability of nonprofit gants
administered by the County. This bill was drafted with close consultation with the Finance
Director and the Legislative Auditor. Until such time as we can take up this measure, however, I
request your support for the conditional gant award outlined above.
Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of this matter.
cc: Susan LaBrenz, Hawaii Island YWCA
Adriana Ramelli, Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children