The Fresno County Board of Supervisors voted down a contract with Genesis Family Center in a symbolic move that suggests the board is finally upset enough with the agency to begin questioning its leadership, and whether tax dollars should go to Genesis. It was a 4-0 vote Tuesday, and the contract was only for $160,000, but it spoke volumes about where the board majority is on Genesis, which had been led by controversial Elaine Bernard.
After all, Fresno County has given contracts worth $19 million to Genesis since Bernard was indicted for embezzlement in July 2005. It was like the Board of Supervisors just woke up and realized that Genesis has big problems. What about all the other taxpayer money that the supervisors awarded Genesis with no questions asked?
Bernard, the Genesis CEO until recently, was convicted last year of improperly taking money from the agency. Bernard was sentenced to probation, but she violated the terms of probation by attending social events and was later sentenced to at least three months in jail.
Genesis officials had hoped Bernard's resignation would get the agency off the hook. But Supervisor Phil Larson said the entire agency needs to be overhauled before it gets more tax money. Larson said Carol Dela Torre, Bernard's sister who also was convicted in the Genesis embezzlement case, also needs to leave the agency, as well as Genesis board members.
The Fresno Bee quoted supervisor Debbie Poochigian: "These are tax dollars...we need to make sure they're not wasted."
Ms Poochigian; the tax money was not wasted but stolen by top-management of Genesis. It does not take a genius to recognize that there is/was some unholy alliance between some local government officials and the embezzlers. I am tempted to say more but it's best that I don't because I have no firsthand knowledge of the Genesis affair. My info came from the Fresno Bee, which is slowly but surely becoming a less than reliable source. Jim Boren, according to media reports, Genesis money was not "taken improperly" it was embezzled and the perpetrators were sentenced.... "taken improperly." And the KKK is unfriendly to various minorities.
"taken improperly." And the KKK is unfriendly to various minorities.
That gave me a chuckle. How about "...and Katrina caused excessive moisture along the Gulf Coast"?
I was a foster parent for a few years. Specialized kids were given a clothing allowance but kids that were in my home from genisis told me that they were not given new clothes but were instead taken to a shed that had donated clothes and were told to pick their clothes from the donated items.Kids that came from genisis into my home came with the bare minimum of clothes and not very good quality for the money that was paid into genisis.
I have to respond to your comment because I know that the work I do is NOT in vain! I am an employee with Genesis and work directly with foster children and foster families. I'm sorry that the "kids told you" that they were not given clothing when they were placed with Genesis. It's a shame that you would post something like that without knowing the facts. I will not comment about anything that has happened up the ladder of Genesis because I'm not there. However there are numerous employees that go to great measures in order to ensure that our children's needs are being met. It saddens me that this whole sharade is clouding all the good that I and my colleagues do on a daily basis. I know first hand that our foster parents are mandated to purchase a specified amount of clothing on a monthly basis. As social workers, we literally go through each receipt and ensure that clothing is being bought. Oh but we don't stop there, we take count of every clothing article purchased very regularly and although it is tedious work, this is the extent that we go to in order to ensure that our children are properly being cared for. Our foster parents are not allowed to shop at second hand stores for our children let alone shop at a shed!!! I would like to know where exactly this Genesis shed is located because in all the 5 years that I've been here, I have never heard of it and for someone to post such nonsense is utterly insulting.
"Vonda Karlie" Thank you for your courage to tell the 40.000 readers of the blog about the shoddy treatment of children, practiced by Genesis. I wonder how many foster parents thought it wise not to buck the management of Genesis. I hope transparency is imminent of the fiscal methods of that tax supported organization and the hard to explain role played by local government; including the judiciary for the initial slap on the wrist for stealing (reportedly) one half of a million dollars from the taxpayer. And on top of everything, the County continued the contract with Genesis, and the convicted embezzlers were kept in charge. And without whistleblowers we probably shall never know how local government officials fitted into that mess. I almost coined the phrase government Mafia. But I won't insult an organization of presumed criminals who never claimed to serve the public. Perhaps We the People failed to demand explanation of the hard to explain, once the scandal was out of the bag. Indeed, the freedom of democracy is not easy to maintain.
"A Social Worker" If you were a foster parent and not a Genesis employee, I would have an easier time not to suspect you of having an ax to grind. Having or not having a job is a very grave concern. That about the shed and the used clothing for foster children, that would be such an odd thing to make up. And that the embezzlement took place is history. So are you going to say that I am insulting Genesis and its government protectors in the past.
It sounds like the social worker was merely trying to clarify something that she can speak on first hand. She doesn't seem too interested in the embezzlement ordeal. It doesn't take a master's degree to figure this one out but perhaps you would benefit from taking a few child development courses to learn that children have a very elaborate imagination. Foster children come from very troubled and stressful backgrounds and often express themselves through their creative imagination. If it is fact that a child made up this story, I don't find it odd at all. Do not underestimate the creative mind of a child.
In response to blogger "Ann"----Vonda Karlie is not an imaginative child but she is a former foster parent.
"...perhaps you would benefit from taking a few child development courses to learn that children have a very elaborate imagination..." (Ann)
Perhaps this will curb your snippy tongue:
LEE 138 Teaching Evaluating in K-12
PSYCH 0102 Adolescent Psych. My G.P.A. all through Fresno State 4.00
And everyone knows that in Fresno childcare in the public sector leaves a lot to be desired. Do I need to list individual cases, including deaths that did not have to happen? I am not accusing Genesis of anything; and I shall no longer respond to whitewash of any kind. But I concede that people are entitled to their own opinion.
You said it, the insults are based on opinion. Congratulations on completing a few classes. It's unfortunate that the university cannot teach common sense. (By the way, nowhere in my comment did I state that Vonda was a child.)
My credentials are a bit more than a "few classes" but who is counting. May be Fresno U cannot teach common sense. But your post is living testimony of lack of social skills. And I shall not debate anyone on the level of the proverbial fish wife.