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SEABHS Board's retaliation won't fix problems
Weeks ago when problems at Southeastern Arizona Behavioral Health Services (SEABHS) first came to light, the board of directors should have immediately taken charge to solve problems. That didn't happen. In fact, some board members publicly grumbled about having to "micro-manage" and very little happened.
But that all changed last week. Given the seriousness of the problems, you would think that what happened last week was that the SEABHS board got to work to address them. You would be wrong. Apparently in the board's view their most critical problem is getting rid of the board member who asks awkward questions and demands that the situation be fixed. In a 5-2 vote, the board forcibly removed Marcelino Varona Jr. of Santa Cruz County. Following the vote, the other Santa Cruz board member, Dan Doyle, also resigned.
On Dec. 17, the Community Partnership of Southern Arizona (CPSA) sent a "letter of cure" to new CEO Jim Rubio. A letter of cure outlines deficiencies that must be corrected for an agency, in this case SEABHS, to continue receiving public funds. For SEABHS, failing to fix the deficiencies could cost them $35 million. It is difficult to see how the agency could survive a cut of that magnitude.
The deficiencies must be corrected by May 3. A plan of action had to be sent to CPSA by Jan. 19, and SEABHS did meet that deadline. The problems cited deal with finances and staffing levels, a lack of networking and sufficiency, financial instability discovered in recent audits and an inability to meet community expectations.
But Varona complained that he was never informed that SEABHS had been issued a "letter of cure," and as a board member, he was entitled to that information. But Board Chairman Tim Sikkema said he felt the letter should be kept quiet, due to "leaks to the newspaper," implying they were Varona's fault. "We have had a very negative response over the newspaper coverage," he added.
Well no kidding. Management of the agency has been so lax it appears non-existent. As a result, there are multiple criminal investigations ongoing as well as one indictment. The board's solution to all this is to try to keep the mess quiet, presumably hoping it will go away. Varona believed SEABHS's issues should be addressed in public.
Board member Dick Hamilton of Benson agreed that Varona asked good questions. Then he noted: "We are in a bad place right now, and it will take some time for things to get back on track."
It will take even longer if remedies are sought in secret. Right now SEABHS has little credibility with the public and with the agencies it is supposed to support. One of the problems noted in the letter of cure was a public relations problem where community stakeholders and the public at large view the agency as "a closed and retaliatory system lacking transparency and unwilling to work collaboratively with other community stakeholders."
We don't think retaliating against board members with whom they don't agree is the best system for fixing that problem. At this point, we hope another agency comes along to compete with SEABHS. We question whether they can ever get "back on track," especially under the guidance of this board.
But that all changed last week. Given the seriousness of the problems, you would think that what happened last week was that the SEABHS board got to work to address them. You would be wrong. Apparently in the board's view their most critical problem is getting rid of the board member who asks awkward questions and demands that the situation be fixed. In a 5-2 vote, the board forcibly removed Marcelino Varona Jr. of Santa Cruz County. Following the vote, the other Santa Cruz board member, Dan Doyle, also resigned.
On Dec. 17, the Community Partnership of Southern Arizona (CPSA) sent a "letter of cure" to new CEO Jim Rubio. A letter of cure outlines deficiencies that must be corrected for an agency, in this case SEABHS, to continue receiving public funds. For SEABHS, failing to fix the deficiencies could cost them $35 million. It is difficult to see how the agency could survive a cut of that magnitude.
The deficiencies must be corrected by May 3. A plan of action had to be sent to CPSA by Jan. 19, and SEABHS did meet that deadline. The problems cited deal with finances and staffing levels, a lack of networking and sufficiency, financial instability discovered in recent audits and an inability to meet community expectations.
But Varona complained that he was never informed that SEABHS had been issued a "letter of cure," and as a board member, he was entitled to that information. But Board Chairman Tim Sikkema said he felt the letter should be kept quiet, due to "leaks to the newspaper," implying they were Varona's fault. "We have had a very negative response over the newspaper coverage," he added.
Well no kidding. Management of the agency has been so lax it appears non-existent. As a result, there are multiple criminal investigations ongoing as well as one indictment. The board's solution to all this is to try to keep the mess quiet, presumably hoping it will go away. Varona believed SEABHS's issues should be addressed in public.
Board member Dick Hamilton of Benson agreed that Varona asked good questions. Then he noted: "We are in a bad place right now, and it will take some time for things to get back on track."
It will take even longer if remedies are sought in secret. Right now SEABHS has little credibility with the public and with the agencies it is supposed to support. One of the problems noted in the letter of cure was a public relations problem where community stakeholders and the public at large view the agency as "a closed and retaliatory system lacking transparency and unwilling to work collaboratively with other community stakeholders."
We don't think retaliating against board members with whom they don't agree is the best system for fixing that problem. At this point, we hope another agency comes along to compete with SEABHS. We question whether they can ever get "back on track," especially under the guidance of this board.
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of willcoxrangenews.com.
SEABHS Employee wrote on Feb 3, 2010 8:24 PM:
Vehilcles are for handed out to administration personal to attend meetings with themselfs. Worker Bees are left with 3 - 4 vehicles to use for home vistits or out of town appointments.
CPSA has not meet with any one below administration. Every one knows the worker bees are expendable. We will be gone due to meeting encounters but the problem will remain.
CPSA Please come and talk to us . "