Florida says investigation into nonprofit executive pay is ânot a witch huntâ
A preliminary report released in January found that nine nonprofit organizations, all contracted by Florida, appeared to be spending millions compensating executives above the limits allowed by state law.
Â
Â
Tiffany Carr, former executive director of Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, left, speaks at a 2004 news conference held by Gov. Jeb Bush, background right. [ PHIL COALE | AP ]
Updated Feb. 12
TALLAHASSEE â Floridaâs top auditor told a House committee that the state probe into the compensation of executive salaries at social welfare organizations was not âany kind of witch huntâ but instead was an attempt at âbringing transparency to the processâ of state and federal funds used by privately-run entities.
State says investigation into nonprofit executive pay is not a witch hunt Mary Ellen Klas, The Miami Herald
Feb. 12 TALLAHASSEE Florida s top auditor told a House committee that the state probe into the compensation of executive salaries at social welfare organizations was not any kind of witch hunt but instead was an attempt at bringing transparency to the process of state and federal funds used by privately run entities. We are on a fact-finding mission, doing research so that the policymakers such as yourselves can decide what to do with the facts that we reveal, Melinda Miguel, the chief inspector general for Gov. Ron DeSantis, told the House Governmental Operations Subcommittee on Wednesday.
I never had a good experience with a caseworker. Never.
The system is built on lies, said Jaquetta Johnson, an attorney who represents biological parents in the Panhandle. “When they realize it’s OK (to lie), that’s when the level of services start to get dropped because now they know they can get away with it.”
Former investigations supervisor Beverlie Hyacinthe signed paperwork falsely claiming that investigators had assessed the safety of all the kids in a home after receiving a hotline call when they hadn’t. As a result, a third child was left in the home and was abused over the next 10 days until DCF received a second hotline call.
Citizens Commission on Human Rights
Diane Stein, center, and members of her organization Citizens Commission on Human Rights, have been working for years to advocate for parents and help them navigate issues involving the Baker Act.
When it comes to children, Florida s law regarding involuntary commitments for psychiatric treatment is applied inconsistently.
For more than 15 years, the number of children who are referred for involuntary psychiatric evaluations under the Baker Act has increased at a faster pace than any other age group. The law was not designed to be used on children and many child advocates are pushing for change. They say there should be provisions to ensure children are treated differently than adults. In the fifth and final part of this series on the Baker Act, we examine the challenges faced by advocates who want to improve the law.