Sunday, August 08, 2010

About the Examiner

So, I thought I would begin the new dealybob at Examiner.com with an explanation of what I would write as a reference for any future readers who would happen by. That first post was rejected, probably appropriately, for being too much in the first person. But, just to share, here is what it would have said.

***

Welcome,

This will be my first article as an Examiner (and so, the oldest one in my eventual archive.) It's a good place to predict what this column will cover. Consider this half a promise and half a bet, if there are takers for either.

This column will cover events, trends and policies related to the provision of human and social services. Professional caregiving is often publicly funded and usually highly-regulated so public policy will be discussed extensively, but market forces and demographics will also be considered. Sporadically, we in the social services think about actual people, so expect occasional profiles of people with disabilities, policy-makers, caregivers, charlatans and reprobates.

About me: I work in the social services industry as the chief executive of a small for-profit company that assists adults with developmental disabilities to live independently, as a subcontractor to state contractors. We will soon offer companion services to the elderly and physically disabled.

There is a phrase in the paragraph just above to make anyone skeptical, so here are the biases I'll admit to up front-

  1. There are two principle purposes for having a social and human services system, to defend the threatened and to extend community participation beyond the barriers that nature and circumstance impose.
  2. Services provided through government tend to be both inefficient and underfunded for their missions. The former defect makes a bigger difference than the latter and is more fixable. Inefficient service delivery creates costs not only to the taxpayer but also to the people who depend on the support provided, through malarkey.
  3. Purely private services may (or may not) be more efficient, reliable and of higher quality but are also extremely rare. Very few of us will ever receive professional care not influenced by public policy.
  4. Ideology drives idiots crazy, madmen to folly and reasonable people to fake deafness. This column will be very interested in the granular details of what works and doesn't work in both regulation and the marketplace. Democrats, Republicans, vampires of both union and capitalist varieties, dithering managers and doddering staff all may receive attention here, some of which may be complimentary.
  5. I am a reformer, may heaven have pity and my neighbors patience.

Sounds fun, right? I welcome your comments.



40 comments:

paul said...

While Doug is on his “Cant Beat Em - Join Em” campaign I wish to tap into the collective wisdom of Andy and Stanley (don’t worry…a negative number squared is positive)

Over the years of reportage I have heard the phrase “some advocates” used OFTEN. “Some advocates believe”, “Some advocate disagree”, “Some advocates want”, “Some Advocates Say”

The term is so general we cant even whine about what Andy likes to call Argumentum Ad Verecundium. The term is so general that it makes a fine tool for disinformation.

While watching the evening news I often hear “Some experts agree…” followed by and actual expert sharing his or her thoughts.

A recent BBC story about a new brain scan that could improve autism diagnosis states that “Experts say a new test only goes so far". Following this statement are the comments of Carol Povey from the National Autistic Society (England presumably). Although, the short versions of the story do not identify any “expert”

Is there any problem reporting that Experts, or Advocates, believe, disagree, want, or say by using the collective “some” without identifying any expert or advocate?

Do people with disabilities deserve more? [Wow - that is a beautiful loaded question]

“Some advocates say that California’s developmental services system is over-funded”

“All experts say that paul is full of $#!ù"

??

stanley said...

[paul say] Is there any problem reporting that Experts, or Advocates, believe, disagree, want, or say by using the collective “some” without identifying any expert or advocate?...Over the years of reportage I have heard the phrase “some advocates” used OFTEN. “Some advocates believe”, “Some advocate disagree”, “Some advocates want”, “Some Advocates Say”

Is there any problem...for sure say the valley girl...and there is a problem even when the expert advocate is id-ed...as they are never called on their expert opine...they just move on to offer more expert bs.

It’s a daily, common, unrecognized (by too many), form of mad-ave hype...eg, tiger woods say eat wheaties...

sadly it works...and most experts/advocates are not caught in an extra marital affair (whatever) to destroy their questionable creditability...and reveal hidden agendas.

stanley seigler

stanley said...

[paul say] While watching the evening news I often hear “Some experts agree…”
some blog thoughts on “experts”…

[CLIPS]
What I [Laurence Arnold, aka Laurentius Rex] would like to see in general, is more critical thinking and less appeal to authority.

Sure the supernumerary letters connote something, and that usually means having put some hard work and study into it, but it doesn’t give the whole picture.

In the end it is not the letters after ones name that really qualify one, it is the quality of the output, and I have to say a lot of people do trade on the faux authority when defending “woo”...

So in the final analysis it is Caveat Emptor, and examine all the goods carefully.

stanley seigler

ref xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/2010/07/lorene-amet-of-autism-treatment-trust-discusses-her-beliefs-about-autism/
Now my specialty is Autism, and very specific cognitive aspects of that. However my generality is education, which indeed was what the conference I attended yesterday is all about. I do understand all these particulars of the sociology and the history of higher education.
The point I have been trying to make is that unfortunately a degree even a higher one, is no guarantee any more of having a general ability to comprehend a wide range of very different subjects from a wide range of perspectives as it once was what were undoubtedly more elitist times. It is no guarantee that the knowlege is lacking either. There are many who are experts who have no formal qualification in the subject either, beyond having made significant contributions to the study in literature, or working in the non academic research world.
What I would like to see in general, is more critical thinking and less appeal to authority. Sure the supernumerary letters connote something, and that usually means having put some hard work and study into it, but it doesn’t give the whole picture.
I don’t idly call myself a Polymath, as it is a dangerous claim to make if one doesn’t have that string of degrees to back it up. However my research is born out of the confluence of at least two academic disciplines, and I am fortunate enough to have a supervisor who also has that requisite background to properly evaluate and criticise what I am doing.
My Brother, who has no higher academic qualification than a diploma in building, is one of the few people I can discourse with (when he is in the mood) on a number of subjects which require a fair amount of background as he is the most well read person I know, and his current employment is in a warehouse. He dropped out of Uni.
In the end it is not the letters after ones name that really qualify one, it is the quality of the output, and I have to say a lot of people do trade on the faux authority when defending “woo”
So in the final analysis it is Caveat Emptor, and examine all the goods carefully.

paul said...

Doug,

Did I get censored, or is there a 'glitch'? Post was alive and well an hour ago.

Don't want to post again if it gives anyone the vapors!

Doug The Una said...

Must have been a glitch, Paul. Did you post as Baron Von Richtofen? I have the text if you want me to repost.

paul said...

No worries - I will give it another whirl.

Unfortunately, I am the most obnoxious, pretentious, and provocative the first go around.

Civility seems to seep in on a second try - Sorry.

Doug The Una said...

Don't surrender, Paul. Here is "Baron von Richtoven'"s comment as I received it:

“What I [Laurence Arnold, aka Laurentius Rex] would like to see in general, is more critical thinking and less appeal to authority.”

Before we get to critical thinking, a tool for evaluating information and facts, we need reliable information and facts. I am not familiar with Laurentius Rex but I imagine that he/ she believes that there is a disproportional reliance upon “experts” to analyze all information thrown upon us. A disproportional reliance upon ANYTHING [even one line of Lanterman ;>)] is usuallly the first step to being misinformed and/or misdirected. Resisting disproportional reliance upon others is good as long as we do not dismiss the likelihood that a person who has spent a lifetime studying plant diseases is probably in a much better position to evaluate those brown spots on Stanley’s prized cymbidiums.

Our community has a culture that prefers disproportional reliance on unidentified sources (“some advocates”, “reliable source”,and sources with no expertise. The over reliance is not only for our critical thinking, but also for primary facts and information. We swallow hook line and sinker anything that is cast by the right prophet. Some information is easily available, yet many choose misinformation from the favorite blueblood, which can often be wrong. Many seem to prefer misinformation and disinformation over a hint of reality. We are captivated by the Surprising Adventures of Advocate von Münchhausen. This is understandbale given that reality can require some work, be hard to understand, and can make us frustrated and uncomfortable - Yuk. Conversely, misinfromation and disinformation can make us feel warm and fusy inside (or on the flip side encourage us to HATE the ‘right’ people). Misinformation can make us feel like there is nothing I can do (and therefore no blame), which is generally a very comfortable place to be. Unfortunately, while disinformation and misinformation can do much for the advocates ego and self-image, I have never seen it help a person with a disability.

Perhaps we need doug to forcus on the Reformation of Advocate von Munchhausen.

Of course – it may all make sense if we begin to question the assumption, that most Barons are after the knowledge and power to make a change in the life of at least one person with a disability. I wont go there. I am not qualified.

Should DDS “take all necessary action to” prevent people from being so? Should we pass a law?

Doug The Una said...

Don't surrender, Paul. Here is "Baron von Richtoven'"s comment as I received it:

“What I [Laurence Arnold, aka Laurentius Rex] would like to see in general, is more critical thinking and less appeal to authority.”

Before we get to critical thinking, a tool for evaluating information and facts, we need reliable information and facts. I am not familiar with Laurentius Rex but I imagine that he/ she believes that there is a disproportional reliance upon “experts” to analyze all information thrown upon us. A disproportional reliance upon ANYTHING [even one line of Lanterman ;>)] is usuallly the first step to being misinformed and/or misdirected. Resisting disproportional reliance upon others is good as long as we do not dismiss the likelihood that a person who has spent a lifetime studying plant diseases is probably in a much better position to evaluate those brown spots on Stanley’s prized cymbidiums.

Our community has a culture that prefers disproportional reliance on unidentified sources (“some advocates”, “reliable source”,and sources with no expertise. The over reliance is not only for our critical thinking, but also for primary facts and information. We swallow hook line and sinker anything that is cast by the right prophet. Some information is easily available, yet many choose misinformation from the favorite blueblood, which can often be wrong. Many seem to prefer misinformation and disinformation over a hint of reality. We are captivated by the Surprising Adventures of Advocate von Münchhausen. This is understandbale given that reality can require some work, be hard to understand, and can make us frustrated and uncomfortable - Yuk. Conversely, misinfromation and disinformation can make us feel warm and fusy inside (or on the flip side encourage us to HATE the ‘right’ people). Misinformation can make us feel like there is nothing I can do (and therefore no blame), which is generally a very comfortable place to be. Unfortunately, while disinformation and misinformation can do much for the advocates ego and self-image, I have never seen it help a person with a disability.

Perhaps we need doug to forcus on the Reformation of Advocate von Munchhausen.

Of course – it may all make sense if we begin to question the assumption, that most Barons are after the knowledge and power to make a change in the life of at least one person with a disability. I wont go there. I am not qualified.

Should DDS “take all necessary action to” prevent people from being so? Should we pass a law?

Doug The Una said...

Don't surrender, Paul. Below should "Baron von Richtoven'"s comment as I received it:

Baron von Richtoven II said...

Perhaps we need doug to forcus on the Reformation of Advocate von Munchhausen.

Of course – it may all make sense if we begin to question the assumption, that most Barons are after the knowledge and power to make a change in the life of at least one person with a disability. I wont go there. I am not qualified.

Should DDS “take all necessary action to” prevent people from being so? Should we pass a law?

Doug The Una said...

The problem seems to have been that the comment was too long.

paul said...

Ah - repetition to boot!!! its gotta be true!!

Thanks

stanley said...

appreciate paul's opine and agree with most points...but

[paul say] A disproportional reliance upon ANYTHING [even one line of Lanterman ;>)] is usually the first step to being misinformed...

think i agree...but depends on one's sense of "disproportional reliance"...eg, not sure what a lanterman one line has to do with it...there is no reliance in the line...just a statement of law not enforced and no one held accountable...

[paul say] a person who has spent a lifetime studying plant diseases is probably in a much better position to evaluate those brown spots on Stanley’s prized cymbidiums.

no spots on stanley's cyms...just a beautiful, simple, brown trim on some...as simple as, lanterman one line: "take all necessary action" ;>)...

almost as simple as ike's mandate: "win the war"...which under his "leadership" we did...he took all necessary action.

stanley seigler

paul said...

Stanley,

It keeps getting shorter, and shorter. Stop beating around the bush!

C’Mon, say it like it is!!!

DDS has the authority to “TAKE ALL!!”

stanley said...

paul say] DDS has the authority to “TAKE ALL!!”

I AGREE!!

stanley seigler

paul said...

Actually Stanley, it gets BETTER!!

Lanterman clearly states that "The department shall take all."

Not only does it have the authority it is mandated to TAKE ALL!!

stanley said...

paul say] Not only does it have the authority it is mandated to TAKE ALL!!

YES, YES!! paul finally got it:)

mandate: win the war...

stanley seigler

Andrew said...

Okay ... it seems, like Paul, I was given the DD Reform cold shoulder last night, for being verbose. Forgive me DD Reform for I have sinned.

I remember the drill.

Like the Books of the Bible, or what you should do to a tailor-made double play after dashing to second on a weak grounder to short ...

Break it up!

_____________________________

BOOK I

First of all, Stanley, the Red Army won the War, while Ike played General School Marm to Churchill, Montgomery, Patton and De Gaulle. Let's not forget that, comrade.

Secondly, if I'm DDS and I look around the dinner table at my 21 bloated, bickering, slobbering, snoring, nose-picking children, I start thinking seriously about the priesthood.

Thirdly, Paul, I asked for your opinion on CAL-DD ... mainly to make everyone else groan. But, I didn't groan when I posted it, and I expect an answer ... which I promise to read as soon as I'm done with the Greater New York phone directory. I'm almost half-way through the 'Abernathys', of which there are more than one might think.

Fourthly, I haven't had the time to stop by the Examiner Dot Commie yet, Doug, but I certainly intend too ... as soon as I get tired of porn ... which doesn't take too long these days. I can't imagine there's too many more bored librarians left on the web with whom I'm not already familiar. I'm sure your doing just fine without my active support, D-Money.

( ... y'all stay tuned for BOOK II)

Andrew said...

... Going number two, here.
____________________________________

And finally, just so I don’t lose my membership privileges at DD System Reform … or my label!

We have a service system which, every day, imposes upon the men and women who live beneath it, a mountain of rules and restrictions that are sometimes ironically referred to as "services", and sometimes more aptly described as "programming". And every day, it busses thousands of its unfortunate charges en masse from one stifling, restrictive "service" setting to another ... and back again.

Every action and inaction that occurs inside the system--of which the ratio of the first to the second is 1:10--reinforces the authority and supremacy of the system and its screws on those it oppresses. Every day it denies not merely the rights of its cogs, but everything. It denies the smallest, most common courtesies---a moment to one's self, a slower pace when one feels the need … a hundred such things.

The meetings, the files, the shift bosses in every place you are, and every part of the day. The regimented movements of the group. The demands, the directives, the do’s and don’ts, the stop, go, wait … and wait more. The distance from any and all common realities. The doing of others for things you can do for yourself. Except there's a list, that's endless, of things you don't do, but you should do ... that you need to learn to do. And it's endless, what you can't do. Everyone knows. The strangers who show up one day and are in charge of you, know what you can’t do, before they know you. 22, 23, 24-year-old strangers who know what you need, and tell you. You may be 50 or 60, but they’re the boss of you. They can drive cars and cross streets so they’re qualified to be in charge of you … to tell you to get up … and to go to bed. And they leave when summer comes, or when they find another job, and another comes, for a while. Endless. As endless as the job of following you have to do. That’s what you do, wherever you’re sent, you follow. Wherever they’re going, you’re supposed to go too, and follow. You follow orders to follow, to keep up and keep moving … if you ever stop for a minute to look around or watch a cat creep up on something.

And when you say “please”, you’re a self-advocate.
____________________________________

That’s what almost $4 billion a year will buy you. All the tools and tortures to strip a person of their identity ... Then give 'em one from the file … or the DSM IV ... or one their parents insist they have.

If we only had $5 billion ... (sigh)

The fact that so many of our unfortunate victims have remained utterly unique people, and so many have retained their humanity, and that most don’t just want to kill us as we sleep, is a testament to their endurance, and toughness … and that humanity of theirs.

Please remind me why we fight so hard to protect and preserve this system, every year? I said “please”!
___________________________________

… and that’s my DD Reform duty for the day.

Doug The Una said...

OK, I'm trying to catch up.

Paul, who did I join? This is very bad news for my self-image. With regard to the rest of your comment it reminds me of the adage that data is not the plural of anecdote.

Stanley, that was almost glossolalia.

Paul, I get really tangled around that issue. We want, I assume, for people to speak for themselves but the anonymity does raise the prospect that we have a small number of people trying to speak for everyone.

Honestly, Stanley, I think an example of what Paul's talking about might be citing the line from Lanterman about how DDS is supposed to ensure quality in order to justify that we should keep firing DDS directors until there are no more bad services.

Andy, you're invited to but what I'm writing there is pretty dry. I've actually decided to keep this blog up for a freer keypad. One of these days I'll get past decision and work on implementation.

Doug The Una said...

Andy, I fear we're believers and reformers at heart, despite our cynicism. May God have mercy on our souls.

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Andrew said...

Holy shoot! ...this blog has either exposed a poor, tired, huddled mass of a mind, yearning to be put to sleep ....

... Or, I just fired off some feverish, brilliant prose and sharp, surgical analysis, in a quick succession of posts ... Before decideding they were far too good for this audience, and needed deletion.

Andrew said...

Doug responds: "Andy, I fear we're believers and reformers at heart, despite our cynicism. May God have mercy on our souls."

Doug, I meant it rhetorically ... the "Why We Fight" question. I can't, in good conscience, do that kind of advocacy anymore. That doesn't mean I don't retain my respect for a lot of the people who do it ... it just means I can't bring myself to stand before some Subcommittee for the Status Quo, and deliver "public testimony" about why it's so important to save a system that has only ever needed saving from itself.

I can't imagine any of our political operatives wanting to see me, skulking up to the microphone … screwing up all the careful choreography...

“ …. okay, young attractive, White couple with their beautiful newborn … then the mom with the quiet, teenaged autistic … followed by the well-scrubbed, adult in his Home Depot apron and name tag, who’s just a little bit hard to understand …. Hey! What’s that homeless guy doing walking up there? Where’s the attractive White people with the kid????” Holy Crap! Are you listening to what that bum is saying? Where’s Home Depot? Get Home Depot up there quick!”

If I'm going to have any influence on anything beyond our organization, it will be, I hope, by demonstration ... Showing and shaming the system---or the parts that remain awake---into seeing just how low their standards of quality are ... how low their expectations are, for themselves, their staff, and their clients ... and their system.

That’s the life for me ….

stanley said...

andy say] Okay ... I have sinned....I remember the drill...Like the Books of the Bible, or what you should do to a tailor-made double play after dashing to second on a weak grounder to short ...Break it up!

Would have to be a hard grounder...would have been in at 2nd, before ss picked up the ball on a weak one:) ...ss only play to 1st...miss the DD reform anology...but “thanks for the memories”...

batting 0 for 2 here...don’t get B-of-B either...make it 0 for 3, don’t remember the drill...well 1 for 4 (way below my avg)...I get you have sinned...that one 80 mph down the middle.

andy say] First of all, Stanley, the Red Army won the War, while Ike played General School Marm to Churchill, Montgomery, Patton and De Gaulle. Let's not forget that, comrade.

Well comrade, truth is hitler lost the war...invaded russia...didn’t turn the wehrmacht/ss and panzers lose on the brits and frogs at dunkirk...kept the panzers in reserve on d-day (course war lost by then)...didn’t pursue jet fighter which could have destroyed the allied bombers.

that said Ike was a good school marm...surely you didn’t mean to make light of school marm leadership...also for a GOPer provided effective “leadership” as president.

andy say]if I'm DDS and I look around the dinner table at my 21 bloated, bickering, slobbering, snoring, nose-picking children, I start thinking seriously about the priesthood.

If they are not going take all necessary action, it would be better if most DDS leadership would go to a monestary

andy say] Paul, I asked for your opinion on CAL-DD ... mainly to make everyone else groan. But, I didn't groan when I posted it, and I expect an

hope it makes someone groan...and would like to hear pauls opine...

andy say] a mountain of rules and restrictions that are sometimes ironically referred to as "services", and sometimes more aptly described as "programming".

How did lanterman intent become so convoluted...KISS: 1 IDT determines needs; 2 RC finds cost effective programs to support needs; 3 legs either fund need or tell those with special needs eat cake...DDS take all necessary action to insure lanterman is enforced.

andy say] And when you say “please”, you’re a self-advocate...If we only had $5 billion ... (sigh) “please”!

it’s not about money...IT’S LEADERSHIP and LEADERSHIP ACCOUNTIBILITY...advocates NOT excusing leadership

doug say] Stanley, that was almost glossolalia.

agree its holy lanunage:)

doug say] should keep firing DDS directors until there are no more bad services.

no and the promblem is we keep using extreme examples vice a golden mean...just hold leadership accountable, vice congratulating them for maintaining an unacceptablr status quo.

doug say] May God have mercy on our souls.
Baa baa baa


andy say] That’s the life for me ...

“Depression is the price you pay for knowing” (someone)

stanley seigler

Doug The Una said...

Stanley, "no and the promblem is we keep using extreme examples vice a golden mean...just hold leadership accountable, vice congratulating them for maintaining an unacceptablr status quo."

Yes, I repent.

Andrew said...

Let me take a moment to clarify a few things before leaping to defend the honor of the Red Army from the cowardly assaults of revisionist historians ... spreading their dirty lies like manure as the tools and lackeys for the international cabal of corrupt imperialistic capitalists.

For you, so easily mistaken for a Maury Wills or Lou Brock, yes, it requires a sharp grounder to short to look like a "tailor-made DP". For me, more like a Willie Horton, Boog Powel or Wilbur Wood, a weak roller inching past the pitcher presages a bang-bang play at second.

"The drill" refers to the verbosity of days gone by ... when Doug's Damn Blog started restricting free speech and artistic license ...limiting words by number, rather than size and arcane-ness. Some of us, had to learn to chop up our clear, coherent, right-to-the-heart-of-matter observations and post, like the separate books of the Bible, one gospel at a time.

"DD Reform analogy", if I catch your drift, referred to "membership" privileges ... i.e. losing my label and being shunned by the Mennonites here for posting nonsense and, what some might view as "cuteness" (quite wrongly, I feel ... there's nothing "cute" about porn and me). Anyway, at some point, the urgency to tear myself away from cuteness and post something about "system reform" becomes overwhelming.

There, I hope that helps. Do you see, now? Sometimes it's better to not know what I mean... When my small but dwindling audience thinks the references might be too esoteric for them, I'm still safe and well-armored ... But when you make me explain things, it's all too obvious that--'esoteric my ass'-- the analogies were merely too stupid for one to bother with ... and they'll stop trying. Hope you're happy ...

Before I start sweating and shaking over the need to say something about system reform ... let me just point out something you may have overlooked during the War. It's true, as you say, that Hitler lost the War because of his decision to invade Russia---"Napoleon, Schmapoleon", he was known to say. Following that fateful decision though--and no doubt purely a coincidence--the rollicking Wehrmact, on their way to Stalingrad, happened to bump into ... (guess who?) ...The Red Army! who put a pretty big dent in their party bus with one of their nifty little T34 tanks.

To go with those nice new tanks was a new-found vigor in the Red Army. A much braver, more daring, more patriotic Red Army ... Every patriot/soldier was filled with an ever-growing love for the Motherland ... thanks to "leadership" and discipline instilled by some of their officers ... posted in the rear of each unit with orders from Uncle Joe himself, to shoot absolutely anyone and everyone running East, i.e. the wrong way to Germany.

p.s. ... nice to know the endearingly nostalgic term, "Frogs" still holds up quite well when referring to the Franks and Visigoths.

See you in St. Petersburg, comrade.

stanley said...

Andy say] Do you see, now?

si, see

Andy say] the honor of the Red Army

The red army could have been a SS division if hitler had treated the liberated people as citizens vice prisoners/slaves...there would have been no cold war and I might have been over-groupen-fuhrer of CA.

stanley seigler

stanley seigler said...

CSA Report on DDS/Regional Centers PART I ...see dougs 5 part article in the examiner...my two bit take on issues NOT addressed.

CLIPS from CSA Report http://www.bsa.ca.gov/pdfs/reports/97024.pdf

[CLIP]...Regional Center Budgets Are Not Based on Needs, and Departmental Oversight Could Be Improved

California State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD)

2007-2011 STATE PLAN say:...funding for services is not necessarily tied to the number of individuals in the system and the types of services they require.



CSA did not offer any recommendations to correct this critical issue...oh/and this has been pointed out in previous SCDD five year plans...and probably will be pointed out in future SCDD plane...what action has been...will be...taken to correct this painfully obvious problem...another commission maybe...



[CLIP]...a so-called "negotiated rate" that appears to have been calculated to incur a specific level of spending before the end of the fiscal year rather than to obtain the best value for the consumers the regional center serves.

this just one of the games...spend it so budget wont be cut...reminds of Navy days when spare parts were thrown overboard so all funds could be spend and next years funds not cut.

[CLIP]...roughly 400 employees who responded do not feel safe reporting suspected improprieties to their management ...employees at Inland Regional Center and Valley Mountain Regional Center disagreed, on average, with the statement "Management has created safe mechanisms for employees to raise concerns about practices that may put the regional center's reputation at risk."

wonder how many special needs folks, family, friends, feel safe to raise concerns about practices that may put RC clients at risk...

[goto PART II]

stanley seigler

paul said...

“Secondly” DDS and the Priesthood.

Andy,

I think that you sell short Stanley’s KISS method. It is especially useful in systems that are complex, like government and human services. You would see this if not for you attempts to be too cute by 7/8th

The SS approach to Statutory Interpretation is utilized by Absolutism Without Boards (AWB). AWB has one of the most well equipped tool boxes I have seen. It sharpest tool is the Deprepositionator. I suggest that you visit the website.

“Thirdly, Paul, I asked for your opinion on CAL-DD ... mainly to make everyone else groan….”

Andy,

Sorry – I turned off the mailer function on CAL-DD and similar lists, long ago. Occasionally I go directly to CAL-DD to find out what is fashionable. God gave me two ears and one mouth so I could listen twice as much as I talk. I have to fight back somehow.

“I expect an answer ...”

Andy,

What possible reason could exist for using my time to read the report, let alone forming an opinion and then posting that opinion for all to never read?

While considering the question please keep in mind the attractive alternatives - watching the grass grow or visiting your bored “Loan”ly librarians (my favorites thus far are Voluminous Annals 3, and Overnight Checkout 6).

stanley said...

PART II will not post...just as well...as:

[paul say] What possible reason could exist for using my time to read the report, let alone forming an opinion and then posting that opinion for all to never read?

stanley seigler

stanley said...

since post saying PART II posted...decided to try PART II again...

PART II

CSA Report on DDS/Regional Centers PART I ...see dougs 5 part article in the examiner...my two bit take on issues NOT addressed.

[CLIP]...the ways in which the regional centers established payment rates and selected vendors had the appearance of favoritism or fiscal irresponsibility and did not demonstrate compliance with recent statutory amendments attempting to control the costs of purchased services.

recent statutory cost control crap is another nail in Lanterman coffin...legs/gov win again...but "nice" advocates have a place at the table...

[CLIP] ...the regional center did not contractually obligate the vendor to provide any specific deliverable, the regional center could not hold the vendor to any specific level of performance. Finally, this same vendor was later awarded a multimillion-dollar contract to become the regional center's transportation broker—the central administrator for consumer transportation routing

California Housing Foundation (CHF), a non-profit agency started by Inland Regional Center shows (IRS 990) shows assets/liabilities of $3.5M for 2006. In 2009 their assets were $90M. The significant increase was a bond CHF took out to build a new, $50M facility...dont know from where the additional $40M in assets comes...oh/and IRC will fund CHF $221M over 30 years to pay back the bond.

nothing wrong with this if there are positive outcomes for IRC clients...but it is something the CSA report should have addressed...many games can be played with this kind of money.

(NOTE: all figs are approximates, but believe in the ballpark for general discussion)

[CLIP] ...The resulting rate was considerably higher than the rate of an existing vendor performing the same type of service and the vendor owner receiving the higher rate was the sister of the regional center's assistant director who approved the rate.

really...hard to believe in this wonderful free market.

[CLIP] ...Although the Lanterman Act specifies that service coordinators should provide case management to an average of 66 consumers, the governor and the Legislature temporarily suspended this requirement effective February 2009 through June 2011. As a result, one respondent indicated that her unit averages 80 cases per service coordinator. Another respondent said that caseloads had increased by 20 percent. A program manager indicated that these rising caseloads prevent service coordinators from building and maintaining relationships with the consumers and families they serve...

rising caseloads prevent service coordinators from building and maintaining relationships...66 consumers prevent service coordinators from building and maintaining relationships.

[CLIP] ...it [DDS] also stated that it does not believe it has the legal authority to implement our [CSA] recommendation that it require regional centers to document the basis of any IPP-related vendor selections and specify which comparable vendors (when available) were evaluated.

DDS has the authority: (Lanterman 4434b) The department [DDS] shall take ALL necessary actions to support regional centers to successfully achieve compliance with this section and provide high quality services and supports to consumers and their families. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DDRIGHTS/message/4664

The confidentiality of the client need not be compromised. Programs/services can be compared without naming client.

stanley seigler

paul said...

"Ryssdal: Well, let me ask you this then, getting back on track here: If the president isn't the most powerful human being on the planet, why do we all think he is?"

"Dubner: I'd like to think it goes back to the early 19th century and Thomas Carlyle and his Great Man theory of history. It seems that we need to believe, very badly, that somebody is 100 percent in charge. It's comforting, it's convenient. But it's also wrong."

http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/11/02/pm-freakonomics-how-powerful-is-that-leader/

stanley said...

[CLIP] ...it [DDS] also stated that it does not believe it has the legal authority to implement our [CSA] recommendation that it require regional centers to document the basis of any IPP-related vendor selections and specify which comparable vendors (when available) were evaluated

still believe DDS has the legal authority...but after DDS and others comments at 04NOV10 hearing...it probably accomplishes little if anything...

stanley seigler

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