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Extracted from Consolidated Report
This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 11 findings
F1
Humboldt County and the cities of Arcata, Blue Lake, Eureka, Ferndale, Fortuna, Rio Dell, and Trinidad have adopted by ordinance the financial conflict of interest regulations required by the Political Reform Act. However, Humboldt County and the cities of Blue Lake, Eureka, Ferndale, Rio Dell, and Trinidad have not formally adopted ethics codes or any similar codes of conduct that identify and incorporate other important public policies and principles of law regarding ethics and conflicts of interest.
F2
In 1998, the City of Fortuna adopted Rules of Conduct for its City Council. Although one of these eight rules contains a general directive that conflicts of interest must be avoided, the City Council has no actual code of ethics.
F3
The City of Arcata has adopted a Code of Ethics which is found in the Appendix to its City 19 Council Protocol Manual. This Code of Ethics consists of a statement of 12 “principles,” and is based on the ethics code which the International City Managers Association originally adopted in 1924 and revised in 1998. Its content is directed more to the activities of managers and administrators than to elected officials such as City Council members.
F4
Generally accepted principles of good government indicate that citizens have more confidence in the integrity and fair operation of their local government when their views are given consideration in decision-making and the formulation of policy.
F5
The Ethics Workshop sponsored by the Humboldt County Administrative Office was well- received.
F6
DHHS continues to pay caregivers who are suspected or known to be abusive and/or unqualified to serve as caregivers. This puts the county at serious risk of liability. 32
F7
DHHS has no centralized system of cross-checking caregiver timecards to verify actual hours of service to clients, leading to fraud.
F8
DHHS continues to approve payment for caregivers who are known to have committed fraud.
F9
Lack of communication between APS and IHSS workers in shared cases creates gaps in critical knowledge and case progress and interventions.
F10
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department has no written policy or procedure for mandatory reporting of abuse or welfare checks.
F11
The HCSD has no formal training for deputies in the areas of mandatory reporting of abuse and welfare checks.
Recommendations 11
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R1The Grand Jury recommends that Humboldt County and the cities of Blue Lake, Eureka, Ferndale, Rio Dell, and Trinidad review available model ethics codes and adopt their own codes of ethics, to apply to all officials, elected and appointed.
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R2The Grand Jury recommends that the City of Fortuna review available model ethics codes and adopt its own code of ethics, to apply to all officials, elected and appointed.
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R3The Grand Jury recommends that the City of Arcata review other available model codes of ethics and consider modifying or supplementing its current Code of Ethics in accordance therewith.
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R4The Grand Jury recommends that Humboldt County and the cities of Arcata, Blue Lake, Eureka, Ferndale, Fortuna, Rio Dell and Trinidad include citizen participation in the development (or, in the case of Arcata, modification or supplementation) of their codes of ethics.
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R5The Grand Jury recommends that the County Administrative Office regularly sponsor ethics workshops and expand the invitation list to include all elected and appointed city and county officials. Grand Jury Report #2004-AF-02 GRAND JURY ACCESS TO ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES FILES WHO SHALL RESPOND:
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R6The Grand Jury recommends that DHHS discontinue use of taxpayer dollars to pay caregivers who are not providing the levels of care approved for the client, particularly when physical, emotional, or financial abuse is involved.
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R7The Grand Jury recommends that a centralized system for cross-checking and verifying each caregiver’s cumulative timecard hours and verifying client timecard signature be established.
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R8The Grand Jury recommends that when a caregiver’s fraud has been legally confirmed, that caregiver be permanently disqualified as a caregiver in Humboldt County.
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R9The Grand Jury recommends that a cross-file of shared cases be instituted so that APS and IHSS caseworkers have access to information and status of an individual’s case within the other division. When the status of a case is shared, caseworkers and supervisors from both divisions should be included in a multi-disciplinary decision-making team. APS caseworkers whose clients are also IHSS recipients should assist IHSS by verifying authorized caregiver services during regular visits to the client and reporting findings to IHSS.
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R10The Grand Jury recommends that HCSD develop a written policy and establish procedures for mandatory reporting of abuse and welfare checks, including requirement for the documentation of deputy visits and findings immediately following those visits.
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R11The Grand Jury recommends that, when the new policy and procedures have been developed, annual mandatory training in the newly established policy and procedures regarding mandated reporting of abuse and welfare checks be instituted and a documented record of attendees maintained. Grand Jury Report #2004-HS-02 HUMBOLDT COUNTY’S FOSTER CARE PROGRAM NEEDS HELP NOW WHO SHALL RESPOND: