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GOOD
MORNING CHAIRPERSONS ALLEN AND PATTERSON, OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS AND SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR
TUOHEY. I AM JEARLINE F. WILLIAMS, A LONG TIME RESIDENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. FOUR
MONTHS AGO I RETIRED FROM THE D.C. GOVERNMENT. AT THAT TIME, I WAS THE DIRECTOR OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES (DHS). I HAD SERVED THIS COMMUNITY TO THE BEST OF MY
ABILITIES AND WITH WHAT HAD BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE GOVERNMENT AS DISTINCTION FOR ALMOST
30 YEARS. I COMMEND THE COUNCIL, ESPECIALLY THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND THE HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEES, FOR YOUR AGGRESSIVE OVERSIGHT OF ISSUES SURROUNDING SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH MENTAL RETARDATION AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (MRDD). I HOPE THAT THE COUNCIL'S DUE DILIGENCE WILL LEAD TO GREATER COORDINATION AMONG GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND IMPROVED SERVICES FOR SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE PROCESS OF SOLVING PROBLEMS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT OR EVEN WHO HAS CAUSED THESE PROBLEMS. ON THE OTHER HAND, I DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS CONSTRUCTIVE TO ENGAGE IN A PROCESS OF PUBLIC BLAMING, FINGERPOINTING AND SCAPEGOATING. I HAVE SEEN THAT PROCESS AT WORK IN THIS MATTER. I HAVE BEEN THE TARGET OF IT, AS HAS MY COLLEAGUE, JESS GOODE, DHS GENERAL COUNSEL. AFTER I RETIRED, WHICH I DID VOLUNTARILY FOR REASONS OF PERSONAL HEALTH AND WHICH NONETHELESS WAS REPORTED AS BEING FORCED OUT OF OFFICE, JESS GOODE INFORMED ME THAT HE HAD RECEIVED A LETTER OF TERMINATION FROM DEPUTY MAYOR CAROLYN GRAHAM. THE REASON GIVEN FOR MR. GOODE'S TERMINATION WAS HIS PURPORTED FAILURE TO REPORT "LACK OF ACTION ON THE PART OF THE DRS DIRECTOR TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED IN THE MENTAL RETARDATION AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM." NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WAS FLABBERGASTED! UP UNTIL I CHOSE TO RETIRE, THE MAYOR PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE IN MY ABILITIES. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE STEPS I TOOK TO IMPROVE THE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (DD) SERVICE SYSTEM HAD BEEN PRAISED AND EMBRACED BY THE ADMINISTRATION. MOREOVER, NO OTHER DIRECTIONS OR SUGGESTIONS WERE EVER GIVEN TO ME. IN ADDITION, LESS THAN A MONTH EARLIER (WITH THE ADMINISTRATION'S APPROVAL), I SUBMITTED TO THE COUNCIL A SERIES OF ACTIONS I HAD TAKEN TO IMPROVE SERVICE WITHIN THE MENTAL RETARDATION AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ADMINISTRATION (MRDDA). BY THE WAY, THE CHARGE AGAINST JESS GOODE HAS BEEN RESCINDED PURPORTEDLY WHILE THE ADMINISTRATION INVESTIGATES THE MATTER. I BELIEVE A PROPER INVESTIGATION WILL EXONERATE MR. GOODE, AS IT WOULD HAVE HAD IT BEEN DONE IN THE FIRST PLACE. DHS PRESENTED TESTIMONY BEFORE THIS COUNCIL IN MARCH AND AGAIN IN DECEMBER OF 1999. DURING BOTH HEARINGS THE FOLLOWING FACTS WERE EVIDENT:
I HAVE CONTINUOUSLY STRESSED THAT IT WILL TAKE TIME TO FIX THE DD SYSTEM. IN MY OPINION, AS WELL AS THAT OF INFORMED ADVOCATES, THERE IS NO "90 DAY QUICK FIX." YOU CANNOT "BLOW UP" OR "OUT SOURCE" MRDD AND ASSUME THAT THE SERVICE DELIVERY PROBLEMS FOR PERSONS WITH MENTAL RETARDATION AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES WILL BE SOLVED. THE SYSTEM NEEDS AND CITIZENS DESERVE A THOUGHTFUL, INFORMED REORGANIZATION. I HOPE THIS COUNCIL WILL DEMAND THAT SUCH A REORGANIZATION PLAN BE DEVELOPED, APPROVED AND IMPLEMENTED. I WANT THIS COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THESE FACTS:
SECOND I COULD NOT HAVE PROVIDED SUCH ASSURANCES SINCE I ONLY HAD AUTHORITY OVER DHS AND NOT THE OTHER MAJOR AGENCIES WHICH MAKE UP THE DD SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM. I HAVE BEEN DEEPLY SADDENED BY THE FIRESTORM OF ALLEGATIONS AND THE ATTACKS ON MY INTEGRITY AND COMPETENCE AND THAT OF OTHER HARDWORKING GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES. AS I STATED IN MY LETTER TO SOME MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, WHAT IS HAPPENING IS AN AFFRONT TO THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. WHILE I CONTINUE TO HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR THIS STILL NEW AND STILL PROMISING ADMINISTRATION, THE MAYOR NEEDS TO QUELL PROMPTLY AND DEFINITIVELY ANY ATTEMPTS BY HIS EXECUTIVE OFFICE TO DIVERT ATTENTION FROM ANYONE'S ACCOUNTABILITY, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR THE MAYOR MUST LEAD EVERYONE IN CONCENTRATING ON THE REAL ISSUE, THAT IS HOW TO FASHION A HIGH QUALITY SYSTEM TO PROVIDE FOR THE NEEDS OF THIS MOST FRAGILE SEGMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY. |
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