Whaley Children Center's woes show need for stronger leaders

[naypalm]

by Flint Journal Editorial Board
Wednesday May 06, 2009, 8:35 AM

As the once-venerable reputation of Whaley Children's Center hits bottom, the most frustrating aspect is that the whole mess was avoidable.

Money is not the issue, at least judging by the $6-million cushion Whaley reported at the end of 2007. But just slightly more than a year after posting that rosy financial picture, Whaley had to surrender the license to Optimist House -- one of its four group homes -- after a Genesee County health inspector found it in filth and squalor. Worse, inspectors had been reporting neglect and potentially dangerous conditions regularly beginning in 2006.

That's simply inexcusable, especially given the population it serves. Whaley's lifeline mission, as shelter and treatment center of last resort for some of the most severely abused children and youths in Michigan, demands greater diligence, achievable only by a board, administration and staff ramped up accordingly.

Whaley's recent staffing instability seems to point the way to disaster -- most notably in running through four presidents/chief executives in five years, with a fifth working on an interim basis. A judge actually threatened the last regular CEO with jail for contempt for foot-dragging on an adoption procedure.

The violations that led to the license surrender -- at least the ones on public record -- are restricted to physical and environmental deficiencies as distinct from client abuse. But such obvious neglect could have been avoided if Whaley had taken better oversight procedures. It has been customary for board members, as well as the CEO, to conduct periodic visits of the various facilities. If these on-site visits had been carried out and followed up on rigorously, then government inspectors likely would not have encountered the such deplorable conditions.

At least the organization has begun to take accountability steps to discipline the employees responsible, including terminating the group home's program manager. Still, the situation underscores the need for stronger and more effective leadership in the future.

In the meantime, with residents of Optimist House relocated to cottages on the main campus, the Whaley organization is once again trying to restructure itself and regain the credibility it used to enjoy, which might lead to restoration of the lost license. This needs to happen. Whaley's constituents have suffered severe abuse and neglect, which in most cases includes sexual abuse. They have been through the social services system, and go to Whaley as a final weigh station. Mere knowledge of the need to fill that gap ought to be all the motivation necessary to restore Whaley as the best institution to help these troubled children.

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