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Breaking News: Turning Points for Children Ends Its Community Umbrella Agency CUA-DHS Program
Turning Points for Children's Community Umbrella Agency (CUA) CYS program is being terminated due to mounting legal and insurance challenges, as revealed by David Fair, Deputy Chief at the organization.
In a recent interview with Renaldo McKenzie of The NeoLiberal Round Podcast, David Fair, Deputy Chief at Turning Points for Children, announced the termination of its Community Umbrella Agency (CUA) CYS program. This decision comes in the wake of mounting challenges faced by the child welfare agency, including legal and insurance obstacles.
According to David Fair, "we're discontinuing the CUAs as of August 2023... We can no longer afford the insurance. The insurance costs are in the seven figures, and DHS won't reimburse. It's a complex situation. They [DHS] have immunity because they are government, so we're the ones who get sued even when they are at fault. The insurance costs are in the seven figures, and DHS won't reimburse. It's a complicated story."
The program has faced escalating lawsuits and insurance claims, making it financially unsustainable. Turning Points' liability of $10 million, significantly higher than the typical cap of $500,000, increased the financial risks. Disputes between Turning Points and the Department of Human Services (DHS) over decision-making authority have also complicated matters. To ensure continuity of care, Turning Points will transfer its core services to other community agencies. This decision highlights the unforeseen legal issues faced by child welfare agencies and the need to balance accountability with the crucial work of organizations like Turning Points. Efforts to secure legislative immunity faced opposition from trial lawyers. Collaborative efforts are required to address the complex legal and insurance challenges faced by the child welfare system.
The cessation of Turning Points' CUA CYS program serves as a sobering reminder of the challenges encountered by child welfare agencies. Fair acknowledged that the architects of the community umbrella agencies did not foresee the magnitude of legal issues that would arise. While the intention was to safeguard agencies from lawsuits, unscrupulous lawyers exploited the system, specifically targeting child welfare organizations in pursuit of significant settlements. Attempts to secure legislative immunity, similar to that granted to DHS, were met with resistance from trial lawyers concerned about the potential financial implications.
As the child welfare system grapples with these complex legal and insurance challenges, it becomes increasingly crucial to strike a balance that ensures accountability while safeguarding the vital work performed by organizations like Turning Points for Children. The protection of vulnerable children and families remains paramount, demanding collaborative efforts to address these issues effectively.
Subscribe for free! Donate to support our growth: The NeoLiberal Round
Visit us at https://theneoliberal.com or http://renaldocmckenzie.com
Submitted by: Renaldo McKenzie, Creator and Chief Publisher at The NeoLiberal Round and The NeoLiberal Corporation. Renaldo is also the author of "Neoliberalism, Globalization, Income Inequality, Poverty, and Resistance." Renaldo is an Adjunct Professor and a Doctoral Student at Georgetown University. He has previously worked as a CUA Case Manager and a CYS Agency Director at the It Takes a Village FGDM program.
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By Renaldo MckenzieTurning Points for Children's Community Umbrella Agency (CUA) CYS program is being terminated due to mounting legal and insurance challenges, as revealed by David Fair, Deputy Chief at the organization.
In a recent interview with Renaldo McKenzie of The NeoLiberal Round Podcast, David Fair, Deputy Chief at Turning Points for Children, announced the termination of its Community Umbrella Agency (CUA) CYS program. This decision comes in the wake of mounting challenges faced by the child welfare agency, including legal and insurance obstacles.
According to David Fair, "we're discontinuing the CUAs as of August 2023... We can no longer afford the insurance. The insurance costs are in the seven figures, and DHS won't reimburse. It's a complex situation. They [DHS] have immunity because they are government, so we're the ones who get sued even when they are at fault. The insurance costs are in the seven figures, and DHS won't reimburse. It's a complicated story."
The program has faced escalating lawsuits and insurance claims, making it financially unsustainable. Turning Points' liability of $10 million, significantly higher than the typical cap of $500,000, increased the financial risks. Disputes between Turning Points and the Department of Human Services (DHS) over decision-making authority have also complicated matters. To ensure continuity of care, Turning Points will transfer its core services to other community agencies. This decision highlights the unforeseen legal issues faced by child welfare agencies and the need to balance accountability with the crucial work of organizations like Turning Points. Efforts to secure legislative immunity faced opposition from trial lawyers. Collaborative efforts are required to address the complex legal and insurance challenges faced by the child welfare system.
The cessation of Turning Points' CUA CYS program serves as a sobering reminder of the challenges encountered by child welfare agencies. Fair acknowledged that the architects of the community umbrella agencies did not foresee the magnitude of legal issues that would arise. While the intention was to safeguard agencies from lawsuits, unscrupulous lawyers exploited the system, specifically targeting child welfare organizations in pursuit of significant settlements. Attempts to secure legislative immunity, similar to that granted to DHS, were met with resistance from trial lawyers concerned about the potential financial implications.
As the child welfare system grapples with these complex legal and insurance challenges, it becomes increasingly crucial to strike a balance that ensures accountability while safeguarding the vital work performed by organizations like Turning Points for Children. The protection of vulnerable children and families remains paramount, demanding collaborative efforts to address these issues effectively.
Subscribe for free! Donate to support our growth: The NeoLiberal Round
Visit us at https://theneoliberal.com or http://renaldocmckenzie.com
Submitted by: Renaldo McKenzie, Creator and Chief Publisher at The NeoLiberal Round and The NeoLiberal Corporation. Renaldo is also the author of "Neoliberalism, Globalization, Income Inequality, Poverty, and Resistance." Renaldo is an Adjunct Professor and a Doctoral Student at Georgetown University. He has previously worked as a CUA Case Manager and a CYS Agency Director at the It Takes a Village FGDM program.