Health, human services commissioner: change necessary
unhappygrammy-Nicholas Toumpas states,"Give me an alternative." I'll give him an alternative. Put a stop to NH DCYF's illegal practices in the stealing of un-abused, non-neglected children. Get rid of ALL the un-ethical DCYF worker's in the state. Mainly Nashua. Start at the top of the fraud chain, where 99% of the fraud exist's. Work your way down. There's your alternative. You'll save the state MILLIONS!
DHHS Commissioner Nicholas Toumpas speaks at a Portsmouth Rotary luncheon Thursday afternoon at the Redhook Ale Brewery.
Dave Choate
By Dave Choate
dchoate@seacoastonline.com
May 07, 2010 2:00 AM
PORTSMOUTH — Confronting rising demand and steep cuts, N.H. Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Nicholas Toumpas said his department is trying to transform the way it delivers services to residents.
Speaking to a large crowd at the weekly Portsmouth Rotary meeting and lunch, Toumpas outlined a 12 percent increase in the demand for services from the department, which handles nursing, elderly and mental health patients. The department has been asked to cut nearly 9 percent of its budget as part of nearly $85 million in proposed reductions statewide. His budget, he said, represents 45 percent of the state's general fund, making it far and away the largest department.
"We are an organization that is going through an extraordinary time right now," Toumpas said. "In the short term, there's not a whole lot to be cheery about."
The state as a whole is battling falling revenues and rising costs, he added.
"We have a $200 million problem," Toumpas said, referring to an estimated budget shortfall lawmakers are trying to close. "Everything is impacted by it."
Cutting the deficit will require change, the commissioner said, beginning with looking at population segments by need and attempting to focus the delivery of services, bringing together nonprofits and other agencies, taking a hard look at what the department offers and how to make cuts while maintaining or raising the quality of core services and enhancing the department's technology infrastructure.
Toumpas said, while he's sure a number of people will say the idea of improving service while heavy cost-cutting is going on is crazy, the department must try.
"My response is, 'Give me an alternative,'" Toumpas said.
He praised the collaboration of agencies in Portsmouth. In a response to a question from one Rotarian, he said further consolidation of agencies — including those that treat mental health disorders — is a wise decision in the long run. He also spoke of mobilizing volunteers to aid public health efforts.
"You've got a marvelous jump-start," Toumpas said.
He also received one broader question about why state government agencies seem resistant to change until it becomes a critical need, citing studies as far back as 15 years ago that predicted unsustainability of current practices. Toumpas countered by saying the size and relatively autonomous sectors of state government cause difficulty, and said quantum leaps and sweeping efficiency improvements at that level are not likely to happen any time soon.
Nancy Notis, a member of Rotary and the Portsmouth Regional Hospital spokeswoman, said the goal with bringing in speakers like Toumpas is to provide locals with a view of issues that go beyond the city's borders.
"We have a speaker for every Rotary meeting," said Notis, who added that they target "speakers that come in that can enlighten us on things going on, not only locally but also ... statewide and nationally."
http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20100507-NEWS-5070397
An e-mail I received from Anonymous in response to this article:
Dot,
I completely agree with you! DCYF and their false allegations have resulted in the huge waste of taxpayers' monies and time, and there has been harm to the very children, youths and families by DCYF that NH DCYF has claimed to be "servicing." NH DCYF offices should be fined heavily and re-audited for each allegation that involved falsified documents, false allegation and harm to the child or family that they are supposed to be servicing....as well for each day of wasting the taxpayers' monies by tying up the Family Courts with such allegations. The Nashua DCYF office, the Salem NH DCYF office and the Concord NH DCYF offices are the first 3 offices that are in dire need of being audited on ALL of their cases. It's my understanding that the supervisor who made false allegations re: my son and our family has since been promoted to "state liaison for abuse and neglect." Our taxpayer dollars paid for her course/training. Her salary is listed below. My concern is that there are too many unethical people in high up positions and when one finally gets replaced, as Maggie Bishop eventually will be, that a Maggie Protoge will assume the lead role of NH DCYF. 2 wrongs certainly don't make a right. The fact that NH DCYF harms families is the 1st wrong, the lack of accountability is the 2nd wrong and that there hasn't been a mandated audit of NH DCYF at the request of NH Families to achieve an indepth look at NH DCYF's handling of cases, their clinical and ethical practices is the 3rd wrong! 2 wrongs don't made a right and 3 wrongs are equivalent to a huge wrong!
http://www.unionleader.com/uploads/media-items/2009/January/2008statesalaries.pdf
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