Teens Happy Homes contract terminated.

The Business of Child Abuse

By Joshua Allen

The county supervisors have voted to terminate the contract of Teens Happy Homes.  The closure of the corrupt agency, has been inevitable since the first Times article appeared weeks ago.

The highlight from the Times investigation were the transcripts, and actual audio excerpts,which were secretly recorded 3 years earlier, in 2010, by Askari Moyenda.  The recordings, memorandum of understanding, and links to the audit, have previously been posted.

What is new, and which will be linked here, is a copy of the deposition of Beautina Robinson by Mr. Moyenda.  

The deposition, which took place on August 28, 2012, is a bit tedious, especially since Ms. Robinson seems to be the only one represented by counsel.

But it does open a window into the type of individual written about here, and elsewhere, which sully the image of foster care in Los Angeles.

In the deposition, we learn that Ms. Robinson didn’t know if the county prohibited solicitations for personal gain,.  Also, she doesn’t recall if she received nearly $10k personally.

She can’t recall when she got a check for almost $10k? …     Huh?

Actually, Ms. Robinson says, “I don’t recall,” so frequently throughout the deposition, that one wonders what she actually did remember.

Robinson couldn’t recall for example, when she was asked what the qualifications were, when she became an executive director of a foster agency.

On another question, Ms. Robinson noted, that she learned that selling a non-profit was illegal, “During the process of this.”

Other enlightening tidbits, have to do with the qualifications of sitting board members, (presumably proof of life).

Near the end of the deposition, there is a long, twisted and rambling question and answer session, about what Ms. Robinson considers to be fraudulent, lying, misleading and misrepresentative, when she is communicating with board members.

Finally, towards the end of this confusing repartee, Mr. Moyenda asks:

Question:  “Okay.  Would you consider it fraud if you –if an administrator –if an executive –chief executive officer misled the board on the amount of donation that was given, would you consider that fraudulent?”

Answer:  “I refuse to answer that.”

We found it a bit more confusing (if that is possible), when Ms. Robinson was asked about her education.  She went to Oakwood Academy College, …”went to Indiana University and took some classes,” and has an “honorary doctorate degree.”

Then, the following questions and answers ensues:

Question:  “Slow down.  So you have what?  I’m sorry?”

Answer:  “An honorary doctorate degree.”

Question: “What does that mean?”

Answer:  “Just what I said.”

Question: “I don’t know what that means.”

Answer: “Well I don’t either.”

Question: “Is that related to any education?  Is the honorary degree related to any education?”

Answer: “Humanities.  I have a doctorate in humanities.”

At this point, Mr. Moyenda seems to be trying to get Ms. Robinson to state the honorary degree is useless.  Things ramble a bit, until he asks…

Question:  “Okay.  So there was no educational attachment to that honorary degree?  Yes or no?”

Answer:  “I don’t recall.”

Not exactly the Supreme court, or even Matlock, but one hopes the gist comes through.

There is a lot more, and it is a worthwhile read, if for no other reason then to highlight the lack of professionalism and utter incompetence we allow, by the people who run these places.  For that alone, the plaintiff has clearly done us a service.

One doubts however, the “pound of flesh,’ even when served cold, will bring much peace.

It is ironic that a foster child, whose entire life fits inside a plastic garbage bag, could shoplift a $50 IPOD, and get booked, fingerprinted, photographed, and tossed into jail.

Yet when previous corruption was exposed, similar, and in some cases much worse than the goings on at Teens Happy Homes, there was nothing more than a slap on the wrist to the perpetrators.

Currently, there are agencies in Los Angeles County, with similar proclivities.  Should there be no legal consequences for perpetrators, then crooked executives from other agencies, will know the only thing risked, is to be shut down.

Monies need not be paid back or returned, and there will be no incarceration, regardless of the extent of the malfeasence.

Money meant for abused and neglected children has been siphoned.  This requires justice. For the children, and for us, the taxpayers.  Such malfeasance is a bit more rare these days, but still not unusual with foster care agencies.

A couple agencies come to mind immediately.

Financial corruption invites mistreatment, in one form or another, towards foster children. Such corruption, over time, often ends with a foster child dying.

There is a correlation.

It has happened time, and time again – and shall coninue to happen all too frequently, unless we make changes with honest appraisal.

Joshuaallenonline.com

Tagged: Corruption, Foster Care, Teens Happy Homes