BAKERSFIELD, CA - For months now, developmentally disabled citizens and their advocates have expressed their concerns and frustrations with the services being provided by the Kern Regional Center.
Now, a state audit is raising new questions about the leadership and work environment at KRC.
A spokesman for the Department of Developmental Services said they have given KRC 45 days to correct some serious problems.
California's DDS lodged a complaint with KRC on Dec. 11.
In the complaint, DDS outlined a myriad of concerns about how KRC is operated. The state says these concerns stem from years of client complaints.
"I don't think that we disregarded any comments. If there are concerns that are expressed to us, we respond to them," said Duane Law, KRC CEO.
But the state disagrees.
The audit cites numerous issues, calling KRC non-complient. DDS cited insufficient oversight by the board, lack of knowledge, low morale and lack of trust, and said KRC is in a critically fragile state.
"We have a survey that we have discussed as a board and approved, and will be sending it out shortly to all 8,000 consumers, all 4,000 vendors and to our staff and other community partners. Kind of just getting a good assessment of how we are serving our community," said Susan Lara, KRC board president.
But in December, a parent of a former regional center client told us the center wasn't doing its job.
"When the kern regional center is sending out denials, they're not sending out explanations on why the children of the families are being denied services," said Kelly Lank, parent of former KRC client.
In the amended January notice, DDS listed findings of its Novemer investigation and the results raised quite a few eyebrows.
On a 10 scale, not a single staff member rated morale as being higher than five.
Most put morale between one and three.
KRC staff told the DDS they didn't feel valued, and that they believed the administration doesn't care about consumers or families.
Staff also said communication is extremely poor, and said training has lacked since the director of client services left the organization more than four months ago.
Law and Lara contest those that KRC serve remain the center's top priority.
"I think it didn't catch us off guard but there are certain insights that they've provided to us during the process that we were not maybe aware of, or at least aware of the significance of those issues. So now we are redoubling our efforts to focus our time and attention on those issues," Law said.
