'Client H' investigation raises more troubling questions for DSN

Did Disabilities and Special Needs violations contribute to the death of a Greenville group home resident?

APRIL 19, 2012 10:42 a.m. (3)

Greenville County Disabilities and Special Needs has been cited by state officials for violating the standard of care in the Feb. 11 death of Heather Dawn Worchester Lemon, 36, a resident at one of the agency’s group homes.

The citation came in a recertification review of the Civitan Community Residence and is detailed in a state Department of Health and Environmental Control report dated March 8. The report was made available to the Journal by sources close to the situation.  Continue reading...

 

3 resign from Greenville disabilities board

Chairwoman, son deny harassment; say they want to correct errors and fight defamation

MAY 11, 2012 8:40 a.m. (50)

Three members of the troubled Greenville Disabilities and Special Needs Board have resigned, two of them citing harassment by board Chairwoman Roxie Kincannon and her son, Columbia lawyer Todd Kincannon, in their letters of resignation.

Maureen Kriese and former board secretary Judith Gibson resigned on May 2; Maggi Bailey filed her resignation on May 3.

Roxie and Todd Kincannon visited the Journal’s offices on Wednesday for a two-hour session to discuss the resignation letters, allegations of harassment and the state of the agency since the firing of former executive director Brent Parker and hiring of Patrick Haddon as interim director.  Continue reading...

 

Disabilities agency faces County Council

Interim director, lawyer say they are working to correct litany of problems

MAY 18, 2012 8:43 a.m. (4)

The interim director of the Greenville Disabilities and Special Needs Board painted himself as rescuer of the embattled county agency at Tuesday’s long-anticipated meeting between the Greenville County Council and DSN board and staff.

Patrick Haddon told the council Committee of the Whole that he found the state-funded agency mired in red ink with a disturbing record of medical errors when he took the interim job in February – a choice that itself drew criticism due to the speed with which Haddon replaced his predecessor, who was fired, and Haddon’s lack of experience in the disabilities field.  Continue reading...

 

Vulnerable adult abuse often goes undetected

Charles Lea Easter weekend case led to charges, new procedures

MAY 18, 2012 8:57 a.m. (0)

The arrest of two Charles Lea Center employees for allegedly abusing a vulnerable adult by leaving a 39-year-old woman to lie in her own feces for 20 hours over the Easter weekend is just part of a larger pattern of abuse and neglect found across the state at facilities supervised by the state Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, critics of the agency say.

Earlier this year, state Department of Health and Environmental Control examiners cited the Greenville Disabilities and Special Needs Board for failing to adequately deal with problems that led to the death of a 36-year-old woman in February and, in an unrelated event, the arrest of a Greenville DSN employee for abusing a client at a workshop by stomping on his foot.  Continue reading...

 

County Council disbands disabilities board

State disability staff will run local agency until new board can be created

MAY 25, 2012 9:16 a.m. (4)

The troubled Greenville County Disabilities and Special Needs Board became history Tuesday evening when Greenville County Council unanimously voted to rescind the 1992 ordinance creating the board and voted to establish a new board under county supervision.

The move effectively begins the healing process for an embattled agency that has faced financial problems and a litany of criticisms from the public regarding transparency issues and the amount of care owed the 2,200 disabled clients it is chartered to serve.  Continue reading...

 

Staff changes underway at Greenville disabilities agency

State DDSN reviews contract and terminates attorney's employment

MAY 31, 2012 10:37 a.m. (2)

Greenville lawyer David Holmes’ contract as attorney for the defunct Greenville County Disabilities and Special Needs Board has been terminated by the state Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, agency spokeswoman Lois Park Mole told the Journal this week.

“State DDSN’s attorney reviewed the contract with Mr. Holmes and determined it could be terminated with 30 days notice,” Mole said. “Holmes has been sent a letter notifying him of this action and he has 30 days to turn over all materials related to Greenville DDSN matters.”  Continue reading...

 

County Council chooses ‘A-list’ for DSN

Interim board to govern disabilities agency until permanent board is formed

JUNE 7, 2012 10:11 a.m. (0)

Greenville County Council approved an “A-list” of interim board members to take over at the Greenville County Disabilities and Special Needs board Tuesday as part of the process of curing the troubled agency’s problems.

The nominees’ names will be sent to Gov. Nikki Haley for approval. Once the governor signs off, the five interim board members will go to work at GCDSN.  Continue reading...