Ken Monk, a former behavior support coordinator for PCL, says he urged the company to increase staffing and to find alternative housing for violent residents.
Liana Duffield, a former human resources manager and house manager for PCL, said she was attacked four times by two different residents. In addition, she witnessed — and in some cases helped intercede — in more than a half-dozen violent attacks on other employees.
Liana Duffield, a former human resources manager and house manager for PCL, said she was attacked four times by two different residents. In addition, she witnessed — and in some cases helped intercede — in more than a half-dozen violent attacks on other employees.
Jamie Lusch / Rogue Valley Times
EDITOR'S NOTE: Part 4 of a five-part series.
******
Grants Pass resident Liana Duffield said she witnessed "shockingly high staff turnover" in the year she spent as a regional HR manager at Partnerships in Community Living.
The Monmouth-based nonprofit operates a series of group homes for developmentally disabled minors and adults in Oregon — including the Medford home where caregiver Bobbie Kolada was fatally injured Feb. 20.
For a second year at PCL, Duffield worked as a house manager, and that's when she learned why caregiver turnover was so high.
Duffield is one of nearly a dozen former and current PCL employees interviewed by the Rogue Valley Times following the March 27 death of Kolada, a 66-year-old grandmother who was seriously injured in an apparent attack by a developmentally disabled resident in the group home where she worked.
Kolada, who suffered a broken neck and a severe head trauma, succumbed to her injuries after a five-week fight for her life. The man blamed for her injuries has a history of violent behavior and still lives in the house.
High employee turnover, Duffield said, stemmed from “newbie” employees being assigned to houses known for being dangerous. Those who stayed were often forced to work double shifts that too often turned into days-long shifts when relief staff failed to show up. Duffield said she once worked five months of mostly 18- to 20-hour days.
“They don’t hire the right staff most of time, and when they do hire the right staff, they push them out because that staff starts holding them accountable,” Duffield said.
State licensing officials once found a resident's care had not been documented for 85 days, she said. Duffield worked at a home for developmentally disabled teen boys on Edwina Avenue in Central Point, the home where Duffield's colleague, Valina Rivera-Schaefer, was injured so severely by a 17-year-old boy that she suffered a miscarriage.
“One of (PCL's) tactics is, ‘If you don’t work out here, we can move you. But when you ask to be moved, it can take a couple months. Meanwhile, (the residents are) beating the s**t out of you,” she said.
“I came in at the end of June, and by September, we had literally had 20 (staff) in and out of that house. There was a ton of physical abuse happening there, between residents and caregivers."
Duffield said she was attacked four times by two different residents. In addition, she witnessed — and in some cases helped intercede in — more than a half-dozen violent attacks on other employees. Duffield said it’s common for staff to work alone with individuals whose care plans require more than one staff, but caregivers often feel devoted to the care of the residents and feel obligated to try and "tough it out."
Both Kolada, a former PCL employee of the month, and Rivera-Schaefer were working alone when they were injured, said Duffield.
“With Bobbie, I wonder if she had a chance to call for help. ... (The resident) that hurt Bobbie had a violent history. I was scared s**tless when I walked into that house for the first time. A second person would have been able to take the situation down a notch. There’s a chance Bobbie would still be alive," she added.
PCL responds
PCL co-owner Joanne Fuhrman, in an email to the Rogue Valley Times this week, said, "The care plans for these two individuals (in the house where Kolada was injured) do not require two staff to be present. Each individual we work with has a care plan that includes specific, approved intervention plans in cases where one caregiver is present and in cases where two caregivers are present. The care plan for the individuals in the home at the time the incident occurred does not require two caregivers to be present."
On an Accident/Fatality Intake Form PCL submitted to Oregon OSHA Feb. 21, the day after Kolada was hurt, and again March 27, when Kolada died, PCL maintained that Kolada was an "accident victim."
"Currently the mechanism of injury is unknown," PCL wrote on the form sent to OSHA Feb. 21. "The employee was found unconscious and bleeding from the head by co-workers during a shift change. No one is known to have witnessed the accident," PCL said.
On the day Kolada died, PCL updated its report with the sentence, "Oregon OSHA was notified accident victim had passed away as of the morning of 3/27/2023."
This week, Fuhrman reiterated that there's no proof that Kolada was hurt by a resident.
"As far as PCL is aware, there has not been a medical or legal conclusion that Bobbie was injured by a resident," Fuhrman said Tuesday in an email to Rogue Valley Times.
'I warned them time and time again'
White City resident Ken Monk, a former behavior support coordinator for PCL, said he and others repeatedly warned PCL about staffing levels for group homes where residents requiring higher levels of support were housed.
Monk, who counted Kolada as a close friend when they worked together, said his heart sank when he learned this week of Kolada's death. Monk was responsible for assessing residents and writing Positive Behavior Support Plans, which determine de-escalation techniques as well as physical intervention methods permitted for each resident.
Ken Monk, a former behavior support coordinator for PCL, says he urged the company to increase staffing and to find alternative housing for violent residents.
Jamie Lusch / Rogue Valley Times
Monk said he regularly worked with the man believed to have fatally injured Kolada.
“I was livid. And for it to have happened to Bobbie ...,” he said Monday, taking a slow breath and wringing his hands.
Monk, who worked in the disabilities field since 1998, said he became a thorn in the side of PCL and ultimately left because of his concerns over unsafe conditions, which he said put both caregivers and residents at a disadvantage, were ignored.
“The guy who killed Bobbie — and I have no doubt he hurt Bobbie, as I’ve been beat up by him before — is what we call a Tier 5 and 6, which is related to the level of support he required. I worked with Bobbie during many of the times that she got hurt. And she got hurt a lot,” he said.
“She was concussed several times by him, but she was a trooper and she loved those boys. … I would not have kept her there. As a behavior specialist, I knew that it was not a good situation, and I told PCL that many times.”
Monk said he felt bad for the resident for being left in a situation where his needs, such as staffing levels or behavioral assessments, were “not likely being met.”
“It’s one of those cases where — 99% of the time — they can be great. The other part of the time, things can go catastrophically wrong,” he added, noting that the resident believed to have injured Kolada was moved from another home in Medford in order to be in a more secure setting — with securable doors — to permit one staff, instead of two, to staff the home overnight.
“What I saw, and one of the reasons I left, was the level of risk the staff is being put under and the constant lack of adequate staffing. … I had become a thorn in their side because I warned them time and time again. It was never a matter of if, but when,” he added.
“There are a lot of people that have been expecting something like this to occur for a long time. This coming to light was like a scab that needed to be ripped off.”
'I was scared to death'
Former PCL employee Kim Demar, house manager for the group home where Kolada was injured, said violent attacks by residents in the home were common. Demar was in charge of the house the night Kolada was fatally injured.
"(Bobbie) was my employee. ... I was at home the night it happened, and we had been communicating via text around 7:30 that evening, about her filling a shift for one of the other employees,” Demar said. “I eventually went to bed and woke up to a phone call at 8:30 the next morning from the individual who found her."
Demar said she was outraged at the lack of an investigation into Kolada's injuries, and that PCL told employees that Kolada had likely fainted or fallen. When the company told Kolada’s daughter, Jessica Bandy, that evidence of a previous injury Kolada suffered just weeks before the Feb. 20 incident that led to her death didn’t exist, Demar sent proof that it did.
Fuhrman, PCL's co-owner, refused to discuss specifics of the attack that led to Kolada's death, and denied that staffing was a factor.
"We meet all the required staffing patterns that are required through our Office of Developmental Disabilities. We follow those guidelines to make sure people are well supported and our staff are well trained,” Fuhrman told the Rogue Valley Times in an interview.
Demar said she was injured twice by the same resident who attacked Kolada — a bite injury to her right bicep Jan. 11, and a bite to her left forearm Feb. 21, the day after 911 was dispatched to the house for Kolada.
“The day after her accident, I had to cover her shift ... from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. That was the last time he attacked me. I was sitting on the couch and he came out of the bedroom and threw his body on top of me. He had his mouth open and was trying to bite any part of my body he could get a hold of."
When she was able to get out of the man’s grasp, Demar said, she crawled away and tried to utilize her Oregon Intervention System training.
“He’s so quick and so maliciously intended ... he was going to hurt me. He reached out and grabbed my arm and wailed a bite onto it. ... I don’t know what was going on in his mind. I just know that he wanted to hurt me. ... After that second time, I would hide from him while he escalated. … I was scared to death.”
Demar quit working at PCL March 27, the day Kolada died.
“I planned to leave because I felt I was not safe and protected by the company with the level of dysfunction of the residents. The final straw for me was that the last day I worked, I received notification from the company that they had completed their investigation — and I say investigation, but they didn’t even come to the house. They did it all by phone. They basically said they could not find any cause (for Kolada's injuries).”
'She probably didn’t even put up a fight'
Katherine Colwell, a Merlin resident, worked for PCL between 2017 and 2020. She remembers long shifts and frequent injuries in what seemed like a culture of disregard for employees. A kind co-worker named Bobbie Kolada urged her to be careful.
Bobbie Kolada was named employee of the month at PCL more than once.
“Bobbie actually trained me. And I worked in the house she was injured at. I was also hurt on the job, and they made me finish my shift while my face was bleeding because they told me they couldn’t find coverage,” Colwell said.
“I got bit in the face by the same gentleman" who hurt Kolada, she said.
Colwell said she was heartbroken to learn that Kolada had died.
“Bobbie, when she trained me, she told me, ‘If it becomes overwhelming, whatever you do, just don’t show your emotions, because he will attack you and he will hurt you,'” Colwell said.
“I felt like I was prepared for it, but when I would see him pouncing around her — and then he bit her one of the times I was there — I remember feeling like, ‘What the hell have I gotten myself into?’ What sucks the most was knowing Bobbie, and the kind of heart she had. He had been targeting her for a while, and PCL knew it.”
Colwell said PCL should acknowledge what happened to Kolada.
“The company knows damn good and well what happened to Bobbie. And all the employees know damn good and well.
“Bobbie gave her heart to the company. No matter what hell they put her through, she never said anything negative about PCL. She saw everything — the ups and downs — and she ended up giving her life. Literally,” she added, fighting back tears.
“It just breaks my heart because I knew her and who she was … and she probably didn’t even put up a fight. Because she wasn’t allowed to.”
Coming Thursday — Part 5: 'I don’t want her to have died in vain'
Reach reporter Buffy Pollock at 458-488-2029 or bpollock@rv-times.com. Follow her on Twitter @orwritergal.
Buffy Pollock is a news and features reporter for the Rogue Valley Times. A Florida native, she began her journalism career at the Tampa Tribune before moving to Southern Oregon in the summer of 2000. She reported on community news for the Mail Tribune for 23 years.
I worked for PCL for 12 years, with the violent ones, and was often asked to work the floor alone with two or three individuals. I've seen people get their knees kicked out, I've seen attacks with shovels that caused a broken arm, stitches, and a bloody nose. I've seen them tweek the staffing schedule so there is only one DSP on for a few hours in the evening when behaviors are most likely occur. I've seen a young girl in their care get killed because of unreliable staff that were going home at night. I've seen them push out GREAT staff because they are no longer useful for PCL. I saw them turn a blind eye to abusive staff because they filled a staffing slot. PCL's upper leadership is pretty weak. While I was there I often heard the refered to as an "upside down pyramid" company. Where the staff carries the load for a bunch of lazy incompetent people in the office making triple digits while their staff barely break 40k. PCL is crooked as our corporate run government
Doxing disabled children’s group homes should be a crime.. disgusted you would put streets and cities especially of the children. They are not responsible for any of this? Why endanger them and the employees?
A lot of contradictions going on and would nice if everyone just stated facts. In article it states there were no reports of incident but then goes on to state that OSHA was informed the very next day of incident. Yes it was looked at to be an accident but also stated it was unknown to be environmental or not. Then the article adds that another repot was made when she passed away. So how can you state that it was not reported. This kind of journalism should never be allowed. Bobbie would be furious at you.
I work in a different part of the I/DD system. The death of Bobbie is a tragedy. I don't know if it could have been prevented. I don't know if the plan for the resident that Bobbie supported required 2:1 supports. I do know that PCL as a provider organization does not create that plan alone without the Individualized Support Plan (ISP) team, which includes county and guardian input. I do know that the State of Oregon inspects and monitors the program and the support plan. I do know that if this resident has a persistent pattern of aggressive behavior that a Positive Behavior Support Plan must be written by a certified professional, approved by the ISP team, all staff trained on the plan, and that all this is monitored by the State. Failure to adhere to all the Oregon Administrative Rules may result in the loss of the license to provide Medicaid services and closure of the program. I do know that there are strict rules regarding the reporting of any incidents involving supported persons. I do know that there are strict confidentiality rules that any person involved in the care of the supported person must follow. PCL cannot respond to any of this. Neither can County or State personnel. The people quoted in the articles saying they have no knowledge are doing what they are required to do - maintaining confidentiality. These are HIPPA and Center for Medicaid Services requirements. These people could lose their jobs for talking to reporters. They could also not be the personel who have access to information for this particular resident.
I do know Joann Furhman. She has my utmost respect. She has been THE strongest advocate for caregivers and the people we support. She has long been the loudest voice in the room to increase funding for programs, and especially for caregivers. She is well respected in the State because she has earned it. The way she is portrayed in these articles signals a lack of investigative reporting to look at all sides of the issues. I do know that there are serious issues in the I/DD system in Oregon as well as nationwide. All parts of the system struggle with being chronically underfunded. In Oregon this means advocating, begging for enough money to keep programs open every other year in the biennial budget process. I also know that the State saves money by approving measly increases that do not keep up with the cost of living, then delaying the increased payments for up to a to a year. I also know that Medicaid funding is chronically on the chopping block. You can't provide services without money. I don't know if system changes could have prevented Bobbies death. I don't know if more money could have prevented it either. I do know that with higher wages that more and better qualified people apply. Not everyone is suited for this work so finding the right staff is key to quality services. More money always helps. Silencing our strongest advocates will not help.
I am afraid that these articles will harm the people our industry supports. I do know most people are not aggressive. Most are safe in the community, can live with other people, and are safe with single staffing supports. Community integration is an industry wide goal. My coworkers have already reported negative, angry comments toward the people we support from community members due to these articles. This could evolve into truly dangerous situations against people who cannot understand why and who are gentle human beings. There is a serious lack of supports by the system for the most aggressive of people, but this is not all of the people supported.
I don't know the true details of this story because I am not personally involved. I do know that for long term caregivers like Bobbie the reason they keep coming back to work each day is not because they are afraid of losing their job. You have to be strong to do this job, not afraid of loss. The money is not good enough to keep people who don't truly care. Long term caregivers keep coming back because they have bonded with the people they support. They want them to be happy in their lives, even if they can't always control their emotions or actions. I am sure Bobbie would not have wanted the person, the people she supported to be harmed by her death. This is tragic on all levels. I hope it is not used to perpetuate more tragedies.
So while i may disagree with you on a few points. First Off I have said several times over and over that YES there is a conversation to be had. AND needs to happen. reread prior posts prior to your commenting will speed this along. There are ways to have a constructive conversation and bring about understanding and consensus. But starting the conversation on lies, misrepresentations and sensationalism is not going to amount to anything productive. The way this article is written is the problem. The wording , the implied truths, the trigger words EVERYTHING. This article is not discussing the issues that permeate this field not just at PCL but EVERYWHERE in the country. You see a need that needs to be changed again I will agree with you. What I can not abide is the way a lot of the staff of whom i know a few of. Are using her passing as a way to seek some sort of revenge or justification for issues they had while working here. Id inquire you to look at the language of the articles. the titles, the descriptions of the house and best of all the resident himself. So you work in this field do you find ANY of these things acceptable? After reading them do you walk away feeling that this writer cares about the residents we support? Do you think from reading these articles, that the general population is going to feel they understand the nuance of what we do for a living? The rights these people have? OR quite possibly do you think just maybe your going to get a few "throw em jail! " people? Can you look at any part of any of these articles and point to any part that even mentions our residents in any way HUMAN? Ive asked this before and I will ask you again. What exactly do you think this article as it is written is going to do to our population? How many more stigmas is it going to place back into the minds of our communities? How much easier is it going to be to hire new staff who are willing to help this population? If staffing is an issue (which it all ways is) do you imagine this will help? The biggest constant I hear is the drum beat of " there should be repercussions" or "there needs to be consequences!" Ok where with what money what location what staff? This is the crowd that is running this argument. I suggest get to enjoying there company from here on out unless you can manage to find a better solution. Because at this point the clowns are running the show.
Couldn’t have said it better myself.. also very concerned with reporting the streets and cities these residents are located specifically the children. Putting children and people with disabilities at risk when writing such a damaging article is dangerous and the “journalist” should be ashamed
So I have been watching all of this with equal parts of anger and equal parts of amazement that you people I once called my coworkers and sometime friends are so broken and angry that you can not see that half of the stuff this article states you said, directly contradicts what you say in the comments? I know ALL OF YOU. For the record I am the current STC for this stated house and I more then most (if not all of you, )know what had transpired. Liana all i can say is...just wow i really expected better of you. Valina...really you are going to sit here and say in this article that you did not get help and were left alone...How many times did I personally sit with you at the house late night (while you had another staff also at the house)? Lets talk about the lemon flowers that the article made sound like you got them for your miscarriage? yeah I was also there...that was a month after and was for you having a rough time through our time with a large covid outbreak. BUT hay what do facts matter. Keith...jesus man..fudging your work history a little there arent you bud? you stated you worked in this field since 98? I know you like to try implement programs like it was a prison, but I didn't think you considered that work experience in THIS field. This was your first dd job AFTER you got out of working in the prison system.I could sit here and dispute roughly 60 percent of what was conveyed. BUT why.
The amount of harm and utter chaos you people and this article are bringing to peoples lives that have nothing to do with any of this is terrible. This stupid article is causing me personally to get insults thrown at me. Threats. Its causing untold amounts of stress and fighting in families. Im watching co workers and friends break down and cry due to all the stress and worries this is bringing. Good people! these arent people looking to make a easy buck or who sit around rubbing there hands and laughing at all the misery they're trying to cause I cant personally sleep much more then a few hours at a time. Ive watch Big hearted people break down and cry over and over. People who actually care (unlike the people in this article) Ive seen ex employees telling residents about this incident only to have that resident go into behaviors. So I would like ANY of you to tell me how this is helping? NO ONE believes most of it, Your comments along in the article contradict half of it. What do you all think your going to accomplish? I guess blow it all up and walk away with a smug sense of revenge? Congrats. I hope you all enjoy your pound of flesh.
Oh look, another manager simping for their employer while disregarding and ignoring their employees. PCL does not care about you, and leaving these comments is going to backfire when they happily throw you under the bus to save themselves the blame. Their management style is nepotism and commanding loyalty while not having any themselves. Hope you stay in their good graces… you should probably pick up a few extra shifts this week to appease them so they don’t drop you like a hot BM..
[yawn] its amazing how having a work ethic is like Kryptonite to some people. And if Im pimping for the man cause I dont take on YOUR skewed view of how this systems works...good to know...Ive been doing this since your "job" consisted of coloring power rangers to put on your wall.....( when did you stop that? last week?) I stay in good graces by actually doing my job not sitting around complaining calling names and throwing temper tantrums. You should try it in your next job.
PCL has been under staffed for at least 7 years that I know of. That was long before Covid, and they still are under staffed.
As far as employees being 'asked/ forced' to work another shift? Yes, they are 'asked,' but if there is no one to replace them then they have no choice but to stay. Leaving the house unstaffed would be an immediate firing offense, and make you a horrible human being. And that's where 'asked' becomes 'forced'.
First off lets set the history straight, seeing as there are numerous factual inconsistency's and lack of context. These employees who make up a majority of this article are first off leaving out the BIG fact that during the time frame they are referencing was COVID. You show me ANY company that was not struggling to fill shifts during that time. Even in the best of time finding qualify candidates that are willing to work doing this for what is better then minimum wage is hard. Across the board HARD for ALL dd services. That's on a good day. Yet yes I saw managers filling shifts left and right to make sure there was coverage. That is not a PCL issue that a DD services issue. Again you can only hire so much and with what the state requires. Companies that cant..no longer exist. You work within the confines the STATE requires or will pay you for. Second lets discuss Monk...the behavior specialist who mentions the client at the center of this article moving...THAT particular person has NOT moved from his current location since before he worked here. Hes probably not even sure WHO his talking about, also he worked in prison prior to this field he only had 2 years in this job. and he was fired. Other issues with this article. you liana stating staff were FORCED to work 16 hours or 20. That has NEVER occurred, it is a violation of Federal Rules. Asked yes! to fill staffing needs. Again your story directly contradicts your main theory that we are under staffing, over and over again! Also her comment amount PCL TACTIC of if you don't work out here we can move you. That's called giving staff a CHOICE to work at other houses. Which IS common practice. AS evidenced by Velina comments yesterday about being in 4 houses in 4 months. Also to Lianas accounting, there has NEVER been a house in PCL that has gone through 20 staff in on month. EVER Again these articles show a gross lack of even the most remedial of fact checking or investigation of claims. All the staff listed in theses articles were picked from one disgruntled staff telling her of ANOTHER disgruntled staff till you get your lucky 12 staff. To say there is a CULTURE of disregard when you literally cherry pick who you print or interview, in GROSSLY disingenuous at the least LIABLE at the best. In a company that has currently and prior thousands of staff that do not feel or have had the same experiences as these 12 that you stated you talked too, and then to state unequivocally that there is any more issues with PCL then with any other company that deals with this population, Is lacking any kind of intelligence or fact based reality. Finally everyone of the staff you interviewed and plastered all over the articles were all let go due to UNSAFE practices, Not doing there jobs, smoking pot on the jobs, neglecting staffing, not following safety protocols or just outright neglect of there duties. ALL OF them. So maybe the issue with the "culture" is actually these staff you cherry picked? and now are no longer an issue. Id love to go to that carboard box by the river you call an office and find out how many of YOUR employees I could find that had something negative about YOU. PEABODY here I come!
First of all I know for a fact that I was not let go. Let alone did I practice unsafe protocols, nor neglect anyone I was carrying for. I quit for the main reason I stated I had PTSD and the response was to place me where there had been several aggressive behaviors. So you telling the writer to get the facts correct I say that to you as well.
Yes the company is doing what the state says is the minimum of protection but that’s just the minimum. There needs to be change and that’s what this article is trying to get across. All of you who feel the need to say these are disgruntled employees who were let go is defamation of character bottom line. You believe the lies told to you like cows going to the slaughter.
Yes this was in the time of Covid but you know what we are still in Covid and every company is struggling to find dedicated employees. Also when a company constantly is placing brand new employees in the most difficult homes there is high turnover. No 20 people didn’t leave one house but when you higher weekly for the same home time and time again along with hiring for 11 other homes that can’t keep staff is a turnover of 20 people in 3 months. (Facts). Also tell me, if some is not willing to work and let me make myself clear managers , work the extra shifts who is going to do it. Do you just say there will be no one at the home because we are all over worked? No it’s against ODDS rules. Managers put in the most time and working their 8a-5p and then filling in shifts is the norm, at all homes in all companies. So saying it’s a CHOICE is pure stupidity. Your loyalties should be with the supported individuals so they have well rested and better trained staff.
Bobby was fatally injured and it should have been prevented. You know it and I know it.
The industry needs to change and PCL being one of the biggest should be a catalyst for this and not cover it up. I’m also pretty sure you have had the same complaints as everyone else has working for this company.
So here we are NOW getting through half truths and actual facts. All ready the stories you state HERE are not the same as what's being reported or insisted is truth. 2 more comments and various DIFFERENT stories. Everything about these "articles " if fudging facts leaving out context and mix and matching facts to stories to sell a agenda. And it IS a choice no one here has EVER said you have to stay working the shift or working for the company! Period. You included. For your information if you truly think this article us helping your " cause" I can you its not. It's hurting people and residents YOU purport to care about. Not to mention staff and stcs who DO care more then you do/did. This is NOT a way to have a conversation about a serious non black and white issue, and tou should all feel ashamed your putting ex freinds-coworkers in actual danger due to this gross negligence of facts or civility. Maybe you think like the rest " lock em up right?" I'm glad you don't work with this population.
Actually I am glad I don’t work with you. You idea of a proper conversation is to insult the people around you. You don’t know me and you don’t know what I have been through. I have one friend from there and the rest were back stabbers and gossipers. This is all coming from someone I can guess was “I will never support a certain individual, because he is aggressive and attacks me for no reason””. I wish I could be so selective. I at least knew if I was scared I was in trouble so I made it very clear who I could not support I am not ashamed of speaking out, there is no danger that can come from this. It’s the gross negligence from individuals like you that create the danger. I have no intention of punishing the individuals who have hurt people. I actually understand the term disability. The only people who should be held accountable is us in the industry. We have a chance to help people understand what employees go through day to day and change the system. Instead people like you come out and say there is nothing wrong it’s just those who choose to speak up. Reality check is over 20 + employees spoke up about this not just those who you think are disgruntled and unhappy. The problem is the fear of retaliation and losing their job is what keeps their identities unknown. I know I make a difference everyday, and I’m proud of what I do. And it isn’t a choice. I had to stay or get fired. That’s not a choice that’s an ultimatum. I guess you don’t recall times where you had to cover shifts or they go uncared for. I remember working 4 months straight without a day off, pull 24 hour shifts because there was no one else. I could have said no but again, who would help, not you.
Let’s keep this real, Again Bobbie died at the hands of an individual who is intellectually disabled and there should have been more staff with her. Just because it was offered for her to move houses and she didn’t doesn’t make the attack her fault. She is gone and her children and grandchildren won’t get to see anymore. The system has to change and the companies need all of our help to make this never happen again. This horrible attack could have been prevented. It breaks my heart all this finger pointing at who spoke out when you can make differences by insisting things change, but no, you just keep attacking people like me.
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(17) comments
I worked for PCL for 12 years, with the violent ones, and was often asked to work the floor alone with two or three individuals. I've seen people get their knees kicked out, I've seen attacks with shovels that caused a broken arm, stitches, and a bloody nose. I've seen them tweek the staffing schedule so there is only one DSP on for a few hours in the evening when behaviors are most likely occur. I've seen a young girl in their care get killed because of unreliable staff that were going home at night. I've seen them push out GREAT staff because they are no longer useful for PCL. I saw them turn a blind eye to abusive staff because they filled a staffing slot. PCL's upper leadership is pretty weak. While I was there I often heard the refered to as an "upside down pyramid" company. Where the staff carries the load for a bunch of lazy incompetent people in the office making triple digits while their staff barely break 40k. PCL is crooked as our corporate run government
Doxing disabled children’s group homes should be a crime.. disgusted you would put streets and cities especially of the children. They are not responsible for any of this? Why endanger them and the employees?
A lot of contradictions going on and would nice if everyone just stated facts. In article it states there were no reports of incident but then goes on to state that OSHA was informed the very next day of incident. Yes it was looked at to be an accident but also stated it was unknown to be environmental or not. Then the article adds that another repot was made when she passed away. So how can you state that it was not reported. This kind of journalism should never be allowed. Bobbie would be furious at you.
I work in a different part of the I/DD system. The death of Bobbie is a tragedy. I don't know if it could have been prevented. I don't know if the plan for the resident that Bobbie supported required 2:1 supports. I do know that PCL as a provider organization does not create that plan alone without the Individualized Support Plan (ISP) team, which includes county and guardian input. I do know that the State of Oregon inspects and monitors the program and the support plan. I do know that if this resident has a persistent pattern of aggressive behavior that a Positive Behavior Support Plan must be written by a certified professional, approved by the ISP team, all staff trained on the plan, and that all this is monitored by the State. Failure to adhere to all the Oregon Administrative Rules may result in the loss of the license to provide Medicaid services and closure of the program. I do know that there are strict rules regarding the reporting of any incidents involving supported persons. I do know that there are strict confidentiality rules that any person involved in the care of the supported person must follow. PCL cannot respond to any of this. Neither can County or State personnel. The people quoted in the articles saying they have no knowledge are doing what they are required to do - maintaining confidentiality. These are HIPPA and Center for Medicaid Services requirements. These people could lose their jobs for talking to reporters. They could also not be the personel who have access to information for this particular resident.
I do know Joann Furhman. She has my utmost respect. She has been THE strongest advocate for caregivers and the people we support. She has long been the loudest voice in the room to increase funding for programs, and especially for caregivers. She is well respected in the State because she has earned it. The way she is portrayed in these articles signals a lack of investigative reporting to look at all sides of the issues. I do know that there are serious issues in the I/DD system in Oregon as well as nationwide. All parts of the system struggle with being chronically underfunded. In Oregon this means advocating, begging for enough money to keep programs open every other year in the biennial budget process. I also know that the State saves money by approving measly increases that do not keep up with the cost of living, then delaying the increased payments for up to a to a year. I also know that Medicaid funding is chronically on the chopping block. You can't provide services without money. I don't know if system changes could have prevented Bobbies death. I don't know if more money could have prevented it either. I do know that with higher wages that more and better qualified people apply. Not everyone is suited for this work so finding the right staff is key to quality services. More money always helps. Silencing our strongest advocates will not help.
I am afraid that these articles will harm the people our industry supports. I do know most people are not aggressive. Most are safe in the community, can live with other people, and are safe with single staffing supports. Community integration is an industry wide goal. My coworkers have already reported negative, angry comments toward the people we support from community members due to these articles. This could evolve into truly dangerous situations against people who cannot understand why and who are gentle human beings. There is a serious lack of supports by the system for the most aggressive of people, but this is not all of the people supported.
I don't know the true details of this story because I am not personally involved. I do know that for long term caregivers like Bobbie the reason they keep coming back to work each day is not because they are afraid of losing their job. You have to be strong to do this job, not afraid of loss. The money is not good enough to keep people who don't truly care. Long term caregivers keep coming back because they have bonded with the people they support. They want them to be happy in their lives, even if they can't always control their emotions or actions. I am sure Bobbie would not have wanted the person, the people she supported to be harmed by her death. This is tragic on all levels. I hope it is not used to perpetuate more tragedies.
So while i may disagree with you on a few points. First Off I have said several times over and over that YES there is a conversation to be had. AND needs to happen. reread prior posts prior to your commenting will speed this along. There are ways to have a constructive conversation and bring about understanding and consensus. But starting the conversation on lies, misrepresentations and sensationalism is not going to amount to anything productive. The way this article is written is the problem. The wording , the implied truths, the trigger words EVERYTHING. This article is not discussing the issues that permeate this field not just at PCL but EVERYWHERE in the country. You see a need that needs to be changed again I will agree with you. What I can not abide is the way a lot of the staff of whom i know a few of. Are using her passing as a way to seek some sort of revenge or justification for issues they had while working here. Id inquire you to look at the language of the articles. the titles, the descriptions of the house and best of all the resident himself. So you work in this field do you find ANY of these things acceptable? After reading them do you walk away feeling that this writer cares about the residents we support? Do you think from reading these articles, that the general population is going to feel they understand the nuance of what we do for a living? The rights these people have? OR quite possibly do you think just maybe your going to get a few "throw em jail! " people? Can you look at any part of any of these articles and point to any part that even mentions our residents in any way HUMAN? Ive asked this before and I will ask you again. What exactly do you think this article as it is written is going to do to our population? How many more stigmas is it going to place back into the minds of our communities? How much easier is it going to be to hire new staff who are willing to help this population? If staffing is an issue (which it all ways is) do you imagine this will help? The biggest constant I hear is the drum beat of " there should be repercussions" or "there needs to be consequences!" Ok where with what money what location what staff? This is the crowd that is running this argument. I suggest get to enjoying there company from here on out unless you can manage to find a better solution. Because at this point the clowns are running the show.
Couldn’t have said it better myself.. also very concerned with reporting the streets and cities these residents are located specifically the children. Putting children and people with disabilities at risk when writing such a damaging article is dangerous and the “journalist” should be ashamed
So I have been watching all of this with equal parts of anger and equal parts of amazement that you people I once called my coworkers and sometime friends are so broken and angry that you can not see that half of the stuff this article states you said, directly contradicts what you say in the comments? I know ALL OF YOU. For the record I am the current STC for this stated house and I more then most (if not all of you, )know what had transpired. Liana all i can say is...just wow i really expected better of you. Valina...really you are going to sit here and say in this article that you did not get help and were left alone...How many times did I personally sit with you at the house late night (while you had another staff also at the house)? Lets talk about the lemon flowers that the article made sound like you got them for your miscarriage? yeah I was also there...that was a month after and was for you having a rough time through our time with a large covid outbreak. BUT hay what do facts matter. Keith...jesus man..fudging your work history a little there arent you bud? you stated you worked in this field since 98? I know you like to try implement programs like it was a prison, but I didn't think you considered that work experience in THIS field. This was your first dd job AFTER you got out of working in the prison system.I could sit here and dispute roughly 60 percent of what was conveyed. BUT why.
The amount of harm and utter chaos you people and this article are bringing to peoples lives that have nothing to do with any of this is terrible. This stupid article is causing me personally to get insults thrown at me. Threats. Its causing untold amounts of stress and fighting in families. Im watching co workers and friends break down and cry due to all the stress and worries this is bringing. Good people! these arent people looking to make a easy buck or who sit around rubbing there hands and laughing at all the misery they're trying to cause I cant personally sleep much more then a few hours at a time. Ive watch Big hearted people break down and cry over and over. People who actually care (unlike the people in this article) Ive seen ex employees telling residents about this incident only to have that resident go into behaviors. So I would like ANY of you to tell me how this is helping? NO ONE believes most of it, Your comments along in the article contradict half of it. What do you all think your going to accomplish? I guess blow it all up and walk away with a smug sense of revenge? Congrats. I hope you all enjoy your pound of flesh.
Oh look, another manager simping for their employer while disregarding and ignoring their employees. PCL does not care about you, and leaving these comments is going to backfire when they happily throw you under the bus to save themselves the blame. Their management style is nepotism and commanding loyalty while not having any themselves. Hope you stay in their good graces… you should probably pick up a few extra shifts this week to appease them so they don’t drop you like a hot BM..
[yawn] its amazing how having a work ethic is like Kryptonite to some people. And if Im pimping for the man cause I dont take on YOUR skewed view of how this systems works...good to know...Ive been doing this since your "job" consisted of coloring power rangers to put on your wall.....( when did you stop that? last week?) I stay in good graces by actually doing my job not sitting around complaining calling names and throwing temper tantrums. You should try it in your next job.
What a charmer you must be.. anyone who uses “simping” as a noun has lost all credibility. Grow up
funny anything I post is considered spam......
PCL has been under staffed for at least 7 years that I know of. That was long before Covid, and they still are under staffed.
As far as employees being 'asked/ forced' to work another shift? Yes, they are 'asked,' but if there is no one to replace them then they have no choice but to stay. Leaving the house unstaffed would be an immediate firing offense, and make you a horrible human being. And that's where 'asked' becomes 'forced'.
First off lets set the history straight, seeing as there are numerous factual inconsistency's and lack of context. These employees who make up a majority of this article are first off leaving out the BIG fact that during the time frame they are referencing was COVID. You show me ANY company that was not struggling to fill shifts during that time. Even in the best of time finding qualify candidates that are willing to work doing this for what is better then minimum wage is hard. Across the board HARD for ALL dd services. That's on a good day. Yet yes I saw managers filling shifts left and right to make sure there was coverage. That is not a PCL issue that a DD services issue. Again you can only hire so much and with what the state requires. Companies that cant..no longer exist. You work within the confines the STATE requires or will pay you for. Second lets discuss Monk...the behavior specialist who mentions the client at the center of this article moving...THAT particular person has NOT moved from his current location since before he worked here. Hes probably not even sure WHO his talking about, also he worked in prison prior to this field he only had 2 years in this job. and he was fired. Other issues with this article. you liana stating staff were FORCED to work 16 hours or 20. That has NEVER occurred, it is a violation of Federal Rules. Asked yes! to fill staffing needs. Again your story directly contradicts your main theory that we are under staffing, over and over again! Also her comment amount PCL TACTIC of if you don't work out here we can move you. That's called giving staff a CHOICE to work at other houses. Which IS common practice. AS evidenced by Velina comments yesterday about being in 4 houses in 4 months. Also to Lianas accounting, there has NEVER been a house in PCL that has gone through 20 staff in on month. EVER Again these articles show a gross lack of even the most remedial of fact checking or investigation of claims. All the staff listed in theses articles were picked from one disgruntled staff telling her of ANOTHER disgruntled staff till you get your lucky 12 staff. To say there is a CULTURE of disregard when you literally cherry pick who you print or interview, in GROSSLY disingenuous at the least LIABLE at the best. In a company that has currently and prior thousands of staff that do not feel or have had the same experiences as these 12 that you stated you talked too, and then to state unequivocally that there is any more issues with PCL then with any other company that deals with this population, Is lacking any kind of intelligence or fact based reality. Finally everyone of the staff you interviewed and plastered all over the articles were all let go due to UNSAFE practices, Not doing there jobs, smoking pot on the jobs, neglecting staffing, not following safety protocols or just outright neglect of there duties. ALL OF them. So maybe the issue with the "culture" is actually these staff you cherry picked? and now are no longer an issue. Id love to go to that carboard box by the river you call an office and find out how many of YOUR employees I could find that had something negative about YOU. PEABODY here I come!
First of all I know for a fact that I was not let go. Let alone did I practice unsafe protocols, nor neglect anyone I was carrying for. I quit for the main reason I stated I had PTSD and the response was to place me where there had been several aggressive behaviors. So you telling the writer to get the facts correct I say that to you as well.
Yes the company is doing what the state says is the minimum of protection but that’s just the minimum. There needs to be change and that’s what this article is trying to get across. All of you who feel the need to say these are disgruntled employees who were let go is defamation of character bottom line. You believe the lies told to you like cows going to the slaughter.
Yes this was in the time of Covid but you know what we are still in Covid and every company is struggling to find dedicated employees. Also when a company constantly is placing brand new employees in the most difficult homes there is high turnover. No 20 people didn’t leave one house but when you higher weekly for the same home time and time again along with hiring for 11 other homes that can’t keep staff is a turnover of 20 people in 3 months. (Facts). Also tell me, if some is not willing to work and let me make myself clear managers , work the extra shifts who is going to do it. Do you just say there will be no one at the home because we are all over worked? No it’s against ODDS rules. Managers put in the most time and working their 8a-5p and then filling in shifts is the norm, at all homes in all companies. So saying it’s a CHOICE is pure stupidity. Your loyalties should be with the supported individuals so they have well rested and better trained staff.
Bobby was fatally injured and it should have been prevented. You know it and I know it.
The industry needs to change and PCL being one of the biggest should be a catalyst for this and not cover it up. I’m also pretty sure you have had the same complaints as everyone else has working for this company.
So here we are NOW getting through half truths and actual facts. All ready the stories you state HERE are not the same as what's being reported or insisted is truth. 2 more comments and various DIFFERENT stories. Everything about these "articles " if fudging facts leaving out context and mix and matching facts to stories to sell a agenda. And it IS a choice no one here has EVER said you have to stay working the shift or working for the company! Period. You included. For your information if you truly think this article us helping your " cause" I can you its not. It's hurting people and residents YOU purport to care about. Not to mention staff and stcs who DO care more then you do/did. This is NOT a way to have a conversation about a serious non black and white issue, and tou should all feel ashamed your putting ex freinds-coworkers in actual danger due to this gross negligence of facts or civility. Maybe you think like the rest " lock em up right?" I'm glad you don't work with this population.
Actually I am glad I don’t work with you. You idea of a proper conversation is to insult the people around you. You don’t know me and you don’t know what I have been through. I have one friend from there and the rest were back stabbers and gossipers. This is all coming from someone I can guess was “I will never support a certain individual, because he is aggressive and attacks me for no reason””. I wish I could be so selective. I at least knew if I was scared I was in trouble so I made it very clear who I could not support I am not ashamed of speaking out, there is no danger that can come from this. It’s the gross negligence from individuals like you that create the danger. I have no intention of punishing the individuals who have hurt people. I actually understand the term disability. The only people who should be held accountable is us in the industry. We have a chance to help people understand what employees go through day to day and change the system. Instead people like you come out and say there is nothing wrong it’s just those who choose to speak up. Reality check is over 20 + employees spoke up about this not just those who you think are disgruntled and unhappy. The problem is the fear of retaliation and losing their job is what keeps their identities unknown. I know I make a difference everyday, and I’m proud of what I do. And it isn’t a choice. I had to stay or get fired. That’s not a choice that’s an ultimatum. I guess you don’t recall times where you had to cover shifts or they go uncared for. I remember working 4 months straight without a day off, pull 24 hour shifts because there was no one else. I could have said no but again, who would help, not you.
Let’s keep this real, Again Bobbie died at the hands of an individual who is intellectually disabled and there should have been more staff with her. Just because it was offered for her to move houses and she didn’t doesn’t make the attack her fault. She is gone and her children and grandchildren won’t get to see anymore. The system has to change and the companies need all of our help to make this never happen again. This horrible attack could have been prevented. It breaks my heart all this finger pointing at who spoke out when you can make differences by insisting things change, but no, you just keep attacking people like me.
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