CASA director: State working to fix Christmas gift problem

The Arkansas director of the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) association believes a “viable resolution” is in the works on the issue of misappropriated Christmas gifts.

On Wednesday (Jan. 5) it was first reported by The City Wire that CASA officials in Sebastian County were angry about Christmas gifts they purchased for children being allegedly  “misappropriated” by state employees of the Division of Child and Family Services.

On Jan. 4, Sebastian County CASA Executive Director Glenda Evans learned that some CASA children did not receive all the gifts that volunteers purchased and trusted that DCFS — a department of the Arkansas Department of Health & Human Services — would deliver.

When Evans asked DCFS employee Tonya Prickett about the gifts that weren’t delivered, Prickett provided this response: “It ended up going to another child in need. We did not feel that this was a gift that was appropriate for him in his current placement.”

Julian Holloway, director of the Arkansas CASA Association, asked DCFS Director Cecile Blucker to for “immediate restitution and a reasonable explanation” for the actions.

On Thursday, Arkansas Department of Health & Human Services spokeswoman Julie Munsell said the matter is under investigation.

“The department received an allegation from the local CASA regarding the distribution of some gifts and are visiting in person with some families to verify that their items were received. Of course, the department will conduct a thorough investigation and take any necessary action. I will update you as more information becomes available,” Munsell noted.

Thursday afternoon, Holloway sent the following update to The City Wire.
“I’ve been working with DCFS Director Cecile Blucker to resolve this. When she discovered what happened, Ms. Blucker immediately mobilized her staff to get to the bottom of the problem and she offered a quick solution. She has assured me she will make it right. I believe her.

“Ms. Blucker’s staff has identified what happened and she assured me that gifts purchased will be delivered to those children as soon as possible.

“CASA is satisfied that DCFS is working on a viable resolution to this issue. The Advocates in Sebastian County CASA have indicated they’d prefer the gifts be delivered to the children, rather than being reimbursed for their purchases. I’m confident this will be corrected.

“The thing none of us want to have happen is for folks to stop giving holiday gifts to children in foster care.”