(Enngreaa of the tanner: ?tatea E6 211515 July 15, 2019 The Honorable Alex M. Azar II Secretary US. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC. 20201 Johnson Assistant Secretary Administration of Children and Families US. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC. 20201 Scott Lloyd Senior Advisor Center or Faith and Opportunity Initiatives US. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC. 20201 Former Director, O?ice of Refugee Resettlement Administration of Children and Families Dear Secretary Azar, Assistant Secretary Johnson, and Mr. Lloyd: We are writing to express our deep and profound concerns of the operation, staf?ng, and oversight by the US. Department of Health and Human Services approved facilities that house and care for immigrant children. On July 10, 2019, a Univision Noticias 4] New York investigative news story revealed that in 2017, an undocumented child under the care and supervision of MercyFirst Syosset (?MercyFirst?) was the victim of consistent and escalating sexual predation and intimidation by an adult youth counselor employed by MercyFirst.l This horri?c incident of abuse and coercion took place while MercyFirst was and continues to be a grantee of the Of?ce of Refugee Resettlement During this time, a MercyFirst employee and adult youth counselor Mr. Michael Cutignola Reyes) intimidated, sexually harassed, and sexually assaulted a minor child at MercyFirst Syosset (?MercyFirst?), an HHS approved facility located in Syosset, New York. The circumstances surrounding this incident are beyond troubling and we would like to know what actions HHS has undertaken to ensure this never happens again. w? .uniwsioncom localnucx sexually-abused: PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER HHS oversight of facilities must be robust. According to the Univision report, HHS disclosed that during Fiscal Years 2017 and 2018 there were 49 incidents of staff working at HHS-approved facilities who had a known history of child abuse. One incident is unacceptable; 49 is unconscionable. Therefore, we request a full and thorough brie?ng on the following issues: The facts of the MercyFirst case and actions taken by MercyFirst leadership during the time of Mr. Cutignola?s employ during which he was accused of sexual harassment and assault by his minor victim and further incidents documented by his fellow MercyFirst colleagues; The date local law enforcement was ?rst noti?ed of these claims of sexual harassment and assault and what actions and investigations resulted from that noti?cation; All actions taken by supervisory management and leadership of MercyFirst with regard to Mr. Cutignola including further interactions with during his regular work while he was employed by MercyFirst until the end of his employment; Formal documentation and proof of Mr. Cutignola?s registration with the New York State Division of Criminal Justice System as a registered sex offender in accordance with Memorandum of Negotiated Plea and Allocution (Indictment signed by the Defendant and Attorney for Defendant on June 4, 2019; Whether HHS, ORR, or the Administration for Children and Families conduct background checks of all employees at their approved facilities and/or grantees that are responsible for minor children; The types of training staff are required to complete prior to employment speci?cally dealing with verbal, physical, and sexual harassment and abuse; Whether that curriculum explicitly makes clear that verbal, physical, and sexual harassment and abuse perpetrated by employees is illegal and in violation of agency policy as well as state, local, and federal law, whether continuing education on this topic is required for staff, and whether staff are trained to detect and report incidents of abuse in children; Steps that have been and continue to be taken by HHS, ACF, OR, and MercyFirst to improve background checks and staff training. We appreciate your attention to this urgent matter. Our goal is to work with you to ensure that HHS approved facilities provide a safe, healthy, and secure environment for all children placed in their care. We look forward to meeting with you to assure that these facilities are held to the highest standard of care. Sincerely, 9?27 75 Thomas R. Suozzi Adriano Espaillat Member of Congress Member of Congress (9w I Kathleen M. Rice Member of Congress Cc: Gerard McCaffery, President and CEO, MercyFirst Syosset