a - DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES mirrfxihi? OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL Mike Carroll Investigative Report Keith R. Parks Secretary Case Number: 2017-0012 Inspector General INTRODUCTION On February 3, 2017, Pathways by Molina (Pathways) Program Director Tonia Hutchinson reported to the Office of Inspector General (OIG) that former Pathways Case Manager (CM) Tiffany Leone1 was alleged to have falsified information in Florida Safe Families Network (FSFN) Case IDs #101206388, #100679576, and #2390967. Ms. Hutchinson learned of the alleged falsi?cation of FSFN Case ID #101206388 and #100679576 from Adoption Specialist Claudia LaPietra, who conducted a face-to-face home visit with? (Caregiver 1), six-year?old? (Child 1), eight-year?old (Child 2), and nine-year-old? (Child 3) on January 28, 2017. During a conversation with Ms. LaPietra, Caregiver 1 mentioned that she cancelled the previously scheduled home visit (January 24, 2017) with Ms. Leone because she (Caregiver 1) was preparing to go out of town. However, Ms. Leone documented in FSFN Case ID #101206388 that she conducted a face-to-face home visit with Child 1 and Child 2 on January 24, 2017. Ms. Leone also documented in FSFN Case ID #100679576 that she conducted a face-to?face home visit with Child 3 that same date (January 24, 2017). It should be noted that Caregiver 1 is also the caregiver for Child 3. Ms. Hutchinson learned of the alleged falsi?cation on FSFN Case ID #2390967 during a telephone conversation (unknown exact date) with (Caregiver 2). Caregiver 2 reported that Ms. Leone did not conduct a face-to-face home visit with four- year-old (Child 4) and 11-year-old? (Child 5) on January 25, 2017, as documented by Ms. Leone in Case Note ID #155189302. Caregiver 2 told Ms. Hutchinson that Ms. Leone met with Child 4 and Child 5 at a local ballet studio, not at their residence. ALLEGATION AND FINDING Allegation and Finding Pathways by Molina (Pathways) Case Manager Tiffany Leone falsi?ed child protective supervision records in FSFN Case [03 #101206388, #100679576, and #2390967. Potential violation of Rule 60L-36. 005(1) and and (02., Attachment I, B. Contract between the Department and Sarasota Family YMCA, Inc.; Article 1.2. and Article 2:3. Contract between Sarasota Family YMCA, Inc. and Pathways; 838. 022(1)(a), F. and and (0), ES. Finding: SUPPORTED. 1 Effective February 3. 2017. Ms. Leone was no longer employed by Pathways. 1 Office of Inspector General Investigative Report #2017-0012 Case Note ID #155189504: Ms. Leone documented that she conducted a face-to-face home visit with Child 1 and Child 2 on January 24, 2017 at 7:15 pm. In the narrative portion of the case note, Ms. Leone entered, ?This case manager conducted an announced visit to the home where [Child 1] and [Child 2] Case Note ID #155189302: Ms. Leone documented that she conducted a face-to-face home visit with Child 3 on January 24, 2017 at 7:15 pm. In the narrative portion of the case note, Ms. Leone entered, case manager met with [Child 3] brie?y as the foster parents were leaving for WITNESS TESTIMONY The following individuals were interviewed: Pathways Adoption Specialist Claudia LaPietra Caregiver 1 Ms. LaPietra conducted a face-to-face home visit at Caregiver 1?s residence on January 31, 2017. Ms. Leone was supposed to accompany her but had a change of plans and was unable to do so. Ms. Leone told her (Ms. LaPietra) that she conducted a face-to- face home visit at Caregiver 1's residence the previous week (January 24, 2017). During the home visit, Ms. LaPietra made a comment to Caregiver 1 about Ms. Leone?s previous face-to-face home visit, at which time Caregiver 1 said that Ms. Leone talked to Child 1, Child 2, and Child 3 on the telephone, but did not conduct a home visit. Ms. LaPietra indicated that the next day (February 1, 2017), she verified in FSFN Case IDs #101206388 and #100679576 that Ms. Leone had documented face-to-face home visits with Child 1, Child 2, and Child 3 on January 24, 2017. After reviewing Case Note IDs #155189504 and #155189302, Ms. LaPietra contacted Adoption Specialist Supervisor Katrina Stallings and notified her of the alleged falsification. Ms. LaPietra confirmed that Ms. Stallings had no independent information pertaining to the alleged falsi?cation. On January 24, 2017, Caregiver 1 telephoned Ms. Leone to reschedule the face-to-face home visit originally planned for that day (January 24, 2017). Caregiver 1 told Ms. Leone that she (Caregiver 1) was preparing to go on vacation and Child 1, Child 2, and Child 3 were not going to be at her residence at the time of the scheduled home visit. Ms. Leone then asked to speak with Child 1, Child 2, and Child 3 on the telephone. The children spoke with Ms. Leone separately via telephone, but Ms. Leone did not conduct a home visit. Caregiver 1 maintains a visitor log and documented on the log that on January 24, 2017, she called Ms. Leone to reschedule the home visit. RECORDS REVIEWED Time yd Attendance Record A review of Ms. Leone?s January 24, 2017 timesheet indicated that she worked from 10:00 am. until 8:00 pm. Mileage Reimbursement Form Ms. Leone claimed a total of 52 miles of travel to and from Caregiver 1?s residence on January 24, 2017. Ms. Leone?s mileage was reimbursed at .445 per mile, for a total reimbursement of $23.14. Office of Inspector General Investigative Report #2017-0012 SUBJECT TESTIMONY Former Pathways CM Tiffany Leone Ms. Leone admitted that she falsified information in FSFN Case IDs #101206388 and #100679576. She did not conduct a face-to-face home visit with Child 1, Child 2, and Child 3 at Caregiver 1?s residence on January 24, 2017. She contacted Caregiver 1 via telephone several times to schedule a face-to-face home visit, but Caregiver 1 indicated that she was going on vacation and Child 1, Child 2, and Child 3 would not be at her (Caregiver 1?s) residence on January 24, 2017. Ms. Leone spoke to Child 1, Child 2, and Child 3 via telephone on January 24, 2017. She made a ?bad choice,? because she had over a hundred children in her caseload and it was difficult to schedule times to see all of the children. Ms. Leone inadvertently claimed mileage to Caregiver 1?s residence on January 24, 2017. She completed her mileage reimbursement form on February 1, 2017, and documented the addresses of her cases from her calendar, but did not notice that she had documented Caregiver 1?s address on the mileage reimbursement form. Ms. Leone indicated she did not intentionally claim the mileage. Case Note ID #155225748: Ms. Leone documented that she conducted a face-to-face home visit with Child 4 and Child 5 on January 25, 2017 at 5:15 pm. In the narrative portion of the case note, Ms. Leone entered, ?This case manager conducted an UNANNOUNCED visit to the home where [Child 4] and [Child 5] The following individual was interviewed: Caregiver 2 Caregiver 2 telephoned Ms. Leone on January 25, 2017, and asked if they could meet at the ballet studio for the face-to-face visit with Child 4 and Child 5. Caregiver 2 explained that Child 4 and Child 5 would have been at home on January 25, 2017, but because Child 4 did not attend her ballet class on January 24, 2017, Caregiver 2 had to transport Child 4 to the class on January 25, 2017, and Child 5 was with them. Ms. Leone agreed and met with Caregiver 2, Child 4, and Child 5 at the ballet studio, at which time she spoke with Child 4 and Child 5 separately. At the time, Caregiver 2 was not aware that Ms. Leone was required to conduct face-to-face visits with the children in their residence. Caregiver 2 thought that Ms. Leone was only required to see Child 4 and Child 5 on a basis, whether at their home or another location. Caregiver 2 explained that she did not have any record of the telephone call she placed to Ms. Leone on January 25, 2017, because she has a new cellular telephone, which does not re?ect calls made from her old cellular telephone. RECORDS REVIEWED Time and Attendance Record A review of Ms. Leone?s January 25, 2017 timesheet indicated that she worked from 8:30 am. until 8:30 pm. Mileage Reimbursement Form Ms. Leone claimed a total of nine miles of travel to and from Caregiver 2?s residence on January 25, 2017. Ms. Leone?s mileage was reimbursed at .445 per mile, for a total reimbursement of $4.01. Office of Inspector General Investigative Report #2017-0012 SUBJECT TESTIMONY TE D Former Pathways CM Tiffany Leone Ms. Leone admitted that she did not conduct a face-to-face home visit with Child 4 and Child 5 at Caregiver 2’s residence on January 25, 2017. She spoke with Caregiver 2 via telephone on January 25, 2017, at which time Caregiver 2 advised that she was taking Child 4 and Child 5 to the ballet studio. Due to her high caseload, Ms. Leone was unable to reschedule a face-to-face home visit with Child 4 and Child 5, so she met with both children at the ballet studio. It was another “bad choice” that she made, but she wanted to see Child 4 and Child 5 to confirm their safety. She inadvertently claimed mileage to Caregiver 2’s residence on January 25, 2017. She completed her mileage reimbursement form on February 1, 2017, and documented the addresses of her cases from her calendar and did not notice that she had documented Caregiver 2’s address on the mileage reimbursement form. She did not intentionally claim the mileage. RISK ASSESSMENT AC Ms. Hutchinson conducted a risk assessment and reported that as of March 8, 2017, all 60 children in Ms. Leone’s 47 cases were seen and determined to be safe. Other than the cases cited in this report, no additional concerns were noted. SUMMARY The allegation that Pathways by Molina (Pathways) Case Manager Tiffany Leone falsified child protective supervision records in FSFN Case IDs #101206388, #100679576, and #2390967 is supported. The finding is based on the following: ED FSFN Case IDs #101206388 and #100679576  In Case Note ID #155189504, Ms. Leone documented that she conducted a face-toface home visit with Child 1 and Child 2 on January 24, 2017 at 7:15 p.m. In Case Note ID #155189302, Ms. Leone documented that she conducted a face-toface home visit with Child 3 on January 24, 2017 at 7:15 p.m.  Ms. Leone claimed a total of 52 miles of travel to and from Caregiver 1’s residence on January 24, 2017, for which she was reimbursed $23.14.  Caregiver 1 testified that a home visit was scheduled for January 24, 2017; however, she telephoned Ms. Leone on that date to reschedule the visit and Ms. Leone did not conduct a home visit that date. Ms. Leone spoke to Child 1, Child 2, and Child 3 over the telephone, which Caregiver 1 documented on a visitor log she maintains. R   Ms. Leone admitted to the OIG Investigator that she did not conduct a face-to-face home visit at Caregiver 1’s residence on January 24, 2017, and claimed that she inadvertently claimed mileage to Caregiver 1’s residence on that date. FSFN Case ID #2390967  In Case Note ID #155225748, Ms. Leone documented that she conducted a face-toface home visit with Child 4 and Child 5 on January 25, 2017 at 5:15 p.m. 4 Office of Inspector General Investigative Report #2017-0012 0 Ms. Leone claimed nine miles of travel to and from Caregiver 2?s residence on January 25, 2017, for which she was reimbursed $4.01. 0 Caregiver 2 testified that Ms. Leone did not conduct a face-to-face home visit on January 25, 2017, but did meet with Child 4 and Child 5 at the ballet studio. 0 Ms. Leone admitted to the OIG Investigator that she did not conduct a face-to-face home visit at Caregiver 2?s residence on January 25, 2017, but instead met with Child 4 and Child 5 at the ballet studio on that date. She stated that she inadvertently claimed mileage to Caregiver 2?s residence on that date. RECOMMENDATIONS AND ACTIONS The OIG recommends that the SunCoast Regional Managing Director: 0 Review this report, provide a copy to the management of Sarasota Family YMCA, Inc. and Pathways by Molina, and ensure the findings are annotated in Ms. Leone?s personnel file. According to the Florida Certification Board, Ms. Leone obtained her Child Welfare Case Manager certification on October 19, 2016. As such, and based on the ?ndings of this investigation, the OIG also recommends the SunCoast Regional Managing Director request that the management of Sarasota Families YMCA, Inc. and Pathways by Molina: 0 Determine if initiating the decertification process regarding Ms. Leone?s Child Welfare Case Manager certi?cation is warranted or appropriate. POST-INVESTIGATIVE ACTIVITIES In accordance with Florida Statutes (F.S.), on August 16, 2017, this investigation was coordinated with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for a possible violation of F.S. (Official Misconduct), and and F.S. (Falsifying Records). On August 17, 2017, FDLE advised that they would initiate a criminal investigation. On April 10, 2018, FDLE further advised that on March 2, 2018, they referred the matter to the State Attorney?s Office (20th Judicial Circuit), in and for Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee Counties, and on March 16, 2018, the State Attorney?s Office declined to initiate a criminal prosecution. In compliance with F.S., a copy of this report was provided to Ms. Leone on May 9, 2018; however, it was returned by the US. Postal Service marked, ?Return to Sender Attempted-Not Known Unable to Forward.? An updated address was obtained via Accurint and a copy of the report was provided to Ms. Leone on June 1, 2018. No response was received from Ms. Leone. This investigation has been conducted in accordance with the ASSOCIATION OF INSPECTORS GENERAL Principles Quality Standards for Investigations. Office of Inspector General Investigative Report #2017-0012 REFERENCES CONTRACT INFORMATION Through Contract #QJ2B0, effective July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2021, the Department contracts with Community-Based Care (CBC) provider Sarasota Family YMCA, Inc. to serve as the lead agency in Circuit 12. TE D Through Contract #PHSCM17, effective July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017, Sarasota Family YMCA, Inc. subcontracts with Pathways by Molina to provide foster care and related services in Circuit 12. The contract was renewed as Contract #PHSCM18, effective July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018. EXPLANATION OF TERMS Accurint is a web-based research tool managed by LexisNexis that allows authorized users access to public and non-public information, such as Social Security Numbers, addresses, court filings, associates, criminal histories, credit histories, birth and marriage certificates, etc. Circuit 12 Circuit 12 consists of Desoto, Manatee, and Sarasota Counties. FSFN AC Accurint The SunCoast Region consists of Circuit 6 (Pasco and Pinellas Counties); Circuit 12; Circuit 13 (Hillsborough County); and Circuit 20 (Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee Counties). R ED SunCoast Region The Florida Safe Families Network (FSFN) is the legal electronic system of record used by the Department to track child and adult intake/reports and investigations and case management for children. 6