Author Topic: GAO Hearings and Congress (Read 9749 times)

Anonymous · « **on:** July 13, 2007, 09:29:45 PM »

What in the heck is going on? I got this in my email...

Quote

Dear HEALers & Survivors,

We received an e-mail last month from Kat Whitehead of CAFETY claiming
that
the GAO had tentatively scheduled a hearing on the behavior
modification
industry and that CAFETY was organizing families and survivors to
testify at
these hearings. As you can see below, the GAO is not and will not
schedule
or hold a hearing on this issue as that is not what they do. We are
concerned that CAFETY is misinforming the survivor community regarding
a
possible hearing in order to obtain private information regarding
survivors,
their experiences, and their families. As CAFETY has stated that the
only
way to sign up to speak at this alleged hearing is to go through
CAFETY, we
find this highly suspect.

So, HEAL has contacted the GAO and we can confirm (see below) that the
GAO
will not be holding any such hearing. We have asked Kay Brown how
survivors
and families can go about submitting their stories for the GAO report
on the
residential treatment industry and are awaiting a response. We are
also
watching the House calendar to see if and when any such hearing is
scheduled
and how survivors and families can participate. We'd like to take this
opportunity to inform you that you do not need to go through CAFETY or
share
your information with HEAL or any third party. HEAL is working
diligently
to give you the direct information so you can decide and move forward
with
filing with the GAO and/or testifying at any alleged hearing. There is
no
hearing scheduled at this time and it is my understanding that there
won't
be a hearing until after the GAO report is filed in early 2008.

Stay informed and involved!

In Solidarity,

Angela S.
HEAL Coordinator

-----Original Message-----
From: Kay E Brown [mailto:BrownKE@gao.gov]
Sent: Friday, July 13, 2007 11:28 AM
To: www.gao.gov. We do not have authority to hold hearings, but
often
are asked to testify at hearings held by various Congressional
committees.

That said, you probably heard about us because we are currently
conducting
reviews of aspects of residential treatment facilities for children.
Our
work was requested by Representative George Miller, Chairman of the
House
Committee on Education and Labor. Our report will not be released until
early 2008. Any hearings on the subject would be scheduled by the House
committee and are not necessarily linked to the release of our report.
You
can contact that committee or visit their Web site for more information
on
whether and when they will be holding hearings. If you have more
questions,
please feel free to call me at 202.512.3674.
Kay Brown

Kay E. Brown
Acting Director
USGAO
202 512-3674
brownke@gao.gov

SettleForNothingLess · « **Reply #1 on:** July 13, 2007, 09:35:23 PM »

what the hell is this shit?!?!

Anonymous · « **Reply #2 on:** July 13, 2007, 09:36:24 PM »

WTF is HEAL claiming here? Their email is the opposite of what was sent to them by the GAO. How the hell can you have a report on anything if you don't collect evidence (e.g. hold hearings) first? The GAO doesn't have the authority to hold hearings, okay. The committee which George Miller heads (isn't he the congressman who's been aggressive)? will do that.

Just what we need, more bureaucratic infighting.

'Sup George? You reading this?

Anonymous · « **Reply #3 on:** July 13, 2007, 09:45:42 PM »

Quote

Ms. Smith,
Thank you for your e-mail. Let me clarify who we (GAO) are and the
circumstances of the possible public hearing. The Government
Accountability
Office is an independent agency in the legislative branch. Our mission
is to
help Congress improve the performance and accountability of the federal
government. We do objective fact-based studies and investigations for
Congress, usually at the request of or when mandated by Congress. Once
completed and released, our studies are made available to the public on
our
Web site, www.gao.gov. We do not have authority to hold hearings, but
often
are asked to testify at hearings held by various Congressional
committees.

That said, you probably heard about us because we are currently
conducting
reviews of aspects of residential treatment facilities for children.
Our
work was requested by Representative George Miller, Chairman of the
House
Committee on Education and Labor. Our report will not be released until
early 2008. Any hearings on the subject would be scheduled by the House
committee and are not necessarily linked to the release of our report.
You
can contact that committee or visit their Web site for more information
on
whether and when they will be holding hearings. If you have more
questions,
please feel free to call me at 202.512.3674.
Kay Brown

Kay E. Brown
Acting Director
USGAO
202 512-3674

I'm reading it as the GAO will not be holding hearings, but will be conducting interviews and other fact finding activities. The hearings, if any, will be held by congress at a later time.

Anonymous · « **Reply #4 on:** July 13, 2007, 09:48:21 PM »

::hrtbrk:: There are not enough words to describe how I am feeling,
no study? no testimonys from survivors? no testimony from anyone interested???
I just don't understand... :cry:

Anonymous · « **Reply #5 on:** July 13, 2007, 09:56:56 PM »

Quote

but will be conducting interviews and other fact finding activities.

Survivors and ex-staff: You do not need CAFETY, HEAL, or anyone else for this.

Contact the GAO with your information prepared. Via certified mail, in three-paragraph letters, or more if you want to give it to them all at once. Right fucking now.

nimdA · « **Reply #6 on:** July 13, 2007, 10:11:39 PM »

Quote from: ""Guest""

Quote
but will be conducting interviews and other fact finding activities.

Survivors and ex-staff: You do not need CAFETY, HEAL, or anyone else for this.

Contact the GAO with your information prepared. Via certified mail, in three-paragraph letters, or more if you want to give it to them all at once. Right fucking now.

Agreed. Letter will be sent out by monday.

SettleForNothingLess · « **Reply #7 on:** July 13, 2007, 10:18:05 PM »

how should we go about writing the GAO?

some advice would be appreciated.

* · « **Reply #8 on:** July 13, 2007, 10:36:39 PM »

Quote from: ""Guest""

Quote
Ms. Smith,
Thank you for your e-mail. Let me clarify who we (GAO) are and the
circumstances of the possible public hearing. The Government
Accountability
Office is an independent agency in the legislative branch. Our mission
is to
help Congress improve the performance and accountability of the federal
government. We do objective fact-based studies and investigations for
Congress, usually at the request of or when mandated by Congress. Once
completed and released, our studies are made available to the public on
our
Web site, www.gao.gov. We do not have authority to hold hearings, but
often
are asked to testify at hearings held by various Congressional
committees.

That said, you probably heard about us because we are currently
conducting
reviews of aspects of residential treatment facilities for children.
Our
work was requested by Representative George Miller, Chairman of the
House
Committee on Education and Labor. Our report will not be released until
early 2008.
.
You
can contact that committee or visit their Web site for more information
on
whether and when they will be holding hearings. If you have more
questions,
please feel free to call me at 202.512.3674.
Kay Brown

Kay E. Brown
Acting Director
USGAO
202 512-3674

I'm reading it as the GAO will not be holding hearings, but will be conducting interviews and other fact finding activities. The hearings, if any, will be held by congress at a later time.

A hearing could be conducted at anytime. It is my understanding the folks over at CAFETY are trying to get the word out to survivors should they want to participate.

"Any hearings on the subject would be scheduled by the House
committee and are not necessarily linked to the release of our report"

I am sure it is just semantics and the understanding of the exact process of the hearings and how it takes place. I know that CAFETY is NOT trying to gather this information for their own purposes. Their intent is real and they are just taking on the task of getting the information out to the folks in case a hearing takes place. It is absurd to assume otherwise.

SettleForNothingLess · « **Reply #9 on:** July 13, 2007, 10:38:43 PM »

i sure hope so. i have faith in CAFETY.

Anonymous · « **Reply #10 on:** July 13, 2007, 11:31:55 PM »

Quote

202.512.3674

See that? That's a phone number.

DO NOT talk about the hellhole you went to over the phone. Just don't. It's a waste of everyone's time, and nobody wants people calling them up with it. This needs to be in writing for it to mean jack shit. What you do is you ask him how you can have your testimony entered into the formal record. And then you send it to him by certified mail. If you really want to play hardball, get a notary public to co-sign it. This just shows you're serious.

Anonymous · « **Reply #11 on:** July 14, 2007, 12:01:15 AM »

The GAO has been investigating this for awhile before Cafety made their announcement.

I know several people who have already been interviewed, some even in person. All victims of abuse in a program and/or their parents, and others who for one reason or another had something to aid the GAO in their investigation. It's not like this is some secret but I do agree that Cafety's announcement was somewhat misleading in that it appeared they were asking people to go "through them". HEAL was clearly trying to clarify for the benefit of all and that's a good thing, IMO.

Anonymous · « **Reply #12 on:** July 14, 2007, 12:20:27 AM »

Quote from: ""Guest""

The GAO has been investigating this for awhile before Cafety made their announcement.

I know several people who have already been interviewed, some even in person. All victims of abuse in a program and/or their parents, and others who for one reason or another had something to aid the GAO in their investigation. It's not like this is some secret but I do agree that Cafety's announcement was somewhat misleading in that it appeared they were asking people to go "through them". HEAL was clearly trying to clarify for the benefit of all and that's a good thing, IMO.

Uh, the letter from HEAL did more than "clarify", assumptions were made about CAFETY's intentions. I believe CAFETY's intentions are only to gather folks if they are so inclined. IMO

Devlin · « **Reply #13 on:** July 14, 2007, 12:40:41 AM »

i also didnt trust the caftey post on hearing so i also did my own research. I think that caftey is just collecting info right now and then going to try to controle who they submitt for testimony in such a way to controle the hearings to meet PURE and CAFTEY's own agenda. Word to Sue Scheif and Isabella i also have the contanct info if there is a hearings i know who does the scheduling so your little plan wont work. I think they need to hear about Whitmore academy and the PURE money making scam. Lets not forget IZZY!

If there is a hearing the congressmen wil get full picture not a partial one showing PURE and IZZY as saviors they will get the truth!

SettleForNothingLess · « **Reply #14 on:** July 14, 2007, 01:30:12 AM »

whats with the negativity of Cafety? please explain... i am so confused as to who to believe...they seem like good people to me.. after all arent we all working together on this issue?

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