Sunshine League: Minister Hopes For Resolution
Minister Glenn Blakeney held a press conference this morning [June 22] to address the news yesterday that Sunshine League will stop offering residential foster care services.
Yesterday the Sunshine League announced that, effective July 1, 2011, they will cease residential foster care citing the “excessively high costs.” Five full-time staff and thirteen part-time employees will be let go.
This morning Minister Blakeney said the Government has been working with Sunshine League, and they “still believe that a satisfactory resolution can be found which would allow this 16-bed facility to continue to meet the residential needs of foster care children.”
Barring a resolution, the eight children – ranged from 12 to 17 years old – currently living at the Sunshine League will be placed in other accommodations. When asked if there was enough foster parents to take the children in at this short notice, Minister Blakeney said they are “challenged.”
When asked this morning, Child and Family Services director Alfred Maybury said that the young people will go to foster parents, and some will go back to their natural parents.
Sunshine League said it costs between $75,000 and $100,000 per child per year to operate a 24-hour facility, and Minister Blakeney said he did not personally understand the $25,000 range. The Minister also mentioned that the building is owned by the League, with no mortgage attached.
Minister Blakeney said, “The Sunshine League proposed that Government take over all the operating expenses of the facility, cover day to day maintenance costs, and lease the current facility from the Sunshine League, whilst the Sunshine League would continue to fund raise in its own name.
“However, Government expressed concern with this proposal and, with the agreement of the Sunshine League, initiated a review of the operational efficiency and financial status of the Sunshine League, with a view towards assessing options for continuing the residential foster care services offered by the Sunshine League, including assessing the viability of integration with Government-operated residential services.”
“This review was well underway when yesterday’s announcement was made. Government had requested, and is yet to receive current financial information regarding the financial status at the Sunshine League.”
Yesterday Zakiya Johnson, Interim President, said: “While many corporations and individuals continue to be extremely generous to The Sunshine League, the donations, foster fees and government grant are no longer enough to sustain a high-cost residential foster-care model.”
“We considered several options, however, given the uncertainty in securing the necessary funding for residential care, we felt we could make more effective use of our resources and reach a larger number of children by supporting foster children in education-based programmes.”
“This is a global issue that foster-care placements are facing. And as many charities in Bermuda are finding, the economic downturn has greatly affected financial giving.”
The Sunshine League will retain its facility and use it for programmes that support the community’s youth – primarily those in the foster care system.
One of Bermuda’s oldest charities, the Sunshine League was first established in 1919 by Agnes Robinson with the help of some friends and just over 35 shillings. The Sunshine League started in Middletown, Pembroke and moved several times before settling at the current location on King Street in 1950.
Minister Blakeney’s full statement follows below:
Good Morning,
Yesterday, the Sunshine League Children’s Home announced that it will cease delivering 24-hr residential foster care effective on July 1st 2011.
As the Minister of Youth, Families and Sports, I was surprised and disappointed by this announcement, especially because of the historical significance of this 92-year old institution and the invaluable contribution it has made to the lives of many Bermudians.
The Ministry finds it curious that there was NO mention in the press statement that over the past few months, the Ministry of Youth, Families and Sports has been engaged in active discussion with the Board of the Sunshine League regarding its intent to abandon 24-hr residential foster care, and was attempting to find a way forward that would allow the charity to continue offering residential foster care, which has been a core component of the Sunshine League’s charitable undertaking since its inception in 1919.
The Board of the Sunshine League did indicate to the Government that they were predicting a shortfall in donations this year, and as a result wanted to move from the current residential model to a different model.
The Sunshine League proposed that Government take over all the operating expenses of the facility, cover day to day maintenance costs, and lease the current facility from the Sunshine League, whilst the Sunshine League would continue to fund raise in its own name.
However, Government expressed concern with this proposal and, with the agreement of the Sunshine League, initiated a review of the operational efficiency and financial status of the Sunshine League, with a view towards assessing options for continuing the residential foster care services offered by the Sunshine League, including assessing the viability of integration with Government-operated residential services.
This review was well underway when yesterday’s announcement was made. Government had requested, and is yet to receive current financial information regarding the financial status at the Sunshine League.
It was our hope that no action would be taken until the report by the internal Management Consulting Section of the Department of Human Resources had been completed outlining options and recommendations for consideration.
It was with great disappointment that the Ministry was advised that a press statement had already been released indicating that the Sunshine League would make the transition away from residential foster care without waiting for the conclusion of the review.
As recently as yesterday, the Ministry reached out to the Board Chairperson with the intent to request a special meeting of the Board to address the unavailability of certain financial information that was impeding the progress of the review. However, the Ministry was advised that the release had already gone to press.
We find it interesting to note that the Sunshine League is seeking to transition its services to the wider foster care community, and there have been no formal discussions with the Department of Child and Family Services, which has statutory responsibility for foster care in Bermuda, as to how the Sunshine League proposes to accomplish this transition without duplicating efforts already being made by the Foster Parents Association, which is a well established charitable organization.
The theme of avoidance of duplication of effort among the over 400 charities in Bermuda was the thrust of my opening remarks at the last convening of inter-agency social services organizations a few months ago.
Notwithstanding, the Ministry of Youth, Families and Sports is committed to continuing and completing the review of the Sunshine League and still believes that a satisfactory resolution can be found which would allow this 16-bed facility to continue to meet the residential needs of foster care children.
In conclusion, I wish to state that all available resources will be used to ensure the continued care and protection of the eight (8) children impacted by the decision of the Sunshine League Children’s Home Executive Board, and we look forward to the recommendations from the Management Consulting Section of the Department of Human Resources.
Thank You.
If you are interested in becoming a foster parent, or would like more information about the foster care programme in Bermuda, please contact Selena Simons, Foster Care Coordinator at 294-5871.
Yet another charity that just somehow cannot provide proper accounting details, when asked. This is the real reason that people are no longer donating. It’s not just the recession.
We get it! We’ve been getting ripped off for years.
The Charities Act requires that all registered charities submit accurate financial statements to the Registrar General within 6 months of their year-end.
The Sunshine League is no different, and I think the Ministry suggesting any mismanagement is shameful.
I agree with your statement: “I think the Ministry suggesting any mismanagement is shameful” the “nerve of a horse” as my grandmother would say….let’s not draw us into a “misapropriation” of funds discussion Mr. Minister…SMH!!!!!!
Ummm with the increase in gang activity we are releasing these problem youth back into society? When mom and dad pay them no attention where you think they are going to find it? I know it’s not entirely the youth however returning them back to the living condition that got them there in the first place can not be the answer. This gov is truly lost, it’s a recession we get it, don’t create more social problems because of it. Be creative find ways to make money exhaust all avenues before throwing in the towel. This gov has no vision, no creativity, not just plp but o.b.a. Too I mean where the he’ll is this countries so called leaders?
Politics at its best. Shame on you Minister Blakeney. I believe sincerely that the Board made its pain well known to you and typical of many a “helping” government departments, their cries went unheard by you or you went about resolving these at the pace that is notoriously characteristic of the civil service.
Now with no other options available to them, the Board made the difficult decision to make this announcement and only now that it is front page news does it get your attention. This announcement was their last ditch attempt of desperation and accomplished exactly what could have been expected….that you and the labour government would now care about the at risk youths that the home shelters. These children deserve more.
And certainly not during an election year would the PLP machinery have these children go unserved! Pitiful.
You ‘believe sincerely’ and I know for fact, that your comments are spot on!!! I can’t believe the nerve of the Minister to suggest that he was surprised by this action.
And to those sugessting that the SL has been mismanaging funds simply because the Minister states that financial information has not been provided are jumping to a bold conclusion.
So the Sunshine League decided to pull the plug without notifying the Ministry.
Right. Pull the other one.
Well put 411. I like the part about “at risk youths”……….
Ironoic eh?
Political rhetoric. At this point and time the PLP can ill afford to mess up. So many people are fed up with the way the Government is running this country. They have now waited until one of the oldest charities have made a decision to close its doors to try an back track to some degree of making themselves look like they can save.
The children come first and foremost. The SL made there plea known with Government but as usual they dragged there feet.
Bermuda we need to be shouting at the top of our lungs to wake this Government up.So much is at stake on this island.
This is a freakin joke….why don’t the Ministers of Government all give up their cars for the sake of the children – 13 ministers? 13 cars at conservatively say $25k each plus operating espenses? there is probably money for 4 kids. Also he said some kids will go back to their natural parents – WTF?? They are in foster care for a reason you dolt!!
If this debacle of closing the oldest charity providing for our Bermudian children at risk had occurred under the UBP, there would have been an uproar, an outcry, an uprising with blood in the streets…and yet we sit and watch this happen and worst of all, say and do nothing about it!
Maybe someone should look into the books because the Sunshine League just received a huge donation..Sorry I can’t nme the source of where the donation came from.
They never denied receiving large donations – read above:
Yesterday Zakiya Johnson, Interim President, said: “While many corporations and individuals continue to be extremely generous to The Sunshine League, the donations, foster fees and government grant are no longer enough to sustain a high-cost residential foster-care model.”
For real for the amount of money it takes to raise a child do you think more Mothers and fathers can ask for more money for child support seems like a lot of money to raise one child. The SL pulled the plug they made the choice it seems to me
I really can not fathom how it costs between 75,000-100,000 dollars per year per child! That equals roughly $$205-273 per day per child??? What are these children doing? Are they going to private school with this money? Are they traveling abroad or eating gourmet food? Can you imagine how many families are raising their own children on much much less?
“The Minister also mentioned that the building is owned by the League, with no mortgage attached.”
Think before you speak. The cost is attributed to the 18 staff used to take care of the children – 5 full time people, 13 part time. The cost of all these people plus food and belco etc equals the total cost. Then divide this number by 8 children. And you arrive at the 100K figure. The operating costs using this logic is an annual budget requirement of $800K. We reduce this per child cost by having more kids in the home…
Sooooo let me understand this correctly. They have no mortgage on the place? Why dont they refinance take a small mortgage out. Make the PARENTS of the children pay a fee for them being there. I bet that would straighten up these PARENTS ACT. Simply because CHILDREN LEARN WHAT THE LIVE. They wouldnt be unruley if they didnt see it…um just saying
So the question REMAINS BERMUDA? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS GOVERNMENT??? The Sunshine League like the Brangman home has foster some of the most HIGHLY regarded indiviuals on this land!! This Government are more interested in keeping FORIEGN companies happy then DEALING with the ISSUES that have TORN the MORAL FABRIC of OUR HOMELAND!! BERMUDA WAKE UP! CITIZENS around the WORLD are TOPPLING INEPT CORRUPT GOVERNMENTS!! WHY CAN”T WE?? ORGANISE BERMUDA!! PRIORITISE!!
“Government had requested, and is yet to receive current financial information regarding the financial status at the Sunshine League.”
Charities are required file annual accounts with the Registrar and, to the best of my knowledge, the Sunshine League is current with their obligations unlike the BIU which is 12 YEARS BEHIND … but you won’t hear a PLP Minister mention that grave deficiency will you.
As someone who grew up and went to church in the same area as Sunshine League, I am very familiar with the facility – when younger many children living there attended church along with my family and I even visited friends who lived there at a young age.
I am sooooo sooo confused by all of this. It raised a question mark in my head as well when reading that the SL has no mortgage. Is up to $100,000 per child per year a reality? Well, we have been told many times that it costs $80,000 per prisoner per year at Westgate….is that a good comparison?? Someone? Anyone…?
Also, as an admin assistant for the Bda Govt. privy to high profile meetings (minute taking)I know for a fact that half truths are often told and the public only gets to hear the real deal if someone is bold enough to risk their cushy job and huge paycheck to reveal the truth!
Hopefully, the truth will come out and a resolution will be found as once again, we are discussing Bermuda’s future – our children – who continue to be placed at risk due to the supposed lack of funds.
Furthermore – my biggest pet peeve right now with the Bda Govt. – even though it isn’t millions – is the fact that they have “found” more money in their budget for the freakin Washington Office expansion “so that US Congressman can have easy access to info on Bermuda” – but less money for OUR CHILDREN – THE FUTURE!!!!
Hello Sooo confused
I would encourage you to speak up or leak the information. Garry at ZBM or Bernews would gladly be able to assist.
Speak up for the future of Bermuda!
Hold on!
In the blog yesterday i said, this government will pay over 2 million $$$$$ to consulatants,cut $100,000 grant to Sunshine league and face the camera and defend their action! i am still asking, i wonder who they work for??????
Mr Blakeney said Government had initiated a review of the operational efficiency and financial status of the Sunshine League. “Government had requested, and is yet to receive, current information regarding the financial status of The Sunshine League.”
Another example of this Government’s double standards…and “OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY”?!?!?!?! Really??!!! This Gvmnt. has NO RIGHT to such utterances!!!!!
Yesterday Senator LaVerne Furbert was taking the view that the Sunshine League is not needed and should close – see another thread. Maybe there needs to be more coordination between the PLP Cabinet and its Senators so both know what the PLP Government position is on such matters and presents a united front. So is it close it down because of the Global Recession, or work to keep it open?
@ I encourage…:-) unfortunately, I am not privy to the details of this particular matter.
At the Sunshine League I did
Ask the question that blew off the lid
I’m still waiting my turn
They have money to burn
Its a hundred thousand per kid
Are you people asking about the price really that stupid? Do you think the children care for themselves? They don’t go to private schools, do the prisoners? There have to be responsible adults there to care for them-maybe one of the reasons they are there in the first place. I am sure the cost is taking the paying of the cook, and the supervisor and anyone else they need to assist into consideration. I know for a fact the kids have chores that they have to do to help out. I for one am sorry to see them close. I have supported them over the years and will continue to do so! Come on Bda Govt-there has to be some common ground here