Corina Magofna
SENATE Floor Leader Corina Magofna on Wednesday asked Senate Vice President Donald Manglona to investigate the Community Guidance Center’s expenditures of federal funds for personnel salaries.
Asked for comment, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. on Thursday said personnel costs reported to federal grantors “are the actual expenditures and not the budgeted amounts.” Moreover, the funds that are unused within the designated period of performance “are redirected, with grantor approval, to cover other allowable costs of program and service delivery [needs] that may include community wellness promotion activities and professional development training and activities,” CHCC said.
Magofna said she received a letter from an anonymous constituent requesting her to look into how the federal funds received by CHCC for CGC personnel are being spent.
Manglona chairs the Senate Committee on Health, Education and Welfare while Magofna is the vice chair.
Magofna mentioned the individual’s allegation that CGC staff members are being paid salaries lower than the amount reported to the federal government. According to the individual, the annual salaries of CGC staff have been approved by the federal government, but CHCC “still won’t make the changes.”
Magofna told Manglona that “it is imperative that we inform the community when such allegations, issues or concerns are raised, that we as elected officials take them seriously, we investigate them thoroughly, and assure our constituents that we do not ignore or disregard their grievances. In other words, their courage and bravery in raising such issue or concern does not fall on deaf ears.”
According to the individual, CHCC “is claiming to the feds that they are paying us a certain amount for our salary, but in reality we are getting paid way lower than what they claim.”
The individual also alleged that “higher ups are always traveling … but when it comes for the front liners at CGC to travel, they either reject the travel authorization or they have to tag along.”
CHCC’s response
On Thursday, CHCC issued the following statement in response to Magofna’s call for an investigation:
“The Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation … is steadfast in its commitment to maintaining transparency and fairness across all its operations.
“We actively welcome and encourage stakeholders to raise any inquiries, questions, or concerns they may have directly to CHCC, as we believe that open communication is essential for fostering trust and improving our services.
“Additionally, CHCC also [supports] and [urges] staff to engage in open dialogue by addressing any issues or concerns directly with their managers or supervisors. This approach ensures that all voices are heard and contributes to a collaborative and equitable work environment.
“As part of workforce recruitment and [retention] priorities, the CHCC-Community Guidance Center developed and has been working alongside CHCC leadership to promote fair and streamlined salaries based on Minimum Qualification Requirements.
“As this process was initiated last year, salary projections were included in respective budgets to ensure sufficient fiscal coverage once and upon approval of CHCC expenditure authorities. What is reported to and transferred by federal grantors are the actual expenditures, and not the budgeted amounts.
“Funding dedicated to personnel costs that are unused within the designated period of performance are redirected, with grantor approval, to cover other allowable costs of program and service delivery [needs] that may include community wellness promotion activities and professional development training and activities.
“To promote knowledge of behavioral health best practices, skill development, proficiency, and local, regional, national, and global partnerships, workforce development opportunities are collectively identified based on workforce and partnership roles, cross-training efforts, and service delivery priorities.
“In addition to planning processes that are informed by the CGC workforce, added travel considerations are addressed by staff and supervisors to promote prioritization of client care coverage and services, justifications, and monitoring and rotation of workforce participating in travel and training events. Included in the travel plans are required grantee meetings for identified and recommended program leads and staff as part of terms and conditions for grant awards.
“Through positive and respectful engagement in assessing and addressing existing and proposed strategies, CHCC and CGC remain committed to prioritizing community and workforce wellness.”
