State Team Begins Casa Pacifica Review

A review team assembled by the state Department of Social Services arrived Tuesday at Casa Pacifica, the county’s only facility for abused and neglected children.

The state’s investigation of allegations of poor management and inadequate care at the facility has been halted until the review team completes its evaluation.

The eight-member team, which includes county and state officials, representatives from the state’s Community Care Licensing agency, executive directors from Northern California group homes and a Casa Pacifica board member, will submit its recommendations to the state and Casa Pacifica a couple of weeks after their stay ends Friday.

“This is to assist both state licensing and Casa Pacifica in evaluating the program,” said Jerry Blesener, deputy director of county public social services.

Recommendations for improvements will be distributed to both groups, along with analysis of the facility’s merits, Blesener said.

“This is not in lieu of investigation or the licensing action itself, but it could influence it,” said Blesener, who picked someone from his office to be on the team.

The team met Monday at Community Care Licensing in Santa Barbara to decide how the review will be conducted, said Steve Elson, executive director of Casa Pacifica.

He spent Tuesday morning orienting the team and introducing them to Casa Pacifica staff members.

“The team will interview both staff and children, and look through records, protocols, policies and procedures,” he said. “With eight people over three days, they should be able to get pretty much everything.”

The team will break midday Thursday and then reconvene for exit interviews Friday morning.

“They’ve put together a team with a fairly broad perspective,” Elson said.