FARGO Two former Cass County child protection officers who were allegedly involved in a bribery scheme are now deceased.
Toxic work environment
You can say that
Internal investigation
It was biased in their management styles.
Family Services Division Manager Linda Dorff, and Tamara Anderson, social worker supervisor, both inquired why interim Cass County Human Services Zone Directors Lynn Flieth & Kim Jacobson conducted the investigation. Anderson, Dorff, and Rick VanCamp, social worker supervisor
Jan. 31.
After the interim directors report, it was revealed that Dorff Anderson, VanCamp and VanCamp conspired to retaliate against employees who raised concerns about the management of the child protection office.
According to the interim director report, staff claimed that leadership contributed towards a backlog of cases.
Anderson and Dorff both denied that they committed misconduct in their responses. Anderson questioned the reason Anderson and Dorff weren’t brought in by an independent firm to investigate the allegations, just like the county was when similar allegations surfaced in 2019.
Anderson wrote a four page response. Anderson said that Ms. Jacobson was a former friend of mine through our work together at the state. Anderson also stated that they were unable to conduct an independent investigation. The state made a serious error when it charged interim directors to conduct an investigation into the unit they have been charged with leading.
Robert Wilson, County Administrator, stated that he was confident that the investigation was impartial and that there are no plans for an independent firm to conduct an external probe.
VanCamp was accused for speaking in a demeaning manner to staff members and being unavailable, which led to cases not being closed in an orderly fashion. The investigation revealed that Anderson didn’t bully staff, but that she was complacent about allowing misconduct.
According to the report Dorff was a contributor to distrust within child protective services unit. According to employees, the three created an “alliance” which meant that Dorff protected the supervisors rather than holding VanCamp or Anderson accountable.
VanCamp mocked a staffer for crying after a grievance prompted them to put them on administrative leave in December. Anderson reassured VanCamp. Dorff said that they just needed to ride this wave until a longer-term director was hired. The grievance claimed that they would then direct the new leader on “how it is here”.
Anderson claimed that no one had ever told her she was disrespectful towards staff. If they had, Anderson would have made every effort to correct the behavior. Anderson stated that she would report misconduct to another supervisor, or staff member.
She denied plotting to sabotage employees and called the allegation conspiracy theory.
She wrote that the allegations against me suggested that I had failed to protect staff. I have never been accused in any misconduct during my 31 years working at Cass County Human Service Zone.
Dorff, who has been working with Cass County social service since 1986, said that no one mocked employees. In her five-page response to The Forum’s investigation, she said that she did not coordinate efforts to retaliate against staff. Her intention was to support them and be as positive as possible.
She also denied claims that she had contacted staff to inquire if they were gossiping over supervisors.
Dorff stated to The Forum that he feels that Tammy, Rick and I have discredit the work they did. This investigation has discredit all of the good work.
Anderson and VanCamp were not reached by the Forum.
Anderson suggested Anderson add another supervisor to support staff. However, Anderson was denied this request according to Dorffs’ letter. Both Anderson and VanCamp claimed that the state promised to add a third supervisor if Anderson left.
Anderson wrote that I felt this was discrimination due to my long association with the unit. Although I have longevity, it does not give me the ability to be an expert in the field. However, it does allow me to manage the enormous workload I was expected to handle.
Heather Steffl spokeswoman for North Dakota Department of Human Services. She stated that the Department requires human service zones to submit a written request for additional jobs. Cass County’s request for additional positions was denied verbally because its structure “supports a supervisor-to-staff ratio recommended in child welfare.”
Steffl stated, “If there was a planned retire, then the position could have been approved to support supervision and training.”
VanCamp responded to the investigation in a one-page reply. He claimed that there were significant inconsistencies in the report and that correcting them would not change the fact that he decided to retire after 37 years of child welfare work.
He said that it was clear from the investigative report that the process was being used as a justification for a leadership change.
Dorff wrote in her letter that the problems in Cass County social service are systemic. She stated that the cases are still very complex and that there is high turnover of employees.
These issues cannot be solved by terminating or demoting me, Ms. Anderson, Dorff wrote.
