It has now been one week since the event occurred. Lucas County Children Services The board of trustees has established a task force to examine the agency.
The Lucas County Commissioners will provide assistance, and this isn’t their first time doing so. Over the last two decades, they have established four task forces.
These evaluations have included the Toledo Zoo, the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department, the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, and TARTA.
Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerken mentioned that these task forces have resulted in significant enhancements within the agencies, and the commissioners are optimistic that this latest task force will bring about similar positive changes.
All of the former Lucas County task forces focused on various agencies, yet they share comparable origins.
"Unfortunately, these developments emerge from certain crises," Gerken stated. "But where have they led? They always conclude as being better, though not perfect. Even today, several of these organizations can review those strike teams and explain that’s what prompted them to adopt different approaches.”
The Toledo Zoo task force was established following animal fatalities, the failure of a levy, and financial mismanagement. Gerken mentioned that with alterations in management, improved animal care procedures, and enhanced engagement with the public, the zoo implemented significant reforms.
"I believe we can all concur, the zoo is absolutely stunning," stated Gerken.
In 2019, the latest task force was established to overhaul TARTA following the commencement of service reductions. The organization faced challenges related to financing and management, which led to commissioners intervening by forming this new task force.
Bruce Baumhower from Local 12 spearheaded this effort in a brief period," Gerken stated. "They returned with suggestions that both the board and the committee agreed needed modification, and the most significant achievement was getting their funding structure altered to rely on a sales tax. This new approach provides them with the means to become the TARTA you recognize today.
Gerken stated that each task force won't necessarily be identical, yet they do share similarities in their methods.
Asking how we can engage the community," Gerken stated. "Exploring internal practices; what does the client see? In each case, the main challenge was establishing trust.
Gerken stated his desire for the same level of community participation, leadership, and workforce engagement as seen in past task forces.
We do have a proven track record, but this situation is serious," Gerken stated. "This particular case worries me more than all the others because it involves children.
Gerken stated that these task forces represent permanent alterations, not just short-term solutions.
As mentioned by Gerken, we previously had to tally up several of these agencies ourselves," he stated. "Currently, this task falls upon them. Here too, I perform the identical procedure now.
The Toledo-Lucas County Health Department issued a statement to WTOL 11 stating:
Although nobody from our present team participated in the original citizens' task force, past records indicate that their findings led to proposals aimed at enhancing operational efficiency. This encompassed adjustments to how human resources were managed as well as reforms within our lead prevention initiatives. These suggested modifications were implemented upon presentation and remain standard practice.
The Lucas County Children Services task force is currently under development as individuals convene to define its scope and determine who will be part of the task force.