SCOPE still out of Title III program

Staff report

NILES

An appeal committee has upheld a decision to not renew SCOPE Inc. of Trumbull County as a provider of homemaker, supportive services and recreation under a federally funded program called Title III.

The committee of three heard the appeal by SCOPE last Monday and wrote a letter to the Area Agency on Aging 11 of Niles supporting AAA 11’s decision earlier to not renew SCOPE’s participation in the program.

At a meeting Friday, AAA 11 agreed to follow that recommendation, said Lisa Solley, spokeswoman for AAA 11.

On April 13, AAA 11 suspended SCOPE’s participation in the Title III program effective April 30. The program paid SCOPE $42,251 in 2011 to provide homemaker, supportive services and recreation to senior citizens.

The move to suspend was prompted by sanctions placed on SCOPE by the Ohio Department of Aging because of SCOPE’s failure to follow several laws and rules.

The Ohio Department of Aging determined by reviewing SCOPE’s employ- ee files Feb. 22 and 23 that criminal background checks were never performed on 22 employees who provide direct care to clients, including one who has been employed more than six years, the ODA said in an April 9 document.

The ODA also found problems with background checks for other SCOPE employees and other matters. SCOPE, which will attend an appeal of those findings June 26 in Columbus, has said it has rectified the problems ODA cited.

Solley said SCOPE most likely will have its next opportunity to bid on Title III funding in three years, when bidding for that program most likely will occur again.

Members of the appeal committee were AAA 11 board members Dwight Beebe of Ashtabula and Gary Williams of Columbiana. The non-AAA 11 member was Elsie Dursi, executive director of the Mahoning Valley Association of Churches.

Area Agency on Aging 11 manages care for residents 60 and older in Ashtabula, Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties.