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GCCAA self-reports mismanagement of funds to Head Start, DHS [The Sun Herald](Sun Herald (Biloxi, MS) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Sept. 23--GULFPORT -- The Gulf Coast Community Action Agency recently self-reported the mismanagement of funds to the regional headquarters for the Head Start program in Atlanta and the Department of Human Services in Jackson. Attorney Dean Holleman said a normal audit at the end of GCCAA's fiscal year in July revealed "matters involving the over-expenditure of areas of funding, one of those being Head Start." Holleman said the Gulfport agency did not find any personal misuse of funds, but rather instead of the grant being used for its intent, the funds were used to pay the overage in another grant fund. As a result of its findings, the agency's board of directors voted during its normally scheduled meeting Thursday to self-report the mismanagement of funds to both Head Start and the Department of Human Services. Holleman said he has talked to Head Start representatives in Atlanta and is awaiting word from Jackson. Holleman said the agency's auditor is still looking into the amount of funds that were misused. "To be honest, it doesn't matter if it was $1, $10 or $100," he said, "the fact that you take one fund and spend it on another fund should not happen." Holleman said personnel action was also taken on Thursday, but declined to specify. "No employees were let go. There was some personnel action taken. That did not involve any termination," he said, adding that the board will revisit personnel matters at a later time. Shirley Waheed, Simone Dedeaux and Donde Ladner, in addition to the board of directors, will run the agency in the foreseeable future as an "executive team." Holleman said that all services and programs the agency oversees will continue uninterrupted. GCCAA oversees eight Head Start programs in Harrison County and also handles the distribution of other federal grants to low-income families through multiple programs in Harrison, Hancock, Stone, Greene and George counties. A former director and two contractors are facing charges that include conspiring to embezzle thousands of dollars in federal funds. Because of those pending criminal matters, Holleman said, the agency wanted to be proactive in reporting the recent mismanagement of funds. Holleman said GCCAA hopes to know where it stands with Head Start and the Department of Human Services within the next week. Both the national Head Start office in Washington, D.C., and the DHS have not returned phone calls from the Sun Herald. ___ (c)2014 The Sun Herald (Biloxi, Miss.) Visit The Sun Herald (Biloxi, Miss.) at www.sunherald.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |