CCS North Director Under Investigation
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Until the investigation is complete, Combined Community Services North director Pam Houser is on administrative leave over questions regarding documents she completed while providing day care.
She has been on leave for more than a week.
Friday, CCS Director Jim Coons said, "Basically, Pam Houser was operating as a private child care provider during her off hours. That's all perfectly legal."
The questions arose when irregularities were noticed on the child care claims vouchers submitted and have "not been reconciled as of this date," said Coons.
A CCS child care program assists qualified families with federal money for day care so parents or legal guardians can work or attend classes.
Houser was working as a private child care provider in 2000 caring for her own grandchildren.
The child care voucher program is run carefully, Coons said, and if anyone submits a claim with irregularities it will be investigated.
While he was not sure when the investigation would be completed, he said, "I suspect it should be fairly soon."
The state is investigating the matter. "They're actively pursuing several different situations," he said, but did not elaborate. "These programs have to be run very carefully." Since the money is federal dollars, "every 't' has to be crossed and every 'i' has to be dotted."
CCS North opened Jan. 3 in Syracuse due in part to Houser's strong campaigning.
Coons said Houser is a big supporter of CCS and its programs. "She has been for more than two years," he said. "We're all kind of heartbroken, hoping this will wrap up soon."
Coons also provided a statement to the Times-Union regarding the matter in which he says, "Pam Houser has been placed on administrative leave pending investigation of documents completed while working after hours in her home as a private child care provider. Since this is an open investigation and we have no desire to affect the outcome of the investigation, CCS staff are understandingly limiting their comments. We are thankful to have Ron Wright, formerly of the CCS voucher program, to serve as the interim director of CCS North." [[In-content Ad]]
Until the investigation is complete, Combined Community Services North director Pam Houser is on administrative leave over questions regarding documents she completed while providing day care.
She has been on leave for more than a week.
Friday, CCS Director Jim Coons said, "Basically, Pam Houser was operating as a private child care provider during her off hours. That's all perfectly legal."
The questions arose when irregularities were noticed on the child care claims vouchers submitted and have "not been reconciled as of this date," said Coons.
A CCS child care program assists qualified families with federal money for day care so parents or legal guardians can work or attend classes.
Houser was working as a private child care provider in 2000 caring for her own grandchildren.
The child care voucher program is run carefully, Coons said, and if anyone submits a claim with irregularities it will be investigated.
While he was not sure when the investigation would be completed, he said, "I suspect it should be fairly soon."
The state is investigating the matter. "They're actively pursuing several different situations," he said, but did not elaborate. "These programs have to be run very carefully." Since the money is federal dollars, "every 't' has to be crossed and every 'i' has to be dotted."
CCS North opened Jan. 3 in Syracuse due in part to Houser's strong campaigning.
Coons said Houser is a big supporter of CCS and its programs. "She has been for more than two years," he said. "We're all kind of heartbroken, hoping this will wrap up soon."
Coons also provided a statement to the Times-Union regarding the matter in which he says, "Pam Houser has been placed on administrative leave pending investigation of documents completed while working after hours in her home as a private child care provider. Since this is an open investigation and we have no desire to affect the outcome of the investigation, CCS staff are understandingly limiting their comments. We are thankful to have Ron Wright, formerly of the CCS voucher program, to serve as the interim director of CCS North." [[In-content Ad]]