City Commission, 7/3/12~Non-Profits Lose Funding for "Non-Compliance"

Three non-profits faced losing their funding at the July 3, 2012 City Commission meeting.  One segment of United Way, the Moody Clinic and CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates faced losing the supplemental funding they rely on.


The three agencies were victimized by a random check which found practices out of compliance with some of the myriad of H.U.D.  regulations.


None were guilty of mismanagement, theft or criminal activity, but only technical violations of H.U.D. bureaucratese.  


United Way was found to be now in compliance, so their "violations' were not made public.  With respect to the Moody Clinic, they were using other funds to give their severely underpaid staff an annual bonus to partly compensate for what they could make in the private sector.    CASA was guilty of "under expenditures."  Evidently, a non-profit is expected to spend 1/12 of their funding each month or risk losing it.  Fiscal responsibility, saving your pennies is penalized, not rewarded.  If CASA had spent every dime of their funding, H.U.D. would have been pleased.


Bureaucracies are not known for their common sense.  Below is the letter written by Alicia Gracia, the Executive Director of CASA to the Mayor and City Commission:


Alicia Gracia 
Executive Director

CASA of Cameron & Willacy Counties, Inc.

647 E. Saint Charles Street, Brownsville

956 546-6545

Make a Difference and Volunteer!

-----Original Message-----
From: Alicia Gracia <aliciagcardenas@aol.com>
To: mayormartinez <mayormartinez@cob.us>; estelacv <estelacv@cob.us>; rose.gowen <rose.gowen@cob.us>; ricardo <ricardo@cob.us>; jtetreau <jtetreau@cob.us>; melissa.zamora <melissa.zamora@cob.us>; john.villarreal <john.villarreal@cob.us>
Sent: Mon, Jul 2, 2012 1:53 pm
Subject: Agenda Item - CASA

 Good Afternoon Mayor and Members of the Brownsville City Commission:

Tomorrow night's agenda includes an action item regarding recommendations for funding from CDBG, Community Development Block Grant Funds, from the BCAC.

I was very disappointed this morning when I learned that CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates, of Cameron and Willacy Counties, Inc. was not recommended for funding because of "Under Expenditures."

CASA is in dire need of these funds, especially funding for the salary of at least one caseworker. CASA's omission from the recommendation came as a surprise considering the fact that our agency is often used as an example by staff from the Community Development Dept in that CASA is always in compliance, on track with procedures, policies and reimbursement guidelines. Although we do acknowledge being "under," ceasing funding could cause our agency to discontinue providing services to abused children from the City of Brownsville. 

CASA's uniqueness comes from the volunteers who take the time to become effectively trained, clear criminal background checks, observe hearings in the Child Protection Court - all to ultimately provide an independent voice for children who have been removed from their homes because of abuse and neglect. CASA exists to try to ensure the children who are assigned a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) do not fall through the cracks of the system.

I understand ceasing funds from a program that is not in compliance or does not meet the guidelines set forth by the City of Brownsville and/or HUD, but I do not understand ceasing funding from a program that was "under expenditures" during the time of the grant application submission cycle for the next fiscal year.

It is CASA's hope that you reconsider the recommendations presented to you, and that you take a moment to look at the positive and successful outcomes the children from the City of Brownsville have had while appointed a CASA. Out of the 65 trained CASA volunteers, at least 50 are from the City of Brownsville. The volunteers give their all to try to ensure the children we serve are given a sense of hope for a safe, nurturing permanent home all children deserve.

CASA should NOT be penalized for doing a good job or for being fiscally responsible.

Please call me if you would like additional information.

This current fiscal year, CASA was awarded $54,200. In 2011 - $53,046. In 2010 - $39,343.

Alicia Gracia 
Executive Director

CASA of Cameron & Willacy Counties, Inc.

647 E. Saint Charles Street, Brownsville

956 546-6545


Video of Gracia's pubic comment to the commission to be uploaded Wednesday.