Terri Blanchard, the Greene County supervisor for the Division of Children and Family Services, was fired for violating an integrity and honesty policy, according to documents from the division released Friday.
An investigation came about after she held a "team building day" during regular business hours at her backyard pool that involved water guns and at least one employee in a bathing suit, according to documents.
The team-building day was not mandatory and employees were given the option of attending the event, working in the office or taking leave, which was concerning because Blanchard "stated that the team building day was needed because the staff was not working as a team," according to a memo released by Division of Children and Family Services.
The division is responsible for prevention of child abuse and neglect, protective services, foster care and adoptive programs. It is part of the state Department of Human Services.
Blanchard could not be reached Friday. An automated message at a number associated with her name said she was not taking calls. She was fired effective Aug. 12.
In a transcribed "fact finding" interview included in the documents released by the division, Blanchard said the county had been known as a "sinking ship" and she was trying to pull the staff together. She said she had looked into other options, but they were too expensive.
"I believe in what we did," she said in the interview.
According to the Division of Children and Family Service memo, there were no minutes and no sign-in sheet, but there was an "inexperienced trainer" at the team-building day. The Department of Human Services, which has a staff development unit, was also not utilized or contacted.
"The county office spent practically an entire day having fun and games," according to the memo. "Terri Blanchard is the county supervisor and should have ensured that training are beneficial, have measurable outcomes, meet the needs of staff and promote growth within the agency."
There were also other problems among Blanchard and her staff, according to the documents.
There was also no dress code in place at Greene County, the documents state. Employees generally wore jeans and Department of Human Services T-shirts.
The Greene County staff utilizes a group text, through the GroupMe application, and shared confidential information. One ex-employee received confidential information because she was never removed from the group, the documents state, and the security of the service is unknown.
In a text conversation, one employee asked if she would be fired if she told off the new Craighead County supervisor during a training class.
Another staff member responded: "No witnesses!!"
Blanchard then responded: "don't put anything in text, email or written form that can be traced to you."
That was a violation of Department of Human Services' Minimum Conduct Standard 1084.3.1, which pertains to integrity and honesty, and was egregious enough to warrant termination, the memo states.
Holding the team-building day at Blanchard's backyard pool violated policies related to diligent and competent performance as well as professionalism, but those violations were not egregious enough to warrant termination, the memo states.
Autumn Mathews, an Arkansas Community Correction employee, made the complaint to Sherry Mangrum, a Department of Human Services area manager, about the team-building day in a June 8 email.
In the email, she said she had concerns about the Greene County unit because it was supposed to be investigating a situation involving her relative.
"I am livid and outraged that while that investigation is pending, my tax dollars are paying for DHS workers to go to 'team building day' at their supervisors house and swim, eat, playing volleyball, and have a water-gun fight," she wrote.
In an email Friday, Amy Webb, a spokesman for the Department of Human Services, said, "Blanchard is not in a position that allows grievance" and she cannot appeal the decision.
Investigations continue with other employees, said Brandi Hinkle, another spokesman for the department.
"There is still some internal fact finding going on that could result in other disciplinary action for current employees, but that has not been completed," she said.
Metro on 08/27/2016