Anti-DV organization under fire over claims of bullying, financial mismanagement

Article here. Excerpt:

'Now 40 years later, the coalition is under fire amid reports of mismanagement. The Department of Human Services, which has funding oversight of the coalition, earlier this year released the results of an audit that found poor financial controls and questionable expenditures by the organization.

A program that once directed to local programs the money collected in canisters placed in convenience stores, was found by auditors to have hundreds of thousands of dollars in questionable costs. They ranged from inappropriate payroll adjustments to the billing of questionable expenditures, including tickets to a baseball game.

In May, the Department of Human Services extended only a three-month funding stream — out of its $28 million annual allotment — to the organization, pending the resolution of the audit.

The attorney general's office also has launched an investigation into possible criminal wrongdoing, according to a source within the office who asked not to be named because the source is not authorized to speak. A spokesman for the attorney general's office would neither confirm nor deny the investigation.

The DHS report also raised concerns about the coalition work environment, based on frustration expressed by many of the current and former employees interviewed.

"Staff reported management yelling at them, slamming doors, throwing objects and other actions they thought were designed to minimize complaints or pressure staff into actions they felt were questionable," the report said.