Resident urges county oversight if it funds consultants for Bert Nash amid reported financial concerns

A Lawrence resident told the Board of Douglas County Commissioners on July 2 that the local mental-health provider Bert Nash is experiencing serious financial issues and urged the county to require transparency and independence if it funds consultant work to stabilize the provider.

John Eames Lawrence (address provided as 66049) told commissioners that senior finance staff and the chief financial officer at Bert Nash had resigned and that the CEO later resigned, and that it was reported the organization had only enough cash on hand to cover “two and a half days’ worth of operating expenses.” He said the organization’s “annual loss” was $2,100,000 and described the situation as “a damning reflection of systematic failures and internal controls, oversight, and accountability, all at the expense of taxpayers.”

Lawrence urged the county to ensure that, if Douglas County pays for SSC Advisors, “Douglas County ought to ensure that SSC Advisors delivers a thorough set of actionable recommendations that correct Bert Nash financial failures with a process that is transparent, built on merit, and with accountable service delivery metrics.” He quoted the Bert Nash board as saying, “I think that we need to look at a much more outside perspective than in house. We've identified that there are some problems, and I think oftentimes the best way to solve problems is not to ask the people involved in the problems to solve the problems,” and added that the board “was involved in the problems and should not be in charge of the firm contracted to solve the problems.”

The remarks were delivered during the meeting’s general public comment period. Commissioners did not respond on the record during that item; the statements were presented as citizen concerns and were not corroborated or expanded by staff in the meeting record.