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TAOA funding on restriction due to lack of required reports

Newly confirmed TAOA director, Evelyn Lili’o-Satele (second from right) with several of her staff at the Fono building following her Senate confirmation hearing yesterday morning. She was fully confirmed after the Senate vote of 17-1.  [photo: FS]
Evelyn Lili’o Satele confirmed as new TAOA director
fili@samoanews.com

Newly fully confirmed Territorial Administration on Aging (TAOA) director, Evelyn Lili’o Satele has corroborated that there is a delay in paying vendors for the federally funded hot meal program for the elders, as the office works on addressing required reports, which has delayed the draw down of funds to pay vendors.

Lili’o-Satele, a local veteran educator, who moved with her parents to American Samoa from the US in 1967, shared these comments during her confirmation hearing yesterday before the Senate Government Operations Committee. She was later confirmed by the Senate in a vote of 17- 1, and was endorsed last week by the House.

ASG Treasurer Uelinitone Tonumaipea, at his confirmation hearing two weeks ago, revealed that TAOA funding has been placed on restriction by the federal grantor, over the issue of required reports. Therefore he said vendors of the hot meal are facing a delay in getting paid, as local funds are subsidizing the TAOA funding.

During Lili’o-Satele’s confirmation hearing, Sen. Levu Tulafono Solaita said that he spoke with a couple of hot meal vendors, who stated that its been three or four months that they haven’t received payment for their service, but they continue to provide the meals.

Lili’o-Satele acknowledged, “We do have a number of outstanding payments that need to be made to our vendors. My heart goes out to them for continuing to provide. We’re having a meeting with them next week to bring them up to date on what exactly is happening.”

She said, “Right now, we are making... strides to prove to the feds that we are making giant steps to fulfill the requirements of the grant,” adding, “Once they feel confident that we are on the right track, we will be able to draw down funds.”

Levu asked, “So hot meal providers will be taken care of?” She replied, “All of them. We have 13.”

Sen. Tuaolo Manaia Fruean noted that there is a reason why the governor appointed Lili’o-Satele as TAOA director, since Jan. 19. Tuaolo asked if the director-nominee has identified financial problems with the administration of TAOA programs for the elders since taking over the post.

She responded that one of the biggest issues identified is “leadership and training”. Lili’o-Satele explained that many of the people at TAOA, have been there for many years “and there has not been adequate training to keep them abreast for the [reporting] requirements of the program,” which operates almost wholly on federal grants.

She explained federal grants are very strict and there is a need to maintain communication, accountability and accurate data collection to make the reports that are required by the federal government. “And I believe that’s... one of the biggest challenges I’m facing.”

Tuaolo asked if that means the employees are not qualified in accurate data collection, to which she replied, “I’m not saying that at all, because just in the last couple of weeks we’re getting back on track.”

Lili’o-Satele said, “And it’s not a misuse of funds, it’s just inaccurate reporting.” She noted that in her first two weeks at TAOA there was tremendous support from the Governor’s Office. She also said that a son of American Samoa, Arona Maiava, a federal certified public accountant (CPA), who was on island, spent about a week and a half with TAOA working on accurate reporting requirements.

“We are in the process now of getting on track,” the TAOA director-nominee said, and noted that with the support of the federal grantor, “our goal is to stay on track.”

“Is the program okay right now,” Tuaolo asked and Lili’o-Satele replied, “It will be okay.”

Asked by Sen. Paepae Iosefa Faiai if the lack of data collection has been a long standing problem going back years ago, Lili’o-Satele pointed to “procedures” saying that the agency has been operating since post-tsunami 2009, without a policy handbook, so there’s been no set procedures, no guidelines, for collecting the data.

“And to be honest with you, what I found was four master lists, which we are currently combining to one,” Lili’o-Satele said. “I think that’s critical for the accurate reporting to the federal grantor.”

Asked by Paepae if the director-nominee had the right people working with her in the office, or is she going to hire the right people to solve this problem, she responded, “I think we can use more people, but I think with the training, I do have the right people.”

Levu asked who is handling training for TAOA staff, and Lili’o-Satele said they currently have weekly training with grant administrators. “We have lined up about six different topics, that we feel are needed,” she added.

Responding to a committee question, Lili’o-Satele explained that one of the programs is the hot meal program, which is the most controversial one. She said this program, which is also termed “congregate meal program”, is a federal grantor requirement.

“Its purpose is to allow an opportunity for seniors to come together, visit and eat together,” she said, adding that the other program is the employment program, for seniors.

A senator asked her about returning to the food voucher program, instead of the hot meal one, and Lili’o-Satele responded, “Unfortunately we cannot, because it doesn’t contribute to congregating and bringing them together.”

She revealed that she’s researching the program, which has been proven affective at many centers and areas in the U.S., where the senior citizen is issued a swipe-card and there would be restaurants identified that participate in the program and seniors would be able to go into the participating restaurants and “swipe a meal.”

In that case, it would allow them, to hopefully have choices of meals, she said and noted that it would also allow seniors to bring children, grandchildren and friends to come together for a meal.

Sen. Magalei Logovi’i asked if providing adult education for seniors is being looked at as part of the TAOA agenda, and Lili’o-Satele explained that there are a number of opportunities “we’re entertaining to provide for our adults.”

“One of the goals of the employment program... is to determine what are their goals and to align ours with them,” she said. “For example, if they are content to stay for four years, with the understanding, that this is the end of their service to TAOA, that’s fine.”

But “if they would like to re-enter the workforce, then we will provide what is needed — whether it’s interview skills, resume writing, or whatever it may need,” she said, adding that “yes” that is on the agenda for education.

Additionally, “provide a foundation for them to return their education to us, to the community, through publication of a book of their writings, [and] thoughts, whether it relates to personal or historical — and we provide that foundation for them,” she explained.

In her parting remarks at the end of the hearing, Lili’o-Satele noted that many questions have come up regarding her role at TAOA as well as her previous roles at the local Department of Education. “I would just like to assure you, that while I’m removed from the Department of Education, I have not been removed from educating,” she said.

For years, she continue, the ASDOE operated under the federal act, No Child Left Behind, which is now moving to ESSA — Every Student Succeed Act. “My model is, Every Senior Succeed Act. And we will fulfill the goal, making certain that our seniors are productive, are happy, are healthy,” Lili’o-Satele said. “That is the goal of the TAOA program.”

“My understanding of the culture extends from the time I was very young. I have learned growing up here the value of our seniors, the tremendous contribution that they continue to play,” she said. “While I look at children as our future, many of us do and want to see where we’re going, I now look at our seniors as significant [and] tremendous members of our past, to understand why we are here today, and who we are today.”

“So I assure you, that they are in good hands,” said Lilio-Satele, who at the start of her opening remarks, delivered a Samoan salutation statement, before continuing on in English.