SC

SCDSS Deputy Director Suspended

ANOTHER SCANDAL FOR NIKKI HALEY’S CABINET Embattled S.C. Department of Social Services (SCDSS) deputy director Isabel Blanco has been suspended from her position with the agency after an “altercation” with a subordinate. According to our sources at the agency, Blanco was suspended last Wednesday – although length of the suspension…

ANOTHER SCANDAL FOR NIKKI HALEY’S CABINET

Embattled S.C. Department of Social Services (SCDSS) deputy director Isabel Blanco has been suspended from her position with the agency after an “altercation” with a subordinate.

According to our sources at the agency, Blanco was suspended last Wednesday – although length of the suspension (and whether she’s still collecting her $123,600 a year salary) have yet to be disclosed.  A receptionist in SCDSS director Lillian Koller’s office confirmed the suspension this week – but shot down a rumor that Blanco had been forced to tender her resignation as a result of the incident.

“She is still employed by the agency,” the receptionist told us.

Details about the incident are sketchy but Blanco – a Chicago native who commutes to her Columbia, S.C. job from Atlanta, Georgia – reportedly had some sort of an altercation with a local official who questioned the agency’s alleged manipulation of public data.

Obviously if we learn anything else we’ll pass it along …

As we reported earlier this month, a pair of employees at the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services were arrested and charged with falsifying public documents and encouraging others to lie on sworn statements in an effort to keep federal funding flowing to the agency.  Why does this matter?  These Georgia workers are reportedly telling the U.S. Justice Department that they were “forced to follow these polices by Isabel Blanco,” who worked at the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services prior to being hired by Koller to come to South Carolina.

Sources tell FITS that federal investigators are currently investigating data being turned out in South Carolina under Koller and Blanco’s supervision – especially its food stamp and “welfare-to-work” data.

In fact a dispute over this data is what is alleged to have sparked the “altercation” that resulted in Blanco’s suspension.

***

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42 comments

johnb October 30, 2012 at 9:22 am

nikki and her den of gypsies ?
The out of state traveling “experts” she hires that are gypsies and thieves.

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south mauldin October 30, 2012 at 9:31 am

You left out tramps.

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insider October 30, 2012 at 9:36 am

Gypsies, tramps, and theives. Love that song, and so fitting.

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shifty henry October 30, 2012 at 11:06 am

YEP! I hear the music…..

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dwb619 October 30, 2012 at 11:38 am

Don’t ya just LOVE the TEA Party!
YOU BETCHA!

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? October 30, 2012 at 9:29 am

I can’t think of a more fitting picture for this whole dysfunctional mess.

The irony is that as scarey as Cruella de Vil is to children most adults in the room see her for what she is and laugh.

Really, the dollar collapse can’t come sooner in my opinion. Let us hope that as its value is washed away all the dysfunctional & oppressive arms of Federal, state, & local gov’t get washed away with it.

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mr. penny pincher October 30, 2012 at 9:53 am

Man, the salaries of these people amazes me. The Deputy Director of DSS makes $123k a year, jeez. I guess you get paid for your title not for your actual work…

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Wes October 30, 2012 at 1:18 pm

I realize that South Carolina ranks in the bottom 10 states for household income but $123k isn’t much for the #2 person at DSS. I surely wouldn’t do that job for her salary.

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nofanodan October 31, 2012 at 11:08 pm

DeVill sounds like DeVenny, another SC Director who drives into Columbia, if she feels like working. At First Steps, she makes $123,000 too! She is also supposed to protect vulnerable kids but cut disabled toddlers from services to make her numbers look good. She is also connected to Chicago. She hired jailed governor Blago’s education consultant but he jumped ship after DeVill, I mean DeVenny made him realize Blago was not so crazy after all.

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insider October 30, 2012 at 9:54 am

Just one more nasty little taco muncher.

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sam October 30, 2012 at 10:09 am

Shouldn’t be long before the same news starts coming out of DHEC and the new crew’s manipulation of state and federal dollars for expenditure’s that violate the law.

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WhatDHEC October 31, 2012 at 12:33 am

Hopefully no one is playing around with WIC, Title X, or Public Health Preparedness funds. The Feds can get mighty pissy acout that kinds of thing.

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Eye in the Sky October 31, 2012 at 12:37 am

Someone needs to really start looking at SCDHHS as well. Really start digging well through their contracts…

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sam October 31, 2012 at 7:24 am

The quotes relayed to me were in the nature of:” Well, the State Auditor is understaffed so we can pretty much do what we want without worrying about them have the staff to audit us.”

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shifty henry October 30, 2012 at 11:12 am

GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY! This means that she will have more time to practice with the Clemson team before the battle on November 24! Spurrier’s socks must be soaked in sweat over this.

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interested October 30, 2012 at 1:20 pm

I just remembered your other comment on her mugshot, very funny!

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insider October 30, 2012 at 11:25 am

This will surely drive her to drink…more.

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insider October 30, 2012 at 11:28 am

Willing to bet Issie goes to the pokey. Yes, orange is her color.

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M.Alice October 31, 2012 at 9:26 pm

Issie
Izzie
Lizzie
Lezzie

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Naked Gun October 30, 2012 at 1:02 pm

Nothing to see here. Move on please.

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Georgia Peach October 30, 2012 at 1:32 pm

Wow. Which employee had the problem? One of the 2000 in Ga or one of the 2000 in SC? Let’s hope sc legislators will do what ga never did and get rid of this lying abusive cruella and save the children of this country. Sc legislators this means you.

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Pongo October 30, 2012 at 3:19 pm

Comparing this woman to Cruella Deville is insulting.

To Cruella…

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kc October 30, 2012 at 4:21 pm

They couldn’t find a South Carolina resident to take that 6 figure government job?

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hhuuhh?? October 30, 2012 at 6:12 pm

This is the party Of Mark Sanford and Tom Davis. It wouldn’t exist as we know it without carpetbaggers. Of course, they hire their own kind over a native.

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Mr. Dixie October 30, 2012 at 9:13 pm

You have to admire this woman – she drove all the way from Atlanta to Columbia just so she could have a job.

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Jenny October 30, 2012 at 9:43 pm

Isabel needs to be forced to resign. She’s a deputy right? That makes her at will. Sounds like an indictment might not be too far down the road. DSS needs to do the smart thing and bail now. CYA. Isn’t that what bureaucrats do?

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SC Deserves Better October 30, 2012 at 9:50 pm

My sister works for DSS and told me Isabel is so mean that her subordinates are stressed beyond belief. As in their hair is falling out and they are losing major weight. These people are working their asses off and need their jobs. Kids are being sent back to drug-addicted parents and siblings are being ripped apart, all to make sure that we throw these kids out of the system. Everyone has failed these kids all their lives and Isabel will make sure this happens again.

Isabel is gone all the time and doesn’t take leave. She also made DSS support some Empowering Girls conference (?????????) and guess who the guest speaker turned out to be? Some woman, last name Blanco, from Chicago. Meaning DSS had to help fund this conference so her daughter-in-law could get paid some bucks. This is just disgusting.

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I Am Alone October 31, 2012 at 2:39 pm

I’m still crying.
I feel like my world is dying.
My brother is gone and there’s nothing I can do.
It’s all so terrible; this can’t be true.
I miss my big brother; is that wrong?
Ever since they split us up, I feel my life is gone.
My world is spinning so out of control.
But I have my brother deep in my soul.
“Keep goin little sister; don’t worry bout me.”
I can hear him tell me this in my sleep.
Every time I hear his name, I break down and cry.
I go to sleep at night and ask myself, “Why?”
I still have pain inside my heart.
I feel so empty and everything’s dark.
But my monthly one hour visit with him is in sight
I hear his words and say, “You’re right.”
It’s the only way I can get through the night.

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Whatsup with you people November 5, 2012 at 9:07 pm

@SC Deserves Better_ For your information Blanco doesnt even have a daughter in law (dumb ass), nor does she have any family in the business. Its called a coincidence.
People get a life! Yeah Blanco is difficult to work for but she has done alot for this agency. She demands alot, expects alot and yeah gives alot!
If she worked as an assistant to the CEO in a private organization she would be making well over 250k.
Honestly, I dont know why she works for so little. I wouldnt want her job job for world.

Sounds like someone at DSS is creating or at least trying to find disgruntled employees and create a small mutiny.
I wonder if everyone would say the things I’ve read on this site if she was a man and white, not of hispanic origin.

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Hopeful In Hell October 31, 2012 at 6:09 am

$123,000 for this abuse? This is the agency that is supposed to be family and child-focused. The frontline staff make about $30,000 and work into the nights, weekends and holidays without overtime pay (oh yeah we get ‘comp’ time that no one has time to take). Staff spend more time with other families and children than their own and then have to deal with mistreatment, harrassment and abuse from the second in command at our Agency! There is something very wrong with this picture. RESIGN!!!!

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hhuuhh?? October 31, 2012 at 9:50 am

The wage and hour violations are legion. If the staff filed federal complaints, the state would owe, probably, millions in UNcompensated overtime.
DSS has no real way to monitor the overtime or compensate for it.
The 37.5 hour V. 40 hour work week is a big part of the problem/confusion for all. All state agencies need to work 40 hour weeks.

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Tabbi October 31, 2012 at 12:12 pm

That ms. Blago really burns my tutti fruiti booti. She once gave me a meetball sub and it made me catch an evil case of mudbutt. Nevamind the fax that she has been causing trama to her staffs by making the work envirment hostel. what about the trama that was caused to my badely scorched anoose? That Banjo realy needs to pay me for the pain and suferring my famly enjured when i blew the toilet up after eating that rogue meetball sub. i used to luv twerkin with her til that!!!! sept when she tell me i was mbarresin her bout how good my gramer is. i cant help it that im educatiated?!!??

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Perer October 31, 2012 at 3:45 pm

Your source is a receptionist? Oh that’s pretty funny. I guess the press officer didn’t give you the answer you wanted so you decided to talk with someone who would have no authority to know what is going on. Keep up the good work.

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Tabbi October 31, 2012 at 6:10 pm

Receptioist make more $ than me an my baby mama. So whatchyou tryin say Perriere? Jus cuz she a secertary she aint wurth a pig foot? An trust? Dis tha order I trust people 1) God 2) mama 3) ms bango 4) oprah 5) us weekly 6) secertarys 7) my po 8) my nail gurl chun. Secertarys r peopl 2 baby boy believ that! U jus mad cus you can’t run an organizatoin like a secertary do peeper. Bang bang!

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contact your political reps and the Govs Office October 31, 2012 at 6:42 pm

Perer. You are an idiot Blanco is suspended, but needs to be fired immediately. This is a fact!!! There is an investigation being done by DSS staff who report directly to the Director. I guess if your boss tells you to investigate, she also tells you what the outcome will be! What a joke all of them are. This investigation needs to be done by SLED or another entity. DSS is in absolute turmoil. Staff cannot do their jobs due to the constant harassment and hostility this woman brings with her every single day she is on the job. Read these comments and google her and you will see she has a checkered past and history of this same behavior wherever she goes. Don’t be fooled, the DSS Director is aware and has been aware of her behavior from day one but has taken no action because she is scared it will reflect poorly on her. Do you think it is a coincidence that this type of behavior follows her wherever she goes? The majority of these posts are obviously from DSS staff and they certainly know how they have been treated, how other staff have been treated, and the danger children and families are in here in SC. The FEDS are on their way to Cola based on her criminal behavior in Georgia. Citizens and employees need to contact their Representatives, Congressmen, Senators, and the Governor’s office immediately to put a stop to this craziness!!! If there is not an immediate outpouring of complaints to the politicians this will continue and no action will be taken. If someone from the major newspapers in SC do not pick up on this story the general public will never know how much danger Foster Children and Families are in here in SC, not to mention how dedicated South Carolinians are being treated. Someone with direct knowledge needs to contact the media! I guess when you are hired sight unseen there is no reason to bother with any background checks? This is true of the Governor hring the DSS Director and in turn the DSS Director hiring Blanco. Governor Haley, please put an end to the misery and do this now.

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John Thomas October 31, 2012 at 9:36 pm

big ol action comin to sc

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I'm for progress November 1, 2012 at 12:34 am

Blanco is so bad that people record conversations with her on their cell phones for proof of how she is screaming at people and throwing things. She came to blows with a coworker in Ga. Feds coming to get this woman and too many legislators know about this. Wake up Koller. Dump Isabitch Blancaho. Send her back to Blago in Chicago with a good stuff drink. Or twelve.

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Fern November 1, 2012 at 12:46 am

Legislators are having employees to come to them telli g horror stories. They will get her. DSS wise up before she embarrasses you further.

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Lance Riprock November 1, 2012 at 8:40 am

Check into the DSS graft and corruption re Truman Lewis and his Helping Hands scam. Georgetown County DSS (headed by Sylvia Mitchum) paid scads of dough to Lewis and his family to “counsel” the underpriviliged, most of whom did not even exist. Also DSS paid for counseling with real people which did not occur. Did I mention that the “couselors” had no licenses or credentials? They spent the money on extravagant houses, cars, etc. Couldn’t have happened without government (DSS) complicity. Just like Five Rivers where millions were stolen and everybody skated. Lewis and several of his family have been arrested, but they will skate, too. See, you can’t steal that much government money without having the goods on some high-up government leeches.

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Tabbi November 1, 2012 at 8:45 am

Das old news crack rock!

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hhuuhh?? November 1, 2012 at 9:05 am

Lance, you are so confused on this story and leave out half of the facts. Or, you just dissemble almost as much as Mitt Romney.

You’ve obviously, based on your previous confused rantings on this subject, have a personal beef with Georgetown DSS and it’s Director. Been hauled in for child abuse or child support maybe?

Nikki’s OTHER cabinet agency DHHS is the Medicaid Agency that paid this bunch of thieves. DHHS is the agency that did not know it was full of unlicensed “counselors” and ex-cons until someone sent them a letter.

And, again, you conveniently leave out that the Georgetown school district was also making referrals to this group. Of course, since DHHS licensed them, like DSS, they didn’t know anything was wrong.

Here’s today’s story for anyone interested in facts:

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2012/10/31/3146086/leader-of-myrtle-beach-youth-mentoring.html

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Tabbi November 1, 2012 at 11:23 am

Huh you cray actin like u no so much. Dat man inocent and God only can judge him. an guess wat he got da best atorny in da hole world. i use twerk wit dat man and he #9 on my lis of peopl i trust. gurl he close to da lovly ms. bell banjo an that women dang near wholey. an dont you be judgin mr Mitty Romne!!!! he gone save this world from the evil doins of bama. Speaking of Barrack Obama, why doesn’t he just disclose the information that Trumpt has requested so that the victims from this more recent natural disaster can have the much needed financial support? Though a petty and unusual request, would $5 million not be worth taking the time to release his personal records that would likely not include anything incriminating that could potentially affect the upcoming election? anyways, lord no i love ms. bingo to death but the way she tryin kill them dogs jus not rite. huh??? you got sometine to say? betta reconize who you dealin wit playa playa!!

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