[BobbyB]

State Admits Backlog On Background Checks Created: 1/8/2008 10:57:50 PM Last updated: 1/8/2008 10:58:52 PM
By Jeff Small

(KSDK) - Here is a warning for anyone using the services of an in-home health care worker. There is a backlog on background checks in Missouri, and one Hazelwood family says they suffered in part, because of it.


State law requires a background check on daycare and health care workers who work in private homes. The problem is there is a wait to get the results. The backlog means some so called "bad apples" might be hired before it's too late.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or ALS has robbed Kenny Alber, 36, of his ability to do nearly anything alone. No one imagined Kenny and his family would face another robbery. The latest robbery according to police, came at the hands of a caregiver.

A problem surfaced in June of 2007. That's when a home health care nurse from Algonquin Nurses spent three days in the Alber home. She was a no show on the fourth day when Darcy Alber came home to an alarming voicemail.

"It was from my credit card company and they said we wanted to let you know there were a lot of charges on your card and we thought they were suspicious," Alber said. The countless list of charges were just the tip of the iceberg. The Albers soon learned $11,000 in jewelry was missing. "It was all conveniently in an envelope and she must have taken the whole thing."

Creola McCalister's employer says he is disturbed by the case but says she passed every criminal background check - including a state-required check where the results were delayed due to a backlog.

"The problem is the state takes forever in sending it back, anywhere from 30 to 60 days," Mark Tamboli said. State leaders acknowledge the backlog, but say it's being addressed.

Nanci Gonder is a spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Service. "There is going to be a little time to do the checks, in addition we have so many requests to do that and there are only a finite number of staff members to do the checks."

The Albers say that is little consolation knowing someone else could be the next victim. "It is just frustrating because there is only so much we can do and we have to let these people in our homes," Alber said.

Creola McCalister's former employer wanted to point out that he didn't wait for the state's delayed, background check. He paid for an independent company to do a check and the results came back with a clean report.

St. Louis County prosecutors have a case pending against McCalister. She is charged with two felony counts of stealing.


http://www.ksdk.com:80/news/news_art...storyid=138036