For anyone who follows the complete ineptness of Washington DSHS (Department of Social and Health Services) in Olympia, Washington, this certainly won't be a shock. In July, DSHS released the addresses of almost 4,000 custodial parents, "accidentally" to the non-custodial parent. Putting aside that this is a violation of health privacy laws, how would you like to be a single Mother with a crazy ex-husband who knows where you now live? But, here comes Adolfo Capestany, a spokesman for the Division of Child Support, who said that none of the released addresses were determined to be highly sensitive. Well, that's convenient. Why don't we let the custodial parents who just had his or her address released determine whether it was highly sensitive.
DSHS has become such a joke, this latest foray into complete incompetence isn't all that shocking, it's their response which just sets me off. Capestany said it was "human error", like that makes it all better and everything is ok. That's your state government at work. He also said it was an error in coding on a form and has since made changes to "minimize" the chance of it occurring again. You have got to be kidding me! Minimize the chance of it occurring again? Wow, your state government at work again. How about making changes to ensure that it NEVER happens again. Oh wait, I think I have been insensitive. I just noticed that DSHS set up a toll free phone number you can call if you're worried about identity theft or the possibility of physical or emotional harm as the result of the release. But didn't they say that none of the 4,000 addresses were deemed to be sensitive? Are you waiting to hear about the folks who got fired because of this incredible mistake? Keep waiting. That's your Olympia government at work.....
Posted by John Williams of Williams Law Offices, PLLC.
