I am responding to the Sept. 5 column of Kevin Concannon, commissioner of the Department of Human Services, on the Experience at Sea program. Experience at Sea was developed by Community Health and Counseling Services in partnership with DHS and other entities for young adults from 18 to 20 years of age; an age group known to be particularly at risk. The program placed young adults from various DHS programs on a schooner for nine months where they received both formal education and an invaluable education in life. Commissioner Concannon criticized the program as being too expensive. Unfortunately, many of his specific examples were wrong and his assertion that the overall program cost DHS $550,000 above the cost of comparable land-based programs is not only wrong, it is wildly inaccurate.

To begin with, ever since DHS decided to discontinue the program, CHCS has been seeking the figures on which the decision was made. We have made repeated requests over the last three months and yet, to date, DHS has failed to produce those figures. A review of those figures is critical to assessing DHS’ concerns. Its failure to produce its own figures at this late date is inexplicable.

In justifying his decision, Commissioner Concannon makes several specific assertions that are simply wrong. First, while correctly noting that the program incurred $50,000 in start-up costs, he incorrectly adds the start-up costs to the daily rate. That is wrong. The start-up costs were already included in the daily rate. DHS has effectively counted this cost twice.

Second, he asserts that each youth required heavy-duty sweatshirts (actually foul weather gear) costing $400 per youth. He fails to explain, however, that this gear was purchased out of each youth’s DHS clothing allowance at no additional cost to DHS.

Third, he asserts that the program required computer training at a cost of $1,650. CHCS, which is required to submit financial reports that are subject to audit and are public documents, has no records supporting these costs.

Fourth, he asserts that two case workers were required to fly to Puerto Rico to evaluate the youths. DHS possesses the records on the cost of the airplane tickets. He fails to mention that these same caseworkers stayed at a U.S. naval installation and that their room and board was paid by Experience at Sea.

Fifth, he asserts that although 12 young men started in the program, only nine finished. One youth completed much of the voyage and, therefore, in terms of time in the program – the measure by which all groups homes are judged – the figure is closer to 10. More important, DHS overlooks that this was in every respect a maiden voyage. We all had every expectation that the young adults in the next voyage would register a higher level of sustained participation.

Sixth, Commissioner Concannon asserts that once the boat had sailed, no more youths could be added. That is wrong. In fact, one youth left the voyage and another joined in mid-course.

Seventh, Commissioner Concannon’s assertion that some of the participants came from less expensive foster settings is correct but ironic. As initially proposed, the program would have drawn only from the more expensive group home programs. At DHS’ insistence, it was broadened to include participants from less costly programs.

Eighth, Commissioner Concannon asserts that Experience at Sea cost DHS $550,000 more than if the young adults had remained in land-based programs. This is the most misleading figure of all. Experience at Sea always had to meet two criteria: 1) it had to foster independence and 2) it had to be cost effective against comparable programs. It is simply inconceivable that DHS would have authorized a program that was so much more expensive than its land-based equivalents. It didn’t.

Last year, Commissioner Concannon, himself, reviewed the cost of the program. Writing to CHCS on June 5, 2001, Commissioner Concannon observed, “[w]hen viewed in the totality of the program, this program will be less costly than a group home.” Nothing in the actual implementation of the program changed this fact. The true costs of Experience at Sea remain comparable to those of traditional land-based group homes.

Finally, when Commissioner Concannon eliminated this program, he encouraged CHCS and its partners to seek other funding sources. We undertook this task willingly but have been hampered by the failure of DHS to set an acceptable level for DHS funding. Without that figure, we have been unable to formulate specific requests for prospective donors. Despite repeated requests to DHS, we still lack that figure.

Experience at Sea was innovative and cost effective. It had a profound effect on those young people who participated in it. CHCS and its partners remain hopeful that DHS work with us to make secure this unique opportunity for those who most need it.

Timothy C. Woodcock is the president of Community Health and Counseling Services and a member of the Steering Committee for Experience at Sea