By J.J. McQueen,
Special to the AFRO
In March of 2021, Keisha Jennings-Eakin, an occupational therapist and owner of The Right Turn Rehabilitation Services, approached members of the Harford County government with a proposal for a program that supplemented the needs of seniors living within Harford county. The funding for the proposed project would come from a Federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant through the Older Adults Home Modification Grant Program.
After meeting with outside agency Habitat for Humanity-Susquehanna’s, and then Executive Director Karen Blandford, about her proposal, it was determined that Habitat would be unable to partner and meet the needs of the proposed assignment.
Shortly after learning of the details of Ms. Jennings-Eakin’s propose, then Harford County Health Department Officer Dr. David Bishai invited her to present at a community health meeting. Following the on April 15, 2021, Dr. Bishai and the HCHD agreed to partner with Jennings-Eakin.
On August 6, 2021 Yolanda Brown, HUD’s Director of the Older Adults Home Modification Grant Program, informed Dr. Bishai that the county had been awarded $1 million grant for the three-year program.
Several months later following that discussion, Dr. Bishai was relieved of his duties by the Harford County Council. A questionable decision based on Dr. Bishai’s long history of creating minority health outreach opportunities in keeping seniors in their homes.
With Bashi no longer in leadership, Jennings-Eakin’s previously approved proposal was seemingly lost in transition. In her frustration with the lack-of communication, she began to make attempts to get answers about the grant’s status. Not satisfied with the lack-of clarity and silence from the Harford County Council and HCHD, Jennings-Eakin contacted the Harford County Caucus of African-American Leaders for support.
After reviewing email correspondences provided by Jennings-Eakin and the freedom of information act, the Harford County Caucus of African-American Leader’s President Jim Thornton and governing body agreed to assist in mediating the concerns of Jennings-Eakin with Harford County leadership.
In documents provided by the Caucus to the media, its findings highlighted important details that favor Ms. Jennings-Eakin’s allegations that she should have been awarded the grant, and moved forward in the process of assisting the senior population of Harford County.
The findings in the HUD Grant #MDLHM0002-21 show that Jennings-Eakin had met all of the criteria necessary for her company, The Right Turn Rehabilitation Services, to be named the sole provider for the execution of the grant’s services. However, with the Harford County Health Department now being under new leadership answers were more unclear as to what actions needed to be taken.
On January 12, 2022, the HCCAAL sent a letter to Stephanie Whalen and Karen Myers of the Harford County Office of Procurement.
In an effort to get direction and clarity on how to get a favorable outcome for Ms. Jennings-Eakin and the seniors of Harford County, a letter was sent as a follow-up to a meeting held on January 5, 2022.
“The Department of Procurement had no involvement whatsoever in the grant application process, and never advised Dr. Bashi that The Right Turn Rehabilitation Services and the Image Center could be awarded contracts under the emergency procurement procedures.” -Director of Procurement Karen Myers,”
With the leaders of Harford County unable to provide direction on next steps, Jennings-Eakin’s is clear on her position in the matter.
“I would be nervous and hesitant taking on the task at this point. I don’t trust working with the health department right now. I believe that they would find reasons to let me go. I want to create a fair precedent for other vendors so they don’t go through what I’ve gone through.”
The funds for the grant have not yet been released from HUD to Harford County because of the incomplete measures of awarding a vendor. Thus, leaving the decision of what’s next in the hands of the Health Department’s current leadership.
“We have no good faith with the current players involved that this will work out in her favor.” -Jim Thornton.
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