The Escambia Children’s Trust voted unanimously this morning to end its funding agreement with New World Believers H.O.O.P.S. program, citing child safety concerns and multiple contract violations that extended beyond the Department of Juvenile Justice investigation and the arrests of NWB founder and two family members.
- The decision came after a tense 90-minute emergency session where board members grappled with serious allegations while expressing concern for the families and children affected by the program’s sudden collapse.
Calling Out Inweekly
Chair Dr. Rex Northup opened the meeting with pointed remarks directed at the media, criticizing what he perceived as unfair or unbalanced coverage of the Children’s Trust. Though he didn’t mention me by name, it was obvious that this blog and I were his targets.
- “Now, we welcome and expect media interest and oversight of the activities of this board, but we, as the board of directors, on behalf of the children and families that are served, as well as the taxpayer whose money we are privileged to steward, respectfully request fairness, objectivity and balance through our local media, as you report on services of this Trust, activities of this Trust, outcomes of the Trust, and the programs that we sponsor.”
He then distinguished reporting and commentary:
- “There is factuality, balance, objectivity to be included in what should be considered reporting on all of this, as opposed to when it gets into commentary, more subjectivity and comments along those lines that fall under the category of editorialization.”
Northup doubled down on criticism, saying the line between reporting facts and editorialization had been crossed.:
- “We would respectfully ask that members of this media that are here to report on this and any other topic that affects this board, and, in reality, really any other topic coming before the public, that that line of objectivity, fairness, fact finding, et cetera, be maintained and respected in the case of reporting.”
He concluded by saying editorial commentary is “certainly allowed, certainly have a place out there in the community, but again, factual reporting versus more subjective editorialization would be requested of this particular topic and meeting and as we go forward.”
Background: From Leadership Change to Investigation
The crisis began unfolding earlier this month when New World Believers notified the Trust of changes to the program’s leadership structure.
- Board Attorney Megan Fry laid out the timeline of events that began with a notification of the changes in leadership on Jan. 5 through receiving police reports of the arrests of founder Rodney Jones and three family members this week.
While Fry emphasized that “at no point in time was ECT, its staff or council contacted by any law enforcement agency,” the Trust felt compelled to act based on information available in the public sphere.
The concerns extended beyond the investigation itself. “Some allegations involve events concerning the HOOPS program and use of the HOOPS facility, as well as use of ECT-funded HOOPS vehicles,” Fry told the board.
She continued: “Child safety and welfare are of the utmost importance to ECT, it being their mission to improve and enrich the lives of Escambia County’s children… Therefore, when receiving credible information that places program participant safety and welfare at risk, the Trust is forced to act.”
Contract Violations
As board members dug into the details, additional contract violations came to light, further strengthening the legal basis for termination, independent of the DJJ investigation.
Board member Tori Woods identified a critical issue: failure to report staff arrests as required by the contract.
- “My concern is another violation per the contract—not reporting staff that have been arrested…at least two members of the staff were arrested,” Woods said. “Mind you, we do background checks. There’s an annual requirement. Those arrests were within the one year. So ECT would not have known about those arrests if they were not self-reported, and that is also in our contract.”
Woods clarified that arrests occurred in January and August of the previous year, neither of which was reported to ECT as required under the contract.
Concern for Affected Families
Commissioner Lumon May raised concerns about the human impact of the situation, noting the complexity of dealing with serious allegations while recognizing the real people affected.
- “There are a lot of families in this community that are hurt. Children beyond what decision we make have to live with this for 30, 40, 50 years,” May said. “We should be mindful that accusations don’t necessarily constitute convictions, but there are two prominent families that I personally know that are all going to be adversely affected and are being personally affected.”
May later emphasized: “I don’t take it lightly when some child is being hurt…Their children and their families and people that are being hurt. And so whatever resources we have to deploy to help, I think that’s incumbent upon us.”
Services for Displaced Children
Executive Director Lindsey Cannon assured the board that other providers were ready to serve the children affected by the program’s termination.
- “I reached out directly to three of our providers. They have all agreed that they have immediate availability. They all have licensed mental health on staff and they are ready to work,” Cannon said. “Some of them are at capacity, but have said, ‘There’s no way we will reject a kid coming in for this.’”
Cannon reported that letters were sent to all participants who had been at Hoops since ECT began contracting with the program. Woods later noted that the letters went out yesterday.
- School Board member David Williams expressed relief: “That’s my concern then that kids receive services if this was terminated, so I’m glad you said that.”
Questions About Background Check Procedures
The discussion revealed gaps in the Trust’s oversight of provider background check procedures.
- Commissioner May questioned whether ECT maintained custody of background check records for provider staff. The answer revealed that individual organizations, not the Trust, are the custodians of those records.
“They’re an HR file. We would not retain an independent organization’s human resource record,” Cannon explained. “They’re the custodians of that. Now we can view it, but they would be the custodians of that. There’s HIPAA compliance and a variety of other things that go along with that.”
Board Attorney Megan Fry clarified the distinction: “Your organization is a funder, not a provider. So that’s the distinction… The Trust is not an independent provider of these services. It’s a third party. So you’re the funding source, but you’re not the ultimate provider of the service.”
However, Fry also noted: “I don’t want to leave any perception that we are not discussing policy changes, procedure changes that could address a situation like this in the future.”
- Note: The Trust Policy Committee has a meeting scheduled for 1 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 2, at its offices on the Pensacola State campus, 1000 College Blvd., Bldg. 26, 2nd Floor.
Emotional Appeal
Executive Director Lindsey Cannon delivered an emotional appeal during the meeting, highlighting both her personal commitment to child safety and the toll the situation had taken on her staff.
- When discussing the transition plan for affected children, Cannon emphasized her professional background and personal investment, “We have to make wise investments as well, and my interview was all about child safety. I’ve spent my entire career with that.”
She then became more emotional, acknowledging the human cost of the situation: “And I’m saying, and it’s an emotional thing, not only for the community, but for us as well, that have spent hours and hours and hours with Mr. Jones and his team.”
Time to be Tougher
Cannon indicated that the Trust has been working on strengthening its compliance procedures and warned that future oversight would be more rigorous.
When Commissioner May asked about the checklist used during compliance and case management visits to organizations, Cannon explained that they currently do facility safety checks and visual inspections, inquiring about HR matters. But she acknowledged limitations in the current system.
She then revealed that policy changes have been in development for months. “As you guys all know, we’re like steadily changing and refining policy and procedure that we’re not there at the onset. So, really related to the school time RFP that will be coming up, this has been a whole part of that development over the last three months, is that we’re going to have to be not as friendly as everyone wants us to be.”
- Then came her blunt warning: “It’s going to be a lot tougher, is what I’m telling you.”
The Vote and Path Forward
After extensive discussion, the board moved to terminate the contract. The motion, made by Woods and seconded by Superintendent Keith Leonard, passed with five yes votes (Northup, May, Leonard, Williams, and Woods).
The termination takes effect within 24 hours pursuant to the agreement’s terms. ECT is also investigating options to recover trust-funded vehicles that were allegedly used in connection with the incidents under investigation.
A Trust Under Scrutiny
As the meeting concluded, the tension between the Trust’s accountability to taxpayers and its mission to serve vulnerable children was palpable.
- Northup’s opening remarks defending the Trust’s work and criticizing media coverage suggested an organization feeling under siege, even as it took decisive action to protect children.
Commissioner May’s closing comments emphasized the Trust’s broader responsibility: “The reason local government is the closest to the people. People don’t know who to contact. They can’t get to Tallahassee… So we should still try and help. Not just trying to help children that got funded by ECT, but children that live in our community.”
The New World Believers termination raises questions about oversight of the millions of dollars the Children’s Trust distributes annually, and whether current safeguards are sufficient to protect both taxpayer funds and the vulnerable children these programs are meant to serve.
- Dr. Northrup might not like that statement, but it’s a reality he can’t ignore.
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