State of Missouri
Single Audit
Corrective Action Plan
Year Ended June 30, 2023
State Agency: Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)
Audit Finding Number: 2023-016 Child Care Payments
Name of the contact person responsible for corrective action: Shelley Woods
Anti...
State of Missouri
Single Audit
Corrective Action Plan
Year Ended June 30, 2023
State Agency: Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)
Audit Finding Number: 2023-016 Child Care Payments
Name of the contact person responsible for corrective action: Shelley Woods
Anticipated completion date for corrective action: 12/31/2024
Corrective action planned is as follows:
DESE agrees with the auditor’s finding. It has been challenging to have adequate internal controls over the child care program with two separate state agencies trying to administer different aspects of the program. The Department of Social Services (DSS) has been implementing eligibility and authorizations for families, while DESE has been administering rates, rules, licensure, and provider agreements. Effective July 1, 2024, eligibility and authorizations for families transfers under DESE’s authority to ensure all facets of program implementation are within one state agency for better internal controls.
In addition, DESE transitioned to a new Child Care Data System (CCDS) for provider payments in the beginning of January 2024. Access, interfaces, and updates within the older systems has created multiple barriers and payments issues for the program. This single system, CCDS, allows parents to have a streamlined process for eligibility determinations, report changes in address or income, find or change providers, while also giving providers one place to apply for a contract, view authorizations, update contact information, view payment remittances, and make payment adjustments. By December 31, 2024, the CCDS will have combined all functions of FAMIS, FACES, and CCBIS attendance system into CCDS. DESE users can easily and efficiently make family and rate changes as necessary and view all information in the system, which will also strengthen internal controls.
DESE also continues to revise and clarify internal procedures to ensure consistent and accurate eligibility determinations and claims processing.
CCDF regulations specifically state pursuant to 45 CFR 98.21(a)(1) that because a child meeting eligibility requirements at the most recent eligibility determination or redetermination is considered eligible between redeterminations, any payment for such a child shall not be considered an error or improper payment due to a change in the family's circumstances. Based on this regulation, DESE will work with the Administration for Children and Families to repay any claims considered questioned costs.