Finding 1163013 (2021-006)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
A
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2021
Accepted
2025-11-25
Audit: 372604
Organization: Ruth Ellis Center, Inc. (MI)
Auditor: UHY LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There is a material weakness in internal controls over compliance for the Promoting Safe and Stable Families program, as the organization failed to provide approval evidence for 4 out of 13 tested expenditures.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 2 CFR § 200.303 is necessary, which mandates effective internal controls to ensure proper management of federal awards.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should enhance awareness of compliance requirements, regularly monitor adherence, and improve procedures to ensure all expenditures have proper documentation and approvals.

Finding Text

Assistance Listing Number, Federal Agency, and Program Name: Assistance Listing Number 93.556, Promoting Safe and Stable Families. Federal Award Identification Number and Year: E20213479-00/E20223931-00 Pass-through Entity – Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Finding Type – Material weakness in internal control over compliance Repeat Finding – No Criteria – Per 2 CFR § 200.303, the non-Federal entity must establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in “Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government” issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the “Internal Control Integrated Framework”, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Condition – During our testing for Activities Allowed-Allowable Cost-Cost Principles, it was noted the client could not provide evidence of approval to charge the grant for 4 out of 13 expenditures selected for testing. Identification of How Questioned Costs Were Computed – N/A Questioned Costs – None Cause/Effect – Management could not provide the support for the date requested, due it large part to the change in personnel that previously monitored the federal program. Therefore, requested support for testing could not be provided. Recommendation – We recommend management increase awareness of federal program compliance requirements and monitor compliance with the requirements on regular basis. In addition, we recommend that management review its procedures and controls in place to ensure that reports have proper evidence of review and approval. View of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan –The Organization agrees with this finding and notes that the Organization is revising its internal processes to ensure that each expenditure charged to grants will have as supporting documentation the Check Payment form approved by the Grant Program Director and CEO/Executive Director, or by the CFO, along with the invoice for the expenditure, and explanation of reason for the charge to the specific grant.

Corrective Action Plan

View of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan –The Organization agrees with this finding and notes that the Organization is revising its internal processes to ensure that each expenditure charged to grants will have as supporting documentation the Check Payment form approved by the Grant Program Director and CEO/Executive Director, or by the CFO, along with the invoice for the expenditure, and explanation of reason for the charge to the specific grant.

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Subrecipient Monitoring Material Weakness Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1163010 2021-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1163011 2021-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1163012 2021-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1163014 2021-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1163015 2021-008
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.231 EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT PROGRAM $196,664
16.575 CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE $99,920
16.320 SERVICES FOR TRAFFICKING VICTIMS $96,359
93.557 EDUCATION AND PREVENTION GRANTS TO REDUCE SEXUAL ABUSE OF RUNAWAY, HOMELESS AND STREET YOUTH $68,686
93.556 MARYLEE ALLEN PROMOTING SAFE AND STABLE FAMILIES PROGRAM $34,489
14.218 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS/ENTITLEMENT GRANTS $21,481
93.940 HIV PREVENTION ACTIVITIES HEALTH DEPARTMENT BASED $20,091
93.558 TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES $19,376
93.590 COMMUNITY-BASED CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION GRANTS $12,500
93.686 ENDING THE HIV EPIDEMIC: A PLAN FOR AMERICA — RYAN WHITE HIV/AIDS PROGRAM PARTS A AND B $11,796
93.332 COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT TO SUPPORT NAVIGATORS IN FEDERALLY-FACILITATED EXCHANGES $11,075
93.958 BLOCK GRANTS FOR COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES $8,828
93.667 SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANT $8,575
93.917 HIV CARE FORMULA GRANTS $2,640