Finding 1164721 (2023-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
A
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2025-12-12
Audit: 374435
Organization: Chicago Recovery Alliance (IL)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There is a material weakness in internal controls over compliance due to inconsistent maintenance of employee change of status forms.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 2 CFR Part 200.430 is compromised, as missing forms hinder the verification of allowable costs.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Ensure all employee documentation is maintained and implement a second layer of review for personnel files.

Finding Text

Finding 2023-002 – Internal Control over Compliance (Material Weakness) Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program Name: Block Grants for Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse Assistance Listing Number: 93.959 Federal Award Identification Number: 43CAZ03215 Award Period: January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023 Type of Finding: Material Weakness in internal control over compliance Criteria: The cost principles in 2 CFR Part 200, subpart E (Cost Principles) prescribe requirements for allowable costs relative to compensation and substantiation requirements specifically, 2 CFR Part 200.430(i) states “Cost must be supported by a system of internal control which provides reasonable assurance that the charges are accurate, allowable, and properly allocated.” Condition: Employee change of status forms are not consistently maintained in accordance with applicable requirements. Questioned Costs: None. Context: 10 Employee files that were selected for verification disclosed 3 instances where forms were not available for review. Cause: Employee change of status forms or offer letters were not maintained on file or available for review. Effect: Inability to review employee change of status forms or offer letters limits the ability to verify costs allowability as required. As a result of the missing forms, it is not possible to fully ascertain compliance with allowable costs as required by 2 CFR 200.430. Repeat Finding: Yes Recommendation: Offer letters or employee change of status forms should be maintained on file. We recommend management implement a second layer of review of personnel files. Views of Responsible Official: Since the hiring of the Executive Director in March of 2023, we have implemented the following: Created A Human Resources Department, which did not exist at CRA before 2023. Hired a Human Resources Director to oversee department. Initiated a comprehensive HR information system where staff can review their pay, track their time, and review benefits. Initiated the process of uploading personnel information to our new system, while keeping backups secured. This includes hiring documentation and change of status forms for employees.

Corrective Action Plan

Since January of 2024, CRA has done the following: Created a Human Resources Department, which did not exist before. Hired a Full Time Human Resources Director to oversee the department. Initiated a comprehensive Human Resources system where staff can review their pay, track their time, and review benefits. Initiated the process of uploading personnel information to our new system, while keeping backups secured in our Google Nonprofit workspace - including hiring documentation and change of status forms for employees.

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.959 BLOCK GRANTS FOR PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE $1.76M
93.778 MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM $257,087
93.136 INJURY PREVENTION AND CONTROL RESEARCH AND STATE AND COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS $61,143
93.940 HIV PREVENTION ACTIVITIES HEALTH DEPARTMENT BASED $10,611