Finding 1215180 (2024-004)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
H
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2026-05-20
Audit: 401848
Organization: Abilities Network, Inc. (MD)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The organization failed to keep proper documentation for credit card disbursements, which is a significant deficiency in internal controls over compliance.
  • Impacted Requirements: This violates federal requirements for maintaining effective internal controls as outlined in 2 CFR section 200.303.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement and monitor stronger internal controls for credit card disbursements, ensuring all transactions have appropriate documentation for approval.

Finding Text

Period of Performance Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program Title: Child Care and Development Block Grant, Operation of a Child Care Resource Center – Baltimore, Harford and Cecil Counties (691) Assistance Listing Number: 93.575 Award Period: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024 (691) Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance Criteria: Recipients of federal funds are required to establish and maintain effective internal controls over federal funds received, per 2 CFR section 200.303. Condition: The Organization did not maintain documentation to evidence approval of credit card general disbursements charged to the program. Context: Auditors tested two credit card general disbursement transactions out of a total sample of 50 period of performance transactions, and both lacked evidence of appropriate approval to support that the disbursements were recorded within the proper period of performance. Questioned Costs: None Cause: Internal controls over the approval of credit card transactions were not adequately designed and implemented to ensure supporting documentation was maintained. Effect: The absence of effective internal controls over period of performance increases the risk of noncompliance with federal award requirements and the potential for errors. Repeat Finding: Yes; prior year finding 2023-004 Recommendation: We recommend that the Organization design, implement, and monitor effective internal controls over credit card disbursements and maintain appropriate documentation evidencing review and approval to ensure compliance with period of performance requirements. Views of Responsible Officials of the Auditee: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.

Corrective Action Plan

Period of Performance Child Care and Development Block Grant – Assistance Listing No. 93.575 Recommendation: We recommend that the Organization design, implement, monitor and maintain evidence over internal controls. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to finding: Management will assign responsibility for maintaining source documentation to a specific individual or team and develop a system for organizing and storing source documentation, such as a centralized electronic database. Monitoring and testing procedures will be implemented to ensure that source documentation is being maintained and is readily accessible. Lastly, there will be regular reviews and updates to the system for organizing and storing source documentation as needed to ensure ongoing effectiveness. Name of the contact person responsible for corrective action: Lyn Elliot, CEO Planned completion date for corrective action plan: 7/1/2026

Categories

Period of Performance Significant Deficiency Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1215174 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1215175 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1215176 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1215177 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1215178 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1215179 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.575 CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT $558,811
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $161,124
93.870 MATERNAL, INFANT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD HOME VISITING GRANT $50,338
14.218 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS/ENTITLEMENT GRANTS $30,000
93.778 GRANTS TO STATES FOR MEDICAID $22,620