Finding Text
2023-001 - Alabama Administrative Code 305-4-4
Criteria: As a domestic violence shelter in the State of Alabama, in order to be
certified and to receive certain state and federal funding , the organization must
adhere to the Alabama Administrative Code 305-4-4.
Condition: During site visits, the monitors from the Alabama Coalition Against
Domestic Violence (ACADV) sited, in the report dated December 7, 2023, several
breaches in policy that led to not recommending recertification of the organization.
Context/Cause: Per the report issued by ACADV, shelter staff was found to have
breached policy involving client access to resources, confidentiality, privacy, and the
creation of a hostile space within the emergency shelter.
Effects: Lack of adherence to policy lead to a loss of certification. The organization
is to be transitioned to a Referral and Resource Program during the active
Correction Action Plan and funding is to be withheld until the organization is again in
compliance. Failure to adhere to ACADV's Corrective Action Plan would result in
losing membership in the organization and the related funding.
Recommendation: We recommend the Board review its processes and work with
ACADV to address the issues cited in the monitoring report by following the
Corrective Action Plan
Auditee's Response: We acknowledge the above finding. Steps have been taken
to correct this find ing as outlined in the corrective action plan. The shelter was briefly
closed. Some staff members were released. New staff members were hired.
Onboarding training and staff training were updated and increased. All staff
participated in training updates. The board reviewed and updated policies. All staff
have been trained in new personnel and operational policies. And we have been
working with ACADV to complete the corrective action plan and receive
recertification.