Finding 988494 (2022-002)

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Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
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Year
2022
Accepted
2023-09-29

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Difficulty verifying participant documentation for grant reports due to high refugee influx and inadequate tracking methods.
  • Impacted Requirements: Grant performance reports must accurately reflect the type and number of participants served as per grant agreements.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should improve documentation processes and implement a client tracking database to enhance accuracy and transparency in reporting.

Finding Text

Department of Health and Human Services - Refugee and Entrant Assistance Wilson/Fish Program ? Afghanistan Supplemental Appropriations ? Youth Mentoring; Assistance Listing Number 93.583; Grant period ? year ended September 30, 2022Department of Health and Human Services - Refugee and Entrant Assistance ? State Replacement Designee Administered Programs ? Refugee Cash and Medical Assistance and Refugee Social Services ? Refugee School Impact Grant; Assistance Listing Number 93.566; Grant period ? year ended September 30, 2022Condition: Out of four grant reports selected for testing of verification of documentation, we determined that documentation of the number and type of participant served could not be easily verified based on the documentation provided.Criteria: Grant performance reports are to indicate the type and number of participants served for specific programs as outlined in the grant agreement.Cause: The information requested was not readily available due to the large influx of refugees in a short period of time and the fact that the tracking of these participants by various groupings was very labor intensive and the worksheet maintained was not conducive to replicating the data as reported on the grant report.Effect: The participants serviced as reported on the grant reports may be inaccurate.Context: Grant reports are filed on a quarterly basis. A sample of two grants were selected to verify documentation of the number and type of participants served.Recommendation: We recommend that management ensure that documentation surrounding various performance requirements of grant reports be made readily available to ensure that the amounts contained in the reports are accurate.Responsible Official?s Response: Management will ensure that supporting documentation regarding the number and type of participant served is readily available and that it ties directly back to the grant reports as they are filed. They are in the process of implementing a client tracking database which will make the tracking process much easier and more transparent in coming years.

Categories

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Other Findings in this Audit

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
19.510 U.s. Refugee Admissions Program $1.84M
93.566 Refugee and Entrant Assistance_state Administered Programs $1.62M
93.583 Refugee and Entrant Assistance_wilson/fish Program $852,287
93.576 Refugee and Entrant Assistance_discretionary Grants $592,139
14.218 Community Development Block Grants/entitlement Grants $5,326