Foster Care:
Delayed Follow-Up of Noncomplying States May Reduce Incentive for Reform
PEMD-89-16: Published: Sep 13, 1989. Publicly Released: Sep 13, 1989.
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
Contact:
(202) 512-5885
contact@gao.gov
Office of Public Affairs
(202) 512-4800
youngc1@gao.gov
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the extent to which the Administration for Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) provided incentive funds to states which instituted ACYF-mandated reforms under its Child Welfare Services grants program.
GAO found that: (1) ACYF disbursed incentive funds to all states that certified their compliance with provisions and then retrospectively reviewed states' certifications of their compliance with provisions to receive incentive funds; (2) ACYF typically recouped overpayments to noncompliant states by reducing the successive year's payments; (3) 15 states have failed annual compliance reviews at least once since enactment of the requirements in 1980; (4) ACYF did not record or recoup a 1984 $832,216 overpayment to Ohio; (5) final appeals decisions rendered in April 1989 allowed ACYF to recoup a 1984 $1,034,619 overpayment to Illinois and a 1983 $250,335 overpayment to Maryland; and (6) although ACYF generally followed its stated practice of promptly reviewing a state's compliance for the fiscal year (FY) following the year it had failed, ACYF has not conducted follow-up reviews for six states which failed compliance reviews between 1983 and 1985.
Recommendations for Executive Action
Status: Closed - Implemented
Comments: Please call 202/512-6100 for information.
Recommendation: The Commissioner, ACYF, should: (1) promptly conduct and complete the postponed reviews of those six states that failed a review between 1983 and 1985, to ensure that incentive funds are expended in compliance with the law; and (2) conduct periodic reviews promptly in the future, that is, immediately following the end of the fiscal year when review is due.
Agency Affected: Department of Health and Human Services: Administration for Children, Youth, and Families
Status: Closed - Implemented
Comments: Please call 202/512-6100 for information.
Recommendation: The Commissioner, ACYF, should promptly recoup the overpayments made in 1983 to Maryland and in 1984 to Illinois and Ohio.
Agency Affected: Department of Health and Human Services: Administration for Children, Youth, and Families
Explore the full database of GAO's Open Recommendations
»
Explore the full database of GAO's Open Recommendations
Feb 25, 2021
Low-Income Workers:
Millions of Full-Time Workers in the Private Sector Rely on Federal Health Care and Food Assistance ProgramsGAO-21-410T: Published: Feb 25, 2021. Publicly Released: Feb 25, 2021.
Feb 18, 2021
-
Child Care:
Subsidy Eligibility and Receipt, and Wait ListsGAO-21-245R: Published: Feb 18, 2021. Publicly Released: Feb 18, 2021.
Jan 8, 2021
-
Fair Labor Standards Act:
Tracking Additional Complaint Data Could Improve DOL's EnforcementGAO-21-13: Published: Dec 9, 2020. Publicly Released: Jan 8, 2021.
Dec 18, 2020
-
Amateur Athletes:
The U.S. Center for SafeSport's Response and Resolution Process for Reporting AbuseGAO-21-128R: Published: Dec 18, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 18, 2020.
Dec 1, 2020
-
Military Child Care:
Off-Base Financial Assistance and Wait Lists for On-Base CareGAO-21-127R: Published: Dec 1, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 1, 2020.
Nov 18, 2020
-
Drug Misuse:
Agencies Have Not Fully Identified How Grants That Can Support Drug Prevention Education Programs Contribute to National GoalsGAO-21-96: Published: Nov 18, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 18, 2020. -
Federal Social Safety Net Programs:
Millions of Full-Time Workers Rely on Federal Health Care and Food Assistance ProgramsGAO-21-45: Published: Oct 19, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 18, 2020.
Oct 1, 2020
-
Child Care Facilities:
Federal Agencies Need to Enhance Monitoring and Collaboration to Help Assure Drinking Water is Safe from LeadGAO-20-597: Published: Sep 28, 2020. Publicly Released: Oct 1, 2020.
Aug 21, 2020
-
Federal Employees' Compensation Act:
Comparisons of Benefits in Retirement and Actions Needed to Help Injured Workers Choose Best OptionGAO-20-523: Published: Jul 23, 2020. Publicly Released: Aug 21, 2020.
Aug 13, 2020
-
Social Security Disability:
Information on Wait Times, Bankruptcies, and Deaths among Applicants Who Appealed Benefit DenialsGAO-20-641R: Published: Aug 13, 2020. Publicly Released: Aug 13, 2020.
Looking for more? Browse all our products here
Explore our Key Issues on Worker and Family Assistance
Explore our other Key Issues here
