Audit of the Missouri Department of Social Services Claim for Title IV-E Training Costs

Our objective was to determine the allowability of Title IV-E training costs claimed by the Missouri Department of Social Services (State agency) for the period July 1, 1999, through June 30, 2002. The State agency did not always follow Federal regulations regarding allowability of costs, resulting in overstated Title IV-E training costs of $15,256,317 (Federal share).

We recommended that the State agency: (1) adjust its next Federal Quarterly Report of Expenditures to reduce Federal reimbursement claimed for Title IV-E training by $15,256,317, (2) work with ACF to determine the amount of unallowable training costs claimed at the 75‑percent Federal reimbursement rate that are claimable and allowable as Title IV-E administrative costs at the 50‑percent rate, (3) develop and implement internal controls to ensure that only allowable training costs are claimed as Title IV-E training costs in the future, and (4) review Title IV-E training costs claimed subsequent to our audit period for the issues identified and make the appropriate adjustments. The State agency disagreed with our recommendationsand fourof oursix findings.