Audit of Title IV-E Foster Care Eligibility in California for the Period October 1, 1988 through September 30, 1991

This final audit report points out several areas in which the California Department of Social Services (DSS) could make improvements to ensure that Federal eligibility requirements are met for foster care cases claimed for Federal financial participation (FFP). Our review of a statistical sample of 805 cases statewide resulted in the identification of 313 cases for which eligibility for FFP was not supported for all or part of the payments made on behalf of children. Recommendations call for DDS to strengthen procedures to improve the flow of information from social workers to eligibility workers and provide better management over the eligibility determination process. Recommendations also call for improvements in procedures for licensing of foster homes, and the system of quality control.