Recommendations Tracker

Consistently perform user account reviews in accordance with its access control policy.

We recommend ACF update and maintain a complete and accurate inventory of information systems hosted in the cloud.

We recommend ACF update its cloud security procedures to include detailed steps for operational staff to effectively implement cloud security baselines in accordance with HHS requirements

We recommend ACF conduct testing of its cloud information systems that includes the emulation of an adversary's tactics and techniques on a defined reoccurring basis.

ACF should implement additional safeguards to ensure that all safety checks are conducted and documented, as required, prior to approving the release of a child to their sponsor.

ACF should take additional steps to ensure that mandatory home studies are conducted when required.

ACF should ensure that sponsors' records in the UC Portal accurately capture sponsorship history and information obtained after children's release regarding sponsors' suitability.

We recommend that the California Department of Social Services establish procedures for county agency staff to document all medications (including opioid medications) prescribed for children in foster care in CWS/CMS, to the extent allowable under California law.

We recommend that the California Department of Social Services establish procedures for county agency staff to utilize Medicaid data match reports to verify that court authorizations for psychotropic medications prescribed for children in foster care are documented and maintained.

We recommend that Kentucky conduct the name-based checks on the one applicant and one adolescent household member identified by our audit as lacking the required checks and reiterate to staff the importance of adhering to the policies and procedures requiring background checks to be completed before approving foster homes.

We recommend that Kentucky identify ways to address the challenges related to meeting the requirements for conducting monthly caseworker visits, including consulting with ACF.

We recommend that ACF develop mitigating controls and strategies to lower the high and moderate risks we identified.

We recommend that ACF develop mitigating controls and strategies to lower the high and moderate risks we identified.

OCSS should create forums for identifying and sharing State agency best practices in providing paternity establishment services.

We recommend that the Florida Department of Children and Families provide training to CPIs and caseworkers on medication management and administration that addresses requirements for updating case records in FSFN for children who are prescribed psychotropic medications (including related medication logs and authorizations) and opioid medications.

We recommend that the Office of Children's Services ensure that staff are adequately trained on policies and procedures to ensure that required background checks are completed before placing children in foster homes under emergency conditions.

We recommend that the Office of Children's Services complete home inspections in accordance with requirements for the two foster homes identified by our audit as lacking completed inspections and for the five foster homes requiring in-person inspections.

We recommend that the Office of Refugee Resettlement strengthen oversight of initial placements by addressing challenges with bed space capacity and intake specialist staffing during influx periods to ensure a placement is made within 24 hours of each referral and Intakes Placement Checklists are completed for children with special needs or concerns.

We recommend that the Office of Refugee Resettlement review restrictive setting placement denials and take action as needed to ensure that, in the future when transfer is recommended, children will be able to obtain an appropriate placement.

We recommend that the Administration for Children and Families work with State agencies to ensure compliance with Federal requirements to report missing children episodes to law enforcement for entry into the NCIC database in a timely manner.

We recommend that the Office of Refugee Resettlement ensure that all ICFs and EISs currently in operation have conducted the required background checks on current employees whose checks were not conducted or take action to ensure that these employees do not have direct access to children while any results of the checks are pending.

We recommend that the Office of Refugee Resettlement include a review of compliance by ICFs and EISs with all background check requirements and facility access as a part of ORR's routine site visit monitoring.

We recommend that the Office of Refugee Resettlement re-evaluate the need for waivers of background checks and explore alternative means of obtaining required checks.

We recommend that the Office of Refugee Resettlement reiterate to EISs the importance of ensuring that access to a site is secure and that access badges are collected and deactivated for individuals who no longer require access to EISs.

We recommend that the Maryland Department of Human Services, Child Support Administration periodically review the allocation of payroll costs invoiced by the AOC.

We recommend that the Maryland Department of Human Services, Child Support Administration verify that the AOC calculates indirect costs charged to the CSE program by applying the de minimis rate of 10 percent to the correct allocation base.

We recommend that the Administration for Children and Families work with State agencies to ensure compliance with Federal requirements to report missing children episodes to NCMEC in a timely manner.

We recommend that the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services ensure that electronic case records for the children under its care and supervision are maintained in accordance with State requirements by modifying procedures for the monitoring of caseworkers to include a review of medical passports in MiSACWIS.

We recommend that the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services ensure the electronic case records for children who are prescribed opioid medications are maintained in accordance with requirements by implementing procedures requiring caseworkers to monitor Medicaid claim data for opioid medications prescribed for the children and providing training to caseworkers on the requirements for documenting medications prescribed for the children in MiSACWIS, including opioid medications due to medical procedures or emergency treatments.

Refund $394,733 to the Federal Government for unallowable costs charged to the Head Start awards.

Strengthen its policies and procedures to ensure that grant drawdowns are used to cover immediate cash needs necessary for its Head Start expenditures; only allowable costs are charged to the Head Start program; vehicle usage costs are adequately supported; and background checks and health screenings are performed on all volunteers who provide more than 20 percent of services during GBCA's weekly operating hours.

Work with ACF to develop a viable plan for refunding $153,052 in unallowable costs to the Federal Government.

Develop and implement written policies and procedures to ensure that criminal background checks on employees are completed within required time frames.

We recommend that the Indiana Department of Child Services ensure that health care records for the children under its care and supervision are maintained in accordance with State requirements by providing training and technical assistance to the FCMs on how to maintain health care records and input medications in MaGIK, implementing additional controls and procedures to ensure medications prescribed for children are input in MaGIK, implementing additional procedures to ensure the required authorizations for psychotropic medications are obtained and documented, and implementing additional procedures to ensure the required 30-day written reports and 90-day medical reviews are obtained and documented for children residing in residential facilities who are prescribed psychotropic medications.

We recommend that the Indiana Department of Child Services continue efforts with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration to obtain access to Medicaid claim history.

ACF should improve Head Start grant recipients' self-reporting of incidents of child abuse, lack of supervision, and unauthorized release through better guidance and stronger consequences for failure to report.

ACF should improve data-sharing with States about incidents of child abuse, lack of supervision, and unauthorized release in Head Start centers.