Audit of Office of Refugee Resettlement Grant No. 90RN0015 for the period September 30, 1997 through September 29, 2000

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

This report provides the results of our review of Grant No. 90RN0015, a discretionary grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.  Asian Counseling & Referral Services (ACRS), was awarded a $450,000 grant for the project period from September 30, 1997 through September 29, 2000, $150,000 for each of the 3 years of the period.  The grant was awarded to provide refugee assistance that included citizenship classes, help with completion of naturalization applications, and referral services.  The objective of our audit was to determine if the ACRS accomplished the objectives of the grant.  The ACRS did not achieve the results planned for the 3-year project period.  Additionally, we were unable to verify the accomplishments that were reported because ACRS neither effectively maintained supporting records nor adequately monitored its subrecipients.  We recommended that the ACRS improve its record keeping procedures and more closely monitor its subrecipients.  The ACRS concurred with our recommendations.