la audit-five acres foster family agency contract review (may 2011)

8/3/2019 LA Audit-Five Acres Foster Family Agency Contract Review (May 2011)

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C O U N T Y O F L O S A N G E L E S ,DEPARTMENT OF AUDITOR-CONTROLLER

WENDY L.WATANABEAUDITOR-CONTROLLER

May 12,201 1

KENNETH HAHN HALL OF ADMINISTRATION500 WEST TEMPLE STREET, ROOM 5 25LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90012-3873PHONE: (213) 974-8301 FAX: 213) 626-5427ASST. AUDITOR-CONTROLLERS

ROB ERT A. DAVISJOHN NAlMOJUDl E. THOMAS

TO: Supe rvisor Michae l D. Antonovich, MayorSupervisor Gloria MolinaSupervisor Mark Ridley-ThomasSupervisor Zev YaroslavskySupervisor Don KnabeFROM: Wendy L. WatanabeAuditor-ControllerSUBJECT: FIVE ACRES FOSTER FAMILY AGENCY CONTRACT REVIEW - ADEPARTMEN T OF CH ILDREN AND FAM ILY SERVICES PROVIDERWe have completed a contract compliance review of Fivecres Foster Family Agency(Five Acres or Agency), a Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS)provider. The purpose of oureview was to determine whether Five Acres wasproviding theervices outlined in theirrogram Statement and the County contract. Wecompleted our review in August 2009 and conducted a follow-up review in October201 0.DCFS contracts with Five Acres, a p rivate non-profit commun ity-based organization torecruit, train and. certify foster parents for supervising children DCFS places in fostercare. Once the Agency places a child, it isequired to mon itorhe placement until thechild is discharged from the program. Five Acres oversees 46 certified foster homes inwhich 49 DCFS children were placed at the time ofur review. Five Acres is located inthe Firstnd Fifth Districts. DCFS paid Five Acres approximately $1.5 million duringFiscal Year 2009-10.

Resu lts of ReviewThe fosterarents indicated that the services they received fromive Acres me t theirexpectations, the children indicated that they enjoyed living with their fosterarents, andthe toddlers we observed appeared well cared for and hea lthy. In addition, the Agencyensured that social workers' caseloads did not exceed the maximum established byCalifornia Department of Social Services (CDSS) Title 22 regulations. Five Acres also

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Board of SupervisorsMay 12,2011Page 2

ensured thattaff possessed the required education andork experience, conduhiring clearancesnd provided ongo ing training fortaff working on the County contHow ever, Five Acres did not always ensure thathe foster home s comp liedheCounty contractnd CDSS Title 22 regulations. For examp le:

One (33%) ofhe three fosterom es reviewed in 2009 did not adequatelyknives and prescription medicine. In addition,he home did not have manu al included as part of itsirst aid kit as required.During our follow-up reviewn 2010, the homeas decertified byhe Agency anthe two additional home s reviewed adequately send prescriptionmedications and had complete first aid kits.Five Acres' attached response indicates that homes duringheir regular visitsnd annual inspections.Two (67%) of the three foster parentseviewed in 2009 were not assessedy FiveAcres to ensurehe foster parents could care for more that the timeof our review, three and five children were placedDuring our follow-up review in 201, the two foster parentso longer had more thantwo children and allhree additional foster parentseviewed were assessed ensure they could care for more thanwo children.Five Acres' attached response indicates that tnd document assessments.Two (33%) ofhe six children reviewedn 2009 received initial medicexaminations late. The medical exam inationsere 19 days latend their dentalexaminations were 13 days late. This issueas also noted in our Five Acrecontract review report issuedn August 20, 2007.During our follow-up reviewn 201 0, all five additiona l childreneviewed receivedmedical and dental exam inations timely.Five Acres' attached response indicates that toreview the requirements withhe parents.Three (50%)f the six case files reviewed in 2009 didot have docum entationthe children's DCFS social workersere provided with monthly un thechildren's progress.During our follow-up reviewn 2010 , all five additional case filesad documentationof monthly updates.


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Board of SupervisorsMay 12,201 1Page 3

Five Acres' attached response indicates that they reviewed the requirement withtheir social workers and instructed them to document the date and content of themonthly updates.Details of our review, along with recommendations or corrective action, are attached.

Review of ReportWe discussed our report with Five Acres on December 21, 2010. In their attachedresponse, Five Acres indicates the actions the Agency has taken to implement therecommendations (Attachment I). We also notified DCFS of the results of ournitial andfollow-up reviews. In theiresponses to both reviews (Attachment II), DCFS indicatesthey will monitor the Agency for compliance with our recommendations.We thank Five Acres management for theirooperation and assistance during ourreview. Please call me if you have any questions or your staff may contact DonChadwick at (213) 253-0301.

Attachmentsc: William T Fujioka, Chief Executive OfficerJackie Contreras, Ph.D, Interim Director, DCFSThomas Haralambos, Board of Directors Chair, Five Acres

Robert Ketch, Executive Director, Five AcresJean Chen, Community Care LicensingPublic Information OfficeAudit Committee


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FOSTER FAMILYGENCY PROGRAMFIVE ACRES FOSTERAMILY AGENCYFISCAL YEAR009-10BACKGROUND

The Department of Childrennd Family Services (DCFS) pays Family Agency (Five Acresr Agency) a negotiated monthly rate, peestablished by the California Departmentf Social Services' (CDSS) Bureau. Based onhe child's age, Five Acres receives between nd $1,679 permonth, per child. DCFS paid Five Acres approximatelyear(FY) 2009-1.PURPOSEIMETHODOLOGY

The purpose ofur review was to determine whetherive Acres was providingservices outlinedn their Program Statementnd the County contract. Weeviewedcertified foster parent files, children's case files, nd interviewed FiveAcres staff. We also visitednumber of certified foster homeschildren and foster parents. We completed oureview in August 2009 and conductefollow-up reviewn October 201.

BILLED SERVICESObjectiveDetermine whether Five Acres provided programCounty contract andDSS Title 22 regulations.VerificationWe visited three of the6 Los Angeles County certified fosterbilled DCFS and interviewed three foster parents and n the threehomes. Welso observed one toddler who was toooung to interview. In addition, wereviewed the case filesor four foster parents andix children and we reviewed theAgency's monitoring activity.uring October 2010,e reviewed additionalhomes and children's case files.ResultsFive Acres needs to ensure that fosteromes are in compliance with thcontract and CDSS Title2 regulations. The Agencylso needs to ensure that thechildren receive medical and dental examinations nd that Agency socialorkersprovide DCFS social workers with monthly updates. hefollowing:

A U D I T O R - C O N T R O L L E RC O U N T Y O F L O S A N G E L E S


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Five Acres Foster Familv Anency Pane 2Foster Home Visitation

One (33%) of the three foster homes reviewed in 2009 did not adequately secureknives and prescription medicine. In addition, the home did not have a first aidmanual included as part of its first aidrkit as required.During our follow-up review in 2010, the home was decertified by the Agency andthe two additional homes reviewed adequately secured knives and prescriptionmedications and had complete first aid kits.Two (67%) of the three foster parents reviewed in 2009 were not assessed by FiveAcres to ensure the foster parents could care for more than two children. At the timeof our review, three and five children were placed in the foster homes, respectively.During our follow-up review in 2010, the two foster parents no longer had more thantwo children and all three additional foster parents reviewed were assessed toensure they could care for more than two children.

Children's Case FilesTwo (33%) of the six children reviewed in 2009 received initial medical and dentalexaminations late. The medical examinations were 19 days late and their dentalexaminations were 13 days late.his issue was also noted in our Five Acrescontract review report issued onugust 20, 2007.During our follow-up review in 2010, all five additional children reviewed receivedmedical and dental examinations timely.Three (50%) of the six case fileseviewed in 2009 did not have documentation thatthe children's DCFS social workers were provided with monthly updates on thechildren's progress.During our follow-up review in010, all five additional case files reviewed haddocumentation of monthly updates.

RecommendationsFive Acres managem ent ensure:1. Staff adequately mon itor fosteromes to ensure they comply with theCounty contract and CDSS Title 22 requirements.2. Foster parents adequately secure knives,edication and other ithat could posepotential safety hazard tohildren.3. Foster hom es' firstid kits includefirst aid manual.



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Five Acres Foster Family Aaen cv Pane 34. Foster home assessm ents are completed foomes where more thantwo children are placed.5. Children's med ical and dental examinations areonduc ted timely.6. DCF S social workers are updatedonthly regarding the children'sprogress.

CLIEN T VERIFICATIONObjectiveDetermine whetherhe program participants received the serto DCFS.VerificationWe interviewed five children placed in three of ndthree foster parents to confirm the services the o DCFS. In addition, weobserved one toddlerho was too young to interview.ResultsThe foster children indicated they enjoyed livingith their foster parents anhe fosterparents indicated that the services they receivedet theirexpectations. In addition, the toddlere observed appearedell cared fornd healthy.

RecommendationNone.

STAFFINGICASELOAD LEVELSObjectiveVerify that Five Acres social workers' caseloadso not exceed5 placements and thatthe supervising socialorker does not supervise more than six social workerssrequired by the County contract andDSS Title 22 regulations.VerificationWe interviewed Five AcresJ administratornd supervising social worker and reviewedcaseload statistics and payroll records for the Agency'ssocial worker.



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Five Acres Foster Family Anency Pane 4

Five AcresJ five social workers carried an averag0 cases andhe Agency'ssupervising social worker supervised five socialorkers.RecommendationNone.

STAFFING QUALIFICATIONSObiectiveDetermine whetherive AcresJ staff possesshe education and work experiencequalifications required by theiroun ty contract andDSS Title 22 regulations. Inaddition, determine whether the Agenc y conductedo hiring theirstaff and provided ongoing training to staff.VerificationW e interviewed Five Acres'uma n Relations staffnd reviewed each staff's file for docum entation to confirm their educationnd work experience qualhiring clearances and ongoing training.ResultsFive Acres' staff possessedhe required education andork experience andheAgency conduc ted hiring clearances and providedtaff working onthe Coun ty contract.

RecommendationNone.

PRIOR YEAR FOLLOW-UPObjectiveDetermine the status ofhe recommendations reportedn the prior Auditor-Controllemonitoring review.VerificationW e verified whether the outstanding recomm endationsY 2006-07 mon itorinreview were implemented. The report was issuedn August 20, 2007.



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Five Acresoster Fam ilv Anency Pane 5ResultsThe August 20, 2007 monitoring reportad two recommendations.he Agency implemented onef the recommendations. However,he Agency has not implementedone recommendation from the August0, 2007 related to ensuring children's and dental examinations are conducted timely.

Recommendation7. Five Acres management implement the outstanding recommendationfrom the August 20, 2007 mon itoring report.



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Attachment IPage 1 of 3

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Attachment Page 2 of 3

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Attachment IPage 3 of 3

P W nrte &nt thtaboveLurpmlom3sw m pnawscdby Supmioar SarahBomp tothe FCSWsd i w n tWw k c r d w i ~ etaPfmacting&.id taakplace rnS + c m k16,XI09 please=a anaChsd-, 1x1d d i t i a , p b tte that durlnp the RFare@ e b a Ctr,W t r 2009, tbh= mpeettcrn@icy and UM m 6 c d anddistal prslicpwere r e v i mwithdfid tsaurw prumta, Fot &me fi;wurocp~~who did mlmend this moctinu. the PCsWs aaaig;tled to hcfr hmmcs rtvhmd rhrrsspdiclavcith than anWividunlbash.T kAudiw ConUdlar's C~)EEOBm wlk,Five t f nr a follwvup o reviewrnQcmh!t 5, a10whewin chiSdrtnd gareata m w w b& rcvicmd. Additionally,brr?uie& %amviewedwo remum fasniliman I)ccaber 7,M O, TherermrcepabdMorraJ. findinp in the Mtw uptar3sw.FLvaAcm will cbntinue Icl sucossdultyimplement 811ofthesek 3 theCAP&ow-If yauh n y q\utrrWnsw naedWhet i&maatloa @el&c op reachmr: u 626-346-1736,


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Attachment IIPage I f 4


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Attachmei-rt I1Page 2 of 4


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Attachment IIPage 3 of 4Ceumty& L a AlfgidasDEPARTMENT OS: CHILDRENAND FAMILY SERVICES

ffiF& RESPOWSE TO THE MUTOR C0M'fW3LLERpS OFF.WE ACRESFOSB?PAMiLVA O mfb lldPw Gonhkr 'a {A-C) CanbadRevW QIFkeAcmeFQBtaCFamily4,giagxymrm W ~ c l u r r r g J u l y a n d ~ ~ f @ .he6utdM6onr,Ganth@mqmmtDivieioll[GHCIMD) rewived U# 444% Mar& 9, 2010 initial daeR mprt Of We CdRYbOlktampliarwe,&mu mAnam8,M)lCJ. The DCFSManhm u k d hampadan Mmh4 5 , 2 0 1 0 a n d ~ V M ~ B r h B t h e A . C m M e y 2 6 , B l O .T h a f f i ' s Ju&sndAugwt2tlicBR e u s r v r ~ m ~ u s f i ~ ~ h ~ih%latrulld mfmdbo libCMM Rcrteob#nHallRs. VheAC'd inithl dmtt reClcrtt, hmwbwr,m &dhat d OLB thme hm# !!Wad bM nat a&qmrWy s a m knhm attdpne~~f i~mas lc td idnar thsvsa f in ta idmmel In~f rns la idWi n gb b ~ A . C ' o & ~ d a w m ~ ~ t t r b h h a n d m ~ r c i l m ~ p l a o e d e n a ~h ihahelc and uwre !hm n m l e o the d.rimn, but nr#p, u 7 hm f fNa~ i v a ~ P I s n ( ~ ~ ~ 8 . 2 0 1 0 ~ ~ 5 n f l $ 8 a f f m e s ~ ~Saptembsr tQI, UW, tm f f A rrrodaene \rrws i n e l m o m~urrphe kn- end~inaeaplsb~~~gsll$~s#cnan~kerrrI~thrf$gt~thlkRsdu~Me~nri1~pWo11 rm a new Mkl ia pbmd and ps~ ~ t dd .M may in-* abkwdaring lhs&honr~virrifrsand~gtt#,mnu~~h ~ n l d m r ) a o t r r i , I h 3 l ) l ~fhrtaidmull lsanrinthefhtsidkt la . T t r ~ ~ kr W al d r a8n ep # ta tm n a l sd ~mmal ase film m h w d warrr miaing ssqulmd doounoentetlanm ~ ho hdm8asdesrmbnt bayand bnro crhiicimn Plnd the FFA'4 &b camtad rrrflh bCR4- ~ C A P i ~ ~ ~ h ~ e ~ r n s d h g o n ~ s r 1 0 , 2 0 D 9 , i l t s F F A~ ~ ~ s ~ d i ~ b a r r ~ a l l q h d d o o u m # r b b k n i e m ~ a n d i nths oaoe MMarraly. of IM safl@ed d\iMm f lB fdvd lniQial madlaslm8m8 a?ici& 3s deys erftet 1 h Rltlal 3Mmy pmriud and &fPI emma?apprrwdma(wlyHlerrltebllwulng fib M y ?&dme ubl t tgb treW,hsFFA m


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Attachment IIPage 4 of 4DCFS IFFESPCMBE r0 W E ZfPtt$R CON7RWRp!3CONTRACT REVtEW FIVEACRESF-tER FAMlLY AOENCYPAGE 2Rswurm FusBar Parrsrctsm m g OA &&bar 1,2009and mktwced~ h s CFS policythat &I chrMcm r e ~ w enitial medid and denZsl exam withiin $0 dwys from the t ithat Iwam plaaxl HI Vtct fusler hanzs. The ArC a ppt w d Fket h e s FFK s hhrch 9,2010w.an December 21, 2010, tk A-C inlormriut C3HCMt) &at bay cwrdudd a lollow upmwim dwting QcOober2010 MI determine the &&UB Qfthsipciorfindmgs end prwidedam updated draft rapaa dalsdQ9c-r 21,20t0. The A-C's f d k up review wile&th& th e A-C -ed the imp-bn ot their rewwnmmdBliorss in sit amas ofoonowns There ere nowsudstmdlrtgBndings8The OHCMD wit1 cm?linueto mmitcitIk Agmcy'ri q o i n g cpmpCanoe thsStabraguletj6ns wihn shc manVla ahss themanmd heA-C's fin%report,W you haw:any questoons. plsase oonkact me at (62'6)589-8804,

c: Devid Wiernfeld, CEO, hiMnen 8 FemiSisWal-Be@ CIUSWWendy 1.Wsmwbe,Aubitar-ContmUerAnlorrb Jimsnez, Inkenim Dlmctar,WFSLisa Panigh,DeputyDimetar,OCFS

la audit-five acres foster family agency contract review (may 2011)

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