WENDY
L.
WATANABE
AUDITOR-CONTROLLER
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELESDEPARTMENT OF AUDITOR-CONTROLLER
KENNETH HAHN HALL OF ADMINISTRATION500 WEST TEMPLE STREET, ROOM 525LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90012-3873PHONE: (213) 974-8301FAX: (213) 626-5427
ASST. AUDITOR-CONTROLLERS
ROBERT A. DAVISJOHN NAlMOJUDlE. THOMAS
May 12,2011TO:Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, MayorSupervisor Gloria MolinaSupervisor Mark Ridley-ThomasSupervisor Zev YaroslavskySupervisor Don KnabeFROM: Wendy
L.
WatanabeAuditor-ControllerSUBJECT:
FUTURO INFANTIL HISPANO FOSTER FAMILY AGENCY CONTRACTREVIEW
-
A DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICESPROVIDER
We have completed a contract compliance review of Futuro lnfantil Hispano FosterFamily Agency (Futuro or Agency), a Department of Children and Family Services(DCFS) provider. The purpose of our review was to determine whether Futuro wasproviding the services outlined in their Program Statement and the County contract. Wecompleted our review during July 2009 and conducted a follow-up review in October2010.DCFS contracts with Futuro, a private non-profit community-based organization torecruit, train and certify foster parents for supervising children DCFS places in fostercare. Once the Agency places a child, it is required to monitor the placement until thechild is discharged from the program. Futuro oversees
134
certified foster homes inwhich 290 DCFS children were placed at the time of our review. Futuro is located in theFifth District. DCFS paid Futuro approximately $6.2 million during Fiscal Year 2009-1 0.
ResultsofReview
The foster children indicated that they enjoyed living with their foster parents and thefoster parents indicated that the services they received from Futuro met theirexpectations. Futuro also appropriately conducted hiring clearances and providedongoing training for staff working on theounty contract. However, Futuro did not
Help Conserve Paper
-
Print Double-Sided"To Enrich Lives Through Effective and Caringervice"
Board of SupervisorsMay 12,2011Page 2always ensure that the fosteromes complied with the County contractnd CaliforniaDepartment of Social ServicesCDSS) Title 22 regulations. For example:Two (25%) of the eight foster homes reviewedn 2009 did not adequatelypotentially dangerous items. Specifically, oneome did not secure a hedgeand a serrated gardeningool and anotherome did not adequately secure knivDuring our follow-up review in010, all three additional homes reviewedsecured potentially dangerous items.Futuro's attached response indicates that they willrovide training to their socialworkers and foster parents.Two (25%) ofhe eight foster homeseviewed in 2009 did notave a readily
available disaster plan and a list of emergency conts required.During our follow-up reviewn 2010, all three additional homeseviewed had areadily available disasterlan and a listf emergency contact numbers.Futuro's attached response indicates that their social workers verified thathomes had disaster plans and emergency contact numbers.Three (10%)f the 30 caseiles reviewed in 2009 had Special Incident(SIR) that were sento DCFS by fax transmittal ratherhan using the I-TrackSystem. DCFS requireshe Agency to submit SIRS using the I-Track Systemensure SIRS are addressed immediately.During our follow-up reviewn 2010, the five additional case files reviewhave anyIRS to review.Futuro's attached response indicates that staff
in
each ofice will now send SIRSrather than onetaff for the entire agency.Both (100%) of the supervising socialorkers reviewed in 2009 exceeded tmaximumcaseload by six and two cases, respectively.n addition, seven (35%) ofFuturo's 20 social workers carried an averagef 19 cases during one mreviewed and three social workers carriedn average of 17 cases during anothermonth reviewed.During our follow-up reviewn 2010,Futuro was complying with the maxicaseload requirements.Futuro's attached response indicates that they hired additional staff and will monitorto ensure appropriate caseloads.
Board of SupervisorsMay 12,2011Page 3One (5%) of the 20 social workers did not possess the required educationqualifications during our 2009 review.Subsequent to our review, the Agencyobtained an exception from CDSS alldwing the employee to work as a social worker.During our follow up reviewn 2010, Futuro's social workers all had the requirededucation and work experience.
Futuro's attached response indicates thathey
will
ensure staffave the requirededucation.
Details of our review, along with recommendations or corrective action, are attached.
Review of Report
We discussed our report with Futuro on January 13, 201 1. In theirttached response,Futuro indicates the actions the Agency has taken to implement our recommendations(Attachment I). We also notified DCFS of the results of our initialnd follow-up reviews.In theiresponse (Attachment II), DCFS indicates they will monitor the Agency forcompliance with our recommendations.We thankuturo management for theirooperation and assistance during our review.Please call me if you have any questions or your staff may contact Don Chadwick at(21 3)53-0301
.
Attachmentsc: William
T
Fujioka, Chief Executive OfficerJackie Contreras, Ph.D, Interim Director, DCFSOma Velasco-Rodriguez, Executive Director and Board Chair, FuturoLilyOlan, Administrator, FuturoJean Chen, Community Care LicensingPublic Information OfficeAudit Committee
Search History:
Result 00 of 00
00 results for result for
p.
LA Audit-Futuro Infantil Hispano Foster Family Agency Contract Review (May 2011)
County of Los Angeles
Futuro Infantil Hispano
Foster Family Agency
Contract Review
A Department of Children and Family Services Provider
May 12, 2011
Futuro Infantil Hispano was paid approximately $6.2 million in FY 2009-10, and oversaw 134 certified foster homes in which 290 DCFS wards had been placed.
Futuro Infantil Hispano
Foster Family Agency
Contract Review
A Department of Children and Family Services Provider
May 12, 2011
Futuro Infantil Hispano was paid approximately $6.2 million in FY 2009-10, and oversaw 134 certified foster homes in which 290 DCFS wards had been placed.
391
Reads
0
Readcasts
0
Embed Views
More From This User
Notes
Load more
