Summary

Chapter 2006-30, Laws of Florida, created a three-year pilot program under which independent, nongovernmental third-party entities were to be engaged by the Department of Children and Family Services (Department) to conduct fiscal, administrative, and programmatic monitoring of the lead agencies serving Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Broward Counties.  In response to the requirements of Chapter 2006-30, Laws of Florida, the Department contracted with Abel & Associates to provide fiscal and administrative monitoring and contracted with the Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago to provide programmatic monitoring of the applicable lead agencies, ChildNet and Our Kids.  Chapter 2006-30, Laws of Florida, directed the Auditor General and the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) to perform an evaluation of the pilot program. 

This operational audit of the Department focused on the effectiveness of the fiscal and administrative monitoring provided for the lead agencies in the pilot program and covered the period July 2007 through June 2008, and selected actions through September 2008.  Our audit disclosed that the fiscal and administrative monitoring approach authorized under the pilot program continued to meet the requirements of the Department and the lead agencies. 

The Department’s response is included as Exhibit A.