Title IV-E 2018 Foster Care Eligibility Review Summary
OCFS thanks everyone who participated in the 2018 Foster Care Eligibility Review (FCER) Subsequent Primary Review. New York State was found to be in substantial compliance with Administration of Children and Families (ACF) findings of two error cases and twelve cases with improper payments. For a complete summary of this review and of past FCER results, click the Federal Foster Care Eligibility Review Tab.
OCFS thanks everyone who participated in the 2018 Foster Care Eligibility Review (FCER) Subsequent Primary Review. New York State was found to be in substantial compliance with Administration of Children and Families (ACF) findings of two error cases and twelve cases with improper payments. For a complete summary of this review and of past FCER results, click the Federal Foster Care Eligibility Review Tab.
2018 FCER Overview
- The 2018 ACF FCER was conducted on 80 randomly selected cases from local districts and the OCFS Division of Juvenile Justice and Opportunities for Youth (DJJOY). NYC Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) was exempt from the 2018 FCER as they are participating in the Title IV-E Waiver Demonstration Project.
- The ACF sample was determined from the NYS Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS).
- The Period Under Review was October 2017 to March 2018.
Facts and Figures from this review:
- 78 cases in substantial compliance
- 2 cases in error
- 12 cases with improper payments
- 50 cases required clarification or additional documentation to meet Title IV-E federal eligibility requirements
- 15 cases required additional documents to meet the requirements of Foster Boarding Home licensing and safety documentation
Missing Foster Care Title IV-E eligibility documentation included:
- Court orders
- Petitions
- Family Assessment Service Plans and/or progress notes
- State Central Register (SCR) clearances
- Staff Exclusion List (SEL)
- Criminal History Check (CHC)
- Foster home licenses
- Scratchpads, budgets or case composition screens to support AFDC eligibility
Financial Documentation:
This was the first FCER that OCFS requested financial documentation to support expenditures. The local districts ability to provide this information prior to the on-site review significantly enhanced the federal staff’s ability to verify the allowability of costs and understand our coding and claiming processes in more detail. We appreciate the cooperation of the local district staff in obtaining and providing this documentation and look forward to working with you on an ongoing basis to maintain the appropriate documentation for Title IV-E allowability.
The results emphasize the importance of all the stakeholders working together to improve Title IV-E practice, including case documentation and financial documentation. By continuing our partnership, we will be ready for the next FCER in 2021.