Objective

To determine the extent of implementation of the six recommendations included in our initial audit report, Health and Safety of Children in Foster Care (Report 2016-N-2).

About the Program

Our initial report, issued March 9, 2018, concluded that the New York City Administration for Children's Services (ACS) lacked the tools to ensure that agencies performed many of the critical functions required to protect the health and safety of foster children. For example, we found that ACS did not have controls to ensure that agencies conducted and recorded visits. Further, it did not ensure that Family Assessment and Service Plans were completed timely. We also found that the CONNECTIONS information system did not have sufficient case monitoring tools to allow ACS staff to readily identify cases where required contact visits were not made or when the progress notes for such visits were not recorded timely.

Key Finding

We found that some progress was made in addressing the issues identified in our initial report. Of the report’s six recommendations, two were implemented, one was partially implemented, and three were not implemented.

Key Recommendation

Officials are given 30 days after the issuance of the follow-up review to provide information on any actions that are planned to address the unresolved issues discussed in this review.