Nevada Title IV-E Foster Care Eligibility Review

Nevada Title IV-E Foster Care Eligibility Review
April 1, 2001 - September 30, 2001

I. Introduction

During April 22-25, Administration for Children and Families' (ACF) staff from the Central and Regional Offices and State of Nevada staff conducted an eligibility review of Nevada's title IV-E foster care program in Carson City.

The purpose of the title IV-E foster care eligibility review was (1) to determine if Nevada was in compliance with the child and provider eligibility requirements as outlined in 45 CFR 1356.71 and Section 472 of the Social Security Act; and (2) to validate the basis of Nevada's financial claims to ensure that appropriate payments were made on behalf of eligible children and to eligible homes and institutions.

Scope of the Review

The Nevada title IV-E foster care review encompassed a sample of all of the title IV-E foster care cases that received a foster care maintenance payment during the period of April 1, 2001 to September 30, 2001. A computerized statistical sample of 88 cases (80 cases plus an over sample of eight cases) was drawn from the payment history data that was transmitted by the State agency to the ACF for the period under review. The child's case file was reviewed for the determination of title IV-E eligibility and the provider's file was reviewed to ensure that the foster home or child care institution in which the child was placed was licensed or approved for the period of the review.

During the initial primary review, 80 cases were reviewed. Three cases were determined to be in error for either part or all of the review period for reasons that are identified in the Case Record Summary section of this report.

Since the number of error cases was fewer than nine, the ACF has determined Nevada to be in substantial compliance.

Case Record Summary

The following details the error cases and reasons for the error, erroneous payments, and appropriate citations:

Sample number 5: Contrary to the welfare determination was not addressed in the initial order removing the child. 472(a)(1); 45 CFR 1356.21(c).

Sample number 53: AFDC eligibility incorrectly determined (no deprivation and father's income exceeded resource limit). 472(a)(4); 45 CFR 1356.71(d)(1)(v).

Sample number 70: IV-E maintenance claimed before all eligibility requirements met, namely before the judicial determination that reasonable efforts to prevent removal or reunify were made. 472(a)(1), 471(a)(15)(B)(i); 45 CFR 1356.21(b)(1)

The erroneous payments associated with the three error cases were calculated as follows, and include all payments claimed on behalf of the child for the entire period of the error.

Sample #	5	53	70	Total
FFY 1999	$ 2,145.76	$ 3,421.50	blank cell	$ 5,567.26
FFY 2000	blank cell	$ 5,557.45	blank cell	$ 5,557.45
FFY 2001	blank cell	$ 4,207.07	$ 1,535.44	$ 5,742.51
Total - MAP	$ 2,145.76	$ 13,186.02	$ 1,535.44	$ 16,867.22
FMAP	50.00%	50.00%	50.36%	blank cell
Federal Share - MAP	$ 1,072.88	$ 6,593.01	$ 773.25	$ 8,439.14
Admin Cost	$ 2,338.98	$ 10,626.07	$ 1,375.64	$ 14,340.69
FFP- Admin	50.00%	50.00%	50.00%	blank cell
Federal Share - Admin	$ 1,169.49	$ 5,313.04	$ 687.82	$ 7,170.35
Total Federal Share	$ 2,242.37	$ 11,906.05	$ 1,461.07	$ 15,609.48

FFP = Federal Financial Participation
FFY = Federal Fiscal Year
FMAP = Federal Medical Assistance Percentage
MAP = Maintenance Assistance Payment

Disallowances

The review included a sample of 80 cases. The sample was drawn from a universe of cases that received at least one title IV-E foster care maintenance payment during the 6-month AFCARS period of April 1, 2001 to September 30, 2001. Based upon the results of the review, the State of Nevada has been determined to be in substantial compliance. Three cases were determined not to be eligible for funding under title IV-E foster care. Therefore, a disallowance in the amount of $15,609.48 in FFP is assessed for the entire period of time that these cases were determined to be in error.