ABOUT
Created by the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993, the Corporation provides opportunities for Americans to serve their communities through: Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, VISTA, National Civilian Community Corps and Learn and Serve America. The 1993 Act also established the Office of Inspector General, which conducts independent and objective audits and investigations of Corporation programs and operations to prevent and deter waste, fraud and abuse. It also recommends policies to Corporation management to promote economy and efficiency.
RECOVERY ACT
Mission
On Feb. 13, 2009, Congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 at the urging of President Obama, who signed it into law four days later. A direct response to the economic crisis, the Recovery Act has three immediate goals:
- Create new jobs and save existing ones.
- Spur economic activity and invest in long-term growth.
- Foster unprecedented levels of accountability and transparency in government spending.
During March 2012, the Office of Inspector General continued its investigations of three Corporation grantees that received ARRA funds. We also continued to monitor the Corporation’s closeout of other ARRA grants.
[READ MORE]During February 2012, the Office of Inspector General continued its investigations of three Corporation grantees that received ARRA funds. We also continued to monitor the Corporation’s closeout of other ARRA grants.
[READ MORE]During January 2012, the Office of Inspector General continued its investigations of three Corporation grantees that received ARRA funds. We also continued to monitor the Corporation’s closeout of other ARRA grants.
[READ MORE]During December 2011, the Office of Inspector General continued to monitor the Corporation’s closeout of ARRA AmeriCorps and VISTA grants. It also pursued several investigations of ARRA grantees.
[READ MORE]During November 2011, the Office of Inspector General referred one ARRA-related investigation for alternative resolution while pursuing other cases. We also continued to monitor the Corporation’s closeout of ARRA AmeriCorps and VISTA grants.
[READ MORE]During October 2011, the Office of Inspector General issued an audit report on an ARRA grant made by the Corporation to fund VISTA members serving with the World Won Development Center’s Fitting Back In program. We also continued to monitor the Corporation’s closeout of other ARRA grants.
[READ MORE]During September 2011, the Office of Inspector General continued to work on several significant audits and investigations involving ARRA grantees. We also continued our review of Corporation information technology upgrades financed with ARRA funds and our monitoring of the Corporation’s closeout of ARRA AmeriCorps and VISTA grants.
[READ MORE]During August 2011, the Office of Inspector General recovered nearly $20,000 of misused Recovery Act grant funds as the result of an investigation. We also continued our comprehensive audit of the VISTA program.
[READ MORE]During June 2011, the Office of Inspector General Audit Section issued a report on budget formulation and execution for the Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) program, which has received significant ARRA funding. We also continued our review of Corporation information technology upgrades financed with ARRA funds.
[READ MORE]During May 2011, the Office of Inspector General continued its audit of a large-scale VISTA program financed with ARRA funds and its review of a Corporation contract for an information technology upgrade that was financed under ARRA.
[READ MORE]During April 2011, the Office of Inspector General was informed that the American Samoa Special Services Commission, which received ARRA funds, had been closed by Samoan authorities and that all Corporation grants had been terminated pending the results of our ongoing investigation. We also issued an audit report on the results of a series of financial systems reviews of higher-risk ARRA grantees.
[READ MORE]During March 2011, the Office of Inspector General initiated a review of an ARRA-financed Corporation upgrade of information technology systems. We also continued work on an audit report on the results of a series of financial systems reviews of higher-risk ARRA grantees and opened one investigation.
[READ MORE]During February 2011, the Office of Inspector General initiated one new audit of a grantee which received ARRA funds for its VISTA program. The OIG also continued work on an audit report on the results of a series of financial systems reviews of higher-risk ARRA grantees. It referred the results of one investigation for alternative resolution.
[READ MORE]During January 2011, the Office of Inspector General Audit Section completed a review that found serious problems in many aspects of the AmeriCorps program administered by the American Samoa Special Services Commission (ASSSC). It received $375,000 in ARRA funds to support local nonprofits with additional AmeriCorps member positions. The auditors questioned more than $121,000 of ASSSC’s claimed ARRA grant costs.
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