OVERVIEWOVERVIEW

• The Role of the IG

• Organization

• American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)

• What Are My Responsibilities

• Mandatory Reporting

• Whistle-Blower Act (Federal & State)

• Conflicts of Interest

• Contractual Requirements

The Role of the IG

• § 20.055, F.S. – IG Authority

• Promote accountability, integrity, and efficiency in Government

• Keep Agency Head informed concerning fraud, abuses, and deficiencies

• Ensure effective coordination between Auditor General, Federal Auditors, and other governmental bodies

OrganizationalChart

THE PEOPLE

GOVERNOR

ALL OTHER STATE AGENCIES(40)

DEPARTMENT OF CHILDRENAND FAMILIES SECRETARY

DEPUTY SECRETARY

ASSISTANT SECRETARYFOR ADMINISTRATION

ASSISTANT SECRETARYFOR OPERATIONS

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FORSUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH

ASSISTANT SECRETARYFOR PROGRAMS

INSPECTOR GENERAL

CHIEF INSPECTOR GENERAL

ORGANIZATIONInternal & Single Audit

Appeal Hearings

Investigations

NORTH

Tallahassee

CENTRAL

Orlando

SUNCOAST

Tampa

SOUTH

Ft. Lauderdale

Investigative Units

Responsible for initiating, conducting, organizing, and supervising

investigations free of impairment and independence of the organization.

American Recovery and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)Reinvestment Act (ARRA)

The Office of Domestic Violence, Office on Homelessness, and Automated Community Connection to Economic Self-Sufficiency (ACCESS) are programs within the Department that have been designated to receive funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), which was recently approved by the U.S. Congress and the President.

The Department’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) is tasked with providing oversight, preventing fraud, and conducting audits and/or investigations related to the application for, distribution of, and use of any and all recipients of ARRA Funds, to include the Department, its Contracted Providers, and Sub-Contractors.

• Enacted by Congress in 2009

• Provides Federal Stimulus Dollars in an effort to increase economic recovery

• Create Jobs

• Retain Jobs

WHAT IS ARRA?WHAT IS ARRA?

WHAT ARE MY RESPONSIBILITIES?

• Funds from the act require transparency and accountability.

• All funds must be tracked, accounted for, and reported on…separately from all other funds and cannot be co-mingled with any other funds.

• The Provider must track and report on the specific outcomes and benefits related to ARRA and must ensure the proper use of those funds.

MANDATORY REPORTING PROCEDURESMANDATORY REPORTING PROCEDURES

Children and Families Operating Procedures 180-4Children and Families Operating Procedures 180-4

Suspected or confirmed allegations must be reported to the Office Suspected or confirmed allegations must be reported to the Office of Inspector General within two (2) business days of discovery.of Inspector General within two (2) business days of discovery.

• Contract Fraud

• Conflict of Interest

• Misuse of Position or Property

• Improper Expenditure or Commitment of Public Funds

• Contract Mismanagement

• Violation of Law, Rule, or Procedure

• Inappropriate Employee Acts and/or Omissions that result in client injury, abuse, neglect, or death

Examples of Reportable Incidents

FEDERALWHISTLE-BLOWER ACT

Section 1533, Division A, Title XV ARRA Act of 2009

• State & Local Governments

• Contractors

• Sub-Contractors

• Grantees

• Professional Membership Organizations (acting in the interest of Recovery Fund recipients)

WHO IS PROTECTED?

Employees of Non-Federal Employers receiving ARRA Funds, which include

the following entities:

What Are Whistle-Blowers Protected From?

Being discharged, demoted, or otherwise discriminated

against as a reprisal for making a protected

disclosure.

What Must the Disclosure Include?

• Gross Mismanagement of an ARRA Grant or Contract

• Gross Waste of ARRA Funds

• A substantial and specific danger to public health or safety as related to the use of ARRA Funds

• An abuse of authority related to the use of ARRA Funds

• A violation of law, rule, or regulation related to an Agency ARRA Contract or Grant

The Disclosure Must Include Evidence of One of the Following:

UNDER FLORIDA STATUTE

112.3187-31895 WHO IS

PROTECTED?

• Current or Former State Employees

• Current or Former Employees of Contracted Agencies

• Applicants for State or Contracted Agency Employment

It is the intent of the Legislature to

prevent agencies or independent

contractors from taking retaliatory action against an

employee or independent

contractor who reports violations of law which creates a

substantial or specific danger to

the public’s health, safety, or welfare.

Employees should safeguard their ability to make objective, fair, and impartial decisions

by not accepting any gift, benefit, or privilege that might appear to influence or

reward a specific or future event.

Employees should avoid any conduct (whether in the context of business,

financial, or social relationships) that might undermine the public trust…whether that conduct is unethical or lends itself to the

appearance of ethical impropriety.

Employees shall not use, or

attempt to use their official position for

personal gain or confidential

information for personal

advantage.

Employees shall maintain high standards of

honesty, integrity, & impartiality.

Employees shall place the interests of the public ahead

of their own personal interests.

Contractual Requirements

• Direct contract management for all Substance Abuse and Mental Health contracts in the Central Office

Responsibilities

The Contract Manager is the designated employee that is

responsible for enforcing performance of the contract terms and conditions and to serve as a liaison with the

contractor.

Contract Managers are expected to collaborate with

program staff as content experts, to ensure the

program offices receive the desired outcomes for all

contracted services.

Invoice Review

Opportunity for the Contract Manager to

enhance communication and verify providers have

delivered services identified for payment in the invoice.

Oversight is considered part of the Contract

Manager’s responsibilities and is not a substitute for

Licensure, Audits, Monitoring, or Accreditations.

Allowable Costs

• ReasonableReasonable

• Conform to Limitations, Exclusions and Conform to Limitations, Exclusions and Governing Cost PrinciplesGoverning Cost Principles

• Be consistent with Policy & Procedures of Be consistent with Policy & Procedures of the organizationthe organization

• Not included as a cost or matching Not included as a cost or matching requirement in State-financed programsrequirement in State-financed programs

Unallowable Costs

• Alcoholic BeveragesAlcoholic Beverages

• ContributionsContributions

• DonationsDonations

• EntertainmentEntertainment

• Fines / PenaltiesFines / Penalties

• Lobbying ExpensesLobbying Expenses

• Losses on other contractsLosses on other contracts

• Public RelationsPublic Relations

• Travel in excess of StatutesTravel in excess of Statutes

Field Offices:Field Offices:

NORTH (Tallahassee)NORTH (Tallahassee) SUNCOAST (Tampa)SUNCOAST (Tampa)

(850) 488-1225 (813) 375-3922

CENTRAL (Orlando)CENTRAL (Orlando) SOUTH (Ft. SOUTH (Ft. Lauderdale)Lauderdale)

(407) 999-5393 (954) 713-3230

To file a complaint, please contact the Tallahassee office using one of the following methods:

Mail: 1317 Winewood Blvd.,Bldg. 5, 2nd FloorTallahassee, FL 32399-0700

Phone: (850) 488-1225

Fax: (850) 488-1428

E-mail: ig_complaints@dcf.state.fl.us

Inspector General Investigations

Completion Certificate

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ARRA Fraud Awareness Training(If the link above does not work, please right mouse click and select open hyperlink.)