A state audit of New York’s Office of Children and Family Services found that over $200,000 in improper payments were made to parents who had adopted hard-to-place children. The payments were received by adoptive parents whose kids had either passed away or were too old to qualify for aid.

The Office of Children and Family Services doled out $180,783 in aid for 25 children who were listed as deceased, according to an audit conducted between January 2007 and January 2009. ...

The agency stopped the improper payments during the course of the audit and officials are now trying to recover the money.” [Source: Democrat and Chronicle]

Though $200,000 may not seem like much for a program that pays out over $490 million each year, it is money that could have been spent to help adopt more kids out of the foster care system. The Offices of Children and Family Services, in an attempt to prevent future mistakes, plans to begin partnering with the state Department of Health to match vital statics of children who are receiving aid.
 

Labels: adoptive parents, fraud

Posted By: Adoption Issues