DUTCHESS COUNTY COMPTROLLER ROBIN LOIS ISSUES AUDIT REPORT ON CENTER FOR PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE
Poughkeepsie, NY – Dutchess County Comptroller Robin Lois today issued an Audit Report on Child Abuse Prevention Center, Inc., a Poughkeepsie-based contract agency of the County, focusing on the period of 2017 through 2020. Also known as the Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse (CPCA), the agency’s mission is to “prevent child abuse in the Mid-Hudson Valley,” and has been contracted by Dutchess County to provide supportive parenting, teen parenting, personal safety programs as well as administer the Child Advocacy Center in support of child victims of sex abuse or extreme physical abuse.
The audit was initiated by the Comptroller’s Office after observing that the agency’s funding from the County decreased by 49% between 2017 and 2020. “These services are incredibly important in our community and necessary to provide the education, comfort, and resources available to victims and their families during crisis,” said Dutchess County Comptroller Robin Lois. “I hope this audit provides helpful tools to the agency achieving success.”
The audit found that 100% of the contracts between the agency and the county were not executed timely. “Our office has identified the un-timely execution of contracts in prior audit reports,” stated Comptroller Lois. “We strongly recommend the Dutchess County Attorney’s Office and administration work to determine how to timely execute contracts to mitigate risks and ensure timely payment for services rendered to vendors and agencies providing vital services to our community.”
“Delayed contract execution not only results in a legal risk to the County but poses a significant financial hardship on agencies that provide these essential services to the residents of Dutchess County. The issue of untimely contract execution has been raised by our office over the past few years as a systemic problem across all County departments that needs to be addressed,” added Comptroller Lois.
Other findings detailed in this report include deficiencies in internal controls, lack of Board of Directors function & oversight, deficient program delivery, and untimely banking & financial recording keeping. Many recommendations were made including: updating polices & procedures; proper segregation of duties; increased Board oversight; stronger program monitoring and management; strengthening of financial recordkeeping; training; and timeliness.
A full copy of the audit report and its findings can be found by clicking here
