Performance Audit of AmeriCorps Grants Awarded to Serve DC
The performance audit of AmeriCorps grants awarded to Serve DC, the Mayor’s Office on Volunteerism and Partnership, and three of its 16 subgrantees (including the Jumpstart for Young Children, Center for Inspired Teaching, and Inspired Teaching Demonstration Public Charter School) identified approximately $1.7 million of questioned Federal and match costs covering three calendar years from 2017 through 2019. The Inspired Teaching Demonstration Public Charter School became the Center for Inspired Teaching and had no claimed costs.
AmeriCorps Disallowed Over $19,000 in Education Awards After Grantee Used Members to Displace Staff
The AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General (AmeriCorps OIG) investigated an allegation that thePerry County School District (PCSD) in New Augusta, Mississippi enrolled PCSD employees in itsGrow Your Own Teacher AmeriCorps program as full-time AmeriCorps members (members) andhad them perform the same duties as members that they performed as PCSD employees.
AmeriCorps Disallowed Over $100,000 in Unsupported and Questionable Expenses Charged by a Grantee
The AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General (AmeriCorps OIG) investigated allegations that City Year, Inc.’s Chicago office (CYC) made unallowable charges on its procurement cards. AmeriCorps OIG reviewed CYC’s procurement card expenses and identified nearly $114,000 in questionable and unsupported expenses charged to AmeriCorps funds between 2014 and 2019.
AmeriCorps OIG Found a Grantee Maintained Inadequate Financial Records and Had Inadequate Program Oversight
The AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General (AmeriCorps OIG) investigated allegations of fraud, waste, and mismanagement at the Harrison County Council on Aging’s (HCCA) Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) in Bethany, MO. HCCA was unable to produce financial records related to its RSVP program upon request. Information obtained during interviews indicated that HCCA did not provide adequate oversight of its RSVP program.
AmeriCorps Declined to Disallow Costs After a Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Grantee Dissolved
The AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General (AmeriCorps OIG) investigated allegations ofnoncompliance with grant terms and conditions stemming from the AmeriCorps Office ofMonitoring’s (OM) review of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program – Volunteers in Service(RSVP-VIS)
AmeriCorps NCCC Updated Policies and Procedures Regarding Sexual Assault Allegations
The AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General (AmeriCorps OIG) received an allegation that a former Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Corps member with the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) was sexually assaulted while on deployment. It was further alleged that NCCC failed to investigate the allegation or report the allegation to law enforcement, failed to take disciplinary action against the alleged assailant, and removed the member from the NCCC program.
AmeriCorps Disallowed Education Award Costs of Over $90,000 Due to Inadequate Compelling Personal Circumstance Documentation
The AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General (AmeriCorps OIG) investigated an allegation that Teach for America (TFA) improperly exited an AmeriCorps member (member) for Compelling Personal Circumstances (CPCs) who allegedly provided a fictitious reason for a CPC exit in order to participate in a teacher strike and still earn her education award.
AmeriCorps VISTA Site Violated Program Requirements by Employing a VISTA Member
The AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General (AmeriCorps OIG) investigated allegations that AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) members were paid as employees of the Mississippi Center for Re-Entry (MSCRE) while simultaneously receiving an AmeriCorps living allowance for service at the organization, and that MSCRE’s founder instructed VISTA members to not disclose their employment relationship to AmeriCorps.