Reports: Investigations

A hotline complaint alleged that the director of an AmeriCorps program in Iowa misappropriated program funds to purchase groceries for her personal use.

A former AmeriCorps member submitted fraudulent claims for childcare benefits after ending her service. The United States Attorney’s Office declined criminal prosecution, and CNCS recouped $1,047 from the former member.

A disappointed job competitor alleged that an individual selected for a senior (SES-equivalent) position overstated her qualifications and embellished her prior work experience and responsibilities, and that the hiring official (also SES-equivalent) failed to verify her prior employment. The complainant also alleged that the same official promoted another CNCS employee without competition.

Between 2013 and 2015, the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), Bethesda, MD, allowed a few AmeriCorps members to provide emotional support (doula care) to women during abortion procedures at three New York City clinics operated by the Institute for Family Health (IFH), a subgrantee. Investigators discovered that NACHC had disregarded the direction of CNCS’s General Counsel in 2010 to include in its training materials and member agreements the abortion prohibition precisely as stated in the Serve America Act.

A hotline complainant alleged that a Florida Senior Corps grantee (1) inaccurately allocated staff time between the Senior Companion Program (SCP), Foster Grandparent Program (FGP), and Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) grants; and (2) improperly used of Senior Corps volunteers (volunteers) assigned to SCP, resulting in inaccurate charges to the Senior Corps grants and noncompliance with program requirements.

A former AmeriCorps member contacted the hotline alleging that CNCS Management and grantee personnel failed to follow proper grievance procedures when they improperly terminated the member.

An anonymous hotline complainant alleged AmeriCorps members were not paid their stipends due to timesheets their supervisor lost. The complainant also alleged the program was mismanaged and members were treated poorly by their supervisors.

A hotline complainant alleged that AmeriCorps members assigned to a California grantee performed services outside the scope of the veterans and military families grant.

CNCS-OIG investigators determined that District of Columbia Commission officials misused Federal program funds when they purchased T-shirts for events held by the Mayor's Office. As a result of the investigation and CNCS program and grant officials' review, management recovered $45,455.29 in disallowed and misspent funds.

An investigation was initiated based on information received by CNCS management that a Foster Grandparent Program volunteer was arrested by the Laramie County Sheriff's Office for allegedly touching a child inappropriately.