Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

Improved Fiscal and Quality Oversight Is Needed for the Independent Living Program

Report 07-11, February 2007




Report Summary

  • The Department of Children and Families needs to improve fiscal oversight of the Independent Living program to ensure that program resources are used as intended and in compliance with state and federal guidelines. For example, some Fiscal Year 2005-06 data indicates many lead agencies exceeded federal per-client spending limits; however, the department lacks the capability to determine whether this actually occurred. At the same time, some lead agencies did not spend all of the funds earmarked for the program, including federal funds. The department did not have accurate and timely information needed to detect that lead agencies were not spending program resources as intended, but has since made changes that should make this information more readily available.
  • The department lacks the information necessary to ensure lead agencies provide the statutorily mandated array of services to 13-17-year-olds. Department and lead agency oversight tools do not fully assess the services provided to this population and rarely assess the services provided to the 18 and older population. In addition, while the department has made some progress, it has not yet finished developing contractual standards and outcome measures for the Independent Living program as directed by the Legislature.


Related Reports
  1. DCF Has Improved Some Aspects of Independent Living Program Oversight; Other Long-Standing Problems Remain
    Report 10-30 March 2010
  2. Improvements in Independent Living Services Will Better Assist State's Struggling Youth
    Report 05-61 December 2005
  3. Child Welfare Transition Nearly Complete; Budget Allocation and Oversight Systems Need Strengthening
    Report 05-12 March 2005
  4. Independent Living Minimum Standards Recommended for Children in Foster Care
    Report 04-78 November 2004
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
social services, health, foster care, kids, independent living, foster care youth, foster care adult, life skill services, self-sufficiency, independence, pre-independent living, road to independence, aftercare, transition, independent living, community-based care, child care, children programs, young adult, child welfare