Report 2014-118 Recommendation 7 Responses
Report 2014-118: California Department of Developmental Services: Its Process for Assessing Fees Paid by Parents of Children Living in Residential Facilities Is Woefully Inefficient and Inconsistent (Release Date: January 2015)
Recommendation #7 To: Developmental Services, Department of
Developmental Services should review its appeals process to ensure that it follows appeal-related timelines and follows a consistent process for accepting requests for appeals. As part of this effort, Developmental Services should add a date field to the appeals log for when parents are notified of the outcome of their appeal and should ensure that existing data fields contain accurate information.
6-Month Agency Response
The program is continuing its compliance efforts outlined in the Department's 60 day update to ensure timeliness of appeals filed by parents, and the maintenance of the program's appeal log. Monthly statistics of appeals are a component of program's monthly update report to be provided to the Section Chief, Branch Manager and Deputy Director beginning in August 2015.
- Estimated Completion Date: 08/31/2015
- Response Date: July 2015
California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Fully Implemented
Although Developmental Services marked this recommendation as Not Fully Implemented, it updated its appeal log to include a date field for when parents are notified of the outcome of their appeal. In addition, it provided the monthly update report that is reviewed by management. Therefore, we have assessed this recommendation as Fully Implemented.
60-Day Agency Response
60-Day Report Response: The Department has reviewed with staff the appeals-related timelines to ensure compliance with mandated requirements. The appeal log has been updated to include the date of notice to the parent(s). The CFS Program Manager now performs regular reviews of the appeal log to ensure necessary information is captured accurately and timely. The CFS Program Manager has drafted a monthly report format for reporting to the Branch Manager and the Deputy Director of Administration on the status of new and pending appeals to ensure timeliness of processing appeals is improved.
- Estimated Completion Date: 07/31/2015
- Response Date: March 2015
California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending
All Recommendations in 2014-118
Agency responses received are posted verbatim.