Federal Reports

Pathways for Children, Inc. (Pathways), generally complied with Federal and State requirements by establishing systems of health and safety practices and management for ensuring the health and safety of children in its Head Start program. While we observed instances of noncompliance with select Federal and State health and safety requirements, we did not observe a systemic problem throughout Pathways. Pathways could improve its procedures to ensure children are kept safe at all times. Specifically, we found that Pathways did not always ensure its (1) buildings and physical premises complied with Federal Head Start safety practices and State licensing standards, (2) employees received background checks as frequently as required, and (3) children received lead screening at the appropriate age.

We audited the general controls over the Integrated Pool Management System (IPMS) as part of the internal control assessments required for the fiscal year 2018 financial statements audit under the Chief Financial Officer’s Act of 1990. Our objective was to evaluate and assess internal controls over the safeguarding of data, security, and continued operations in the event of unexpected interruptions. Specifically, we examined the general controls over IPMS.The OIG has determined that the contents of this audit report would not be appropriate for public disclosure and has therefore limited its distribution to those officials listed on the report distribution list.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General (OIG), assisted the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern and Western Districts of Washington in the civil investigation of Universal American Mortgage Company, LLC.  Our investigation was ongoing when a qui tam action was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.  Universal American has its principal place of business in Miami, FL.On October 16, 2018, Universal American entered into a settlement agreement with the Federal Government.  It agreed to pay $13.2 million to avoid the delay, uncertainty, inconvenience, and expense of lengthy litigation.  The Federal Government alleged that Universal American violated HUD requirements in its origination, underwriting, and quality control of certain mortgages between January 2006 and December 2011.  The settlement was neither an admission of liability or wrongdoing by Universal American nor a concession by the United States that its claims were not well founded.Of the $13.2 million settlement, HUD FHA received $6.07 million.  The remaining portion was paid to the relator and other Federal entities.