Our commitment to accountability and transparency is fundamental to the work we do at the Department of Community & Human Services (DCHS). Last week, the King County Auditor’s Office released a report that showed during a period of rapid growth, DCHS’s internal controls and compliance standards didn’t keep up with the demand for our services.  

We take the auditor’s recommendations extremely seriously. We owe it to the people of King County to be strong financial stewards. We’re now working to implement the audit’s recommendations so we can bolster our internal systems and give staff the tools they need to do their jobs effectively. 

It’s important the people of King County know the full scope of the audit, what it showed, and what we’re doing to address these issues.  

Key facts on what the audit found: 

  • The report showed we need to strengthen department-wide compliance practices, and that staffing levels did not keep pace with the rapid growth we experienced during and after the pandemic. 
  • The report looked at $24 million and found up to $1 million in potential improper payments. The auditor referred these payments to DCHS to further investigate.  
  • Of the $1 million, the audit identified approximately $2,000 as potential fraud. We take this very seriously and will provide updates once the investigation is complete.  

DCHS’s Next Steps 

We owe it to the people of King County to get this right and we’re committed to strengthening policies and procedures for managing payments. Efforts are already underway, and we’ll provide regular updates as we work with the auditor to complete recommendations.  

Contract Compliance Monitoring Update 

Last month we adopted a new Contract Compliance Monitoring Policy that strengthens oversight, supports coordination among program and fiscal compliance staff, and ensures proper documentation and reporting.  

In the coming months you can expect us to put in place even stronger internal controls and make sure both staff and providers have what they need to succeed. Importantly, we’ll build capacity through trainings and other supports, and increase staff in compliance, contracting and finance.  

We firmly believe that being a responsible financial steward depends on us building systems that are equitable to achieve the results communities need. By giving staff and provider organizations big and small the support to make good on our promises, we can do right by the taxpayers and the communities we serve. 

Reporting Results   

Last year DCHS reached nearly half a million King County residents with services including affordable housing, behavioral health treatment, child care, education and employment opportunities for youth and young adults, support for veterans, and resources for people with developmental disabilities. Find out more about the work we do here. 

DCHS publishes Annual Reports that track progress on key programs and initiatives. Learn more by visiting our webpage.