Changes have been made in the way grants are distributed to agencies that assist low-income Mississippi families. Bob Anderson, executive director of the Department of Human Services says to prevent fraud, the application review process for TANF grants is now more diverse and transparent. He says the committee that reviews requests for proposals are employees with DHS and other agencies. Anderson adds RFP's must score at least a 75 to be considered.
“We’re going to be committed to moving this agency towards excellence and I’m going to be living out that integrity each and every day and I welcome being held accountable in that regard,” Anderson said.
Anderson says a recent forensic audit found that while John Davis was executive director from 2016 to 2019, over $76 million in TANF grants were wrongfully spent. Davis is among a group of individuals now facing embezzlement charges over those funds. And Anderson wants to recoup that money, which was intended to provide services to needy Mississippi families.
“The agency has retained a former U.S. attorney. He is preparing to commence litigation. I’m also advised that the Department of Justice, both the civil division and the main justice and locally the U.S. attorney’s office here has an open investigation,” Anderson said.
Anderson has also asked lawmakers for an increase in his state budget from $68 to $80 million to restart an adolescent program and expand aging and adult services.
A fraud hotline set-up by the agency has recovered some $3 million dollars according to Anderson. He also says they are in the midst of determining how much it will cost to upgrade their antiquated computer system so they can request funding from the legislature.
To view more information about the Mississippi Department of Human Services forensic audit visit:
https://www.mdhs.ms.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Forensic-Audit-Informational-Plan-2021.pdf
