Preventing and identifying fraud
Fraud is wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain. Fraud includes false representation of facts, making false statements, and concealing information. This could include a provider receiving financial assistance for children who are not enrolled or an individual falsifying documents to receive benefits.
The Program Integrity and Oversight Division helps prevent and identify fraud by offering technical assistance to new providers, conducting statewide audits of grant recipients, and investigating rule violations.
Child care audits and investigations
- Early and Often Team. Child care center licensors and child care investigators work closely with applicants for child care center licenses and newly licensed providers, offering technical assistance to increase compliance and reduce errors.
- Child Care Assistance Program provider investigations. This unit investigates and takes appropriate action if child care providers violate rules or laws relating to the state's Child Care Assistance Program. Actions include administrative remedies to stop and recover payments, and referrals to law enforcement agencies.
- Child Care Grant Audits. Investigators conduct compliance checks and audits of licensed child care centers and those providers that receive grants. Statewide random audits and compliance checks are designed to ensure program integrity.
Recipient investigations
- Through the Fraud Prevention Investigation (FPI) program, DCYF works with counties to investigate recipient fraud. It administers annual grants that fund investigator positions covering 85 Minnesota counties. Tribes can now apply to be part of the FPI program.
