2021-120 Audit Scope and Objectives
Department of Developmental Services—In-Home Respite Program
The audit by the California State Auditor will provide independently developed and verified information related to the delivery of the in-home respite program overseen by the Department of Developmental Services. The audit's scope will include, but not be limited to, the following activities:
- Review and evaluate the laws, rules, and regulations significant to the audit objectives.
- Select two regional centers each with at least 25,000 consumers and two regional centers each with approximately 1,000 consumers who receive participant-directed respite services and do the following:
- Determine whether the regional centers comply with the laws, rules, and regulations that govern service authorization for in-home respite services.
- Determine whether regional centers apply monthly or quarterly limits on in-home respite service authorization.
- Determine whether there are barriers to consumers' use of authorized in-home respite services.
- Determine whether there is a disparity among regional centers in service authorization and usage based on consumers' race, ethnicity, primary language spoken, age, diagnosis, residence type, and service delivery mode.
- To the extent applicable and possible, identify the reasons for the low utilization rate of the FMS service delivery model.
- Evaluate the benefits of the FMS model and provide recommendations to improve the delivery of in-home respite services.
- Review and assess any other issues that are significant to the audit.
California State Auditor's Office
06/30/21