Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance

This is a state audit of federal stimulus money given to the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance and the Victim Witness Assistance Board.

“In accordance with Chapter 11, Section 12, of the Massachusetts General Laws, we have conducted an audit of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds received and expended at the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance (MOVA)/Victim Witness Assistance Board for the period April 24, 2009 to December 31, 2010.”

Auditors checked whether MOVA had good systems for tracking its programs and whether it followed the rules tied to the money.

“The objectives of our audit were to assess the adequacy of MOVA's management control system for measuring, reporting, and monitoring the effectiveness of its programs and to evaluate compliance with laws, rules, and regulations applicable to each program.”

The report matters because this was public stimulus money meant to support services for victims, and the audit checked whether the money was controlled, documented, and monitored.

“Internal controls developed to ensure that federal stimulus funds are safeguarded against loss, theft, and misuse.”

For residents, the money helped pay for counselors and advocates serving victims of domestic abuse, trauma survivors, and families and victims needing support.

“The awards to the five subrecipients were for the purpose of hiring or retaining counselors for victims of domestic abuse, survivors of trauma, and advocates for families and victims.”

The auditor concluded that MOVA had adequate controls and complied with the relevant laws and rules in the areas tested.

“Based on our review, we have concluded that, during the approximate 20-month period ended December 31, 2010, MOVA maintained adequate management controls and complied with applicable laws, rules, and regulations for the areas tested.”

The remaining federal stimulus funds were expected to be awarded in fiscal year 2012.

“MOVA’s remaining $420,567 will be awarded in fiscal year 2012.”

MOVA received $930,000 in federal stimulus money during the audit period, had awarded just over half of it by December 31, 2010, and the funded work was tied to about five jobs created or retained.

“During the audit period, MOVA was awarded federal stimulus funds totaling $930,000.”

ARRA means the federal stimulus law, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. In this report, it refers to the stimulus funds MOVA received and spent.

“In accordance with Chapter 11, Section 12, of the Massachusetts General Laws, we have conducted an audit of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds received and expended at the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance (MOVA)/Victim Witness Assistance Board for the period April 24, 2009 to December 31, 2010.”