Office of Children and Family Services

CONNECTIONS System Equipment

The Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) administers New York State's child welfare programs. In 1995, the former Department of Social Services began developing an automated, integrated information system known as CONNECTIONS. In 1997, the Department of Social Services was abolished, and OCFS became responsible for CONNECTIONS. When the system is fully implemented, OCFS expects that CONNECTIONS will be a single system for recording and collecting child protective, preventive, foster care and adoption service information statewide, "connecting" all 58 local social services districts and voluntary organizations with OCFS. We reviewed the controls over CONNECTIONS equipment for the period of April 1, 1996 through September 30, 1999. This equipment consisted of desktop and laptop computers, file servers and printers. The objectives of this audit were to evaluate the internal controls over this equipment, determine the accuracy and reliability of CONNECTIONS equipment inventory records, and determine whether CONNECTIONS equipment that was purchased for selected City of New York locations could be accounted for. We found that some CONNECTIONS equipment cannot be accounted for. We also found that CONNECTIONS inventory records are not accurate and reliable, and that OCFS should strengthen internal controls over this equipment.

For a complete copy of Report 98-S-61 click here.
For a copy of the 90-day response click here.
For a copy of the associated follow-up report click here.