By Ruth Brown, Idaho Reports 

In a Thursday meeting of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, legislators heard a report on uncorrected audit findings at state agencies, but also received a written commitment from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.  

Legislative Services Office audits division manager April Renfro presented her final report Thursday on all uncorrected audit findings for 2023. Some of the audits included findings at various state agencies and corrective action plans. Legislators focused on the Department of Health and Welfare after the agency saw a critical audit in August that was reported to the Attorney General’s Office for investigation. 

After an August special accountability audit by Legislative Services Audits Division found alleged flaws in grant distribution, the interim director for IDHW Dean Cameron wrote to JFAC members, saying “The Department takes very seriously the role of the legislature and the role of the Joint Finance Appropriations Committee (JFAC) and remains committed to following all intent language, legislative guidance, and statute to both the letter and the spirit of the law.” 

The audit in August revolved around the Community Partner Grant Program. It used federal American Rescue Plan Act funds for after-school programming for children ages 5-13 to address learning loss and behavioral health impacts from the pandemic. Auditors claimed some of the funding went to programs with children younger than age 5, and some of the recipients received more than the maximum amount allowed. 

At the time, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare under director Dave Jeppesen disagreed with the audit’s findings and did not supply a corrective action plan. In a letter dated Jan. 9, 2024, Cameron said IDHW is in the process of making three changes. The Department will develop grant administration training, which all employees who manage grants must complete. 

Cameron wrote that IDHW also “will review and update its employee conflicts of interest policy, including specifying that employees with close personal affiliations to grant applicants must abstain from participating in the review and award process for those applicants.” 

He also vowed the department will develop and update record retention policies, helping ensure documents are centrally retained.  

The letter did not acknowledge any wrongdoing regarding past grant distribution, only plans for future distribution.  

“The Department is committed to responsibly using taxpayer funds, with appropriate oversight, while administering the critical services needed to Idahoans as directed by the legislature,” Cameron wrote. 

Cameron is also the director of the Department of Insurance, as well as a former state senator and member of JFAC. He was appointed as interim director of IDHW when former Director Jeppesen retired at the end of 2023.  

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