Audit Finds Missouri’s Caring Communities Falling Short

An audit of Missouri’s Caring Communities Program, set up in 1993 to improve delivery of social services, finds the program is falling short of its goals. State Auditor Claire McCaskill’s report concludes results-based planning had not been sufficiently implemented, a lack of data impeded reporting and planning, a statewide evaluation program has been of little use, and there are questionable administrative practices. The program involves partnerships with neighborhood, local businesses, and state agency representatives and now includes 21 community partnerships statewide with a budget of $24.8-million for the 2001 fiscal year.