CT non-profit reaches settlement after falsely enrolling kids of ex-employees into Head Start program

A Connecticut non-profit has entered into a civil agreement to settle allegations that it enrolled children of former employees who falsely claimed to be homeless into its Head Start programs.The government alleges that, between Sept. 4, 2013 through Aug. 31, 2016, the Connecticut Institute For Communities, Inc., enrolled the children of two now-former CIFC employees, who were falsely documented as homeless and for which false supporting documents were created, into its Head Start programs, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.The CIFC employees — including the now-former manager of eligibility, recruitment, selection, enrollment, and attendance for CIFC’s Head Start programs —were not homeless, officials said.To resolve its liability, CIFC has paid $85,600. According to officials, CIFC received credit in the settlement for cooperating with the government during the investigation.CIFC is “a Danbury-based non-profit corporation that receives federal grants to operate Head Start programs in several locations in Connecticut,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.The Head Start program, which is intended primarily for homeless children and children from low-income families, supports children’s growth from birth to 5 years old through services “centered around early learning and development, health, and family well-being” in center-based, home-based, or family child care settings, according to officials.Head Start does permit programs to enroll children whose families do not qualify, but the total number of children from those families cannot exceed 10 percent of all program slots. “Grantees, such as CIFC, are required to verify applicants’ program eligibility and to keep paper records of those eligibility determinations,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.The False Claims Act allegations were originally brought in a lawsuit filed by two whistleblowers under provisions of the False Claims Act, “which allow private parties to bring suit on behalf of the government and to share in any recovery,” the according to the U.S Attorney’s Office.The whistleblowers, who were former employees of CIFC, will receive $18,832 as their share of the settlement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Originally Published: July 19, 2024 at 6:00 a.m.

Buy cryptocurrency

Source link

Refer And Earn Demat Account – Get ₹300 | Referral Program

Open Demat Account In Angel One For FREE