Recent GAO reports

CHILD WELFARE: Improving Social Service Program, Training, and Technical Assistance Information Would Help Address Long-standing Service-Level and Workforce Challenges, GAO-07-75, October 6, 2006
     Highlights (pdf, 1p/80kB) Full report (pdf, 56pp/1.3MB)
     Most state agencies identified 3 primary challenges: providing adequate mental health and substance abuse services for both parents and children; high caseloads; and finding homes for children with special needs.

FOOD STAMP TRAFFICKING: FNS Could Enhance Program Integrity by Better Targeting Stores Likely to Traffic and Increasing Penalties, GAO-07-53, October 13, 2006
     Highlights (pdf, 1p/336kB) Full report (pdf, 41pp/2.8MB)
     The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) replaced paper coupons in the Food Stamp Program (FSP) with electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards, but retailer fraud continues.

HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SHORTAGE AREAS: Problems Remain with Primary Care Shortage Area Designation System, GAO-07-84, October 24, 2006
     Highlights (pdf, 1p/68kB) Full report (pdf, 66pp/1.75MB
     Federal programs use the health professional shortage area (HPSA) designation to allocate resources or provide benefits to geographic areas, population groups, and facilities.

Retirement Challenges in the 21st Century, GAO-07-125CG, October 10, 2006
     Slide-show presentation (pdf, 46pp/640kB) by David M. Walker, Comptroller General, at the annual International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP) conference, Las Vegas, Nevada.