The foster care system suffered years of neglect during the Barry Years, Part I. Child advocates hoped the Kelly administration would do better, but instead, the federal courts seized control of the system. Prior to the takeover, according to a new report by D.C. Auditor Russell A. Smith, the Department of Human Services (DHS) “violated District procurement regulations.” The mismanagement is in the details: $1.5 million was paid to contractors for services performed outside the scope of their contracts; another $18.5 million was spent despite the complete lack of contracts or purchase orders. The city wasted $165,000 on care of people who were over 21 and therefore not eligible. Another $431,000 was frittered away because a lack of written payment policies and procurement procedures resulted in overpayments.