Inspector General Faulkner Names Shelley Lawrence as OIG's Special Assistant to DPW

HARRISBURG, Pa., July 6, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania Inspector General Kenya Mann Faulkner today announced the appointment of a new staff liaison to strengthen state government's unified efforts to stop and prevent welfare fraud.

Faulkner named Shelley L. Lawrence as a special assistant to work directly with the Department of Public Welfare. Lawrence, who has over 28 years of experience in the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) and the Office of Inspector General (OIG), most recently has served as the OIG's director of the Bureau of Fraud Prevention and Prosecution, which oversees the agency's welfare fraud prevention and prosecution programs. 

"As a seasoned veteran of both agencies, Shelley Lawrence has the experience and expertise needed to help us step up the war on fraud," Faulkner said. "We have an obligation to ensure that scarce public resources are reserved only for those who are eligible to receive them, and make certain that those who try to scam the system are caught and made to pay for their crime."

One of the OIG's primary missions is to combat fraud in DPW's public benefit programs. Through the OIG's welfare fraud detection, prevention, prosecution, and overpayment collection activities, the office has a unique perspective on measures which DPW can employ to reduce future abuses within benefit programs.

In her new position, Lawrence will work to enhance communication between the two agencies to strengthen welfare fraud detection, prevention, prosecution, and overpayment collection activities. Lawrence will also work to identify, develop, and oversee programmatic changes, including computer system improvements.  

For more information about Pennsylvania's Office of Inspector General, visit www.oig.state.pa.us.

Media contact: Amy L. Butler, 717-787-6835

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of Inspector General