Butler County commissioners will hire a Pittsburgh firm to audit Children and Youth Services nearly three weeks after a Penn Township woman was charged with fraudulently keeping more than $39,000 in foster care payments.

Grossman Yanak & Ford will be paid an amount to not exceed $11,900 to perform the work.

County Controller Jack McMillin said in an interview the firm will do more than review all foster care cases to ensure there are no other discrepancies.

"They'll make recommendations to prevent it from happening again," he said.

CYS had 32 children in foster care in September.

The foster couple had two children in foster care from January to March 2004.

Despite a March 2004 Butler County court order returning the children to their biological mother, CYS continued to pay the couple through this June.

County officials will not disclose how the error was uncovered five year later.