DCL-03-21, Continuation of the Interstate Case Reconciliation Project

DEAR COLLEAGUE LETTER

DCL-03-21

ATTACHMENT: Partner Agreement
Interstate Case Reconciliation State Extract File Record Format

DATE: July 25, 2003

TO: ALL STATE IV-D DIRECTORS

RE: Continuation of the Interstate Case Reconciliation Project

Dear Colleague:

As another step of the Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement’s (OCSE) continuing efforts to improve interstate case processing, I have decided to proceed with scheduling and implementing a national Interstate Case Reconciliation (ICR) project. The goals of this project are to:

• Improve service to families with interstate cases,

• Improve electronic communication among states,

• Establish accurate state and national interstate case baselines, and

• Establish clear accountability for interstate case processing.

We expect to conduct the national ICR during the first quarter of 2004.

Distribution of this Dear Colleague Letter is the first in a number of activities in preparation for the national ICR. We will conduct a series of teleconference calls with regional and state child enforcement support staff in late July and early August of 2003 to discuss the ICR in more detail. Dates, times, access information and additional ICR documentation will be provided in a subsequent E-flash. The primary topics to be discussed in these teleconference calls are:

• How the ICR fits into the broader OCSE initiative to improve interstate case processing,

• The ICR extract file matching approach

• The ICR costs and benefits to states,

• The ICR roles and responsibilities for OCSE and participating states, and

• The ICR schedule.

As background on ICR roles and responsibilities and the ICR technical approach, I am providing you with the enclosed ICR Partner Agreement and ICR Record Specifications. Please review these documents at your convenience. The ICR teleconference calls will include time set aside to answer your questions concerning the information included in these documents.

I urge you to participate in this effort on behalf of our nation’s children. If you have any further questions concerning the ICR project, please feel free to contact Helen Smith at (202) 690-6639, or hsmith@acf.hhs.gov.

Sincerely,

Sherri Z. Heller, Ed.D.

Commissioner

Office of Child Support Enforcement

Enclosure

cc: Regional Program Managers

ACF Regional Administrators