Measuring Improper Payments in the Child Care Program: A Project of the ACF/Child Care Bureau

Presentation: Measuring Improper Payments in the Child Care Program

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Slide 1

Measuring Improper Payments in the Child Care Program:  A Pilot Project of the ACF/Child Care Bureau

Mary Jo Thomas
Team Leader
Intergovernmental Personnel Act Executive

Slide 2

Why have a pilot project?

• Improper Payment Information Act of 2002 (IPIA)
• Related OMB Guidance
• To discover methods that could help States, Territories and Tribes identify, measure, and prevent errors in the administration of child care funds

Slide 3

Pilot Project Objectives

• Determine a strategy for estimating improper payments in the Child Care program
• Produce recommendations for improved monitoring and administration regarding improper payments and fraud
• Provide better definitions of child care payment error and child care fraud
• Gather documented "best practices," plus other technical assistance materials, as well as promising data collection and reporting tools

Slide 4

Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Overview

• Block grant composed of three distinct funding elements (Mandatory, Discretionary, Matching)
• Provides maximum flexibility for States, Territories and Tribes
• Provides maximum choice for parents

Slide 5

Flexibility:  Policies vary widely from jurisdiction to jurisdiction

• Eligibility rules for parents
• Amount of co-pay
• Regulation of child care providers
• Waiting lists
• Payment mechanisms
• Locally OR state-administered
• Located in Education Agency OR Social Services Agency OR Workforce Development Agency

Slide 6

Gathering Perspectives:  Pilot Project States

FIELD SITES

• Arkansas
• Connecticut
• Indiana
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Virginia*

PARTNER STATES

• Georgia
• Maryland
• Oregon
• South Carolina
• Wisconsin

*A shorter site visit was held in Virginia

Slide 7

Pilot Project Activities

• Recruitment of Field Sites and other Partners
• Initial Meeting of All Partners in Washington DC
• Field Site Visits
• Regular Communication with Regional Offices and States
• Collaboration with Other Organizations (GAO, United Council on Welfare Fraud, American Public Human Services Association, HHS Office of the Inspector General)

Slide 8

Outcomes

• Final Report:  September 2004
• Options for Estimating Payment Errors in the Child Care Program
• Options for Improving Program Integrity