About QUICK

Background

In 2002, the Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) initiated the Interstate Workgroup, composed of representatives from OCSE and eleven States. The workgroup analyzed interstate communications and recommended improvements in the area of sharing information on financial, order, and case activities. The workgroup identified the need to access financial data on interstate cases as a high priority for workers. As a result, OCSE initiated the Query Interstate Cases for Kids (QUICK) pilot project, which ended September 15, 2006. This innovative application has now become a national program.

What is QUICK?

QUICK is a tool to improve the quality and timeliness of customer service responses. QUICK is a browser-based application that allows an authorized user to view case data from another State in real time. The Financial module presents financial and basic case data. The Case Activities module provides information on business actions taken by the other State, including NCP Locate, paternity, order establishment, and enforcement activities, as well as case status and contact information for the worker in the other State.

QUICK Purpose

• Facilitates timely data sharing through real-time access to another State's data
• Provides States with a standard and secure user interface
• Uses standardized data elements to share information
• Presents data in a format with a similar "look and feel"

QUICK Benefits to States

• Allows access to information in real time without involving a worker in the other State
• Provides some information not available through other electronic means
• Provides improved consistency of data definitions
• Expedites case processing by providing data when the worker needs it
• Saves time and money on the cost of paper, copying, faxing, telephone calls, and postage
• Improves the quality and timeliness of customer service responses

What Can Caseworkers Expect?

Throughout the day, workers touch many cases that may need information for a next step. In addition, custodial parties and noncustodial parents are asking questions about their cases, such as "Has my support order been established?" or "Has the paternity test been completed?" Now caseworkers will have the ability to obtain that information - in 3 to 10 seconds - almost instantaneously!

Because information is immediately available, QUICK saves time, and cases can be worked faster to increase payments to children and decrease arrears.

Becoming a QUICK Participant

To participate in QUICK, and gain the ability to view data from other participating States, a State must agree to make data from its CSE system available to those States as well. For States considering developing the Case Activities module, OCSE requests that the Financial module be developed first or that the two modules be developed simultaneously.

Note: QUICK entails single-case, State-to-State communications and is not intended to replace batch processing.

For information regarding QUICK, contact your QUICK representative. You can also call 1-800-258-2736, or e-mail CSENet.2000@lmco.com.

Additional information and resource materials are available on the QUICK Workplace. Your QUICK technical representative can provide you with the workplace logon information.

Award Winner

The Query Interstate Cases for Kids (QUICK) team of the Office of Child Support Enforcement was selected to receive the OCSE Commissioner's award for Innovative Technology during the 17th National Child Support Enforcement Training Conference Awards Luncheon in September 2007.