Maine Office for Family Independence TA Request: TANF Work Participation and Data Management Site Exchange

Record Description
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office for Family Independence (OFI) and the New Hampshire Division of Family Assistance convened a peer-to-peer site exchange funded by the Welfare Peer TA Network in Concord, New Hampshire to (1) provide cross-site networking between the two States; (2) foster dialogue on strategies for improving work participation among TANF participants; (3) discuss strategies for data collection methodologies that improve the calculation of work participation rates; and (4) share dialogue on strategies for integrating education and training opportunities into TANF programming. The site visit included discussions with program, data, and administration staff and a series of site visits to the New Heights Data Management Center and the Combined Services/Community Action Program. During this peer-to-peer exchange, Maine learned about the collection, analysis, and reporting methodologies New Hampshire uses to achieve its work participation rate and to improve the overall data-driven philosophy of their local TANF program.
Record Type
Posting Date
Combined Date
2012-06-12T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2012-06-13
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Attachment Size
Site Visit Summary 245.82 KB
Question / Response(s)

Question from Nevada Division of Welfare & Supportive Services

Question Text

A representative from the Nevada Division of Welfare & Supportive Services is seeking information about document management systems in other States that satisfy all of their outgoing program correspondence needs and meets the following minimum criteria:

  • SOFTWARE CRITERIA: The software must run on AIX or Windows servers and must provide API's that can be called in Java or EGL code. We need one solution that will work for mainframe and server applications. The software must be able to convert all our existing Adobe forms. The software must include support for IBM mainframe printers (see attached example). The marks in the margin are required for mainframe printing to indicate how many pages must be grouped and stuffed into a single envelope. The software should include SOA support so that it can be called as a service. The software must support PDF files. The software must support the use of all special characters, so Spanish forms can be developed.
  • SYSTEM CRITERIA: The system must allow for forms to be modified without requiring each form be initiated manually (i.e. the form should be generated automatically unless the user chooses to review and/or modify the form first). The system must make the form instantly available for review and/or modification. The system must allow for selection of either a Spanish or English version of a form on demand

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Date
September 2012
Source
OFA Peer TA
Agency/Organization
Nevada Division of Welfare & Supportive Services
State
Nevada
Topics/Subtopics
TANF Program Administration
Data Systems
TANF Regulatory Codes
Question / Response(s)

Question from New York Human Resources Administration

Question Text

A representative from the New York Human Resources Administration would like to know if anyone recommends an assessment tool to measure the employment-related motivation level of cash assistance for clients? New York is looking for a tool that will allow them to compare motivational levels among different groups of clients to determine whether a particular intervention is successful in increasing clients motivation to find and maintain employment.

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Date
October 2011
Source
OFA Peer TA
Agency/Organization
Human Resources Administration
State
New York
Topics/Subtopics
Employment
Employment Retention
Job Search
TANF Program Administration
Data Systems
TANF Regulatory Codes
Question / Response(s)

Question from Iowa Department of Human Services

Question Text

A representative from the Iowa Department of Human Services would like to hear from States that use data systems that automatically search other systems and import relevant data into one location to determine program eligibility and enrollment. Currently, Iowa's eligibility staff have to manually search a variety of data systems in order to find information used to establish eligibility for applicants and enrollees (e.g. UIB, wage data, social security benefits, VA benefits, etc.). Other terms used for this type of functionality may be 'data mining' or 'data brokering'.

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Date
February 2009
Source
OFA Peer TA
Agency/Organization
Iowa Dept of Human Services
State
Iowa
Topics/Subtopics
TANF Program Administration
Data Systems
TANF Regulatory Codes
Question / Response(s)

Question from Oregon Department of Human Services

Question Text

A representative from the Oregon Department of Human Services would like to know if States use client swipe card systems to track and record attending for TANF clients participating in employment, training, and other self-sufficiency activities? If no, why not? If yes:

  • How does the system and process works?
  • For what other purposes is the card being used (electronic benefit transfer for program benefits)?
  • How long has the system has been in place?
  • Was it developed in-house or by a vendor?
  • How was the system developed, implemented, and what was the timeline?
  • What are the benefits of the system (cost savings, reduced errors, workload impact, client and partner convenience)?
  • Were there implementation challenges and/or lessons learned?
  • Have there been any changes made since implementation
  • Are there any quality control procedures to check data?

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Date
December 2008
Source
OFA Peer TA
Agency/Organization
Department of Human Services
State
Oregon
Topics/Subtopics
TANF Program Administration
Case Management
Data Systems
TANF Regulatory Codes
Question / Response(s)

Question from PeerTA

Question Text

The Peer TA Network would like to learn about the technological characteristics of the technology or data system(s) that organizations use? Are tools web-based, and can they be accessed from any PC? Are they tied to any other data systems? If so, which ones? What are the job titles or job functions of the people within your organization who use it?

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Date
May 2008
Source
OFA Peer TA
Agency/Organization
ICFI
State
Virginia
Topics/Subtopics
TANF Program Administration
Data Systems
TANF Regulatory Codes
Question / Response(s)

Question from Peer TA

Question Text

The Peer TA Network would like to learn what what technology or data system(s) organizations use to measure program performance based on key program indicators (e.g., work participation, caseload dynamics)? If an organization does not use technology, how is program performance measured?

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Date
May 2008
Source
OFA Peer TA
Agency/Organization
ICFI
State
Virginia
Topics/Subtopics
TANF Program Administration
Data Systems
Performance Outcome Measures
TANF Regulatory Codes
Question / Response(s)

Question from District of Columbia Department of Human Services

Question Text

A representative from the District of Columbia Department of Human Services would like to know if any States have a database that centralizes all client information related to participation (i.e. time and attendance, case notes, etc), and is willing to share the solicitation used to acquire the system?

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Date
October 2006
Source
OFA Peer TA
Agency/Organization
Department of Human Services
State
District of Columbia
Topics/Subtopics
TANF Program Administration
Data Systems
TANF Regulatory Codes
Question / Response(s)

Question from Rhode Island

Question Text

In their efforts to improve continuous engagement for TANF participants, a Rhode Island subcommittee of its Welfare Reform Information Task Force is asking if any state has devised a system of notification via computer between case manager(s) and vendors who provide services for TANF clients. Although the state already has a well developed paper notification system between itself and its vendors, it would like to automate notifications and make a 'paperless' system. The state would like to know if any states have developed a way to communicate the individuals' employability plan on the computer as a WORD document to its contractors, receiving the plan back as items are completed or not and/or outlining progress in specific activities. A best case scenario would be a family plan available in 'real time.' Such a plan would be accessible to vendors who could place notes or comments in the plan on the screen or even track attendance. This screen might be available in various forms to all involved in the plan, including the client. The state could then use this document on the screen to plot the client's progress, pay vendors timely and provide for plan changes while keeping abreast of client's activities - even daily, as needed.

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Date
August 2003
Source
OFA Peer TA
Agency/Organization
Rhode Island
Topics/Subtopics
TANF Program Administration
Data Systems
TANF Regulatory Codes
Question / Response(s)

Question from Rhode Island

Question Text

Rhode Island is asking if any state has devised a system of notification via computer between case manager(s) and vendors who provide services for TANF clients. Although the state already has a well developed paper notification system between itself and its vendors, it would like to automate notifications and make a 'paperless' system. The state would like to know if any states have developed a way to communicate the individuals' employability plan on the computer as a WORD document to its contractors, receiving the plan back as items are completed or not and/or outlining progress in specific activities. A best case scenario would be a family plan available in 'real time.' Such a plan would be accessible to vendors who could place notes or comments in the plan on the screen or even track attendance. This screen might be available in various forms to all involved in the plan, including the client. The state could then use this document on the screen to plot the client's progress, pay vendors timely and provide for plan changes while keeping abreast of client's activities - even daily, as needed.

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Date
August 2003
Source
OFA Peer TA
Agency/Organization
Rhode Island
Topics/Subtopics
TANF Program Administration
Data Systems
TANF Regulatory Codes