loading…
loading…
loading…
371 | P a g e FFY 2025–2027 CCDF State Plan
requirements and program integrity: The Lead Agency relies on training, checks and balances, and separation of duties to ensure program integrity. Examples of this are evident in the processes and the structure of the Lead Agency and the Child Care and Parent Services (CAPS) program. The CAPS program contains a stand-alone Quality Assurance and Training (QA&T) unit to conduct training on policy that includes information on program integrity. QA&T also conducts training on policy changes and on how policy is implemented. The scope and type of training is based on the needs of the staff members and is categorized into three main areas: 1) new hires, 2) existing staff, and 3) other divisions within the Lead Agency and other agencies. New hires to the CCDF program are trained on full policy and on how to use the various systems needed to operate the program. Existing staff are given policy and systems training based on their needs and on ongoing monitoring that determines areas that need improvement. Other divisions within the Lead Agency and other agencies are given policy and systems training based on their needs and roles. The QA&T unit also conducts weekly updates to address policy changes, policy clarifications, and best practices to help ensure program integrity. When changes to the CAPS program policies and procedures manual are made, CCDF program staff within the Lead Agency, other agencies and stakeholders are notified of all changes via email communications. Additionally, all policy changes are reflected in a comprehensive document that is available to staff members within the Lead Agency, other agencies and stakeholders, on the CAPS program website at: (https://caps.decal.ga.gov/en/). Further, to ensure program integrity, QA&T performs quality assurance reviews of eligibility determinations made by the staff. The QA&T unit does not determine eligibility but does ensure quality control of the quality assurance process. The quality assurance process includes reviewing eligibility determinations and training staff in areas that need improvement. The Lead Agency also assigns certain duties to other divisions that do not perform regular CCDF program administration. This differentiation of duties helps ensure program integrity in the CCDF program. ii. Describe how staff training is evaluated for effectiveness: The Lead Agency’s Child Care and Parent Services (CAPS) program staff conduct quality assurance reviews on eligibility determinations at initial eligibility, case changes, and redetermination. The quality assurance reviews are used to monitor and assess policy implementation on an ongoing basis and determine the effectiveness of training. The quality assurance reviews are completed by members of the CAPS program Quality Assurance and Training (QA&T) unit, management, and coordinators. Cases are selected from a random sample of initial eligibility, changes during the eligibility period, and redeterminations completed each month. Cases processed by newer staff are monitored more frequently than staff who have more experience processing eligibility. Additionally, the Lead Agency’s Audits and Compliance unit outside of the CAPS program conducts quarterly error-rate reviews on cases to ensure training effectiveness, provide feedback to staff, and improve reliability in determining eligibility according to policy. iii. Describe how the Lead Agency uses program integrity data (e.g., error rate results, risk assessment data) to inform ongoing staff training needs: The Lead Agency's Child Care and Parent Services (CAPS) program regularly assesses the risk of its