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374 | P a g e FFY 2025–2027 CCDF State Plan
activities, and how they inform better practice: Lead Agency’s Audits and Compliance team developed a risk assessment tool that incorporates data from other programs, including the Child and Adult Care Food Program, Georgia’s Pre-K Program, the state Child Care Licensing program, and the Department of Labor wage file. These data-matching activities have resulted in the Lead Agency being able to better identify providers who are at higher risk for committing intentional program violations and discovering violations such as billing for children who are not in attendance. This practice improves our audit selection because we are better able to target our audit resources to these providers. ii. [x] Unintentional program violations. Describe the activities, the results of these activities, and how they inform better practice: The Lead Agency’s Audits and Compliance team developed a risk assessment tool that incorporates data from other programs, including the Child and Adult Care Food Program, Georgia’s Pre-K Program, the state Child Care Licensing program, and the Department of Labor wage file. These data-matching activities have resulted in the Lead Agency being able to better identify providers who are at higher risk for committing unintentional program violations and discovering violations such as improper record practices. In November 2023, the Lead Agency created a new functional area, Child Care and Parent Services (CAPS) Provider Relations, composed of four teams, one of them the Quality Assurance and Payments (QA&P) team. This team is responsible for proactive reviews of provider payments to detect and correct errors in billing before payment. This review reduces overpayments to providers and later recoupment of funds. Errors in provider billing are shared with the CAPS Provider Relations Education and Outreach team to perform the following: 1) Target areas of training on provider billing practices; and 2) Recommend specific providers for technical assistance visits. Multiple analytics that flag potential payment errors are built into the payment system. These flags are reviewed by the QA&P consultants and released if there is no payment error. If a payment error is detected, the payment is corrected and issued to the provider. Analytics that indicate possible errors made by eligibility staff when issuing certificates are shared with the applicable teams to complete the following: 1) Training with eligibility staff on policy compliance; and 2) System requirements needed to prevent unintentional errors in issuing benefits. iii. [x] Agency errors. Describe the activities, the results of these activities, and how they inform better practice:: The Lead Agency's Child Care and Parent Services (CAPS) program conducts data analysis that results in the identification of agency errors and training opportunities. For example, data analysis is regularly conducted to ensure that staff enter accurate information on cases and scholarships. When errors are identified, a communication and training plan is implemented for staff to correct the errors and to follow updated processes to prevent errors going forward. Additionally, Provider data such as number of enrolled children with active scholarships is monitored and analyzed to prevent potential overcrowding and ensure that Providers maintain correct ratios from a CAPS program perspective. The Lead Agency also performs payment data analysis to identify system errors and corrections needed for data reconciliation and accuracy.