11 Viv Lees, Branch Chief Child Nutrition Division USDA Food & Nutrition Service SNA State Agency Conference December 1, 2011

22 Provide technical support to State Agencies (SAs) and FNS Regional Offices (ROs) to promote successful implementation of automated solutions to improve outcomes in:  CN program administration and performance  Access to CN program benefits through direct certification, direct verification and other automated means, and  Federal reporting on program outcomes

33 Viv Lees Jackie Mitchell Andrea Faison Patty von Reyn Billie Roye FNS Child Nutrition Staff

44 Julia ThoriusErrol BakerPatrick Harding FNS Consultants

55 Major focus areas in Year 1  CN State Systems Workgroup (CNSSW) – Listening to States & FNS regional offices (ROs)  Grants for CN technology projects  Direct certification improvement efforts, including Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act provisions  Technical assistance (TA) to States on CN technology issues  Collaboration with the CN technology community SSSB Major Focus Areas

66 Purpose of Workgroup: To inform and guide the work of CND SSSB in assessing State technology TA needs and best approaches for delivering TA to States.  Selected workgroup members –  10 State representatives (plus 2 backups)  4 FNS RO representatives (plus 1 backup)  3 FNS HQ (including consultant) CNSSW

77 State and FNS CNSSW Members and Alternates

88  Held first meeting in Nashville, July 2011  Captured group’s feedback in 2 areas:  CN State Technology Systems in general, and  Direct Certification systems specifically CNSSW

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10  Looked at 4 areas for overall technologies and Direct Certification systems Strengths Challenges Needs Possibilities  Combined and prioritized needs and possibilities into a State CN Systems priority list for each area CNSSW

11  Direct Certification (DC) Priorities Identified 1. Get FNS-742 Verification Summary Report changes to States in time to make system changes for reporting correctly for SY Improve DC rate formula to more accurately calculate State DC rates with SNAP 3. Encourage & fund the use of more user groups (like CNSSW) – need more States sharing with States opportunities. Include technology vendors and work toward system standardization 4. Make DC an interdepartmental priority CNSSW

12  Direct Certification (DC) Priorities Identified (cont) 5. Improve/provide/encourage training and TA 6. Improve accountability of data at the local levels – i.e., real-time matching, SAs meet with POS vendors, require USDA vendor approval process, etc. 7. Provide DC definitions and standards – i.e., when is a DC counted as a DC, standardize matching algorithms, etc. 8. Improve IT presence – require dedicated IT staff for DC activities at the local and State levels CNSSW

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14  General CN Technology System Priorities Identified 1. Develop system standards – establish minimum system requirements for vendors to use for State and local- level systems, including point of sale (POS) systems 2. Create a database/repository for CN State systems information and make available for State research 3. Encourage user groups, including the vendor community 4. Establish a common set of data across agencies so that when data is collected it means the same thing to all 5. Perform technology systems ownership inventory - what has FNS already paid for that could be used again, rather than duplicating development? CNSSW

15  General CN Technology System Priorities Identified (cont) 6. Step up efforts to increase support from US Dept of Ed & other Federal agencies that share data 7. Address confidentiality rules, in light of changing technologies, across Federal agencies/programs 8. Encourage user groups, including vendors 9. Prepare/provide training materials – i.e., how to write a technology RFP, including minimum system requirements 10. Improve the IT presence CNSSW

16  Manage application & award processes for grants to fund technology, training, and other program integrity projects:  Direct Certification Grants  Direct Certification and Verification Grants (closed)  Administrative Review and Training (ART) Method I & II Grants  Manage active grants and provide technical assistance to grantee States during grant period  Evaluate grant progress and program outcomes Grant Support

17 Technology Contractor (DRT Strategies) provides TA, evaluation, and collaboration services to ART Method II grantees:  TA needs assessments  Onsite technical assistance 1-2 times annually  Webinars/webcasts for training, showcasing projects, sharing best practices and lessons learned, etc  Annual TA meeting with all grantees  Industry research and development of TA tools and resources Grant Support

18 Initiatives to help States understand DC rates and learn what other States are doing  Liaison with FNS Office of Research & Analysis (ORA) on direct certification studies  Informational webinars on direct certification Report to Congress each year  Onsite visits & conference calls to study State practices & exchange information between States  Manage DC grant applications, recent amendments to application process, outreach to States, webinars & workshops to encourage applications Direct Certification

19 Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act DC Provisions In Coordination with FNS Policy Staff & Regional Offices, provide TA to States on DC issues:  Elimination of letter method as method of direct certification for children in SNAP households  Benchmarks and Continuous Improvement Plans (CIPs) for direct certification with SNAP  State performance awards for direct certification with SNAP  Demonstrations to test direct certification with Medicaid Direct Certification

20 Planning for Procurement of Technology Contractor to provide Direct Certification TA, evaluation, and collaboration services to States  Direct Certification TA needs assessments  Onsite technical assistance visits  Webinars/webcasts for training, showcasing projects, sharing best practices and lessons learned, etc  Industry research and development of TA tools and resources Direct Certification

21 Collaborate with States, FNS Regional Offices, FNS Leadership, and Other Partner Agencies to:  Follow through on priorities identified by CNSSW  Continue to assess State TA needs & assist in trouble-shooting State technology issues  Provide venues for State-to-State collaboration  Provide information and training on industry best practices for technology implementation Other Technical Assistance & Support to States

22  Work with other FNS programs (SNAP, WIC) to establish similar advance planning and approval processes for Federally funded automation  Advocate for States on funding and resources for technologies that help improve direct certification, counting, claiming, application & verification processes, reporting, and overall program outcomes  Collaborate with the vendor community to identify innovative technology solutions for CN programs & encourage competition and standardization The Future

23 Most Important!!  Listen to what States are telling us  Learn everything we can about State technologies so that we can provide quality assistance  Take responsive steps to help States leverage automation to improve program access, accountability, and operations The Future

24 It’s Your Turn…

25 Contact Information Vivian Lees, Branch Chief, CND State Systems Support Branch USDA Food & Nutrition Service (703)