NCSIA Program Integrity Resources

The National Center on Subsidy Innovation and Accountability (NCSIA) created the following resources to assist those interested in program integrity and fiscal accountability.

National Program Integrity Webinar Series - FY 2018-2022

NCSIA's National Program Integrity Webinar Series highlights grantee actions that ensure internal controls and fraud prevention in their child care programs. 

CCDF Fraud Toolkit, Instructions, and Training

The CCDF Fraud Toolkit is an evolving resource designed to assist CCDF Lead Agencies in increasing program integrity and accountability and decreasing fraud within their child care programs. Provided by the National Center on Subsidy Innovation and Accountability (NCSIA), the toolkit encompasses five separate evaluation sections: an overall fraud risk assessment, and addition assessments for prevention, detection, enforcement and recovery, and monitoring. 

Each tool has multiple categories, assessment questions, and helpful resources related to internal controls and fraud prevention strategies. CCDF Lead Agencies can assess their fraud risk levels by answering a series of questions. Each tool provides assessment results and some basic next steps.

The following resources are available on the CCDF Fraud Toolkit webpage:

The overall Fraud Risk Assessment Tool is the first interactive module of the toolkit. The module includes links to resources to help with fraud prevention, detection, enforcement, and improper payment recovery. Additional modules are in progress for the remaining sections of the toolkit and will be posted as they are available. In the meantime, the remaining sections are available in Microsoft Excel format. To request a copy of the assessment tools, please email NCSIA at [email protected]. The CCDF Fraud Toolkit: Introduction and Training provides background and training on the use of the CCDF Fraud Toolkit assessment sections. Lead Agencies may review the resource independently or request technical assistance that includes a virtual training and demonstration. Lead Agencies interested in a virtual training may contact their Regional Office.  The CCDF Fraud Toolkit: Instructions provides an overview and instructions for using the different sections of the CCDF Fraud Toolkit. Grantee Internal Controls Self-Assessment Instrument

The Grantee Internal Controls Self-Assessment Instrument (Instrument) is designed to assist grantees in assessing how well their policies and procedures meet the Child Care and Development Fund's (CCDF) regulatory requirements in the areas of program integrity and financial accountability. These requirements are aimed at reducing payment errors; minimizing program waste, fraud, and abuse; and ensuring that funds are used for allowable program purposes and for eligible recipients. The Instrument can be used by state and federal managers to evaluate how well a Grantee's internal controls are functioning and to determine what, where, and how improvements can be made.

Program Integrity Conference Call Series

OCC initiated a series of conference calls in July 2010 in response to a heightened awareness surrounding fraud prevention and accountability.

Error Rate Landing Page

The CCDF error rate methodology employs a case record review process to determine whether eligibility for child care subsidy was properly determined, and whether any improper payments were made. Each state (including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico) completes the error rate review once every three years on a rotational cycle. NCSIA provides technical assistance for grantees on completing the methodology.

Regional Meeting Resources Presentations This Program Integrity and Accountability session was presented at the Region III CCDF Administrators Meeting on May 1, 2019.  This Financial Management session was presented at the Region II CCDF Meeting on June 13, 2019. A Spanish version is available. This CCDF Fiscal Fundamentals session was presented via webinar to Region VIII on January 28, 2020.  CCDF Succession Planning Contact List

The Succession Planning Contact List is a tool to help Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Administrators map out who their key contacts are both within and external to the CCDF Lead Agency. 

CCDF Tribal Lead Agency Fiscal Risk Assessment

The Tribal Lead Agency Fiscal Risk Assessment was developed for Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Tribal Lead Agency (TLA) administrators, fiscal and management officials, and other TLA leaders as a framework for reviewing how well policies and procedures meet the CCDF requirements in the area of program integrity and fiscal accountability. 

CCDF Fiscal Fundamentals

The Program Integrity: CCDF Fiscal Fundamentals brief provides an overview of the Child Care and Development Fund through a fiscal accountability lens and is intended to help Lead Agencies understand the basics of federal funding streams, including allowable uses and limitations.

Child Care Subsidy: Fraud Prevention, Detection and Investigation

This PowerPoint presentation was developed for the United Council on Welfare Fraud’s annual training event. The resource includes:

An overview of the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) and the importance of program integrity within the states’ child care subsidy program Information on the use of data analytics and Georgia’s process for prioritizing fraud investigations in their Childcare and Parent Services Program The common types of child care fraud cases, strategies for preventing and detecting fraud, and tools that can assist states in assessing their fraud risk levels State Median Income and Federal Poverty Level Calculation Tool

These are instructions for the State Median Income (SMI) and Federal Poverty Level (FPL) Calculation Tool. This tool can assist in calculating the annual and monthly SMI estimates and FPLs. These determine income eligibility and family copayments for child care subsidy programs. The tool contains four Excel worksheets or tabs that calculate the SMI levels in increments from 5 percent to 100 percent.

Program Integrity: Data Mining, Sharing, and Analytics

The Program Integrity: Data Mining, Sharing, and Analytics resource brief was developed to assist CCDF Lead Agencies in understanding the benefits of utilizing administrative data they already possess. In addition, the brief provides information on the benefits and use of data sharing in CCDF.

An Introduction to CCDF Program Integrity: Tribal Subsidy Series Webinar 3

An Introduction to CCDF program integrity for Tribes of all allocation sizes.

CCDF Budget Calculator Instructions

The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Budget Calculator is intended to help Lead Agencies understand the impact of three common factors on the CCDF budget. Specifically, the calculator looks at the impact of adjustments to reimbursement rates, eligibility levels, and co-pays.

Sample Inter-Agency Data Sharing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

A governmental inter-agency written agreement is often referred to as a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). In general, written agreements bind two or more agencies to terms outlined within the agreement. Written agreements may specify the mutual roles and responsibilities of the Lead Agency and the other partner agency or organization. Data sharing with other agencies or organizations can be accomplished through a written agreement.

This sample MOU tool reflects an inter-agency agreement between two separate government agencies regarding household eligibility verification.