Combating Child Care Fraud in New York State

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Child Care Fraud Initiative

Over the past several years, there has been an increase in media attention surrounding the child care subsidy program as it relates to fraud, waste and abuse as well as improper payments. As this became a national concern, New York State took a proactive approach to address this problem by conducting a Roundtable Discussion with key stakeholders in October 2010 that resulted in a blueprint for action that set the stage for New York State’s multi-faceted, anti-fraud initiative.

This initiative includes the following:

Deploying a statewide automated Child Care Time and Attendance system,
Issuing new child care subsidy fraud regulations to provide local social services districts with more authority to stop child care payments where appropriate and initiate enforcement actions against child care providers when they are found to be engaging in fraudulent activities
New Fraud Regulations
Developing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for technical solutions to help identify, investigate and prosecute fraudulent recipients of child care assistance and child care providers (this RFP is subject to available funding and is currently in the development stage)
Allocating mini-grants to local social services districts through Child Care Fraud Prevention and Detection Incentive grants (20 local social services districts received grants ranging from $40,000 - $100,000)
Mini-grant Press Release
11-OCFS-LCM-14 Child Care Fraud Prevention and Detection Incentive Program
Created an Investigative Protocol for child care program inspectors of regulatory care and local social services district subsidy program workers to work together to identify and investigate fraud, waste and abuse.

2014

New York Public Welfare Association 145th Annual Summer Conference

The New York Public Welfare Association’s (NYPWA) Annual Summer Conference was held in Saratoga, New York on July 20 - 23, 2014. OCFS staff presented a session, The Child Care Program Integrity (CCPI) Technical Solution Initiative. The CCPI technical solution initiative is designed to implement a technology-driven approach to help counties detect potential cases of child care subsidy fraud by using predictive analytics and data mining. Updates regarding the deployment and implementation of this new system were provided.

NYPWA 145th Annual Summer Conference PowerPoint | NYPWA 145th Annual Summer Conference PDF

New York Welfare Fraud Investigators Association 31st Annual Training Seminar

The New York Welfare Fraud Investigators Association (NYWFIA) Annual Training Seminar was held in Lake Placid, New York on June 2 - 4, 2014. The Division of Child Care on The Child Care Program Integrity (CCPI) technical solution initiative. CCPI is designed to implement a technology‐driven approach to help counties detect potential cases of child care subsidy fraud by using predictive analytics and data mining. This technology will analyze historic and current data, detect patterns of fraudulent activity based on potential indicators of fraud and provide actionable information to fraud investigators around the state. Fraud investigators will be able to use the system not only to find possible fraudulent activity, but also track case status information, dollar amounts recovered, and general outcomes of any investigations.

NYWFIA 31st Annual Training PowerPoint | NYWFIA 31st Annual Training PDF

2013

New York Public Welfare Association 144th Annual Summer Conference

The New York Public Welfare Association’s (NYPWA) Annual Summer Conference was held in Saratoga, New York on July 21 - 24, 2013. The Division of Child Care Services presented a joint session along with staff from Albany County Department of Social Service (DSS), “Combatting Child Care Subsidy Fraud to Make Every Dollar Count”. OCFS and LDSS staff discussed how the new fraud regulations have helped districts stop child care payments when appropriate; how the Child Care Time and Attendance (CCTA) system and the associated biometric pilot are helping detect fraud; and how the new child care program integrity data mining and predictive analytics initiative will help identify fraudulent activities of child care providers and recipients. Investigators from the Albany County DSS Welfare Fraud Unit also gave a presentation on what they have accomplished with their Child Care Fraud Prevention and Detection Incentive Grant.

NYPWA 144th Annual Summer Conference PowerPoint | NYPWA 144th Annual Summer Conference PDF

New York Welfare Fraud Investigators Association 30th Annual Training Seminar

The New York Welfare Fraud Investigators Association (NYWFIA) Annual Training Seminar was held in Callicoon, New York on June 2-5, 2013. The Division of Child Care Services presented two sessions:

Did We “Hit the Mark”? Let’s discuss the Child Care Subsidy Fraud Regulations. This session focused on the effectiveness of the child care subsidy fraud regulations and how local social services districts are making use of the fraud regulations. We also heard from Erie County and Onondaga County Departments of Social Services on how the child care subsidy fraud prevention and detection mini-grants have helped them with resources to combat fraud.
NYWFIA 30st Annual Training PowerPoint | NYWFIA 30st Annual Training PDF
Child Care Subsidy Program Plenary Session: Combatting Child Care Subsidy Fraud to Make Every Dollar Count. The topics discussed in this session included: how the new child care fraud regulations have helped districts stop child care payments when appropriate; updates on the Child Care Time and Attendance (CCTA) system and the biometric pilot associated with CCTA and how the new, child care program integrity data mining and predictive analytics initiative will help identify fraudulent activities of child care providers and child care assistance recipients. Representatives from Albany County Department of Social Services and NYC’s Administration for Children’s Services also shared their experiences on how the child care fraud prevention and detection mini-grants have helped them combat fraud.
NYWFIA 30th Annual Plenary PowerPoint | NYWFIA 30th Annual Plenary PDF

New York Public Welfare Association (NYPWA) 144th Annual Winter Conference

The New York Public Welfare Association (NYPWA) Annual Winter Conference was held in Albany, New York on January 29 - February 1, 2013. The Division of Child Care Services presented a session on Phase 3 of the Child Care Time and Attendance (CCTA) system. The presentation focused on the enhancements that have been made to CCTA since it was deployed two years ago and on plans for phase 2B and phase 3 enhancements.

NYPWA 144th Annual Winter Conference PowerPoint | NYPWA 144th Annual Winter Conference PDF

2012

New York Public Welfare Association (NYPWA) 143rd Annual Summer Conference

The New York Public Welfare Association (NYPWA) Annual Summer Conference was held in Saratoga, New York on July 8-12, 2012. The Division of Child Care Services presented a session on Making Better Use of Child Care Time and Attendance (CCTA).

NYPWA 143rd Annual Summer Conference PowerPoint | NYPWA 143rd Annual Summer Conference PDF

New York Welfare Fraud Investigators Association 29th Annual Training Seminar

The New York Welfare Fraud Investigators Association (NYWFIA) Annual Training Seminar was held in Syracuse, New York on June 4-6, 2012. The Division of Child Care Services presented two sessions:

Child Care Subsidy Program Integrity Initiative. The topics that we covered included: new child care fraud regulations; seeking a technical solution for the detection and prevention of fraud; and the Child Care Fraud Prevention and Detection Incentive Program that provides resources for Social Services Districts to combat fraud in the child care subsidy program.

NYWFIA 29th Annual Training PowerPoint | NYWFIA 29th Annual Training PDF

New York Welfare Fraud Investigators Association (NYWFIA) Presentation

“Child Care Subsidy Program Integrity Initiative”

Combatting Child Care Subsidy Fraud Utilizing the Child Care Time and Attendance System. This session focused on utilizing data in the new statewide Child Care Time and Attendance (CCTA) System to identify potential fraud as well as providing an update on year-two enhancements that were made to CCTA. This session also included information about a biometrics pilot program that is currently in the planning stages with implementation in select districts targeted for late summer of 2012.

NYWFIA Integrity Initiative PowerPoint | NYWFIA Integrity Initiative PDF

New York Welfare Fraud Investigators Association (NYWFIA) Presentation

“Combating Child Care Subsidy Fraud Using the Child Care Time and Attendance System”

April 11, 2012 - Program Integrity Webinar!

We are thrilled to announce that the federal Department of Health and Human Services Office of Child Care (OCC) has recognized OCFS’ work to combat child care subsidy fraud as a national model, and invited OCFS staff to present on its work on a 90-minute webinar that was broadcast nationally on April 11, 2012.

NYWFIA Time and Attendance PowerPoint | NYWFIA Time and Attendance PDF

New York Public Welfare Association (NYPWA) Presentation

“Implementing the Child Care Time and Attendance System and Improving Program Integrity”

January 25, 2012

Implementing the Child Care Time and Attendance System and Improving Program Integrity
NYPWA Time and Attendance 2012 PowerPoint | NYPWA Time and Attendance 2012 PDF

2011

New York Public Welfare Association (NYPWA) Presentation

“Child Care Subsidy in New York State: Making Every Dollar Count”

July 22, 2011

Making Every Dollar Count
NYPWA Making Every Dollar Count 2011 PowerPoint | NYPWA Making Every Dollar Count 2011 PDF

New York Welfare Fraud Investigators Association: (NYWFIA) Presentation

“Child Care Subsidy in New York State: Making Every Dollar Count”

June 13-15, 2011

Child Care Subsidy in New York State: Making Every Dollar Count
NYWFIA Making Every Dollar Count 2011 PowerPoint | NYWFIA Making Every Dollar Count 2011 PDF

2010 Roundtable

Roundtable Discussion

“Child Care Subsidy in New York State: Making Every Dollar Count”

In October 2010, OCFS hosted Child Care Subsidy in New York State: Making Every Dollar Count for leaders in the field from across the state – local county prosecutors, local social services commissioners, caseworkers, fraud investigators, child care advocates, federal Office of Child Care, and unions representing child care providers. Jim Bates of Wisconsin’s Bureau of Early Childhood Education Fraud Detection and Investigation Unit shared Wisconsin’s sweeping child care subsidy program reforms which resulted in 201 suspended providers and 13 criminal charges. Mr. Bates also announced that in the State of Wisconsin, a fraud hotline and over 30 investigators will save an estimated $115 million in two years. Attendees brainstormed throughout the day on ways to improve our State’s system.

Together we can make a difference to Make Every Dollar Count in New York State.

Watch videos that capture highlights of the day.