Partnering in Grants: San Joaquin, Sacramento and DCSS

Transcription

1

2 Partnering in Grants: San Joaquin, Sacramento and DCSS

3 Presenters: Jessica Foster, Child Support Attorney, Sacramento Mayra Canela, Child Support Officer, San Joaquin Ross Woolley, Grants Analyst, DCSS Alix Haik-Bruno, Child Support Program Planner, Sacramento

4 Outline What is a Grant? Application Award Project Set Up Management Data Collection BICS Grant Overview Operations Impact Q&A Session

5 What is a Grant? A government grant is a financial award given by the federal, state or local government to an eligible grantee. Stringent compliance and reporting measures. Extremely competitive. They help fund innovative ideas and projects. Positive impact on the community.

6 Grant Cycle

7 OCSE Grants OCSE offers two competitive funding sources typically available every other year depending on funding. Funding opportunity announcements differ from year to year. 1. Section 1115 Demonstration Grants Section 1115(a) of the Social Security Act authorizes OCSE to fund demonstration grants. Eligible applicants: State Title IV-D agencies or the state umbrella agencies of which they are a part and starting in 2016, Tribal IV-D. 2. Special Improvement Project (SIP) Grants Section 452(j) of the Social Security Act provides federal funds for research and demonstration programs and special projects of regional or national significance relating to the operation of state child support programs. Eligible applicants: state and local public agencies, non-profit agencies (including faith-based organizations) and tribal organizations.

8 1115 Demonstration Projects Section 1115 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1315) Authorizes funds for experimental, pilot, or demonstration projects a) must be designed to improve the financial well-being of children or otherwise improve the operation of the child support program; b) may not permit modification in the child support program which would have the effect of disadvantaging children in need of support; and c) must not result in increased cost to the Federal Government. Eligible applicants: State Title IV-D Agencies

9 California s Section 1115 Grants CSPED - Child Support Noncustodial Parent Employment Demonstration Project Demonstration Site: Stanislaus BICS - Behavioral Interventions for Child Support Services Demonstration Site(s): Sacramento and San Joaquin PJAC - Procedural Justice Informed Alternatives to Contempt Demonstration Site(s): San Bernardino and Riverside

10 CA-DCSS 1115 Application Process CSPED and BICS CA-DCSS solicited LCSA s for proposals to sponsor/submit PJAC CA-DCSS composed/submitted the grant proposal internally

11 BICS - Application Timeline 6/9/14: e-communication Grant Announcement sent to LCSA Directors 6/19/14: Started working with San Joaquin County 6/23/14: Grant Concept Proposal to DCSS 7/23/14: Grant Application to DCSS 8/5/14: Grant Application from DCSS to OCSE

12

13

14 Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Read (and re-read) everything carefully Review The background for the grant, including an explanation of behavioral economics The purpose and goals of the grant The timeline and other parameters Award information Must create a budget Formatting, fonts, and page limitations Checklists Criteria Need to focus on what they are asking for

15 Research What is behavioral economics? What are behavioral interventions? Terminology used in behavioral economics Bottlenecks Behavioral concepts Interventions Cognitive resources Psychology of scarcity Learned the behavioral diagnosis and design process

16 Focus on the Numbers Target areas NPs with judgments obtained by default who live in South Sacramento pay 11.5% lower than NPs with defaults residing in other areas of Sacramento county NPs with judgments obtained by default who live in South San Joaquin pay 14.7% lower than NPs with defaults residing in other areas of San Joaquin county

17 Formatting, Font, and Page Limitations Times New Roman (TNR) 12-point font, except for footnotes, which may be TNR 10-point font Double-spaced, except for certain elements The documents that may be single-sided include: the one-page Project Summary/Abstract, resumes, third-party agreements, letters of support, footnotes, tables, the line-item budget and/or the budget justification 8 ½" x 11" white paper with 1-inch margins all around Page numbers are encouraged Page limitation = 100 pages An application that exceeds the cited page limitation will have the last extra pages removed and the removed pages will not be reviewed

18 Strict Requirements In instances where formatting and font requirements are not adhered to, ACF uses a formula to determine the actual number of pages to be removed. The formula counts the number of characters an applicant uses when following the instructions and using 12- point TNR and compares the resulting number with that of the submitted application. For example, an applicant using TNR, 11-point font, with 1-inch margins all around, and single-spacing, would have an additional 26 lines, or 1500 characters, which is equal to 4/5 of an additional page. Extra pages resulting from this formula will be removed and will not be reviewed.

19 Project Summary/Abstract Purpose is to describe the proposed project Should include objectives and methods to be used Use plain language Should be clear, concise, and evidence-based First impression Needs to grab the reader s attention We used what we had learned about behavioral economics to organize our ideas

20 FOA Directions

21 Organization is Important TABLE OF CONTENTS Project Summary/Abstract 1 Outcomes Expected 2 Approach 4 Understanding the Technical Approach 15 Personnel and Resources 27 Experience and Capacity 33 Project Timeline and Obstacles 49 Geographic Locations 54 Organizational Capacity 57 Project Budget 58 Budget Justification 61 APPENDICES Organizational Charts 64 Resumes 67 Third-Party Agreements 80

22 Our Table of Contents Understanding the Technical Approach 15 Proposed intervention areas and scope of pilot testing 15 Pilot can be taken to large scale to serve a significant number of people 23 Pilot test to take place in two or more counties 24 Approaches are feasible to implement in the timelines required for the project 25 Timely communication and collaborative working relationship with the TAE team 25

23 Our Table of Contents Personnel and Resources 27 Qualified Project Director to plan, manage and complete the project 27 Staff to implement the project and work with the TAE Team 28 Staff with experience making policy decisions 29 Meaningful involvement of California DCSS director and relevant decision-makers 30 Openness and commitment to taking the pilot statewide 31

24 More Research Footnotes to support assertions Examples: Fatherhood Initiatives: Connecting Fathers to their Children, Congressional Research Service, Carmen Solomon-Fears, page 13, 10/22/13 ( Many noncustodial fathers maintain that the CSE system is dismissive of their financial condition and continues to pursue child support payments (current support as well as arrearages) even when it knows that many of them can barely support themselves. ). Re-biasing is a behavioral intervention that uses psychological influence to change an individual s perception in order to affect decision-making. See Behavioral Economics and Social Policy: Designing Innovative Solutions for Programs Support by the Administration for Children and Families, OPRE Report No a, page 20 and appendix 43.

25 Visual Aids Behavioral Interventions Project Timelines and Milestones Geographic Locations Budget Organizational Charts

26 CONNECTION OF BEHAVIORAL DIAGNOSIS TO INTERVENTION DESIGN Mere-exposure effect Use Reminders Channel hassle factors Identity Priming Re-biasing Incentives Checklist Social influence Social norms Reframing Affective response X X Ostrich effect X X Deliberation costs X X X Present bias X X Prospective memory failure X X Hassle factors X Stress of waiting X Confirmation bias X Framing X X Choice conflict X X X X Psychological distance X Limited cognition X X X X

27 Timeline

28 San Joaquin County Target Zip Codes California San Joaquin Population 38,332, ,379 7,070 16,344 34,120 23,778 5,087 < 9th grade education 10.30% 12.30% 27.4% 18.6% 27.6% 20.2% 24.8% Unemployment 11% 15.70% 12.5% 8.4% 10.5% 6.3% 11.5% Below poverty line 15.30% 17.5% 47.1% 29.0% 32.7% 19.5% 35.0% Median household income $61,400 $53,895 $11,456 $28,453 $26,109 $33,884 $29,066

29 Letters of Commitment

30

31 Tips Research show you understand the goals of the funder Organize the material you do not want the reader to get lost Make sure you follow the directions Focus on the criteria and points Make sure you have addressed all criteria Tailor the proposal You may start out with many ideas, but you need to figure out what best addresses what is asked for in the FOA Cite sources and provide statistics when possible Review carefully Double check the math and spelling and grammar

32 After you submit your proposal

33 Award The Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) awarded a grant under a cooperative agreement to California Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) to explore the potential relevance and application of behavioral economics principles to child support services in California. This grant award is known as the Behavioral Interventions for Child Support Services (BICS).

34 Project Set Up: Year 1 Selected IV-D Agencies receive a Notice of Award (NOA) from OCSE Project year one is largely dedicated to planning, start-up, and administrative actions which include: Planning meetings 5-Year Budget planning Establishing MOU s/contract s/dua s

35 CA-DCSS Role during the Course of the Project Oversite/Administrative: Ensures all grant requirements are full-filled in a timely manner Ensures the project is in good standing with OCSE CA-DCSS also coordinates/submits: Performance Progress Reports (PPRs) Bi-Annual Federal Financial Reports (FFRs) Non-Competing Continuation Application(s) Carry-Over Applications

36 GrantSolutions GrantSolutions = OCSE s web portal for submitting documents GrantSolutions Captures(electronically): NOAs PPRs/FFRs Continuation Applications Carryover Request Staffing Change requests Grant Notes Grant Amendments

37 Management Sacramento County San Joaquin County DCSS Grants DCSS Data Analysis Group Technical Assistance and Evaluation (TAE) Team OCSE Other BICS sites

38 How do you prepare an intervention? Observe Plan Design Train Test Launch!

39 Data Collection: Observation Map your Process Who does what? Who will be impacted? How many units will be involved? Do we need any changes? Take clear notes.

40 Data Collection: Plan Manual Data Repository

41 Data Collection: Design Products Automated Data Manual Data Master Copy Excel Build queries Who will capture? Templates Access SPSS Others Test them Save them What items and format? Where? Final Product

42 Data Collection: Train Set time aside specifically for this purpose Explain the why behind data collection Do a test trial Allow time for questions Make yourself available

43 Data Collection: Test Soft Opening Review on a weekly basis Make corrections Communicate

44 Ready to Launch!

45 Management Site Visits Data Delivery Financial Reports Progress Reports Conference Calls Presentations

46 Best Practices Plan ahead as much as you can. Involve other stakeholders. Cross train colleagues. Use all of your resources. Breath!

47 Overview

48 Purpose of the Grant To pilot behavioral interventions that focus on improving both the effectiveness of operations of child support programs and expanding the application of behavioral economics to child support processes

49 Two perspectives TRADITIONAL VIEW Well-informed Stable preferences No problems with selfcontrol Completely self-interested Good at making decisions that maximize well being BEHAVIORAL VIEW Limited cognition Imperfect self-control Shifting preferences Procrastination Mental shortcuts Small factors can influence big decisions

50 Goals Improve contact with Non-Custodial Parent (NCP) at the time of service of the Summons and Complaint Address materials and dialogue that can impact NCP decisions to not participate Ensure all parties have their voice heard in the order establishment process (right-sized orders, procedural justice) Make participation as easy as possible

51 Goals Improve quality and rate of LCSA response to NCP after service Ensure the right steps are taken on each case based on individual need Improve cooperation / long-term collections with improved relationships

52 Overview of BICS I (First Intervention) Two sided, One-page Explainer to be included with the Summons and Complaint to provide easy to follow instructions on how to complete the Answer and a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section. Restructure the Summons and Complaint package so the Answer form is easily accessible, close to the top. Provide behaviorally charged scripts to Local Child Support Agency (LCSA) coaches to ensure consistent messaging after service, after an Answer has been returned or at the time of Default.

53 Status Quo Prior to BICS, all participants received: Summons and Complaint package: 30 pages with legal jargon, confusing, answer buried on page 18, etc. Greeting rather unfriendly The local child support agency has filed this lawsuit against you.

54 Summons and Complaint

55 Overload

56 Treatment Group Same package for Summons and Complaint, but simple to follow Explainer on top. Answer is just below the Explainer, not buried as part of the packet. Greeting is friendly recipient is addressed by name, there are visual aids and clearly defined steps, etc.

57 Explainer

58 Simple

59 BICS Coaches Trained Child Support Professionals Walk-Ins Legal forms preparation Phone calls

60 Scripted Phone Calls BEHAVIORALLY INFORMED TALKING POINTS Have a say Walk you through it Your voice is heard Take action

61 Behaviorally Informed Correspondence BICS Letter Learn their situation Discuss the next steps Protect your rights Fair order Blank Answer Answer to Complaint Instruction Sheet How to complete Answer

62 Preliminary Results Too early for final results Anecdotal information looks promising BICS Coaches report a high level of involvement High volume of incoming phone calls and activity on treatment group cases Out of all the answers returned by BICS participants, the treatment group s return rate is higher than the control group: % 40 % 55 % 60 % Sacramento San Joaquin Control Treatment

63 The Impact of BICS

64 What s next? Data analysis for BICS Phase I will begin shortly and may take through September 2018 to complete. San Joaquin and Sacramento are designing what will be their second intervention, also known as BICS II. For BICS II: San Joaquin will explore the impact of the Explainer Sheet on its own (no coach intervention). Sacramento will test behavioral interventions associated to payment on newly established orders.

65

66 Speaker Contact Information Jessica Foster, Child Support Attorney: Mayra Canela, Child Support Officer and BICS Coach: Ross Woolley, DCSS Grants Analyst: Alix Haik-Bruno, Child Support Program Planner and BICS Project Director Please be sure to complete the session evaluation.