DCL-07-37, TEMPO (Techniques for Effective Management of Program Operations)

DEAR COLLEAGUE LETTER

DCL-07-37

ATTACHMENT: Comprehensive Performance (File Size:MS Word, 535KB)

DATE: November 13, 2007

TO: ALL STATE AND TRIBAL IV-D DIRECTORS

RE: TEMPO (Techniques for Effective Management of Program Operations)

Dear Colleague:

The Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) contracted with Policy Studies Inc. (PSI) to create interest among States and local jurisdictions in adopting performance management principles and techniques, to provide technical assistance for States and local jurisdictions in applying current performance management principles, and to encourage partnerships between local and state offices to improve statewide performance levels.

In January 2006, OCSE conducted a forum in Dallas, Texas to identify what child support administrators thought was needed to assist them in this effort. Participants in the forum included Los Angeles County and California; Hennepin County and Minnesota; New York City and New York State; Montgomery and Cuyahoga Counties and Ohio; Allegheny and Philadelphia Counties and Pennsylvania; Dallas Region and Texas; and Milwaukee County and Wisconsin.

Following the Forum, OCSE developed the attached TEMPO (Techniques for Effective Management of Program Operations) to help state and local child support administrators determine how to adapt their current performance management approaches through a discussion of six key performance management elements:

Element #1—Engaging in cyclical strategic planning
Element #2—Setting targets for goals
Element #3—Allocating program resources
Element #4—Measuring performance
Element #5—Monitoring progress
Element #6—Improving processes

For each element, the TEMPO takes concepts from the performance management literature and applies them to the child support environment through narrative or case study. Included in the following discussion of each performance management element are two tools: a) a set of steps for implementing the element and b) a manager’s checklist of implementation tips and organizational capacities needed for the element. Also, Appendix B has examples of how urban jurisdictions and States have implemented the elements.

For additional information on the TEMPO, please contact Robert Clifford at (215) 861- 4047 or bob.clifford@acf.hhs.gov.

Margot Bean
Commissioner
Office of Child Support Enforcement

Attachement

cc: Regional Program Managers