1115 Grants Awarded in FY 2011
Section 1115 Grants: Partnership to Strengthen Families: Child Support Enforcement and University Partnerships
Washington
“Improving the Financial Well-Being of Children: A New Partnership between the University of Washington and the Division of Child Support”
Washington, Department of Social and Health Services, Division of Child Support
Partners: Washington Department of Social and Health Services, Division of Child Support; the University of Washington, Evans School of Public Affairs and the West Coast Poverty Center; and MEF Associates.
Project: The goals of the project are to improve the analysis and interpretation of child support program data. In doing so, a joint research and evaluation model will be created to better inform policy decision-making and program implementation of the state’s child support enforcement activities. The partners will assess the effectiveness of child support enforcement throughout the state and determine how different circumstances call for different measures.
Award Amount: $100,000/Year 1, $75,000/Year 2, $50,000/Year 3 = $225,000
Project Period: 9/1/2011-8/31/2014
Grant Number: 90FD0182
For Information, contact: ACFOCSEGrantsinfo@acf.hhs.gov
Iowa
“Mapping the Future of Paternity Establishment through GIS”
Iowa Department of Human Services
Partners: Iowa Department of Human Services, Iowa Child Support Recovery Unit, and Iowa State University
Project: To increase paternity establishment, the project will analyze paternity establishment methods across the state as well as statewide demographics and geographically referenced information to identify a more viable pool of cases with children that need paternity establishment; establish paternity targets more equitably and identify the hospitals and birthing centers that need additional paternity establishment training.
Award Amount: $100,000/Year 1, $75,000/Year 2, $50,000/Year 3 = $225,000
Project Period: 9/1/2011-8/31/2014
Grant Number: 90FD0183
For Information, contact: ACFOCSEGrantsinfo@acf.hhs.gov
Michigan
“Retooling Michigan’s Child Support Enforcement Program”
Michigan Department of Human Services, Office of Child Support
Partners: Michigan Department of Human Services, Office of Child Support and the University of Michigan School of Social Work
Project: This project will increase the financial well-being of children and the effectiveness of the child support collection process. The goals are to use case stratification research, predictive models, and evaluation of existing child support enforcement approaches to develop and evaluate innovative pilot child support collection strategies. The project will produce and disseminate a “tool kit” including research, current strategies, and new pilots.
Award Amount: $95,214/Year 1, $71,711/Year 2, $49,751/Year 3 = $216,676
Project Period: 9/1/2011-8/31/2014
Grant Number: 90FD0181
For Information, contact: ACFOCSEGrantsinfo@acf.hhs.gov
Section 1115 Grants: Partnership with Child Support Services to Develop Workforce Strategies and Economic Sustainability
South Carolina
“Jobs Not Jail! A Better Alternative”
South Carolina Department of Social Services Division of Child Support Enforcement
Partners: South Carolina Department of Social Services Division of Child Support; the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce; and community-based partners including the Greenville County Workforce Investment Board, Upstate Fatherhood Coalition, South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families, Family Court System, the Strom Thurmond Institute at Clemson University, and Greenville Technical College
Project: The project will better equip noncustodial parents to meet their child support obligation by increasing access to employment and other supportive services for noncustodial parents who consistently do not meet their child support obligations. A statewide data analysis will: 1) explore where the gaps in services exist for noncustodial parents; 2) design and test a collaborative model to improve services for hard-to-employ noncustodial parents; and 3) develop a comprehensive strategic plan that is designed to increase the integration of Child Support, the Department of Employment and Workforce, and other workforce systems.
Award Amount: $52,557
Project Period: 9/1/2011-8/31/2012
Grant Number: 90FD0180
For Information, contact: ACFOCSEGrantsinfo@acf.hhs.gov
Georgia
“Metro Atlanta Child Support Workforce Collaboration”
Georgia Department of Human Services
Partners: The Georgia Department of Human Services Child Support Services, Georgia Fatherhood Program, Goodwill of North Georgia, the Urban League of Greater Atlanta, and Georgia State University
Project: In creating more employment avenues for noncustodial parents, this project aims to enable them to support their children both financially and emotionally. This grant project will develop a long-term plan to provide job skills training, transitional and subsidized jobs, and assistance with job searches and placement to noncustodial parents in the Child Support Program in the metro Atlanta area.
Award Amount: $55,000
Project Period: 9/1/2011-8/31/2012
Grant number: 90FD0178
For Information, contact: ACFOCSEGrantsinfo@acf.hhs.gov
North Carolina
“Tri-Metro Workforce Development Collaborative”
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Office of Child Support Enforcement
Partners: The North Carolina Department of Health, and Human Services Office of Child Support Enforcement and three metro counties—Cumberland, Guilford, and Mecklenburg counties; Educational Data Systems, Inc.; Goodwill Industries; Employment Security Commission; and South Carolina Department of Social Services’ JobBoost.
Project: The partners will develop the Tri-Metro Workforce Development Collaborative to provide coordinated child support services and workforce development strategies to recently unemployed noncustodial parents who are having problems meeting their child support obligations. The strategies include transitional and subsidized jobs, job placement, and job advancement assistance.
Award Amount: $46,767
Project Period: 9/1/2011-8/31/2012
Grant number: 90FD0179
For Information, contact: ACFOCSEGrantsinfo@acf.hhs.gov
Oklahoma
“Workforce Innovation NOW: A Blueprint for Healthy Families (WIN)”
Oklahoma Department of Human Services
Partners: Oklahoma Child Support Services Court Liaisons; Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, Workforce Program; Oklahoma Employers Services Center; Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; Oklahoma Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic Development; Express Employment Professionals; Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education; Oklahoma Asset Building Coalition; Oklahoma Native Assets Coalition; Public Strategies, Inc., Fatherhood Services Program; Chickasaw Nation Child Support Enforcement Program; and University of Oklahoma Center for Public Management. The project may be expanded to include other statewide partnerships.
Project: The mission for Workforce Innovation NOW is to address barriers that noncustodial parents face when seeking employment. A statewide workforce-related partnership group will identify causes of noncustodial parent unemployment and under-employment, and craft a strategic plan to enhance their employment opportunities. A pilot workforce opportunity program will be designed and implemented in Oklahoma City and Tulsa.
Award Amount: $55,000
Project Period: 9/1/2011-8/31/2012
Grant number: 90FD0176
For Information, contact: ACFOCSEGrantsinfo@acf.hhs.gov
Tennessee
“Integrating Workforce Strategies with Child Support Services in Tennessee”
Tennessee Department of Human Services
Partners: Tennessee Child Support Services, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Workforce Strategies, Office of the Courts, Project Return, Connect Ministry, RISE Foundation, University of Tennessee, Tennessee Technology Centers, Nashville Works, Goodwill Industries and the Tennessee Payroll Association.
Project: Tennessee will identify opportunities to improve the current workforce services system using state-specific data on existing initiatives and child support and workforce performance outcomes; design a targeted action plan that addresses gaps in the current approach (e.g., transitional jobs) and ways of sustaining coordinated strategies; implement a coordinated communication system to track client participation; and put a data system in place to evaluate progress. Project activities will begin in Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga and Knoxville and then expand statewide.
Award Amount: $55,000
Project Period: 9/1/2011-8/31/2012
Grant number: 90FD0177
For Information, contact: ACFOCSEGrantsinfo@acf.hhs.gov
Section 1115 Grants: 1115 Demonstration Grant- Project to Test a Predesigned Data Warehouse Model
Oklahoma
“SOONER Than Later: Testing a Predesigned Performance Measure Data Warehouse Model”
Oklahoma Department of Human Services
Partners: Oklahoma Department of Human Services, Oklahoma Child Support Services, Data Services Division and Northrop Grumman.
Project: Oklahoma will develop a robust data warehouse to give managers quick access to performance data and allow staff to devote more time to the overarching healthy families mission: “to promote healthy families, we establish, monitor and enforce reliable support while encouraging self-sufficiency and strengthening relationships.” The new reporting tool will provide a rapid response to staff information needs (i.e. the ability to respond to an ad hoc request within 16 business hours) and significant cost savings.
Award Amount: $100,000
Project Period: 9/1/2011-1/31/2013
Grant number: 90FD0175
For Information, contact: ACFOCSEGrantsinfo@acf.hhs.gov