Susan Becktold opened the 33rd annual NAPIPM conference by welcoming everyone and by thanking presenters, federal partners and APHSA staff. She indicated the venue was a perfect location and with several federal agencies represented, there would be lots of valuable information and she encouraged all participants to take time to share and network.
Linda Patterson welcomed attendees on behalf of the California Department of Social Services.
She noted that SNAP is known as CalFresh in CA where it county administered with approximately 2million cases currently. Yet despite the tremendous caseload growth, the California Active error rate has dropped over the last few years and was 3.48% in FFY11.
The recent CalFresh efforts have focused on CalFresh ReFresh modernization efforts with improvements to the application process and geared toward increasing participation. Most recently, California's SNAP participation is approximately 65%. Automation changes include client on-line access (allowing clients to check benefits, report changes, complete recertification applications and submit scanned verifications), electronic verification of client income and assets through interface matches, the use of telephone signatures and implementing regional call centers. She indicated that California was the last state to go to simplified reporting for SNAP.
Ms. Patterson indicated the current challenges faced by human service organizations involve horizontal integration. That is, how will ACA impact SNAP? And what will alignment with other programs look like. She is looking forward to the conference presentations.
Tracy Wareing, Executive Director of APHSA spoke to the Pathways program and the evolving transformation of human services organizations. She discussed the outcome goals of Pathways as:
Achieving gainful employment & independence;
Stronger families, adults & communities;
Healthier families, adults & communities;
Sustained well-being of children and youth
She encouraged attendees to think in integrated ways in order to achieve the
desired future for human services. Ms. Wareing encouraged everyone to explore more about the Pathways initiative by referencing the website - http:/www.aphsa.org/Policy/pathways.asp
Ms. Wareing further indicated there was a maturity model and a self-assessment tool which could be utilized by States and localities - located at http:/nwi.aphsa.org
This national workgroup on integration will identify opportunities and put forward recommendations including how performance will measured and what are the future goals for human services. Ms. Wareing encouraged the sharing of successes through links at voices.aphsa.org
The APHSA innovation center supports: ( innovationcenter.aphsa.org )
adaptive leadership;
alternative funding of human services;
the role of government in the 21st century;
the social return on investment; and
accountability in human services
Ms. Wareing states the goals and challenges facing us are unprecedented. We must work at all levels to solve problems and generate tested solutions. We must also direct resources to the most effective programs, change the culture of human services to embrace accountability for meaningful outcomes and to access the true return on investment for our programs.
APHSA will propose new outcome-based accountability systems and NAPIPM will lead and implement these efforts.
No comments:
Post a Comment