Incentive Strategies Contractor Accountability in DC’s TANF.pptVIP

12/12/2006 National TANF Summit Incentive Strategies Contractor Accountability in DC’s TANF Employment Program Idara Nickelson, Chief Office of Performance Monitoring Income Maintenance Administration DC Department of Human Services Background Income Maintenance Administration’s (IMA) TANF Employment Program (TEP) lies at the heart of DC’s welfare-to-work initiative. TEP relies on eight non-profit, faith-based, and for-profit entities (commonly referred to as vendors) to provide job readiness training and job placement assistance to the city’s 12,000 non-exempt welfare recipients. Since its inception in 1999, TEP has placed over 13,000 low-income DC residents — primarily single mothers — in jobs. The District has received six consecutive high performance bonus awards from the federal government totaling nearly $14 million. Background The Supported Work Program officially began in April 2006 and is targeted to customers who are typically able to find employment, but unsuccessful at retaining employment over a period of time due to significant barriers to work. The Supported Work program has two key features: Intensive case management services – Each customer is assigned to a Personal Advisor who is available to them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to address barriers to their participation in work activities. Subsidized private employment – Vendors secure jobs in the private sector with employers willing to work with this group of customers. Each customer’s wage is subsidized by the District. Subsidized jobs last no longer than nine months. Background IMA’s Office of Performance Monitoring reviews 100 percent of the cases for which vendors/grantees seek payment.  This means that an IMA monitor reviews each customer’s case file at the vendor site to determine if sufficient documentation exists to warrant a payment. Such extensive monitoring ensures that DHS only pays for results. Holding Contractors Accountable Our primary tools for holding vendors