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      Recent Reports
    Child Care: Selected States Are Taking Steps to Sustain Program Changes Implemented with COVID-19 FundingGAO-24-106258
      
	Published:  Mar 04, 2024


	Publicly Released: Mar 04, 2024
          Paid Parental Leave: OPM Should Take Steps to Further Raise Awareness of the ProgramGAO-24-106654
      
	Published:  Jan 25, 2024


	Publicly Released: Jan 25, 2024
          VA Disability Benefits: Board of Veterans' Appeals Should Address Gaps in Its Quality Assurance ProcessGAO-24-106156
      
	Published:  Nov 29, 2023


	Publicly Released: Nov 28, 2023
          Credit Cards: Pandemic Assistance Likely Helped Reduce Balances, and Credit Terms Varied Among Demographic GroupsGAO-23-105269
      
	Published:  Sep 29, 2023


	Publicly Released: Oct 30, 2023
          VA Disability Benefits: Actions Needed to Address Challenges Reserve Component Members Face Accessing CompensationGAO-24-105400
      
	Published:  Oct 30, 2023


	Publicly Released: Oct 30, 2023
          Disability Insurance: SSA Faces Ongoing Challenges with OverpaymentsGAO-24-107113
      
	Published:  Oct 18, 2023


	Publicly Released: Oct 18, 2023
    
    

  
  View More ReportsOpen Recommendations
        Family Child Care Networks: Actions Needed to Better Assess Quality Improvement EffortsGAO-23-105640
      
						Jun 09, 2023
              Show
          2Open Recommendations

          Agency Affected
                                                  Recommendation
                                                  StatusOffice of Child Care
                                                                                        The Director of OCC should provide written guidance to states on developing performance measures for CCDF quality activities that reflect appropriate attributes of successful performance measures, such as linkage to goals, clarity, and measurable targets. (Recommendation 1)
                                                                                        Open
HHS agreed with this recommendation and identified steps to implement it. Specifically, HHS said that OCC will further support more effective performance measures by providing training and technical assistance to grant recipients on how to develop effective benchmarks and performance measures that include goals, clarity, and measurable targets. As of December 2023, HHS reported that OCC was in the process of adding two full-time staff to provide training and technical assistance and develop guidance and resources to help states establish effective performance measures and benchmarks. In addition, HHS reported that OCC was revising the form for CCDF State Plans - in which states specify their performance measures - to clarify what states must submit and help states produce better performance measures.Office of Child Care
                                                                                        The Director of OCC should assess and report to Congress and the public on states' progress in improving the quality of child care. For example, OCC could provide Congress with the number of states that met their targets for their selected quality activities as established in their CCDF plans. (Recommendation 2)
                                                                                        Open
HHS agreed with this recommendation and identified steps to implement it. Specifically, HHS said that OCC will explore strategies for conducting analysis and reporting to Congress on states' progress toward setting and achieving meaningful quality improvement goals, using available data and resources from existing administrative data collections. As of December 2023, HHS reported that OCC was exploring data sources for assessing and reporting on states' progress in improving the quality of child care.
          Subminimum Wage Program: DOL Could Do More to Ensure Timely OversightGAO-23-105116
      
						Feb 24, 2023
              Show
          3Open Recommendations

          Agency Affected
                                                  Recommendation
                                                  StatusWage and Hour Division
                                                                                        The Administrator of DOL's Wage and Hour Division should set and track timeliness goals for intermediate steps and overall duration for processing 14(c) applications. (Recommendation 1)
                                                                                        Open
In April 2023, the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) stated that it will update its Certification Procedures Manual to set and track timeliness goals for intermediate steps and the overall duration for processing 14(c) applications. WHD estimates implementation by December 31, 2024. We will consider this recommendation closed when WHD sets and tracks timeliness goals for processing 14(c) applications.Wage and Hour Division
                                                                                        The Administrator of DOL's Wage and Hour Division should externally communicate its goals for processing 14(c) applications to employers and other program stakeholders, and its progress toward meeting these goals. (Recommendation 2)
                                                                                        Open
In April 2023, the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) stated that once it has set timeliness goals for processing 14(c) applications, it will ensure its goals and the progress toward meeting them are externally communicated to employers and other program stakeholders using appropriate communication tools for information sharing and dissemination. WHD estimates implementation by December 31, 2024. We will consider this recommendation closed when WHD externally communicates with employers and other program stakeholders its 14(c) application processing goals and progress toward meeting them.Wage and Hour Division
                                                                                        The Administrator of DOL's Wage and Hour Division should solicit feedback from 14(c) employers regarding the online application and take appropriate action to address any limitations to help improve the overall timeliness of certificate application processing. (Recommendation 3)
                                                                                        Open
In April 2023, the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) stated that it plans to communicate and engage with employers holding section 14(c) certificates and invite their feedback on WHD's online 14(c) application through fiscal year 2024. WHD also stated that based on information received and available resources, the agency will determine the feasibility of implementing system modifications to facilitate increased use of the online application system and, correspondingly, increased timeliness of processing. WHD estimates implementation by December 31, 2024. We will consider this recommendation closed when WHD solicits feedback on its online application from 14(c) employers and takes appropriate action to address any identified limitations to help improve the overall timeliness of processing applications.
          Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities: Federal Programs Provide Support for Preventing Falls, but Program Reach is LimitedGAO-22-105276
      
						Jul 27, 2022
              Show
          2Open Recommendations

          Agency Affected
                                                  Recommendation
                                                  StatusCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
                                                                                        The Director of the CDC should expand the scope of its analysis of Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data to include the prevalence of falls and fall-related injuries among adults under age 65 who may be at higher risk of falls, including adults with disabilities, and, as appropriate, share findings with ACL and other agencies overseeing relevant programmatic efforts. For example:CDC could analyze existing BRFSS data on adults aged 45 to 64 and share findings, as appropriate.CDC could propose asking adults aged 18 to 44 the two BRFSS fall-related questions, as part of the survey update process.(Recommendation 1)
                                                                                        Open
CDC agreed with this recommendation. As of January 2023, CDC officials said they have begun exploring options to expand the scope of the BRFSS data analysis for adults under age 65. Specifically, CDC is analyzing BRFSS data on falls among adults with disabilities aged 45 to 64. CDC will also consider how best to disseminate these findings, such as through targeted outreach to key partners, publications, and email outreach to those who subscribe to CDC updates on older adult falls prevention.Administration for Community Living
                                                                                        The Administrator of ACL should share and highlight information on falls risk and related resources for adults with disabilities who are younger than 60 more prominently among its disability network to inform state and local planning efforts. For example, to the extent possible and appropriate, ACL could work with CDC to highlight relevant falls data and leverage existing resources on falls prevention. (Recommendation 3)
                                                                                        Open
ACL agreed with this recommendation. As of December 2023, ACL officials said ACL's Administration on Disabilities has compiled promising practices related to falls prevention and are in the process of developing a dissemination plan for the information. Further, ACL's disability programs are beginning to participate in the Housing and Services Resource Center's training and technical assistance activities related to falls prevention. ACL officials have also met with CDC staff who work on falls prevention to discuss activities they could do jointly. ACL officials said they identified evidence-based falls prevention materials to share with CDC and with ACL's disability networks. ACL plans to continue meeting with CDC to discuss data-related actions. We encourage ACL to work with CDC to highlight relevant falls data for adults with disabilities who are younger than 60.
          Unemployment Insurance: Transformation Needed to Address Program Design, Infrastructure, and Integrity RisksGAO-22-105162
      
						Jun 07, 2022
              Show
          1Open Recommendations

          Agency Affected
                                                  Recommendation
                                                  StatusDepartment of Labor
                                                                                        The Secretary of Labor should develop and execute a transformation plan that meets GAO's high risk criteria for transformation; the plan should outline coordinated and sustained actions to address issues related to providing effective service and mitigating financial risk, including ways to demonstrate improvements. Planned actions may include addressing audit recommendations, and determining whether legislative changes are needed, as appropriate. Planned actions may also include achieving quantifiable results in reducing improper payment rates, including those related to fraud; improving efficiency in claims processing and restoring pre-pandemic payment timeliness levels; better reaching current worker populations; and enhancing equity in benefit distribution. (Recommendation 1)
                                                                                        Open
DOL agreed with this recommendation. As of December 2022, the agency is in the process of developing a comprehensive transformation plan for the UI program. DOL also mentioned that it is working with states to launch several efforts aimed at reducing improper payments and combating fraud; enhancing equity in program access and benefit distribution; and improving efficiency in claims processing, among others. We laud these valuable efforts and encourage DOL to continue to pursue efforts to transform the UI system to help meet, in part, the criteria for removal from the GAO high-risk list. These actions, if implemented effectively, would help address our recommendation.
    
    

  
  View More RecommendationsRelated Pages
    RelatedChildren’s Health and Safety
          RelatedEmployment in a Changing Economy
          RelatedAffordable Housing
          RelatedHomelessness
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                                                      MultimediaU.S. Comptroller General Testifies to House on Pandemic Unemployment Insurance Fraud.
      
        
        U.S. Comptroller General Testifies to House on Pandemic Unemployment Insurance Fraud.
          Wednesday, February 08, 2023Transcript
          Examples of Messages from Ticket to Work Employment Networks about Maintaining Benefits While Working
      
        
        Examples of Messages from Ticket to Work Employment Networks about Maintaining Benefits While Working
          Monday, June 06, 2011
          Federal Employees and Transportation Drivers and Owners Who Fraudulently and/or Improperly Received SSA Disability (reissued January 24, 2011)
      
        
        Federal Employees and Transportation Drivers and Owners Who Fraudulently and/or Improperly Received SSA Disability (reissued January 24, 2011)
          Friday, June 25, 2010
Podcasts
    
      Preventing the Abuse of Youths Living in Residential Facilities
    Wednesday, February 23, 2022
      
            Transcript
          DOD's Efforts to Combat Domestic Abuse
    Thursday, May 06, 2021
      
            Transcript
          Federal Social Safety Net Programs and the Millions that Rely on Them
    Wednesday, November 18, 2020
      
            Transcript
INFOGRAPHIC:  U.S. Children by the Numbers
        Infographic
                      INFOGRAPHIC:  U.S. Children by the Numbers
            Thursday, November 09, 2017
Photo showing a father cradling a new born baby in his arms.
          Blog Post
              Paid Parental Leave Is Available to Most Federal Employees—But Some May Not Know About It
            Thursday, January 25, 2024
      
            The first months of a baby’s life are an important period to build bonds between parents and child...
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          Blog Post
              Inflation and Rising Food Prices: How Does Federal Food Assistance Change?
            Thursday, January 19, 2023
      
            High prices at the grocery store can hit struggling Americans especially hard. Those receiving...
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