October 1st begins a new year for Food Stamp Program accuracy measurement. Our hard work and increased payment accuracy focus has led to much improved work quality in the past several years, yet we've remain short of our goal to do better than the national average. We set our goal last year for a 94 percent accuracy rate. We are still striving for that goal, in the current year and our national payment accuracy ranking among the states is 36th. We aim in the FFY 2007 quality control sample to achieve 95 percent accuracy. Give Me Five! is our new campaign theme. A 5 percent food stamp payment error rate (Give Me Five - get it?) would earn us a respectable place in the top 20 in the national rankings.
We need to give our work quality emphasis special focus in these first few months of the new sample year. Each of the past several years, we've had one or two large error cases in October or November that got us off to a poor start that kept us from attaining our accuracy goal. This year we hope to overcome that trend with a great start. Application volume is on the rise in the fall and PFD processing complicates our work days. Still, you've proven before that these mere distractions cannot keep you from pounding out grand results. I can already hear the slappin' and high five'in hands around DPA land as each office takes up the campaign cry and hits its mark. It's a new week, a new year, and a fresh start on a new campaign - What's not to be enthused about - Give Me Five!
It will take a few months for the current year samples to be completed, and we are perking along. The statewide accuracy rate is now 93.7 percent. With July, August and September results yet to be recorded, we're in a position to further improve. The good news is that each region is close to or better than our target goal, and all can reach it with a strong finish. There are some great performances to be acknowledged:
The Southeast Region continues to lead the way with 98% accuracy. The Ketchikan and Sitka offices are still at 100%. Well done.
The Coastal Region is so close to our FFY 2006 target with 93.9%. This fine work supported in particular by 100% accuracy from the Field Unit, 96.1 percent accuracy from the Kenai office, and Bethel achieving 94.1% FS payment accuracy.
The Central Region stands at 93.7% accuracy. The Mat-Su and Mat-Su APA units remain perfect! Hear, Hear! Muldoon is doing a fine job with 96% accuracy.
In the Northern Region the APA unit is sustaining 100% accuracy. Way to go.
Thank you all for your continued work, and willingness to take us forward to our next goal. We know and appreciate that it is everyone's daily contributions that support the work and service quality of which we are so proud. Give Me Five!
You can take a look at the office by office results at the Program Integrity and Analysis web page. Click on the Quick link - DPA Reports from DPAWeb.