A new independent review finds that 95.5% of invoices paid within the State’s 30-day standard, supporting providers who serve children in state custody.
On Friday, the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability (OPEGA) released its report regarding the processing and timeliness of payments by the Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) to child care providers who provide care for children in state custody.
The review found that 95.5 percent of invoices were paid within 30 days – the State’s standard for payments. Many were paid significantly faster, with 66.8 percent paid within one week. These findings demonstrate consistent adherence to statewide payment standards and reflect the Department’s operational focus on timeliness and accountability.
The Department deeply values child care providers who deliver care for children in custody. These providers are an essential part of the system of care, allowing kinship and resource parents to work or further their education. Reliable payment practices help ensure this critical network of care remains strong and sustainable.
OCFS is committed to continued strengthening of payment practices to support the financial wellbeing of providers and ensure the availability of this critically important service.
Addressing Identified Outliers
As with any data review, OPEGA identified outliers that require additional attention. In particular, data from one OCFS district reflected challenges in ensuring timely payments to all providers.
OPEGA’s review focused on records from March–May 2025. During that time, one district experienced several vacancies in support staff positions. Although the district worked to redistribute responsibilities for receiving and processing invoices, payment timeliness was impacted.
These circumstances underscore the operational pressures that staffing vacancies can create, particularly in rural districts.
To strengthen continuity, OCFS is developing an on-demand training that will be available to all current and future staff who may be tasked with receiving and processing invoices. This training will allow staff unfamiliar with the process to quickly access guidance and maintain OCFS’ commitment to timely and accurate payments regardless of staff absences or vacancies. The on-demand training will also allow staff to refresh their understanding of the process as needed.
This step supports consistency and reduces the risk of disruption during staffing changes.
Continuous Improvement Through Standardization
OCFS is also partnering with DHHS’ Operational Excellence (OpEx) team, as recommended by OPEGA, to enhance and standardize processing, with the goal of getting as close to 100 percent of payments within 30 days of invoicing as possible.
This collaboration reflects the Department’s proactive approach to continuous improvement and includes:
- Updating the standardized invoice
- Developing a process for regular updates of the invoice form
OCFS will also strengthen communication between child welfare staff and child care providers when providers agree to care for a child in state custody. This includes providing clear information regarding:
- Rates
- Invoicing and payment
- Placement of a child
Clear expectations and standardized processes will help minimize payment delays caused by missing or incomplete information from providers. This clarity supports smoother coordination between providers and staff. The approach also balances OCFS’ commitment to timely payments with its responsibility to provide strong stewardship of taxpayer funds by issuing payments only on valid invoices.
Delivering Accountability and Continuous Improvement
The review’s findings – with 95.5 percent of payments made within 30 days – demonstrate the commitment of OCFS staff to proper and timely payment practices. Staff recognize the critically important role these providers play within the child welfare system, and timely payment is one practical way that appreciation is demonstrated.
The Department remains focused on maintaining strong performance while improving the systems that support providers and, most importantly, the children they serve.