June 30th 2005 - The Office of Community Services (OCS) has engaged WRMA to provide technical support to analyze the impact of Social Services Block Grant program (SSBG) funding.

The Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) program allocates funds to States, based on population, to pay for a range of social services programs for adults and children, including child welfare services, day care, services for the elderly and persons with disabilities, education and training, and housing services. Since 1998, WRMA has held a contract with the Office of Community Services (OCS) to provide technical support and data analyses. Through this contract, WRMA has created an effective SSBG database that is used for regular, continuing analyses of SSBG service and expenditure data. WRMA staff members have analyzed annual SSBG postexpenditure data on an ongoing basis and have produced a series of annual reports on SSBG expenditures and recipients. In addition, WRMA has worked with OCS to improve data collection strategies, by revising and enhancing postexpenditure reporting. WRMA also provides technical assistance to States to improve the accuracy and usefulness of data. WRMA’s work has contributed to improving SSBG postexpenditure reporting by States.