MI391052275A11

Award Purpose
The fiscal year (FY) 2022 appropriated funds will support the cooperative agreement between the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and the Center for Employment Security Education and Research (CESER) for continued support and operation of the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Integrity Center of Excellence (Integrity Center). CESER, a 501(c)(3) entity, incorporated in August 1994 as an education and research arm of the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA), is a national organization of state administrators of the publicly-funded state workforce system and a leading provider of information technology (IT), education, and research support focused exclusively on UI and workforce development initiatives and activities.

CESER, as a subsidiary of NASWA, is uniquely qualified to provide a forum for states to exchange information and ideas related to program requirements and peer-to-peer collaboration to help ensure the integrity of UI program operations. NASWA/CESER fosters and supports relationships to help ensure program integrity and quality performance of the UI system nationwide. NASWA/CESER also serves as a liaison between state workforce agencies, ETA, and other federal government agencies, Congress, business, labor, and intergovernmental groups. NASWA serves as the collective voice of state agencies on UI matters, and through its subsidiary, CESER, provides and/or facilitates education, research, and IT support for the UI program nationwide. NASWA/CESER is a trusted broker to support states' receipt of technical assistance tools and resources to improve program integrity.

Activities Performed
The UI Integrity Center activities and product development, product support activities, functions, and/or projects referred to as UI Integrity Center core activities are addressed in the cooperative agreement between the US Department of Labor (USDOL) and the NASWA/CESER. The activities/deliverables outlined in the cooperative agreement are established to meet ETA's needs to support the state UI agencies in implementing strategies to ensure program integrity, to prevent, detect, and recover improper payments, and to reduce fraud in the UI program.

Deliverables
These funds will be used by CESER to perform work consistent with the scope of work and deliverables/outcomes included in the current cooperative agreement.

Intended Beneficiary
The UI Integrity Center's STCO acts as a board of governors, which provides guidance, direction, and monitors the progress of UI Integrity Center projects. The UI Integrity Center's STCO is currently comprised of voting members from:
- USDOL's Office of Unemployment Insurance (OUI)
- The NASWA Board of Directors
- The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL)
- State UI Directors (or equivalents)

ETA/OUI represents two seats on the UI Integrity Center STCO, which is the governance, strategic planning, and oversight entity for the UI Integrity Center. Any project initiated by the UI Integrity Center must be approved by the UI Integrity Center STCO.

Subrecipient Activities
Y

The Center For Employment Security Education & Research

17.225 - Unemployment Insurance

Employment and Training Administration (ETA) [DOL]

Office of Unemployment Insurance [DOL - ETA]

District Of Columbia United States

State-Wide

None