The Collaborative Forum is a community of federal, state, local, and non-government stakeholders who work together to generate ideas for pilot projects that test innovations in how states administer federally funded assistance programs. Through in-person and virtual discussions, the Forum helps develop and consult on pilot concepts that target four specific goals:

• Improving payment accuracy
• Improving service delivery
• Improving administrative efficiency
• Reducing barriers to program access

To aid in the development of pilot concepts, the Collaborative Forum convenes work groups consisting of state representatives to improve promising ideas so that they can be considered for funding. Non-state stakeholders— including federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, and others able to contribute expertise—participate in these work groups and help to refine ideas into relevant, feasible, and truly innovative pilot concepts. Potential pilots are considered for funding by the Partnership Fund for Program Integrity Innovation.

In addition to pilot concept development, the Collaborative Forum serves as an important venue for stakeholders in state-administered federal assistance programs to introduce new ideas, discuss common challenges and share best practices with one another. Through the bi-weekly Ideas Committee Meetings, monthly Collaborative Forum Meetings, and additional webinar presentations, Forum members have frequent opportunities to share their insight and learn from the experiences of others. 

The Collaborative Forum is a self-directed organization. The Organizational Committee determines the rules and processes followed by the Collaborative Forum and generates relevant documents for Forum governance, such as a charter and by-laws. Forum members who would like to be involved in the committee should contact Brenna Isman at bisman@napawash.org.

The Partnership Fund for Program Integrity Innovation (the Partnership Fund) is a federal program operated by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The Partnership Fund provides funds for pilot projects to test improvements in how federal assistance programs are administered in keeping with the four goals listed above and in collaboration with a Federal Steering Committee of senior policy officials representing federal stakeholders, including the Departments of Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Labor, Treasury, and Housing and Urban Development; the Social Security Administration; OMB; and the Domestic Policy Council. Pilot projects conducted through the Partnership Fund must, when taken together, be cost neutral in their spending effects.

OMB launched www.partner4solutions.gov so that all stakeholders, including members of the public, could submit their thoughts on potential pilots and best practices. Ideas submitted to partner4solutions.gov are passed on to the Collaborative Forum for consideration.