THIS PRESENTATION IS PART OF THE EFFORT OF THE SOCIAL AND REHABILITATION SERVICE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE TO IMPROVE STATE EFFORTS TO REDUCE FRAUD IN PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. THE FRAUD CONTROL PROCEDURES ARE NOT INTENDED AS MODELS BUT RATHER AS ILLUSTRATIONS OF ALTERNATIVE WAYS OF DEALING WITH PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FRAUD. CALIFORNIA HAS ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE LEGAL AFFAIRS UNIT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF BENEFIT PAYMENTS A STRONG CENTRAL ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT CALLED THE OFFICE OF SECURITY OPERATIONS (OSO), WHICH ASSISTS COUNTY WELFARE AGENCIES IN IMPROVING FRAUD CONTROL. ACTIVITIES OF THE OSO INCLUDE AID IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SPECIAL INVESTIGATIVE UNITS IN THE COUNTIES, ISSUANCE OF GUIDELINES, STAFF TRAINING, MONITORING REFERRALS OF SUSPECTED FRAUD TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, OPERATING DATA EXCHANGES, MAINTAINING RELATIONS WITH THE COURTS, AND CONDUCTING SPECIAL PROJECTS. THE NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, AFTER AN ANALYSIS OF FRAUDULENT PATTERNS IN PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, DEVELOPED A NUMBER OF PREVENTIVE MEASURES AND INTEGRATED THEM WITH ONGOING OPERATIONS. AMONG THESE MEASURES WERE THE REDESIGN OF THE APPLICATION AND REDETERMINATION FORMS, IMPROVEMENT IN INSTRUCTIONS AND TRAINING FOR ELIGIBILITY STAFFS, MORE FREQUENT REDETERMINATIONS IN EARNING, ESTABLISHMENT OF A TASK FORCE ON ABSENT-PARENTS PROBLEMS, AND DEVELOPMENT OF DATA EXCHANGES WITH OTHER APPROPRIATE STATE AGENCIES TO LOCATE ABSENT PARENTS THROUGH THE OFFICE OF SPECIAL INVESTIGATION AND ENFORCEMENT. THE APPENDIXES INCLUDE DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF PARTICULAR ASPECTS OF THE FRAUD CONTROL PROGRAMS, ALONG WITH SAMPLES OF MATERIAL USED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--RCB)