1.2: Oversight
Enhance assistance to and oversight of agency ethics programs. Other Information:
Each executive branch agency has a Designated Agency Ethics Official who serves as the cornerstone of the ethics program.
Through the programs they administer, OGE promotes an ethical culture and strengthens the public’s confidence that the Government’s
business is conducted with impartiality and integrity. Strategies for Objective 1.2: Ensure that ethics officials have the
knowledge required to effectively carry out their duties by (1) expanding the number and type of training and education opportunities
and (2) developing and maintaining a database of informal ethics program advice. OGE provides training and education opportunities
to all ethics officials through classroom instruction, educational materials and an annual conference. OGE will increase
training opportunities offered to ethics officials by developing basic web-based courses and advanced instructor-led training.
In addition, OGE will provide informal opportunities to exchange information such as lunch time seminars and speakers programs.
Utilizing technology, such as satellite broadcast and video conferences, OGE will more widely distribute training and education
opportunities and materials. With the growing dependence on telephone and email communication, OGE receives an increasing
number of inquiries from agencies for informal guidance on ethics issues. The guidance provided often has broad application
and would benefit the ethics program if it were shared with the entire ethics community. OGE will develop and maintain a
system to centrally collect the informal advice it provides to agency ethics officials and identify an appropriate mechanism
to disseminate advice to the ethics community as appropriate. Focus education and training programs on new ethics officials.
Approximately 90 percent of ethics officials perform ethics program services part-time. Additionally, there is a high rate
of staff turnover in the ethics program because it is often a collateral duty. As a result, OGE needs to focus greater attention
on new ethics officials who are expected to provide sound advice soon after assuming ethics responsibilities. OGE will develop
a two-day orientation program for new ethics officials. OGE will also develop an Ethics Program Administration Manual that
incorporates the use of technology and e-learning tools along with more traditional training and education methods, specifically
for new ethics officials. Improve ethics program evaluation techniques. The success of well-established ethics programs can
be jeopardized with changes in agency resource priorities. Therefore, it is important for OGE to accurately assess whether
(1) agencies are adequately staffing the ethics program, (2) ethics officials are carrying out their duties and responsibilities
and (3) agencies are moving beyond basic regulatory compliance and inserting ethics into the fabric of agency processes.
OGE will increase its interactions with the Inspector General community and the Government Accountability Office to identify
best practices in the area of program evaluation techniques. Additionally, OGE will develop a program of self-assessment
for agencies to use in years that OGE is not scheduled to perform a program review. Identify and disseminate agency ethics
program best practices. Through its program review function, OGE is in a unique position to observe successes and innovations
in agency ethics program administration. OGE will also solicit best practices from agencies in years in which they are not
subject to a program review. OGE will then utilize technology to more widely disseminate innovative and successful ethics
program strategies.
Indicator(s):
|
