Other Information
What is the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
(TANF) Program?
TANF is a block grant program
to help move recipients into work and turn welfare into a program of temporary
assistance. Under the welfare reform legislation of 1996, TANF replaced the old
welfare programs known as Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), the
Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training (JOBS) program and the Emergency
Assistance (EA) program. The law ended federal entitlement to assistance and
instead created TANF as a block grant that provides States and Tribes federal
funds each year. These funds cover benefits, administrative expenses and
services targeted to needy families. Congress passed, and President Bush signed
into law, legislation that reauthorized the TANF program of 1996. The Deficit
Reduction Act of 2005 requires states to engage more TANF cases in productive
work activities leading to self-sufficiency.
TANF block grant funds are
only available to the governments of States, D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico, the
What is the Child Care and Development Fund?
The Child Care and
Development Fund (CCDF) is a multi-billion dollar program that awards grants to
States, Territories and Tribes. This program, authorized by the Child Care and
Development Block Grant Act, and Section 418 of the Social Security Act, assists
low-income families, families receiving temporary public assistance and those
transitioning from public assistance in obtaining child care so they can work
or attend training/education. Subsidized child care services are available to
eligible families through certificates (vouchers) or contracts with providers.
Child care providers serving children funded by CCDF must meet basic health and
safety requirements set by States, Territories and Tribes. In addition,
specified amounts must be used to improve the quality of child care.
The Child Care Bureau (CCB)
administers the CCDF, also known as the Child Care and Development Block Grant,
by overseeing the implementation of State, Territorial and Tribal CCDF
programs. The Bureau provides support in establishing child care policies and
programs that take advantage of the flexibility that CCDF offers and that
respond to the needs of low-income working families. In addition, CCF provides
a variety of technical assistance and professional development services targeted
to meet the needs of CCDF administrators in the States, Territories and Tribes.
What is the Healthy Marriage Initiative?
The
Healthy Marriage Initiative purpose is to help couples that choose to marry
gain greater access to marriage education services that enable them to acquire
the skills and knowledge necessary to form and sustain healthy marriages.
Under this grant program, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF),
Office of Family Assistance (OFA) funds healthy marriage education and enrichment
activities, public awareness and education campaigns that promote the benefits
and elements of healthy marriage and teen programs that explore positive
relationship models and that teach the core skills necessary for healthy
marriages. One hundred twenty four (124) Healthy Marriage grants were
awarded in September 2006.
What is the Promoting Responsible Fatherhood Program?
The Responsible Fatherhood
Program purpose is to promote responsible fatherhood by funding programs that
support healthy marriage activities, promote responsible parenting and foster
economic stability. The Fatherhood program will enable fathers to improve
their relationships and reconnect with their children. It will help
fathers overcome obstacles and barriers that often prohibit them from being the
most effective and nurturing parents. While the primary goal of the
initiative is to promote responsible fatherhood in all of its various forms, an
essential point is to encourage responsible fatherhood within the context of
marriage. One hundred (100) Promoting Responsible Fatherhood grants were
awarded in September 2006.
This document was last modified on
Jun-26-2008
.
