Tribal Related Information
RESEARCH AND EVALUATIONS
This section presents resources related to Tribal programs
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Legislation and Policy
Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-351), 2008
The law amends the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code to make changes regarding the foster care system. Specifically for tribal programs, it amends title IV part E of the Social Security Act to allow Indian tribes to receive direct federal funds for programs operated by Indian organizations as long as specific financial management requirements are met. It also authorizes Indian tribes to receive a portion of a state plan allotment as part of an agreement to operate the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program, a program administered by the Children’s Bureau within the Administration for Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that helps current and former foster youths to achieve self-sufficiency.
Download Document [PDF - 1,684 KB]
The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-362), 2006
The law amends the sections of the Social Security Act that pertain to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs (title IV part A). The Act revises the formula for the caseload reduction credit with respect to work participation rates, includes families receiving assistance under separate state programs in the calculation of work participation rates; provides for a state penalty for failure to establish and meet work participation verification procedures; and, replaces incentive bonuses to states for a decrease in the illegitimacy rate with healthy marriage promotion and responsible fatherhood grants. It also makes several changes to child care, child support, and child welfare policies.
Download Document [PDF - 6,225 KB]
Tribal TANF and Native Employment Works (NEW) Program: Final Rule, 2000
From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service, Administration for Children and Families, this resource presents the most recent rules and regulations for the Tribal TANF and Tribal NEW Programs.
View the Tribal TANF Rule
View the NEW Rule
Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 (P.L. 106-169), 1999
The primary purpose of the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 is to reform and expand the Independent Living program. Under this new legislation, the federal allotment for Title IV-E independent living programs has doubled from $70 million per year to $140 million. This program is authorized under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act and is designed to help children in foster care prepare to become independent once they transition out of foster care at age 18. The bill includes a new requirement regarding state services to Indian youth.
For a summary (prepared by the National Indian Child Welfare Association), please: click here.
For frequently asked questions on the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 (prepared by the National Foster Care Awareness Project), please: click here.
Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act (P.L. 101-630), 1998
This law was enacted to establish a reporting mechanism for reporting abuse to Indian children and families and to provide treatment and prevention opportunities for those impacted by family violence.
For more information, please see: Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act as codified in United States Code 25 U.S.C. 3201-11
Also, please see: Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act as codified in United States Code 18 U.S.C. 1169
Adoption and Safe Families Act (AFSA) (P.L. 105-89), 1997
AFSA was enacted to correct problems that were inherent in the foster care system that prevented the adoption of children with special needs. Many of these problems had stemmed from the previously enacted bill, the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980. Legislators had not anticipated states to interpret the law to read that biological families should be kept together at all costs. The biggest change to the law was how ASFA amended Title IV-E of the Social Security Act regarding funding.
To see Title IV-B and IV-E of the Social Security Act as amended by the Adoption and Safe Families Act, please: click here.
To see a report on P.L. 105-89 Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997: Issues for Tribes and Sates Serving Indian Children, please: click here.
The biggest change to the law was how ASFA amended Title IV-E of the Social Security Act regarding funding. For more information, please: click here.
Multi-Ethnic Placement Act and Amendments (P.L. 103-82 and P.L. 104-188), 1996
These amendments serve as replacement for Section 553 of the Howard M. Metzenbaum Multiethnic Placement Act of 1994 (P.L. 103-82). The section includes the requirements and penalties for foster care and adoptive placements that occur across racial, ethnic, or national origin lines.
For the amendments, please: click here.
For the Application to Indian Children (A briefing prepared by the National Indian Child Welfare Association), please: click here.
Indian Child Welfare Act (P.L. 95-608), 1978
Passed in 1978 as a response to the vast numbers of American Indian and Alaska Native students being removed from their homes and placed in non-Indian public and private agencies, the law was enacted to ensure that American Indian and Alaska Native children were placed in American Indian and Alaska Native families. The law’s intention is to “protect the best interests of Indian children and to promote the stability and security of Indian tribes and families” (25 U.S.C. § 1902).
For more information, please: click here.
Reports and Publications
Tribal TANF and NEW Fact Sheets, 2008
These Fact Sheets, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance, provide pertinent information about program requirements and activities and determining eligibility.
Tri-Regional Tribal TANF Conference, August 2007
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF) sponsored a 3-day conference for Tribal TANF grantees in Regions VI, VIII, and X. The annual meeting was designed to address the needs of grantees who have received funding to operate Tribal TANF programs. A total of 30 Tribal TANF programs were represented at the conference. The objective of the conference was to promote awareness and provide information on effective implementation and service delivery, as well as afford grantees the opportunity to collaborate and communicate with each other.
Download Document [PDF - 9,280 KB]
Working with American Indian Families with Child Protection and Substance Abuse Challenges, May 2007
This resource guide was designed to support child welfare workers, supervisors, administrators, and other professionals that work with American Indian families. From the Rocky Mountain Quality Improvement Center, this guide offers strategies for best practices in serving these families with both child protection and substance abuse concerns.
For more information, please see: http://www.americanhumane.org/assets/docs/PC-rmqic-dif-guide.pdf
The Exchange: News from FYSB and the Youth Services Field- Tribal Programs Harness Cultural Strengths to Improve Conditions for Families and Youth, April 2006
This newsletter, from the Family and Youth Services Bureau, gives information on how youth in tribes are often best served through culturally-specific programs. Currently, more than a third of the Native American community is under the age of 18, which makes it important to work with the tribal youth. Tribes are currently working with Family and Youth Services Bureau in an effort to better serve Native youth and families.
To view or download: http://www.ncfy.com/publications/exchange/0604.pdf
Region 10 Tribal Seventh Annual Tribal TANF Directors Workshop, Final Report, August 2005
This report describes a meeting that took place in Worley, ID on August 18-19, 2005, sponsored by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). The meeting brought together key Tribal TANF stakeholders in Region X to discuss issues surrounding welfare reform and began dialogue about how reauthorization may affect programs.
Final Report [PDF - 91 KB]
Tribal Cluster Training: Creating and Implementing Effective Case Management Strategies, August 2005
This conference took place in Worley, Idaho to provide an opportunity for Tribal staff working in both TANF and Child Care programs to collaborate in strengthening their case management systems. Co-sponsored by the Office of Family Assistance and the Child Care Bureau, this joint training conference allowed presenters to share academic theories of effective case management practices and introduce new strategies for integrating service delivery systems.
For more information, please see: http://peerta.acf.hhs.gov/index.cfm?event=viewTopic§ionTopicId=16#tribal
Tribal TANF FY 2005 Work Participation Rates (WPR), 2005
This chart, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance, Division of Tribal TANF Management, provides a break down of each Tribal TANF program’s Work Participation Rate in FY 2005.
For more information, please see: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/dts/wpr/2005_SUMMARY_rev.htm
Analysis of Funding Resources and Strategies Among American Indian Tribes: Findings from the Study of the Implementation of the Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF) Program by American Indian Tribes, March 2004
This issue paper, authored by James Bell Associates, Inc., through a contract with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, summarizes how Native American Tribes use their title IV-B of the Social Security Act funding; specifically Subpart 2 which includes the Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF) Program. The program provides Tribes with “funds that strengthen families through family support, family preservation, time-limited family reunification, and adoption promotion and support services.” The authors analyzed Tribal Child and Family Services plans and conducted in-depth analyses at 12 sites to determine their findings. Through their case studies at the various sites, the authors mention how some Tribes utilize their TANF funds to provide child welfare services.
For more information, please see: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/abuse_neglect/imple_prom/reports/fund_res/fund_res.pdf
Operating TANF: Opportunities and Challenges for Tribes and Tribal Consortia, August 2003
Federal law permits American Indian tribes to operate the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program for their members. That option entails benefits and advantages, but also risks and costs for tribes. This report discusses the benefits of tribal TANF operation, the challenges and problems tribes have encountered, and lessons from tribal experience. This report describes the experiences of 10 tribal grantees in planning, implementing, and operating TANF programs. It was prepared for the use of tribal, federal, and state officials, and other stakeholders in welfare reform in Indian country. The report is based on data collected between August 2001 and July 2002 through telephone interviews with all 10 tribal grantees, and subsequent in-depth site visits to three of them.
For more information, please see: http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/TANF-tribes03/index.htm
Strengthening Tribal/State Collaborations: Opportunities for Future Direction, September 2002
Short Summary [PDF - 132 KB] Final Report [PDF - 682 KB]
Tribal Characteristics Chart, 2002
This chart is from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance, Division of Tribal TANF Management. It provides information on Tribal TANF Programs, including the projected number of families per month, the state match amount, the work participation rates, and work activities.
For more information, please see: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/dts/tanf/char_tribal_programs.html
Welfare Reform in Indian Country; Current Trends and Future Directions, June 2001
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 gave tribal governments’ new authority to structure and administer their own cash assistance, employment and training, child care, and child support enforcement programs. This report describes some current characteristics of tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs and emerging challenges in serving tribal members through tribal and state TANF programs. It also presents findings from recent studies on welfare reform's impact on tribal members and explores tribal issues likely to be raised during TANF reauthorization in 2002.
For more information, please see: http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2sql/content_storage_01/0000019b/80/19/fa/5e.pdf
Basic Q/A on Tribal TANF, 2001
This resource, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, provides answers to common questions on the Tribal TANF Final Rule. There are answers to questions on TANF assistance, funding, uses of Tribal TANF grants, work activities, and data reporting.
For more information, please see: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/dts/resources/tribal_qa.html#uot
Tribal TANF and Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Guide to Financial Management, Grants Administration, Program Accountability and Tribal TANF Audit Supplement Guide, 2001
This PowerPoint, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance, provides information on parts of Title 45 which pertain to Child Care Development Funds and Tribal TANF programs. Also, the slides run through the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) circulars and certifications. The PowerPoint provides information on basic grant principles including specific grant penalties and administrative requirements. Lastly, the PowerPoint provides the Tribal TANF supplement guide which includes tools and helpful forms for grantees to utilize.
For more information, please see: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/dts/guidance/Combined_Long_Version_ppt.ppt#263,1
Webcasts and Teleconference Series
Resources for this subtopic have not yet been posted.