dcl9775.htm

DCL: 97-75

November 7, 1997

TO ALL STATE IV-D DIRECTORS

Re:Funding Opportunities For The Employment And Training Of Noncustodial Parents

Dear Colleague:

There is new Welfare-to-Work (WtW) funding available to help noncustodial parents obtain the employment they may need to support their children (see Enclosure A). To tap these funds for NCPs, we urge you and local CSE directors to work with your counterparts in the TANF program and Job Training Partnership Act system (state-level agencies and local-level Private Industry Councils and Service Delivery Areas). It is important to act quickly: while NCPs are a target group, the prime focus of the grants is the TANF program. Further, the planning process has already begun (see Enclosure B).

WtW grants were authorized under the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, which was signed by President Clinton on August 5. The grants total $3 billion: $1.5 billion to be awarded this federal fiscal year and $1.5 billion in fiscal year 1999. They consist of state formula grants (see Enclosures C and D) and competitive grants to local communities (see Enclosure E). The legislation also provides for small set-asides: 1 percent for Native American Tribes; 0.8 percent for evaluation; and $1 million for performance bonuses to successful states. NCPs may be targeted to participate in programs funded by grants in both the formula and competitive streams.

WtW grants are administered by the federal Department of Labor with DHHS, HUD and DOT coordination. DOL worked visibly to include NCPs as a targeted group. We have been active here and in our regions with federal TANF and DOL counterparts. Our goal has been to sustain the focus on NCPs through the regulations and program announcements review process and other activities.

To keep you abreast of WtW developments in the field, we plan on collecting information about program practices involving NCPs. As the year unfolds we therefore would appreciate hearing from you on the successes your state and local CSE agencies may have in obtaining WtW funds. In addition, we are interested in knowing if your state is using TANF funds to assist NCPs for employment and training purposes. Please contact your Regional State Program Specialist with any questions and information on effective practices.

Sincerely,

David Gray Ross
Deputy Director
Office of Child Support Enforcement

cc: ACF Hub Administrators and Regional Administrators
Regional Child Support Enforcement Program Managers

Click underlined for Enclosures