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Fact Sheets
The DIVISION OF TRIBAL TANF MANAGEMENT is a central point for assisting
in implementation and coordination of ongoing consultation with
tribal governments and, where appropriate, state and federal agencies
regarding issues relating to the Personal Responsibility and Work
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, P.L. 104-193 (the Act) and
related legislation. It is also responsible for development of regulations
and guidelines and for providing leadership, policy direction, technical
assistance and coordination of tribal services programs. Performs
inter and intra-agency liaison functions in all areas such as Child
Support Enforcement, Child Care, Child Welfare, Foster Care, Low
Income Home Energy Assistance, and Family Violence Prevention to
promote family stability, economic security, responsibility and
self- support for Native Americans. It is responsible for conducting
program reviews to ensure compliance with the Act, regulations and
policy directives. It is responsible for activities related to tribal
data collection reporting requirements relating to the programs.
Contact them at:
Tribal TANF 202-401-5020
Native Employment Works 202-401-5308
Fax 202-205-5887
Office of Family Assistance 370 L'Enfant Promenade, Fifth Floor
East, Washington, DC 20447
Division of Tribal
TANF Management
The Division of Tribal TANF Management is responsible for two programs:
Tribal Temporary Assistance
for Needy Families (TANF)
Overview
In 1996 the 104th Congress
amended the Social Security Act, by replacing Aid to Families with
Dependent Children (AFDC), the Job Opportunity and Basic Skills
Program (JOBS), and Emergency Assistance (EA) with block grants
to States for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
program. Included in the authorization for this new block grant
system were provisions for block grants to eligible Tribes. Federally-recognized
Indian Tribes and certain Alaska Native organizations are now provided
the opportunity to administer their own TANF programs in a manner
similar to the States.
The purpose of the new
law is to support programs designed to provide assistance to needy
families so that children may be cared for in their own homes or
in the homes of relatives; reduce dependency on public benefits
by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage; prevent and reduce
the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies; and encourage the formation
and maintenance of two-parent families. Thus, the new legislation
provides both challenges and opportunities to help needy families.
Legislative Authority
Tribal TANF is authorized
by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation
Act of 1996, P.L. 104-193, as amended, and reauthorized by the Deficit
Reduction Act of 2005, P.L. 109-171
Summary of Activities
In FY 1997, the major
tasks of the Division were to establish itself and to begin the
process of implementing the new law; disseminate information to
Tribes; develop guidance documents; and assist interested Tribes
in planning, developing, and implementing TANF programs.
Starting in FY 1997,
the first year in which tribes were eligible to administer TANF
programs, ACF begin to receive, negotiate, and approve Tribal TANF
plans.
In FY2006, 3 new plans,
2 major program expansions, 3 major plan amendments, several minor
amendments, and 16 continuation plans were reviewed, negotiated
as necessary, and approved. In addition, 10 new proposed plans were
received and entered into the negotiation and approval process.
As of 9/31/06, there
are currently 53 approved Tribal TANF programs serving 265 tribes
and Alaska Native villages and the non-reservation Indian populations
of 104 counties and the Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska.
Program Requirements
and Eligibility
Tribes must submit a
TANF plan to the appropriate ACF Regional Office and to the Division.
The plan must be for a maximum of 3 years and may start on the first
day of any month. Submission dates for plans are dependent on the
proposed implementation date. The appropriate ACF Regional Office
should be contacted for information. The plan will be reviewed and
approved by the Regional Office and Central Office staff in the
Division of Tribal TANF Management.
ACF has issued regulations,
a Tribal TANF Guidance Document, several Program Instructions and
Program Announcements and variety of technical assistance and informational
documents to assist tribes in expanding their knowledge of the TANF
program and developing TANF plans. Copies can be obtained from the
appropriate Regional Office or the Division of Tribal TANF Management.
The regulations, guidance
documents, etc., provide guidance to the tribes that acknowledges
the unique conditions and needs of tribal communities and allows
for tribes to develop and administer TANF programs for specifically
identified populations, address the special economic, social, and
cultural needs of these populations, and use TANF dollars to provide
connections to employment, ensure necessary support services, and
work toward accomplishing the purposes and goals of TANF.
Upon approval of the plan and proper notification to the State in
which the Tribe is located, the appropriate amount will be withdrawn
from the State's TANF Block Grant and allocated to the Tribe. The
dollar amount of the Tribal TANF program funding an eligible tribe
would receive is equal to the dollar amount of the Federal funds
that the State spent for AFDC and related programs for the designated
service population in Fiscal Year 1994. In addition, states may
also, at their discretion, provide state MOE funds to the tribal
grantee.
Eligibility is restricted
by law to Federally-recognized Indian Tribes in the lower 48 states
and to the designated 12 Alaska Native regional nonprofit associations
and the Matlakatla Indian Community in Alaska.
Native Employment Works
Program (NEW)
Authority: The NEW program
is authorized by section 412(a)(2) of the Social Security Act, as
amended by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation
Act of 1996.
Regulations: The federal
regulations for the NEW program are found at 45 CFR Part 287. NEW
programs also are subject to 45 CFR Part 92 and OMB Circulars A-87
and A-133.
Eligibility for funding:
By law, only federally-recognized Indian tribes and Alaska Native
organizations that operated a Tribal Job Opportunities and Basic
Skills Training (JOBS) program in FY 1995 are eligible for NEW program
funding.
Number of grantees: There
currently are 78 NEW program grantees.
Funding: By law, NEW
grant awards are set at FY 1994 Tribal JOBS funding levels. Annual
NEW grant amounts range from $5,187 to $1,752,666. Total annual
NEW funding is $7,633,287.
Purpose: The purpose
of the NEW program is to make work activities available to grantees'
designated service populations and service areas.
Allowable work activities
include (but are not limited to):
- Educational activities,
including remedial, post-secondary, and alternative education;
- Training and job
readiness activities, including job skills training, job readiness
training, on-the-job training, entrepreneurial training, and management
training;
- Employment activities,
including job search, job development and placement, community
work experience, community service programs, traditional subsistence
activities, and subsidized and unsubsidized public and private
sector work experience and employment.
Allowable supportive
and job retention services include: transportation; child care;
items such as uniforms, clothing, tools, and eyeglasses that are
needed for employment or training; medical services; counseling;
and other work and family sufficiency related services necessary
to enable clients to participate in the program and necessary to
assist clients in preparing for, obtaining, and/or retaining employment.
Allowable activities
also include labor/job market assessments, job creation, and economic
development leading to job creation.
Persons served: Each
year, NEW programs serve more than 10,000 clients.
NEW replaced the Tribal
JOBS program. Differences between NEW and Tribal JOBS include: NEW
grantees have more flexibility in program design and operations;
select their service area, service population, and equitable eligibility
criteria; determine plan format, work activities, supportive services,
and program outcomes; and are not required to serve welfare clients.
NEW grantees must carry out their programs in accordance with their
approved NEW plans and with applicable statutory and regulatory
requirements. NEW programs work with other programs, helping grantees
bridge service gaps and provide coordinated services to their clients.
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