Annual Report on TANF Programs
- 2004
Idaho
Attachment A
Annual Report On TANF Programs Under 45 CFR 265.9(b)
General Instructions:
Each State must provide the information indicated below on its TANF program regardless of the funding source -- i.e., no matter whether the State used segregated Federal TANF funds, segregated State TANF funds, or commingled funds to pay for the benefit or service.
If the State elects to report on other benefits or activities provided through other program funding streams, please mention it after the TANF-funded benefits or activities for each item.
(1) The State's definition of each work activity.
45 CFR 261.30 encompasses the 12 categories of work activities listed in Section
407(d) of the Social Security Act for purposes of determining the State's required
minimum work participation rate(s). Each State defines the activities that fall
under each of these 12 categories and provides them to us. This item is for
that purpose. Therefore, your definitions should include the kinds of work activities
that apply to each of the 12 categories. For example, what activities comprise
"job skills training directly related to employment" in your State?
DESCRIPTION OF IDAHO’S TAFI WORK ACTIVITIES
Unsubsidized Employment: An individual receives wages from public, private, or self-employment.
Subsidized Private Sector Employment: An individual in private sector employment receives subsidized wages from another program for training provided by Dept. of Labor, Vocational Rehabilitation, and other such organizations.
Subsidized Public Sector Employment: An individual in public sector employment receives subsidized wages from another program for training provided by Dept. of Labor, Vocational Rehabilitation, and other such programs.
Work Experience: An individual participating in unpaid short-term pre-employment work experience based on a signed Memorandum of Agreement between the Department and the work site. Also, includes an individual placed in work experience by another agency’s program, such as vocational rehabilitation, probation, and parole that is not community service.
Job Search and Job Readiness activities: An individual is involved in active job search or attending work preparation activities (job readiness). These Work Finding Activities may include: Work First assessment, classes, workshops, or one-on-one training on resume writing, how to interview, how to keep a job, budgeting, or setting up a business, etc.
Community Service: An individual who volunteers for community organizations or have been assigned Community Service by a court.
Vocational Training: An individual that is under the age of 20 who has a high school diploma or GED or an individual age 20 or older that is in occupational or skills training under twelve months. Academic training may be counted if: the training will lead directly to employment such as teaching, nursing, etc., AND the individual is participating in other activities including employment. An individual that is age 20 or older attending Adult Basic Education, GED preparation courses or English as a second language classes. Does not include work finding activities.
Education: An individual under age 20 is attending a secondary school, alternative school, adult basic education (math and reading skills training), GED preparation courses, or English as a second language classes.
Employment Preparation Education: An individual under age 20 who does not have a high school diploma or GED and is attending job skills training such as clerical, mechanic training, etc. Does not include work finding activities such as resume classes, how to interview, etc.
Other Activities: An individual is involved in activities designed to improve the ability to obtain and maintain employment which may include life skills training, non-work related assessment, following doctors instructions, using community resources such as diabetes centers, alcohol and drug rehabilitation, physical therapy, and other such activities.
(2) A description of the transitional services provided to families no longer receiving assistance due to employment.
Indicate the kinds of help provided to working families that received, but no longer receive, "assistance" as defined in 45 CFR 260.31.
Transitional services are paid only for work-related services to assist the
individual to maintain employment. Payments for transitional services are paid
to the provider of the services. These activities provide skills to participants,
so they can maintain employment. Mentoring, counseling or training activities
include:
• Information & referral
• Case management
• Employment related non-medical counseling
• Assessment/evaluation
• Employment related mentoring
• Employment related training expenses, such as books, fees, tuition.
• Job readiness activities
• Vocational or skills training
These services may be contracted with other providers.
Transitional Services may be provided up to twelve months after TAFI ends due
to employment. Transitional services do not count toward the TAFI twenty-four
month time limit. If the Department pays transitional services in error, the
month does not count towards the twenty-four (24) month TAFI time limit.
(3) A description of how a State will reduce the amount of assistance payable to a family when an individual refuses to engage in work without good cause pursuant to 45 CFR 261.14 of this Chapter.
Idaho’s TAFI program has family penalties incorporated into the program.
Work program penalties, including job quit, are progressive in nature, with
penalties increasing for each noncompliance to stress the importance of work
and to utilize the 24 months most effectively.
• The first non-compliance, the penalty period is one month or until compliance,
whichever is greater
• The second occurrence, three months, or until compliance, whichever
is greater.
• A third non-compliance results in a lifetime penalty. Idaho uses a full
family sanction for failure to comply with work requirements which includes
quitting a job without good cause.
(4) The average monthly number of payments for child care services made by the State through the use of disregards, by the following types of child care providers:
Idaho does not use child care disregards.
(5) If the State has adopted the Family Violence Option and wants Federal recognition of its good cause domestic violence waivers under 45 CFR 260.50-58, then provide (a) a description of the strategies and procedures in place to ensure that victims of domestic violence receive appropriate alternative services and (b) an aggregate figure for the total number of good cause domestic waivers granted.
Idaho did not select the Family Violence Option. Idaho has no formal waiver of program requirements for victims of domestic violence. However, training is provided to Department of Health and Welfare staff and to Department Work Contractors to help them understand the issues surrounding domestic violence and to allow them to work effectively with all participants. Community resources, including agencies whose mission is working with domestic violence victims, collaborate with the Department, as a referral source. Activities required on the PRC are structured to accommodate the specific situation of a participant. Although the State expects that participants immediately focus on employment, the PRC is appropriate to the participant’s situation. Each situation is assessed based on the participant’s capabilities and strengths. Department of Health and Welfare contractors employ a “reasonable person” standard when making judgments as to the appropriateness of activities.
(6) A description of any non recurrent, short-term benefits (as defined in 45 CFR 260.31(b)(1)) provided, including:
(i) The eligibility criteria associated with such benefits, including any restrictions on the amount, duration, or frequency of payments;
One-time cash payments
One-time emergency needs could include car repair, moving expenses, employment
agency fee, tools, uniforms, child care, housing expenses, and medical expenses.
The family must have needs that cannot be met with existing resources.
A family already receiving TAFI can become entitled to a one-time cash payment
to be used for employment related expenses, such as relocation and moving expenses,
tools, and union dues to permit the caretaker to accept or retain employment.
Participant families can receive a one-time cash payment equal to one-half of
their remaining months of eligibility, up to a maximum of three times the maximum
monthly grant for which they would have been eligible.
Emergency Assistance
Emergency Assistance is a time limited flexible funding source, available to
all DHW programs, which provides for services and vendor payments to address
emergency needs of families regardless of where they enter the system. Emergency
Assistance (EA) Services provide families with immediate help to stabilize their
crisis, and protect the welfare of their children. The intent is to intervene
earlier with families, in hopes of stabilizing the crisis and diverting them
from needing longer-term Department services. Payments are issued directly to
vendors; no cash payments are made.
Emergency Assistance Services are child protection-related activities that provide
families who have children under twenty-one (21) with immediate help to stabilize
their crisis, without becoming involved in Child Protection and without applying
for cash assistance. These activities may be delivered for up to ninety (90)
days.
Services provided include food, clothing, shelter, household supplies, transportation,
education, counseling, and health related supplies and services.
Career Enhancement
Career Enhancement services are provided to an individual with dependent children.
The individual must have a work-related need that if unmet, would prevent them
from maintaining employment or participating in work programs. Career Enhancement
services are non-recurrent, short-term, and designed to deal with a specific
crisis or episode of need and must not extend beyond four months. The individual
may only receive one Career Enhancement payment in a twelve-month period. Career
Enhancement payments do not count towards the TAFI twenty-four (24) month time
limit.
Supportive services do not provide skills, but will help individuals keep employment.
Payments for supportive services are made to the vendors. Supportive services
include the work related expenses listed below:
• Transportation, including:
• Gas, auto fluids, and minor items necessary for the vehicle to operate
safely, such as belts or windshield wipers
• Arrearage on car payments
• Bus, taxi fare, actual costs of public transportation or mileage reimbursed
at the rate established by the Region.
• The purchase or repair of bicycles
Auto repair for TAFI participants necessary for participation in work activities
Work-related clothing appropriate for work activities
Tools and equipment necessary for work activities
Fees for licensure and certification including state, federal, and local licensure
or certification (Fees for reinstatement of licenses and fines are not allowed.)
Other work-related services needed for work participation:
Haircuts and personal hygiene items
Photo identification
Eye glasses, hearing aids and dentures. (Not covered by Medicaid)
Idaho Telephone Service Assistance Program (ITSAP) is available for TAFI participants
participating in job search or other work activities. The amount of the supplemental
payment will be determined by regional policy and the participant's situation.
Housing or utility costs paid in one payment. The payment can include only two
months arrearage, plus the current month and one future month.
Security deposits
Transitional services are provided to an individual whose family is no longer
eligible for TAFI due to employment or who requested TAFI closure because of
employment. At the time of closure, the family's income must be below two hundred
percent (200%) of the Federal poverty guidelines. The individual must live in
the State of Idaho and must not be a resident of another state. The requirements
for receiving transitional service are:
• The family must have received TAFI for at least a partial month within
the past twelve months.
• The individual must be in need of work-related services to maintain
employment.
• Individuals, convicted under Federal or state law, of any offense classified
as a felony involving the possession, use or distribution of a controlled substance,
can receive transitional services when they comply with the terms of a withheld
judgment, probation or parole. The felony must have occurred after August 22,
1996. The states Deputy Attorney General is contacted on all withheld judgments.
Individuals listed below cannot receive transitional services:
• Felons who are fleeing to avoid prosecution, custody, or confinement
after conviction of a felony or an attempt to commit a felony cannot receive
transitional services.
• Felons who are violating a condition of probation or parole imposed
for a federal or state felony cannot receive transitional services.
• Individuals convicted in a federal or state court of fraudulently misrepresenting
residence to get TANF, AABD, Food Stamps, Medicaid, or SSI, from two or more
states at the same time, cannot receive transitional services for ten years
from the date of conviction.
(ii) Any policies that limit such payments to families that are eligible for TANF assistance or that have the effect of delaying or suspending a family's eligibility for assistance; and
To be eligible for a one-time cash payment, families must meet the TAFI cash assistance eligibility requirements. The one-time cash payment may be up to three times the maximum TAFI grant amount for which the family would have been eligible. There is a reduction of 2 months of benefits for every month of cash assistance payment used in this one-time option.
(iii) Any procedures or activities developed under the TANF program to ensure that individuals diverted from assistance receive information about, referrals to, or access to other program benefits (such as Medicaid and food stamps) that might help them make the transition from welfare to work.
During initial contact with the Department, families are encouraged to identify and use their own personal resources, or resources within the community in preference to application for TAFI. Department personnel and contracted personnel assist families as needed to develop a plan that will emphasize steps the family can take to make use of alternative resources. Food Stamps, Medicaid, and other resources that are available in the community are discussed with the family. Applications for these services are available during this initial contact or whenever needed.
(7) A description of the grievance procedures the State has established and is maintaining to resolve displacement complaints, pursuant to section 407(f)(3) of the Social Security Act. This description must include the name of the State agency with the lead responsibility for administering this provision and explanations of how the State has notified the public about these procedures and how an individual can register a complaint.
A person who alleges that displacement has occurred may request an investigation from the Department. If the Department concurs that displacement has occurred, the agreement with the site will be terminated.
A regular employee of the Department or of any other agency may file a grievance with the Regional Self-Reliance Program Manager or his designee at the Department of Health and Welfare within sixty (60) days of the alleged violation. The grievance is to resolve a complaint that a TAFI/JSAP participant placed in a Work Opportunity Work Site or in Community Service Assignment.
Use of the Departmental grievance procedures will in no way preclude use by the complaint of any process maintained by the employer to hear employer to hear employee grievances.
(8) A summary of State programs and activities directed at the third and fourth statutory purposes of TANF (as specified at 45 CFR 260.20(c) and (d) of this chapter).
a. Summarize below, the State programs and activities directed at preventing and reducing the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies and establishing annual numerical goals for preventing and reducing the incidence of these pregnancies (TANF purpose 3):
Idaho had approximately 4,931 out-of-wedlock births per year in 2004(FY03-4,300). The number of all live births in Idaho in FFY2004 was 21,609 (FY03–21,097). This represents 22.82 % of all live births in Idaho a slight rise from FY03 which was 21.7%
Idaho Governor’s Council on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention continues public education campaigns. TANF money is being used to continue this campaign. The campaign emphasis is on delaying the onset of sexual activity in teens by targeting abstinence messages at children aged 10 - 14. These population-based public awareness media ad campaigns encourage adolescents to delay the onset of sexual activity by choosing abstinence. Community partners remain involved in adolescent pregnancy prevention.
The Governor’s Council conducted a pilot project with a Faith Based Program which will be replicated in 3 communities in the future. They worked with the Nampa Interfaith community and developed a Faith Based approach to increase communication between children and parents. A booklet was produced for the faith community can use. They also conducted outreach at various conferences such as Hispanic Youth Conference, Northwest Regional Summit on Youth, Association of Idaho Cities Annual Conference and so on.
The Governor’s Council funds mini grants to local communities to reduce teen out-of- wedlock births through abstinence activities.
b. Summarize below, the State programs and activities directed at encouraging the formation and maintenance of two-parent families (TANF purpose 4):
Mediation services is provided to needy families, under 200% of poverty, involved in custody and other disputes to reconcile differences in order to promote goals of family unification and/or emotional and financial support for children.
Healthy Families Nampa is a community based program which encourages the formation and maintenance of two-parent families by offering marriage preparation counseling to all individuals getting married in Nampa, supports fatherhood activities and family re-unification activities.
(9) An estimate of the total number of individuals who have participated in subsidized employment under §261.30(b) or (c) of this chapter.
All employment in Idaho is unsubsidized.
Attachment B
Annual Report on State Maintenance-of-Effort Programs: Form ACF-204
State: IDAHO Fiscal
Year: 2004
Date Submitted: January 10, 2005
Provide the following information for EACH PROGRAM (according to the nature
of the benefit or service provided) for which the State claims MOE expenditures.
Complete and submit this report in accordance with the attached instructions.
1. Name of Benefit or Service Program
TANF
Child Care
2. Description of the Major Program Benefits, Services, and Activities:
SEE THE IDAHO TANF STATE PLAN
SEE THE IDAHO CHILD CARE STATE PLAN
3. Purpose(s) of Benefit or Service Program:
SEE THE IDAHO TANF STATE PLAN
SEE THE IDAHO CHILD CARE STATE PLAN
4. Program Type. (Check one)
_X_ This Program is operated under the TANF program.
___ This Program is a separate State program.
5. Description of Work Activities (Complete only if this program is a separate State program):
N/A
6. Total State Expenditures for the Program for the Fiscal Year:
(TANF) . . . . . . . . . . $11,849,559
(CHILD CARE) . . . . . . $ 4,319,824
7. Total State MOE Expenditures under the Program for the Fiscal Year:
(TANF) . . . . . . . . . . $11,849,559
(CHILD CARE). . . . . . . $ 1,175,820
8. Total Number of Families Served under the Program with MOE Funds:
(TANF) . . . . . . . . . 2012
(CHILD CARE) . . . . 6861
This last figure represents (check one):
_X_ The average monthly total for the fiscal year.
___ The total served over the fiscal year.
9. Financial Eligibility Criteria for Receiving MOE-funded Program Benefits or Services:
SEE IDAHO STATE PLAN
10. Prior Program Authorization: Was this program authorized and allowable under prior law? (check one)
Yes _X_ No____
11. Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995: _________________________
(NOTE: provide only if response on question 10 is No)
This certifies that all families for which the State claims MOE expenditures
for the fiscal year meet the State's criteria for "eligible families."
