New Hampshire TANF/MOE Report

Office of Family Assistance

Annual Report on State TANF and MOE Programs - 2005
New Hampshire

The New Hampshire Employment Program (NHEP) promotes economic independence and helps maintain and strengthen family life by enabling able bodied persons with dependent children to assume responsibility for their families through the dignity of work. NHEP is administered through 13 NH Works One Stop Career and Information Centers located through out the State. The program provides employment services, support services for obstacles to employment (such as auto insurance, auto registration fees, driver’s license fees for both operator and commercial licenses, adult cosmetic dental care, office clothing, personal care products and other services), and transitional financial and medical assistance to eligible low-income families.

The following work activities were approved under the state's welfare reform waivers. Although the waivers expired in March 2002, the state has made no changes in these activities pending TANF reauthorization. NHEP individuals may participate in the following work activities:

1. Employment is an activity in which there is the receipt of unsubsidized wages for services performed by an individual in the public or private sector. Self-employed individuals who have developed a business plan are considered to be in the Employment activity.

2. On The Job Training is a program in which a private or public employer hires a participant as an employee with the same benefits as other employees. The employee receives support and training and knowledge or skills essential to ensure the participant can attain full and adequate performance of that job. An employer may receive reimbursement of 50% of the individual's wages, to a maximum of $3,500 while the individual is participating in On The-Job Training.

3. Alternative Work Experience Program (AWEP) is a time-limited, supervised, unpaid work activity in the public or private sector that provides an individual with the opportunity to acquire general workplace behaviors, attitudes, skills and knowledge necessary to obtain and retain employment or to meet a Work For Benefits activity requirement. Within the AWEP activity, community service may also be counted as an approved work activity when combined with other approved work activities.

4. Job Readiness is an activity that prepares participants for work by assuring that they are familiar with general workplace expectations and exhibit work behavior and attitudes necessary to compete successfully in the job market. Participants in LEAP (Life skills for Employment, Achievement and Purpose) and Second Start are also considered to be in job readiness. These programs are offered at various sites throughout the state on a contractual basis. Second Start’s Step-by-Step program ended as of 9/30/04 and was replaced by the Working Futures Program on 10/1/04.

5. Job Search is an activity that prepares individuals for employment, including career exploration workshops, career assessment testing, vocational, interest, aptitude and/or literacy testing, and other activities to improve an individual’s successful transition to employment. Within the Job Search activity, Job Club is an 8-week structured group workshop activity combined with an independent monitored job search available to individuals who are deemed to have viable job skills and are ready to contact employers. Individuals participate in Job Club 32 hours per week. Job Club is offered as a full time activity in two locations and as a part time activity in one location. A proposal to expand Job Club statewide is awaiting funding approval.

6. Vocational skills training is an activity that is defined as instruction conducted at an institutional or worksite setting to provide or upgrade an individual’s technical skills required to perform a specific job or group of jobs, including job specific competency training, job specific school to-work programs, on site industry-specific training, customized training, entrepreneurial training, cooperative education or professional and vocational education. (Cooperative education experiences are typically connected to employment whereby individuals participate in work place experiences.)

7. Basic education and alternative educational activities are educational programs that are considered secondary education and include, but are not limited to general educational development (GED) programs, remedial or adult basic education (ABE) programs, high school diploma programs, alternative educational high schools, English as a second language (ESL) and special programs for learning disabled individuals.

8. Post secondary education is a program of study beyond high school or its equivalent leading to an associate's degree or higher.

9. Single educational course activity is an activity consisting of one or two classes offered by a recognized institution of education or training. This does not include pre requisite courses.

10. Barrier resolution is an activity approved when a family has a serious and substantial personal barrier that results in their inability to find and maintain employment. Barriers include, but are not limited to, homelessness, impending eviction, substance abuse addiction of the casehead or a family member, domestic violence, physical or mental disability, emotional or mental instability including depression, legal problems, limited cognitive functioning or any other situation which needs to be resolved before employment or preparation for employment can be pursued. Barrier resolution may also include in home assessment and counseling services provided on a contractual basis by Familystrength, a non profit organization.

11. Community Work Experience Program placements are approved for any work performed at a community agency or non-profit organization. The NHEP recipient is responsible for obtaining the placement at a community agency or non-profit organization and must provide written documentation of volunteer status, type of work performed, and monthly hours to be worked. Hours actually worked are verified on a monthly basis.

Question (2) A description of the transitional services provided to families no longer receiving assistance due to employment;

New Hampshire's TANF program provides the following transitional services using the criteria described below:

1. Extended Medical Assistance (EMA) due to employment. All individuals who were members of a New Hampshire Employment Program (NHEP) or Family Assistance Program (FAP) financial assistance case may receive up to 12 months of extended medical assistance (Medicaid) if the assistance group becomes ineligible for financial assistance and meets the following criteria:

• Ineligibility for financial assistance is due to new or increased earnings of the parent/caretaker relative; or
• Ineligibility for NHEP or FAP/UP (Unemployed Parent) is due to increased hours by the principal wage earner.

Note that extended medical assistance may also be available to those receiving medical assistance only as categorically needy.

2. Extended Case Management Services. Extended case management services are provided to individuals in order to reach or maintain the goal of long-term self sufficiency. When an NHEP individual's TANF case closes due to an increase in earnings from employment, the NHEP caseworker is still available to assist the client(s) with issues such as:
• Job-keeping and work maturity skills;
• Problem-solving skills; and
• Long-term career goal counseling, planning and attainment.

Extended case management services are available for up to 90 days from the date of TANF case closing; participation by former NHEP clients is voluntary.

Welfare to Work Services. Welfare to-Work (WtW) is focused on post employment activities and intensive barrier resolution services. The State of New Hampshire received a $2.7 million dollar grant from the United States Department of Labor under the State Formula grants. These funds are provided to the Workforce Opportunities Council, and then administered under a contract by the NH Community Action Agencies. The Community Action Agencies also have staff located at the NHES NH Works One Stop Job and Career Information Centers. Through WtW, current and former recipients of public assistance and non custodial parents may access support services focusing on job retention, job advancement, barrier resolution and payments for specific support services.

Federal funding for the Welfare-to-Work program ceased on June 30, 2004. The program ended in NH on the same date. On September 1, 2004, NH contracted with Southern New Hampshire Services and its partner Community Action Agencies to provide short-term support services directly affecting work or family self-sufficiency to TANF recipients who have closed TANF due to earnings. The goals of this new program, called Families at Work, are to:

• Increase the job retention rate for former TANF families;
• Increase the rate of earnings of former TANF families; and
• Reduce the TANF recidivism rate by 10% or more over the contract period for former TANF families residing in areas covered by local District Offices designated to participate. Eight local offices have received this designation to participate, and eligible families from the other four offices may receive these services on a case-by-case basis.

4. Step-by-Step Program Services. An individual who is referred to the Step by Step program for intensive job readiness, job search assistance, and barrier resolution activities, and is successful in obtaining employment, may close their TANF case due to earnings. Until September 30, 2004, Step by Step provided support services to the client for up to a year after the case closing. Support services included transportation assistance, child care, work clothing, etc. The Step by Step program also provided one on one mentoring guidance to the client for up to one year. As of September 30, 2004, the Step-by-Step Program ended in New Hampshire. It was replaced on October 1, 2004, by the Working Futures Program, which serves current TANF recipients only. Working Futures differs from the Step-by-Step program in that it is a structured eight-week classroom program focusing on career research and goals, employer expectations, workplace behavior and job readiness. The goal is for participants to move into a work activity by the end of the 8-week program.

5. Child Care Assistance. Child care assistance is available to families who are working, seeking, or preparing for employment, regardless of whether they are getting a cash grant if their gross monthly income is less than under 190% of federal poverty level. The amount of child care assistance each eligible family receives is based upon monthly income, family size, age of children and type of provider.

6. Step 1 Child Care Assistance. Step 1 child care reimbursement does not require a co-payment, and eligibility is determined without regard to income. Step 1 child care reimbursement is available to current recipients of TANF financial assistance as well as the following groups:

• NHEP OJT Participants. NHEP participants in an on-the-job training (OJT) program may receive Step 1 child care reimbursement for the duration of the program, even if TANF financial assistance ends.
• Twelve-Month Extended Medical Assistance Recipients. Recipients whose NHEP or FAP financial assistance or categorically needy medical assistance closes due to new or increased earnings or increased hours of employment, thereby entitling them to Twelve-Month Extended Medical Assistance, are entitled to Step 1 child care reimbursement for up to one year, provided all child care eligibility requirements are met.
• Categorically Needy Medical Assistance Recipients. Recipients of categorically needy medical assistance may receive Step 1 child care reimbursement, including recipients of 12 month EMA when eligibility for EMA is based on loss of NHEP related categorically needy MA due to new or increased earnings or hours of employment.

7. Extended Food Stamps. On 07/01/05, the State of New Hampshire initiated the Extended Food Stamp Program. Extended Food Stamp (EFS) benefits are a fixed monthly amount of Food Stamps that are provided for up to five months to certain families whose TANF cash assistance has ended. Eligible members in the Food Stamp Assistance Group at the time that TANF financial assistance closes are eligible for EFS. However, households are not eligible for EFS if TANF cash assistance closes in part or solely due to any of the following:

A sanction, being a fugitive felon or intentional program violation;
A transfer of assets or property to qualify for assistance;
Receipt of a lump sum;
Failure to cooperate with quality control or child support;
Failure to provide verification required to determine eligibility;
Failure to complete a recertification or attend a special review appointment;
No longer a resident of New Hampshire;
Client requests the assistance case be closed, unless the request is due to saving TANF months on the lifetime limit; or,
Casehead has left the household.

If the household receives only EFS and is not open for any other program of assistance, the household has no reporting requirements. If the household is open for other programs in addition to EFS, the household must continue to report all changes as required by these programs.

Question (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.

Under New Hampshire's TANF program, the amount of assistance payable to a family is reduced when an individual refuses to engage in work without good cause. This action, referred to as a sanction, applies to both adults and dependent children, age 16 or older that are not in school. Progressive sanctions apply only to the parent or caretaker relative included. Sanctions are applied in the following circumstances:

• When an individual fails to meet New Hampshire Employment Program (NHEP) participation requirements without good cause, that individual is sanctioned.

• When an individual is considered to have voluntarily quit a job without good cause, that individual is sanctioned. Voluntary quit policy does not apply to individuals eligible for or receiving Family Assistance Program (TANF for assistance groups with non-able-bodied adults) financial assistance. It does not apply when an individual was fired or resigns at the request of an employer because that person cannot meet the employer's work productivity standard or when an individual under the age of 60 resigns and the employer recognizes the resignation as retirement. A sanction for voluntary quit is not applied when the parent or caretaker relative lacks the means to immediately come into compliance. An individual is considered to have voluntarily quit if s/he:

• Quits a job of at least 20 hours a week, within 60 days of applying for TANF financial assistance;

• Fails to report to work, without good cause, while on assistance, and such failure to report results in termination of employment; or

• Refuses to accept a suitable job offer while receiving NHEP financial assistance.

There are eight good cause reasons for failure or refusal to cooperate with NHEP work program participation requirements including:

• Lack of transportation,
• Lack of child care,
• Illness, incapacity, or disability of participants,
• Illness, incapacity or disability of another household member serious enough to require the presence in the home of the participant,
• Net loss of cash income,
• Required court appearance,
• Mandated appointments, and
• Unreasonable risk to health or safety of any household member.

There are eight good cause reasons for voluntarily quitting or refusing employment including:

• Discrimination by an employer,
• Unreasonable health and safety risks,
• Rate of pay less than minimum wage,
• Rate of pay results in a net loss of income,
• Job is unsuitable (e.g., unreasonable commuting time and costs, individual is physically or mentally unfit to perform the job, etc.),
• Seasonal employment,
• Household emergency, and
• Acceptance of employment or enrollment at least half time in a recognized school, training program or institution of higher education that requires an individual to leave a job.

There are three levels of sanctions, based on the length of time or number of times the parent or caretaker relative-included has failed to comply without having good cause.

• Level 1 For the first instance of failure or for failures that occur more than 6 months after the end of the most recent sanction period without good cause, the payment standard is decreased by the monetary value of the needs of the non compliant individual when determining the TANF eligibility and benefit amount. The payment after the financial decrease is referred to as the adjusted payment standard and stays in effect for one payment period or until the failure to comply ceases, whichever is longer.

• Level 2 After 2 additional months of continued non compliance without good cause, the adjusted payment standard is reduced by 1/3 for one payment period or until the failure to comply ceases, whichever is longer.

• Level 3 After an additional 2 months of continued non compliance, the adjusted payment standard in level 1 is reduced by 2/3 for one payment period or until the failure to comply ceases, whichever is longer.

There is never more than one sanction applied to a two-parent family, even if both parents are noncompliant.

Dependent children have only one uniform sanction regardless of how long the child fails to comply.

The end of the sanction period occurs when the individual's failure to comply with NHEP work participation has ceased, or if the individual becomes exempt from NHEP work requirements.

An individual sanctioned for voluntary quit is considered to have complied when it is verified that s/he has begun participating for a minimum of 20 hours a week in paid employment or in an NHEP-approved On-the-Job training (OJT) position or Alternative Work Experience Placement (AWEP).

If a case closes and reopens during a sanction period, any sanction remaining at the time the case is closed is carried over and applied when the case is reopened. Each household may request a fair hearing to appeal a denial, reduction or termination of benefits.

Effective 12/1/2003, New Hampshire implemented new policy for those NHEP participants who have progressed to a Level 3 sanction. These sanctioned individuals must participate in a home-based or telephonic assessment with a contracted agency to ascertain the reason for continued lack of engagement with NHEP work program requirements. Barriers identified in the assessment are then addressed in the NHEP Employment Plan by the NHEP team. If no barriers are identified or if the sanctioned individual refuses to participate in the assessment, financial assistance for the entire assistance group (AG) is terminated.

Individuals may reapply and be reopened for TANF financial assistance at the full grant level for which they are eligible at any time after full family sanction closure. However, consequences for continued non-compliance with NHEP work requirements vary based upon the number of times an AG has had their financial assistance benefits terminated due to full family sanction.

• If the family is reopened for TANF financial assistance after the first closure for full family sanction and an AG member fails to meet NHEP work requirements, the sanction is immediately returned to Level 3, with the resulting reduced grant amount, and the AG must participate in another home-based or telephonic assessment.

• If a family’s financial assistance benefits are terminated for full family sanction for a second time and the family is again reopened for TANF financial assistance, these benefits will automatically terminate upon the first instance of non-compliance that result in sanction. This rule applies to any subsequent reopenings for TANF financial assistance and non-compliance that results in sanction until the AG member reaches the 60-month lifetime limit.

Question (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:

(i) Licensed/regulated in home child care;
(ii) Licensed/regulated family child care;
(iii) Licensed/regulated group home child care;
(iv) Licensed/regulated center based child care;
(v) Legally operating (i.e., no license category available in State or locality)
in home child care provided by a non relative.
(vi) Legally operating (i.e., no license category available in State or locality)
in home child care provided by a relative.
(vii) Legally operating (i.e., no license category available in State or locality)
family child care provided by a non-relative;
(viii) Legally operating (i.e., no license category available in State or locality)
family child care provided by a relative;
(ix) Legally operating (i.e., no license category available in State or locality)
group child care provided by a non-relative;
(x) Legally operating (i.e., no license category available in State or locality)
group child care provided by a relative;
(xi) Legally operating (i.e., no license category available in State or locality)
center-based child care

For the FFY 2005, the child care disregard was applied to an average of 1,328 TANF families per month. The average amount of the disregard was $117.93. The child care disregard is given when child care costs are incurred as a result of employment and the child lives in the employed person's home and is in the same or related NHEP and FAP financial or medical assistance case.

The state categorizes child care providers in only three categories, versus the ten listed above. For FFY 2005, TANF income eligible families received child care services as follows:

Question (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.

The NH Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Family Assistance (DFA), implemented the Family Violence Option (FVO) in February 2000. The only new program requirement waived under the FVO is the exemption to the 60-month lifetime limit. The New Hampshire Employment Program (NHEP) already has support services for victims of domestic violence through the barrier resolution work activity available under our waivered activities. Existing policy already allows a TANF client to claim good cause for non-cooperation with Child Support.

With the implementation of the FVO in February 2000, NHEP clients are given ‘special considerations’ within the work program when they disclose that their family includes a member who is, or has been, a victim of family/domestic violence, and they request special consideration for domestic violence services. The client is offered and may choose any combination of the following options through their NHEP Employment Counselor Specialist:

1. Six months in which client is excused from all NHEP activity participation requirement;
2. A referral to an agency specializing in family/domestic violence services;
3. A meeting with a person trained in family/domestic violence at NHEP or an alternative site; or
4. Full participation in NHEP and related activities.

If a client chooses to be excused from NHEP participation or seeks assistance for their family/domestic situation, the client is automatically enrolled in the NHEP Barrier Resolution Activity. An individual, who has chosen to be excused for 6 months from all NHEP activities, must meet with an NHEP team member and a local family/domestic violence counselor at the end of the 6-month period. The counselor will provide information about family/domestic violence services available in the community. If the client opts to be excused from all NHEP activity for another 6-month period, the individual will be required to meet with a person trained in family/domestic violence for an individualized assessment and development of an individualized service plan at the end of the second 6-month period. The assessment and individualized service plan will recommend the next steps in the NHEP program. Through 9/30/05, field staff have indicated that 6 individuals (statewide) have asked for this assessment.

On April 1st, 2001, the Division of Family Assistance (DFA) adopted hardship extension policy and procedures for the TANF 60-month life time limit. When an individual reaches month 54 of receipt of TANF, they are asked to participate in a Hardship Review Interview. There are 10 criteria in which a client may request a hardship extension. After the client has participated in a Hardship Review Interview, they must then provide the needed documentation to support their claim of hardship from one of the 10 criteria. The information is then reviewed by a Hardship Review Committee, which consists of 2 Departmental employees and 5 individuals representing community agencies. The sole purpose of this committee is to evaluate extension requests, and they do so without knowledge of the clients’ names or other identifying criteria. The committee has the authority to approve or deny these requests and make further recommendations for the client in their pursuit of self-sufficiency. The Committee’s decision is based on an evaluation of the verification provided by the client and any other information or documentation provided by the client and DFA staff.

If an individual is asking for a hardship extension due to domestic violence, s/he must participate in a DV assessment prior to the committee meeting at which the request will be considered. The individual will have to develop an individualized service plan with a person trained in Domestic Violence issues.

The Division of Family Assistance has worked closely with the NH Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence agency to develop the FVO policy and procedures. The Division also contracts with Familystrength, Inc., an agency that provides crisis intervention and counseling services to TANF families. Private therapists are also utilized for these assessments. Between the efforts of all three organizations, we have trained and have available 16 DV Assessors statewide to conduct this mandatory assessment.

Once the assessment is completed, the outcome of the assessment and recommendations are forwarded to the Hardship Review committee. Additional recommendations and the individualized service plan are sent to the NHEP Team for continued case management with the client. Through 9/30/05, of the 6 persons who claimed a hardship due to family/domestic violence, all 6 were approved.

Existing policy already allows a TANF client to claim good cause for non-cooperation with Child Support due to emotional/physical harm to the child or parent. With the adoption of the FVO, the definition was expanded to also include domestic violence. Another change in policy resulting from the state's adoption of the FVO relates to "acceptable" documentation for a claim of domestic violence. If an individual does not have the existing required documentation (restraining order, medical records, legal documents, statements from agency professionals, etc.), a signed sworn statement from the individual claiming the existence of the domestic violence may be accepted as documentation for all claims of domestic violence.

Question (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;

(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

(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

(i) New Hampshire's TANF program provides non recurrent short term benefits through the Emergency Assistance (EA) Program, administered by the Division of Family Assistance. Emergency Assistance (EA) payments for permanent housing are made to enable TANF eligible individuals to obtain or retain safe and healthy housing. EA payments are limited to the payment of rent, mortgage and utility arrearages, rental and utility deposits, and fuel deliveries.

Applicants for EA permanent housing payments must be experiencing or threatened by at least one of the following:

• Homelessness,
• Termination of a utility, or
• Lack of heat, hot water or cooking fuel.

• Be eligible for and receiving TANF financial assistance,
• Be categorically and financially eligible for TANF financial assistance, except that the caretaker relative does not meet the definition of a specified relative. However, the children must have lived with a specified relative within 6 months preceding the month of application, or
• Not be receiving TANF financial assistance, but be categorically and financially eligible for it.

The assistance group is allowed to retain $250 of personal property resources before applying those countable personal property resources to meet emergency needs for permanent housing. EA funds are authorized to meet needs not covered by the individual's resources (minus $250), within established maximum amounts.

EA payments are authorized for the following reasons, within the established maximum amount as follows:

• Security deposits to obtain rental housing. The amount of the monthly rent must not exceed 80% of the individual’s total available monthly income, and the security deposit authorized itself must be no more than $650. However, an assistance group may request subsequent security deposits of up to $650 more than once in a 12 month period provided the full amount of the last deposit authorized in the current 12 month period has been or will be refunded by the former landlord.
• Back rent. The amount of the monthly rent must not exceed 80% of the individual’s total available monthly income. Back rent can be allowed but only the amount required to retain housing, and no more than a two-month arrearage period can be authorized.
• Mortgage arrearages. Arrearages can be allowed covering principal and interest of a mortgage, but only the amount required to retain housing, for no more than a two-month arrearage period. The amount of the monthly mortgage must not exceed the individual’s total available monthly income. In the case of a payment of mortgage arrearages, the applicant does not have to be the current owner of the residence. The requirement that all joint owners must sign an acknowledgment of a lien filed on the residence was eliminated effective 7/1/02.
• Utility deposits to obtain gas, electric, and heat. The amount charged by the utility provider per utility may be authorized.
• Utility arrearages required to prevent termination of gas, electricity, and heat, for no more than a two month arrearage period.
• Home heating fuel to provide individuals with heat, hot water or cooking fuel may be authorized up to a maximum of $450, no more than 6 times in a 12 consecutive month period.

Emergency assistance payments for family preservation are also made through DHHS’ Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), to provide services to children and their families in situations involving delinquents, credible reports of child abuse, neglect, and abandonment; imminent risk of a child’s removal from the home and urgent situations where continued presence in the home is not in the best interest of the child. DCYF is responsible for determining eligibility for and authorization of these EA payments.

Emergency Assistance payments are limited to an authorization period of twelve consecutive months, beginning when the first EA payment for permanent housing is authorized. EA services (except as previously noted) may be authorized once any time during the 12-month authorization period.

(ii) The State does not limit non recurrent, short term benefits or delay or suspend a family's eligibility for TANF financial assistance, other than those described under (i).

(iii) The state does not have a "diversion" program related to TANF financial assistance.

Question (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.

All complaints of discrimination are referred to the NH Commission for Human Rights. In many instances, the NH Department of Labor is contacted first, but the Commission for Human Rights handles complaints. All employers are required to post information relative to an employee's rights regarding displacement and /or discrimination.

The NH Statute RSA 167:91 a, Infringement on Rights of Other Employees Prohibited, addresses displacement and resolution of displacement complaints relating to the state's welfare reform program. The statute states that the Alternative Work Experience Program (AWEP) shall not use participants in any way contrary to federal law under section 407(f) of the Social Security Act. Under the General Provisions of the AWEP provider agreement, the provider acknowledges that AWEP participants may not fill established, unfilled position vacancies, nor displace those currently employed.

The Family Assistance Manual, (policy manual for the TANF program), outlines grievance procedures in section 829 under Fair Hearings. It states that Employment and Training related fair hearings are conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services to hear grievances from employees who feel that have been displaced by NHEP participants. An appeal of the fair hearing decision is possible through the Office of Administrative Law Judges, U.S. Department of Labor. Instructions for the appeal are included in the hearing decision.

Question (8) A summary of State programs and activities directed at the third and fourth statutory purposes of TANF (as specified at §260.20(c) and (d);

(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):

The NH Division of Public Health Services Family Planning Program (FPP) continues to collaborate with the Division of Family Assistance (DFA) through the utilization of TANF funds to assist in the prevention of unintended pregnancies. TANF funds are distributed to 11 agencies throughout the state of NH. These agencies provide pre-pregnancy family planning services at 30 sites. FPP delegate agencies also operate 12 reproductive health Teen Clinics designed to meet the needs of NH adolescents. Between October 1, 2004 and September 30, 2005, assisted by TANF funds for outreach, these agencies provided clinical and educational services to 30,305 persons. 14,115 of these individuals live under 100% of the federal poverty level, and an additional 11,377 have incomes between 101% and 250% of the federal poverty level. The delegate agencies promote the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Project through New Hampshire schools and community-based youth serving agencies. As a result, the agencies educated or provided services to an estimate of 8,000 teens through TANF/ FPP funds. Additionally, with these funds, the Project provided education to an estimated 3,000 adults on the topics of parental involvement, communicating with teens and availability of local services and supports for teens.

In accordance with the four (4) Federal TANF purposes, various activities take place that provide services through the NH TANF-Family Planning Collaborative Project. Program focus areas include:

1. Increase access to pre-pregnancy family planning programs especially to women living in low-income households and Medicaid eligible women through the expansion of existing Title X community education programs and outreach efforts;
2. Increase use of more effective methods to prevent out-of-wedlock births especially to women who have financial barriers;
3. Provide evidence-based teen pregnancy curriculum in schools and community-based organizations throughout the state of New Hampshire; and
4. Provide statewide community education activities that seek to improve parent-child communication; increase male involvement; gain more knowledge about effective pregnancy prevention strategies, including abstinence; use peers as a credible source of reproductive health information; and provide teen-focused outreach efforts to enhance access to reproductive health care services.

The activities to meet the first two program focus areas include a targeted outreach to increase knowledge of pre-pregnancy family planning services and encourage access. Outreach efforts included presentations delivered to 7,000 persons. Specific activities have included:

• Distribution of brochures, posters and wallet cards providing site-specific information about the availability and range of pre-pregnancy family planning services. Several print materials included information about sliding scale fees or acceptance of Medicaid payments.
• Increase in the availability and distribution of bi-lingual educational materials in communities with a significant minority population.
• Participation in monthly and quarterly youth prevention coalitions, service provider networking meetings, adolescent health task forces and school improvement initiatives.
• Meetings with local Departments of Welfare, United Ways and Housing Developments to discuss local collaboration between pre-pregnancy family planning and other local human services agencies;
• Local collaboration with the statewide job readiness and family life skills program, LEAP, educating clients about communication, healthy relationships and pre-pregnancy family planning services;
• School-based presentations on pre-pregnancy family planning options emphasizing abstinence, making healthy choices, relationships and parent communication;
• Presentations to child care centers and Head Start Programs, addressing staff and parents about the availability of pre-pregnancy family planning services;
• Maintenance of a school-based support program for pregnant and parenting teens whose objectives are to reduce school dropout rates and repeat pregnancies, enhance school performance, and increase parenting skills;
• Participation in public events such as Health Fairs, wellness events, Back to School Nights and fairs where print materials and staff are available to promote pre-pregnancy family planning services and local sites; and
• Pregnancy prevention education for youth who reside at a Youth Detention Center in Manchester.

The activities that took place to meet the third and fourth program areas are the Curriculum Project and the Community Education Project.

The Curriculum Project involves the statewide delivery of three evidence-based curricula, Making Proud Choices (MPC), Making A Difference (MAD), and Reducing The Risk (RTR). These curricula are aimed at reducing behaviors that put adolescents at risk for pregnancy. MPC and MAD are geared for middle school age youth and RTR is geared for high school age youth. To effectively implement these programs, the FPP partners with trained teachers and with other school personnel and community members.

In cooperation with the NH Department of Education and the FPP’s Title X delegates, State family planning program personnel recruit schools and community-based organizations to become partners in the delivery of one or more of the offered curricula. Curricula trainers include teachers, school nurses, counselors and community-based youth-serving personnel. The participating partner agencies represent a fair distribution of New Hampshire’s communities. Many of them work in areas of the state where the teen pregnancy rates are higher than the state average.

The curricula implementation provides opportunities for parents to be involved, through an active parental consent process and through an activity which require students to ask a parent questions about their attitudes and beliefs regarding teens and sex.

Between October 1, 2004 and September 30, 2005, 11 partner organizations, representing 13 schools implemented 30 curriculum-based programs throughout New Hampshire. 528 youth participated in the project. Initial evaluation results show an increase in the number of students who express positive attitudes toward sexual abstinence and a belief that abstinence is the best way to avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.

The New Hampshire DHHS, Division of Public Health Services, Bureau of Community Health Services, Maternal and Child Health Section (MCHS), collaborates with the TANF program to support Home Visiting New Hampshire, a home visiting initiative for pregnant and parenting women.

Home Visiting New Hampshire (HVNH) is a preventive program that provides health, education and support to Medicaid eligible pregnant women and their families in their homes. Nurses and parent educators visit families in their homes from the time a woman is pregnant until the child’s first birthday. This model includes the use of a health education curriculum and the Parents as Teachers (PAT) program. PAT provides a detailed, evidence-based parent education curriculum for families of young children. PAT emphasizes early literacy and increased active participation of the parent in developmentally appropriate activities with their children.

Using TANF, Medicaid, and Maternal and Child Health Title V funds, HVNH is entering into its sixth program year. In these years, the overall program budget has expanded and contracted; enrollment has consistently grown; and two evaluations/analyses have measured the processes, performance and outcomes of the program. From October 2004 through September 2005, the program served 833 women and their families with over 10,800 home visits. A quick statistical portrait of HVNH participants is as follows:

• Average age of participants is 23
• 50% live without a husband or partner
• 50% are first-time mother
• 18% were attending school at enrollment
• 43% have not completed high school

Families participate in the program by having twice monthly home visits starting early in their pregnancy until their child’s first birthday. Each site is expected to serve between 25-40 families annually with comprehensive home visiting from both nursing professionals and family support specialists.

Family planning education is woven throughout the standard curriculum that all home visitors use and is an important component of many visits. In addition to the curriculum, 34% percent of visits in the past federal fiscal year recorded detailed conversations about pre-pregnancy family planning issues. During this period there were 108 specific referrals to pre-pregnancy family planning clinics.

RMC Research completed its analysis of thousands of data forms submitted by the local home visiting programs. A brief summary of the findings indicated that HVNH programs are:

• Reaching the intended population
• Being implemented as planned
• Following protocols
• Delivering appropriate programming using engaging strategies
• Providing support to families
• Popular among both families and staff

In March 2005, HVNH with Health METRICS completed the Best Practices project. Six HVNH sites participated in the project. The project goal was to enhance the quality of home visiting services and simultaneously reduce the costs. This was accomplished by first identifying and then transferring components of the Best Practice process. Each individual site was benchmarked against the Best Practice process. From this analysis, detailed, site-specific recommendations for changing a site’s process were made when those changes were thought to improve a site’s quality and cost outcomes.

The project identified substantial variation among the six participating Home Visiting sites, resulting in considerable differences in satisfaction, clinical outcomes, and unit costs. The most dramatic variations were in unit costs. Adjusted episode costs for providing the service varied by over 237%, from $3,170 to $10,710 per episode. The most significant drivers to cost were (in descending order of importance):

•The percentage of non-direct clinical time,
• The time spent on the visit and associated functions, and
• The staff mix (Home Visitor, Registered Nurse)

Health METRICS identified cost reduction opportunities across the sites from 4% to 35%.

HVNH will continue to collect performance and outcome data regarding maternal and child health outcomes such as exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, depression screening for women, developmental screening for children and access to family planning services and repeat pregnancies.

(b) Summarize below, the State programs and activities directed at encouraging the formation and maintenance of two parent families (TANF purpose 4):

A variety of factors contribute to healthy family formation. Among these are communication and conflict resolution skills, education and training development, and self-esteem. Many low-income families are especially challenged when it comes to having the experience or skills needed to develop healthy relationships. Additional stressors for both TANF and other low-income families include lack of income, lack of education, lack of child care and lack of transportation. Due to these stressors, they are often unable to make healthy decisions for themselves and their families.

Under the New Hampshire TANF Program, there are a number of activities and services available to TANF clients and their families to enhance healthy family functioning. Some of these are offered as allowable work activities. The available programs assist TANF participants in strengthening their family functioning and learning skills to develop healthy relationships. An additional benefit of the programs is that they help clients anticipate and plan for the future. In so doing, participants begin to understand the impact of their actions on their families as well as make better decisions about work, both of which lead to permanent self-sufficiency. Some of the program’s topics include:

• Developing positive parenting skills and healthy parent-child relationships;
• Developing effective communication skills with children, adults and organizations;
• Balancing work and family demands effectively;
• Developing time, stress and conflict management skills;
• Teaching organizational, decision-making and problem solving skills;
• Enhancing self-esteem, motivation and confidence;
• Preventing and reducing the number of out-of-wedlock pregnancies; and
• Developing positive social support networks.

Ordinarily, a New Hampshire family must meet a deprivation standard to qualify for assistance. This standard is met when one of the parents is absent from the home, or, in a two-parent family, is in the home but incapacitated, thereby depriving the child(ren) of that parent’s care. When an absent parent returns to the home or the parent is no longer incapacitated, that standard can no longer be met. However, New Hampshire allows families an adjustment period following the return of the absent parent, during which they can continue to receive assistance. This additional assistance extends from the month that the deprivation ends through the end of the calendar month that immediately follows it.

Additionally, New Hampshire has the Unemployed Parent program through which the primary wage earner in a two parent home is either unemployed or under-employed (working under 100 hours per month) and the family can still qualify for financial assistance.

The Department of Health and Human Services has carefully evaluated the budget to see if there is a way to eliminate the “100 hour rule” of the Unemployed Parent Program as this would allow more low income two parent families to be eligible for financial assistance. The initial findings are that elimination of the rule would be a very costly, long term change for the TANF program in New Hampshire. Due to the uncertainty of TANF reauthorization, the State has made no changes in the program at this time. Future changes in two-parent eligibility may be necessitated by federal reauthorization legislation once it is passed.

Healthy Family Relationship Counseling - Familystrength, Inc. provides in-home counseling services to TANF/NHEP families having significant and substantial barriers, which prohibit them from successfully participating in NHEP activities. These barriers may include personal or family oriented problems, children with disabilities or behavior issues, history of physical abuse, history of substance abuse, anxiety, depression or other serious mental health issues, and other factors, which contribute significantly to family stress.

If relationship issues (with children and/or other family members) threaten the stability of the family, experienced counselors are invited to the home to help promote and support the family’s own problem-solving abilities from a strength-based perspective. Services can also be obtained outside the home. Counselors then assist the family in linking to available community services for any on-going therapeutic needs. This family problem intervention/strengthening service has been highly utilized by TANF families.

Lifeskills for Employment, Achievement and Purpose (LEAP) - The New Hampshire Employment Program has partnered with the University of New Hampshire’s Cooperative Extension program to deliver a three-week, thirty (30) hour per week training for NHEP recipients throughout the State. LEAP provides a comprehensive classroom experience in personal skill development, parenting skill building, money management, and healthy food and nutrition education. Specific topics include developing good communication skills (with children as well as other adults), budgeting on a limited income, improving nutrition, balancing work and family, managing anger, stress and conflict, increasing self-esteem and expanding support networks.

In a small group setting, participants learn to identify the types of stress and conflict that lead to anger and the resulting disrupted relationships they could face, within a safe classroom environment. Participants, both men and women, benefit from learning better communication skills and developing the self-esteem necessary to participate in strong and secure partnerships.

Family Resource Center at Gorham – There are sixteen Family Resource Centers located throughout New Hampshire which provide a variety of services including child care and employment assistance (not of a cash nature) to low income families in their communities. These centers get funding from a variety of local and grant programs. The Family Resource Center at Gorham worked with the New Hampshire Division of Child Support Services to provide a program to which, upon application for TANF, both the custodial parent and the non-custodial parent were referred, as both need to work together to raise their child.

The program was designed to give services to newly unemployed residents before they get into the TANF system. Understanding that unemployment puts a terrible strain on families, both economically and otherwise, the program focused on both strengthening families as well as developing employment skills. Goals of the Gorham program included:

• Increasing a parent’s knowledge of his child’s social, economic, and emotional needs;
• Increasing the parent’s knowledge of positive parenting skills;
• Familiarizing parents with available community resources;
• Assisting parents in the development of a sense of responsibility, safety and accountability for the well being of their children, including financial and emotional development;
• Providing parents with access to their children and the opportunity to serve as a positive parent role model; and
• Assisting parents to maintain/develop healthy relationships with each other, by teaching good communication skills and stress management.

Following an initial assessment, a care management plan was developed with and for the family. The plan addressed issues such as budgeting, child care, anger management, and resource management and identified any other needs for support services. Clients were asked to sign the care plan, which could be modified as needed.

The New Hampshire Division of Child Support Services within the Department of Health & Human Services has developed a number of initiatives designed to strengthen families. This Division recognizes that non-custodial parents play a critical role in their children's’ lives and that not all non-custodial parents are men. They refer to these programs as “Parenting Initiatives” rather than “Fatherhood Initiatives.” The programs all focus on developing positive parenting and communication skills.

Workforce Development Program for non-custodial parents – The Division of Child Support Services referred non-custodial parents to the Welfare-to-Work program for assistance in advancing in employment. The services were the same as for NHEP clients; the difference is that the Child Support Services Division referred non-custodial parents. Welfare-to-Work staff developed employment plans with non-custodial parents, offering all the services that are available to other TANF recipients, as long as the non-custodial parent’s child was receiving TANF services, or had received them within the past 12 months. These services included the Alternative Work Experience Program; basic, vocational, and post-secondary education programs, job readiness, employment and on the job training. Barrier resolution services were also available. Welfare-to-Work staff also provided on-going, individual case management. The program was funded by the Department of Labor with Welfare to Work funds which ended in June 2004. DCSS refers non-custodial parents to One Stop Centers for traditional employment support services when necessary. They have also collaborated with the Department of Corrections to conduct pre-release employment counseling to non-custodial parents who are near the end of their incarceration.

Access & Visitation (A & V) Grant – The Division of Child Support Services administers a federally funded mediation program in four (4) New Hampshire counties. These include Carroll, Cheshire, Grafton and Coos counties. The program provides mediation services to couples who do not share custody of their child(ren). Because there are economic and social advantages for children whose parents can agree on custody and visitation, the focus of the mediation is to work out these issues. The Courts make the referrals and the mediation takes place at the County Courthouses. Cases are screened out if there are any issues of domestic violence. The Family Visitation and Access Cooperative is comprised of six supervised visitation sites in six New Hampshire counties (Merrimack, Cheshire, Sullivan, Hillsborough, Grafton and Rockingham) and provides services to help build safe and healthy relationships between children and their non-custodial parents.

Family Connections Project at the Lakes Region Correctional Facility - In a partnership with Division of Child Support Services, the University of New Hampshire (UNH), and the UNH Cooperative Extension, Department of Corrections (DOC) staff work with incarcerated parents on understanding child development and developing good parenting and communication skills. DOC staff also supervise visits between incarcerated parents and their families/children. Division of Child Support Services staff provide education to the prisoners concerning their child support rights and responsibilities regarding modification of child support orders. The goal of this program is to sustain and improve family relationships when one parent is incarcerated.

The Division of Child Support Services continues the development of a number of other initiatives designed to strengthen families in the difficult circumstance when parents cannot live together. These include:
• The creation of educational brochures (“It Takes Two” and “Tips for Co-Parenting Plans” that are circulated to DCSS clients and community agencies such as Behavioral Health Network, Child Impact Seminars, UNH Cooperative Extension, Superior and Family Courts, NHEP, DCYF, Family Resource Centers, etc.);
• A 2006 calendar promoting the positive aspects of parenting;
• Expansion of the Access and Visitation programs into the Family Court System; and
• Workshops on modification of child support.

DCSS has developed educational videos entitled “Positive Parenting” and “How to Modify Your Child Support Order.” Additionally, the division has re-produced their “In-Hospital Paternity Acknowledgment” video for use in hospitals whenever a child is born out of wedlock. The video stresses the importance of paternity acknowledgment and the benefits to the child having two involved parents in the child’s life.

The Child Support Division recognizes that it is not always appropriate for a child’s parent to be a part of parenting, as in the case of domestic violence. Family strengthening initiatives are not designed to provide services in these circumstances.

• New Hampshire continues to explore options to address the needs of its residents concerning marriage initiatives and strengthening fragile families. House Bill 1299-FN, effective May 18, 2002, authorized the establishment of a committee to study the creation of a statewide marriage education and enhancement program. This Committee made several recommendations including:

• Encourage UNHCE to consider developing educational programs with input from the other states models and the Catholic diocese for a suggested workshop.

• Initiate significant public relations programs on the part of the State of New Hampshire to promote the importance of marriage preparation such as brochures, videos, public service announcements, and television and radio advertisements.

• As it is often true that engaged couples feel it is unnecessary to participate in pre-marital programs, incentives for attending such educational courses may be needed. The Committee recommends an incentive program entitled the “Wedding Service Discount Program”, which would encourage community involvement in the promotion of the establishment of marriage as well as attendance at marriage preparation/enhancement programs. The “Wedding Service Discount Program” would offer post-graduate participants of pre-marital courses (holding a certificate of completion) discounted prices for wedding services.

“Adult Roles and Responsibilities” is a course that has been developed for consumer sciences programs in high schools. The curriculum includes communication skill development, conflict resolution, healthy adult relationships, life management skills, premarital education, financial responsibility, child custody and divorce statute education and consequences of divorce on children and families. As of September 2, 2003, this course must be offered by each high school in the state as part of its consumer science offerings. Middle schools will also have a minimum number of hours of consumer sciences that will include an introduction to this topic. One of the final recommendations recently released by the Committee is that this course be a graduation requirement in the NH public schools standards.

The New Hampshire Legislature approved the development of a Family Law Task Force, charging them with developing a non-adversarial system for families who are in the process of divorce, separation, custody disputes, and other family matters.

New Hampshire is also looking into ways to support other outreach efforts, such as those to non-custodial parents who pay child support, to more actively engage their participation in available education and training opportunities and thus their ability to support their child(ren).

Question (9) An estimate of the total number of individuals who have participated in subsidized employment under §261.30(b) or (c) of this chapter.

For FFY 2005, 36 individuals participated in subsidized employment under the On the job Training (OJT) Program. OJT is a program in which a private or public employer hires a participant as an employee with the same benefits as other employees. The employee receives support and training and knowledge or skills essential to ensure the participant can attain full and adequate performance of that job. An employer may receive reimbursement of 50% of the individual's wages, to a maximum of $3,500 while the individual is participating in an On The Job Training position. The duration of an OJT contract cannot exceed 26 weeks with the same employer.

Annual Report on State Maintenance of Effort Programs

For each of the above listed MOE expenditures, an ACF 204 form is attached, detailing the description of program services, the amount of MOE expenditure claimed and the number of families served. Please note that the dollar amount of MOE expenditure is also reflected in the recently submitted ACF 196 financial report submitted for the Federal Fiscal Year ending 9/30/05.

Provide the following information for EACH PROGRAM for which the State claims MOE expenditures.

Basic financial assistance in NH for families with children is provided under two programs, the New Hampshire Employment Program (NHEP) and the Family Assistance Program (FAP).

NHEP provides financial assistance to families where children are cared for by a parent or other relative who is receiving cash assistance and who is considered able to work. Adults in the NHEP program have a mandatory work requirement.

FAP provides financial assistance to families where the children are cared for by a relative who is not receiving assistance or where the parent or other relative is considered unable to work because of a physical or mental disability. There is no mandatory work requirement.

NHEP and FAP have a common purpose: to provide financial assistance to eligible (needy) families twice per month so that children may be cared for in their homes or in relative's homes. Furthermore, each program has specific purposes described below:

NHEP promotes economic independence and helps maintain and strengthen family life by enabling able bodied persons with dependent children to assume responsibility for their families through work. Work is promoted by:

• Offering employment services, support services and transitional financial and medical assistance with the expectation that participants will move quickly towards employment;
• Developing long term employment skills that lead to self sufficiency; and
• Recognizing the equal responsibility of both parents to provide economic support for their children.

_X_ This Program is operated under the TANF program.
____This Program is a separate State program.

5. Description of Work Activities in the SSP MOE program (i.e., Complete only if this program is a separate State program):

7. Total State Expenditures Claimed as MOE under the Program for the Fiscal Year: $17,001,878

_X_ The average monthly total for the fiscal year. (Eligible any time during a month)
___ The total served over the fiscal year.

9. Eligibility Criteria for Receiving MOE funded Benefits or Services under the Program:

TANF financial eligibility criteria: Eligibility for NHEP or FAP depends on income, resources and expenses of the family. Income and resource requirements are the same for both programs but the FAP program has no work requirements. Both programs have a 60 month time limit for receipt of assistance, when there is an adult in the case receiving financial assistance.

10. Prior Program Authorization: Was this program authorized and allowable under prior law (i.e., as defined at §260.30)? (Check one)

11. Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995
(NOTE: provide only if the response on to 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."

Provide the following information for EACH PROGRAM for which the State claims MOE expenditures.

This category is for financial assistance coverage of families with dependent children who are over the age of 18 and up to age 20 if a full time student or in an equivalent level of vocational or technical training. This applies to both families where the 19-year-old full time student is the only dependent child in the assistance group or where there are multiple children, of which the 19-year-old is one. If the 19-year-old full time student does not meet the educational requirements stated then normal age requirements for dependent children of the TANF program apply. See Attachment B describing Basic Assistance-General for program description.

5. Description of Work Activities in the SSP MOE program, i.e., complete only if this program is a separate State program):

Adult recipients of this category are determined to be either in the New Hampshire Employment Program or the Family Assistance Program as defined in Attachment B for Basic Assistance-General. Work Activities apply to only NHEP. There are no work activities for the 19-year-old dependent children in this category; however, there are educational requirements as stated above. If the 19-year-old full time student does not meet the educational requirements stated then normal age requirements for dependent children of the TANF program apply.

7. Total State Expenditures Claimed as MOE under the Program for the Fiscal Year $197,908

9. Eligibility Criteria for Receiving MOE funded Benefits or Services under the Program:

See Attachment B Basic Assistance-General for TANF financial eligibility requirements and 60 month time limit. All other non-financial requirements of the TANF program apply except age of dependent child. However, if the 19-year-old full time student does not meet the educational requirements stated above then normal age requirements for dependent children of the TANF program apply.

10. Prior Program Authorization: Was this program authorized and allowable under prior law (i.e., as defined at §260.30)? (Check one)

11. Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995.
(NOTE: provide only if the response on to question 10 is No.)

There were no expenditures under this program in FY 1995. This policy became effective in March 1997 as part of a federally approved waiver. The waiver expired 3/31/2002 and has since been paid for with state funds as a separate program.

This certifies that all families for which the State claims MOE expenditures for the fiscal year meet the State's criteria for "eligible families."

Provide the following information for EACH PROGRAM for which the State claims MOE expenditures.

1. This category is for financial assistance coverage of two parent families with dependent children who are deprived of parental support or care by the unemployment or underemployment of the principle wage earner. See Attachment B describing Basic Assistance-General for program description.

This category is for financial assistance coverage of two parent families with dependent children who are deprived of parental support or care by the unemployment or underemployment of the principle wage earner. See Attachment B describing Basic Assistance-General for program purpose.

7. Description of Work Activities in the SSP MOE program, i.e., complete only if this program is a separate State program):

9. Total State Expenditures Claimed as MOE under the Program for the Fiscal Year $751,615

11. Eligibility Criteria for Receiving MOE funded Benefits or Services under the Program:

See Attachment B Basic Assistance – General for TANF financial eligibility requirements and 60 month time limit. All other non-financial requirements of the TANF program apply. This category, however, is only for families where there are two parents present and the children are deprived of parental support or care by the unemployment or underemployment of the principle wage earner.

12. Prior Program Authorization: Was this program authorized and allowable under prior law (i.e., as defined at §260.30)? (Check one)

13..Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995.
(NOTE: provide only if the response on to 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."

Provide the following information for EACH PROGRAM for which the State claims MOE expenditures.

NHEP is administered through 13 NH Works One Stop Career and Information Centers located through out the State. The program provides employment services and support services to eligible TANF individuals.

The primary purpose and mission of the NH Employment Program is to promote economic independence and the strengthening of family life, by assisting able bodied individuals with dependent children to assume responsibility to provide for their families through the dignity of work.

5. Description of Work Activities in the SSP MOE program (i.e., Complete only if this program is a separate State program):

7. Total State Expenditures Claimed as MOE under the Program for the Fiscal Year: $3,432,360

8. Total Number of Families Served under the Program with MOE Funds: 1946

This last figure represents (check one):

_X_ The average monthly total for the fiscal year. (Individuals in work activities at any time during the month.)

9. Eligibility Criteria for Receiving MOE funded Benefits or Services under the Program:

The individual is receiving TANF financial assistance. The individual is able bodied to work, or volunteers for NHEP. The individual participates in an assessment interview and employability plan development through NHEP, and is making satisfactory progress in achieving employability plan goals.

10. Prior Program Authorization: Was this program authorized and allowable under prior law (i.e., as defined at §260.30)? (Check one)

11. Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995.
(NOTE: provide only if the response on to 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."

Provide the following information for EACH PROGRAM for which the State claims MOE expenditures.

Transportation Assistance

2. Description of the Major Program Benefits, Services, and Activities:

Transportation assistance is available to participants in the New Hampshire Employment Program (NHEP). Transportation assistance includes payments for car repairs, car registration fees, mileage reimbursement, and public/private carrier (transit bus passes). Payments for transportation assistance in some instances are paid directly to the service provider or may be in the form of reimbursement to the client.

To help NHEP participants overcome one of their most common obstacles—lack of transportation—so that they may gain economic independence and self-sufficiency through employment.

5. Description of Work Activities in the SSP MOE program (i.e., Complete only if this program is a separate State program):

7. Total State Expenditures Claimed as MOE under the Program for the Fiscal Year: $356,608

_X_ The average monthly total for the fiscal year. (Eligible any time during a month)

9. Eligibility Criteria for Receiving MOE funded Benefits or Services under the Program:

The individual is receiving TANF Financial Assistance.
The individual is able-bodied to work, or volunteers for NHEP.
The individual participates in an assessment interview and employability plan development through NHEP, and is making satisfactory progress in achieving employability plan goals.
The transportation assistance requested is related to employability plan goals.
The NHEP employment counselor authorizes and approves the request.

10.Prior Program Authorization: Was this program authorized and allowable under prior law (i.e., as defined at §260.30)? (Check one)

11.Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995
(NOTE: provide only if the response on to 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."

Provide the following information for EACH PROGRAM for which the State claims MOE expenditures.

Administration costs reflect the costs associated with the administration of the TANF program, including eligibility determination, support/management staff services, and related operational expenses.

To provide necessary staff to administer NHEP and FAP programs so that eligible families receive the necessary financial assistance, support services and access to employment support services, to achieve self-sufficiency and financial independence.

5. Description of Work Activities in the SSP MOE program (i.e., Complete only if this program is a separate State program):

7. Total State Expenditures Claimed as MOE under the Program for the Fiscal Year: $2,420,575

___ The average monthly total for the fiscal year. (Eligible any time during a month)

9. Eligibility Criteria for Receiving MOE funded Benefits or Services under the Program:

10. Prior Program Authorization: Was this program authorized and allowable under prior law (i.e., as defined at §260.30)? (Check one)

11. Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995
(NOTE: provide only if the response on to 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."

Provide the following information for EACH PROGRAM for which the State claims MOE expenditures.

Systems: Includes payments related to the maintenance and operations for the eligibility determination, monitoring and tracking of TANF clients and related expenses.

There are two primary computer systems used in the delivery of financial assistance and support services to eligible low income families.

• New HEIGHTS (acronym for New Hampshire Empowering Individuals to Get Help Transitioning to Self-sufficiency). New HEIGHTS automates the eligibility process for a broad range of programs and was designed to meet the federal requirements of a Family Assistance Management Information System (FAMIS). Program eligibility is determined for TANF financial assistance, Medicaid, Food Stamps, child care, and NH Employment Program support services.

• NH BRIDGES is a comprehensive, automated child welfare case management system that provides the tools to support improved case decision making and planning, tracking of cases, and integrates services amongst DHHS systems. Payments for child care claims and employment support services are made to specific providers on behalf of an individual child and/or TANF family.

To process TANF financial assistance payments, payments to child care providers, and payments for employment support services to needy families, so that children may be cared for in their own homes or relative's homes and to empower individuals to obtain help with transitioning to self sufficiency.

5. Description of Work Activities in the SSP MOE program (i.e., Complete only if this program is a separate State program):

7. Total State Expenditures Claimed as MOE under the Program for the Fiscal Year: $1,076,228

9. Eligibility Criteria for Receiving MOE funded Benefits or Services under the Program:

10. Prior Program Authorization: Was this program authorized and allowable under prior law (i.e., as defined at §260.30)? (Check one)

11. Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995. (NOTE: provide only if the response on to 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."

Provide the following information for EACH PROGRAM for which the State claims MOE expenditures.

Other Includes costs associated with one-time non recurring Emergency Assistance payments such as rental and utility deposits and Emergency Assistance for Family Preservation activities.

Emergency assistance payments are made through the Division of Family Assistance for permanent housing to allow TANF eligible individuals to obtain or retain safe and healthy housing. Emergency Assistance payments are limited to rent, mortgage, and utility arrearages, rent and utility deposits and fuel deliveries.

Family Preservation IV-A Emergency Assistance payments (through the Division of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) are made to provide community-based services to non-delinquent children and their families in situations involving credible reports of child abuse, neglect and abandonment, imminent risk of child's removal from the home and urgent situations where continued presence in the home is not in the best interests of the child. These services may include counseling, crisis intervention, diagnostic evaluation, child health support services, home-based services, outreach and tracking, respite care, etc.

For TANF families served by the Division of Family Assistance: to allow TANF eligible individuals to obtain or retain safe and healthy housing so that children may be cared for in their own homes or relative's home.

For children served by the Division of Children, Youth and Families: to provide community-based services to non-delinquent children and families in situations involving credible reports of child abuse, neglect and abandonment, imminent risk of child's removal from the home and urgent situations where continued presence in the home is not in the best interests of the child.

5. Description of Work Activities in the SSP MOE program (i.e., Complete only if this program is a separate State program):
Not applicable

7. Total State Expenditures Claimed as MOE under the Program for the Fiscal Year: $2,559,612

DFA 175 TANF families
DCYF 379 children meeting the criteria described under question #2.

9. Eligibility Criteria for Receiving MOE funded Benefits or Services under the Program:

TANF income eligibility criteria and/or families meeting one of the situations described in question #2.

10. Prior Program Authorization: Was this program authorized and allowable under prior law (i.e., as defined at §260.30)? (Check one)

11. Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995.
(NOTE: provide only if the response on to 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."

Provide the following information for EACH PROGRAM for which the State claims MOE expenditures.

Payments related to child care services provided to families who are receiving TANF, those transitioning off TANF, and families at risk of becoming dependent on TANF. Child care costs are reimbursed up to established maximums, based on the family's gross income, the age of the child and whether a contract center or non contract provider provides the care.

To assist individuals who are employed and/or in approved work-related activities with child care expenses, so that they may obtain training, education and access to employment that will lead to self-sufficiency and ending their dependence on government benefits.

5. Description of Work Activities in the SSP MOE program (i.e. Complete only if this program is a separate State program):

7. Total State Expenditures Claimed as MOE under the Program for the Fiscal Year: $4,581,866

8. Total Number of Families Served under the Program with MOE Funds: 1,115 individuals

9. Eligibility Criteria for Receiving MOE funded Benefits or Services under the Program:

Assistance with child care expenses is based on income eligibility guidelines, up to 190% of the federal poverty level, based on family size. There are three "steps" of reimbursement: Step one for TANF Financial Assistance households and categorically needy medical recipients; Step two up to 140% of Federal Poverty Level; Step three up to 190% of Federal Poverty Level.

Costs are reimbursed up to established maximums, based on gross income, the age of the child and whether a contract center or non contract provider provides the care.

10. Prior Program Authorization: Was this program authorized and allowable under prior law (i.e., as defined at §260.30)? (Check one)

11. Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995. (NOTE: provide only if the response on to 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."

Provide the following information for EACH PROGRAM for which the State claims MOE expenditures.

NH Family Planning Program (FPP) provides comprehensive family planning services to at risk low income women and teens. There are 11 state pre-pregnancy family planning agencies operating in 31 sites throughout the state. Twelve of the sites provide specialized reproductive health services to teens. Home Visiting New Hampshire has expanded from a pilot program in 3 communities to a statewide initiative serving 18 communities. The model establishes family-centered home visits with an emphasis on health and safety issues for mother and child, child development and parenting education, and implementation of a “Family-Plan” that establishes individual family psycho-social goals.

To prevent and reduce the incidence of out of wedlock pregnancies for teens and adults.

5. Description of Work Activities in the SSP MOE program i.e. complete only if this program is a separate State program):

7. Total State Expenditures Claimed as MOE under the Program for the Fiscal Year $121,463

9. Eligibility Criteria for Receiving MOE funded Benefits or Services under the Program:

Home Visiting Program - Services are available to all Medicaid-eligible individuals who meet criteria.
Family Planning Program – Sliding fee scale based on income for clinical services; educational services provided at no charge to adolescents.

10. Prior Program Authorization: Was this program authorized and allowable under prior law (i.e., as defined at §260.30)? (Check one)

11. Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995.
(NOTE: provide only if the response on to 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."

Provide the following information for EACH PROGRAM for which the State claims MOE expenditures.

NH reinvested part of an AFDC Quality Control disallowance (for excess erroneous payments between FY 1992 and FY 1996) settlement amount in a client survey of the NHEP program.

5. Description of Work Activities in the SSP MOE program i.e. complete only if this program is a separate State program):

7. Total State Expenditures Claimed as MOE under the Program for the Fiscal Year $889

9. Eligibility Criteria for Receiving MOE funded Benefits or Services under the Program:

10. Prior Program Authorization: Was this program authorized and allowable under prior law (i.e., as defined at §260.30)? (Check one)

11. Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995.
(NOTE: provide only if the response on to 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."