Annual Report on State TANF and MOE Programs

Annual Report on State TANF and MOE Programs - 2005
Hawaii

Administration for Children and Families
Office of Family Assistance
Aerospace Building, 5th Floor
370 L’Enfant Promenade, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20447

Please find enclosed our Forms ACF-202, ACF 204 and our State Annual Report for Hawaii for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2005. Copies of these forms were sent to the Regional Administrator in San Francisco and a copy was e-mailed to the Regional Office in December 29, 2005.

Thank you for your interest and should you have any questions, please contact Kristine Foster, Financial Assistance Program Administrator at (808) 586-5729.

Garry L. Kemp
Acting Division Administrator
Enclosures
Cc: Sharon Fujii, Regional Director
BESSDA
FAP

1. Definitions of work activities.

Our work activities include:
Unsubsidized employment.
Subsidized Public Sector Employment
Subsidized Private Sector Employment
Work Experience which place individuals in a State Agency (Work Plus) or in a City and County, Federal or Private, Non-Profit Agency (Community Work experience Program) for work experience.
On-the-Job Training
Job Search and Job Readiness Activities
Vocational Educational Training
Substance Abuse Treatment

2. Transitional services provided to families no longer receiving assistance due to employment.

The state provides childcare to all TANF families who become ineligible as a result of new or increased earned income. Eligibility for childcare continues until the income of the household exceeds the childcare eligibility standard and the children receiving care are under the age of 13. Certain additional children may be served up to age 18 if they meet requirements as specified in the CCDF State Plan. The state also provides transitional medical for all households who become ineligible for TANF due to new or increased income. These families are eligible for 6 months of medical with a possible extension of another 6 months if they meet the income standard. The income eligibility standard for these families is greater than the medical eligibility for other households. The state also provides an income subsidy to families that have used their 60 months of eligibility, are employed at least 20 hours a week but continue to meet our income standards. They qualify for a supplement of $200 per month for each adult who meets the employed definition for up to 24 months after exiting public assistance.

3. Reduction in the amount of assistance payable to a family when an individual refuses to engage in work without good cause.

Effective August 1999, the State instituted a full family sanction for households that refuse to engage in work without good cause. The financial assistance case is closed. The sanction or ineligible period is 1 month or until compliance, whichever is shorter, for the first non-compliance; 2 months or until compliance, whichever is longer, for the second non-compliance; and 3 months or until compliance whichever is longer, for each additional non-compliance. Prior to August 1999, the State removed only the needs of the non-complying individual.

4. Payment for childcare services, by type, made through the use of disregards.

All of our childcare payments are made through supplements; none are made through disregards.

5. A description of the strategies and procedures in place to ensure that victims of domestic violence receive appropriate alternative services and an aggregate figure for the total number of good cause domestic waivers granted.

Effective January 2002, the State amended the domestic violence policy. We allow an initial exemption of 6 months with a possible extension of 6 months. Each individual requesting an exemption is referred to a domestic violence agency for screening, development of a service plan if found eligible and services. These services include medical and legal referrals, counseling, group therapy, employment planning and interface with our First to Work Units to support job readiness. Failure to participate results in the household losing the exemption. The services being provided are monitored by a monthly report received from the provider agencies, billings and through periodic audits of the contract. The cases are counted by a system code and by a report from the domestic violence agency which is providing and coordinating services. From October 2004 through September 2005 we granted 191 good cause domestic violence waivers.

6. A description of any non-recurrent, short-term benefits provided.

Effective January 2002, we provide lump sum benefits for individuals requesting this option. They must meet all of our eligibility requirements. If they do, they may request to receive their benefits in a "lump sum" payment of three months, six months or eight months. If they choose this option, they are ineligible for assistance for five months, eight months or twelve months respectively. As part of determining eligibility for this program, the applicant must show how the money will be used and how this use will lead towards self-sufficiency. The applicant is also provided with a list of optional available resources. An application for lump sum benefits is the same as the application for financial assistance. These applications are applications for financial assistance, food stamps and medical. Eligibility for all programs is determined simultaneously.
We instituted a Grant Diversion Program effective March 2005. In this program, all TANF applicants are screened for employability. If the adult is determined to be employable, the case is referred to a contracted employment unit for up to four months. The family receives non-assistance benefits during this period. The employment unit works intensively with the family. The intent is to defer the family from using their time limited TANF benefits by obtaining employment sufficient to meet their needs within the four month period. Households which are unsuccessful in gaining sufficient employment are referred to the TANF program from the fifth month.

We implemented the Supporting Employment Empowerment (SEE) Program. This allows employers to hire clients for employment and training. We provide the employer with the money for the client's salary and benefits. We also cover medical. The client receives our benefits as wages rather than a welfare check. The employer has an employee they are able train at minimal cost to themselves.
Effective 2004 we allowed for up to four months of relative care benefits to assist children who had been removed from their parents and placed with relatives. Effective 2005 we expanded these payments to include up to four months of permanency payments for children who removed from the home of their natural parents and were being permanently placed with other relatives.

7. A description of the procedures the State has established and is maintaining to resolve displacement complaints, including the name of the State agency with the lead responsibility for administering this provision and an explanation of how the State has notified the public about these procedures and how an individual can register a complaint.

The Department has entered into an agreement with the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to utilize a process which parallels the Joint Training and Partnership Act (JTP A) Grievance Procedure for Sub-recipients". Grievances shall include an opportunity for informal resolution.

The informal grievance process is composed of two stages. Complaints are presented to the supervisor of the unit affected by the grievance. The unit supervisor must resolve the grievance informally within 10 working days. If the complainant is not satisfied with this resolution, they may proceed to the second stage which is presenting the complaint to the Program Administrator. The Program Administrator must also issue a decision within 10 working days.

Persons dissatisfied with attempts at formal resolution may request a hearing with the State. A hearing shall be conducted within 30 working days of the filing for an appeal and a decision must be issued within 60 working days of the appeal being filed. Challenges of this decision must be filed with the Administrative Law Judges, *U. S. Department of Labor within 20 working days of receiving an unfavorable ruling from the department's administrative appeal decision

8. Programs and activities which:

a. Prevent and reduce out of wedlock pregnancies and numerical goals for the reduction and prevention.
b. Encourage the formation and maintenance of two parent families.
Hawaii has an "Adolescent Wellness Plan" which incorporates the reduction and prevention of out of wedlock pregnancies among its goals. The goals focus on the sexual activities of adolescents between 12 and 19 years of age. This is a primary
age group for out of wedlock births and the area over which the state felt it could have the greatest impact in preventing out of wedlock births. Specifically the applicable goals are to:

a. Reduce the onset of early sexual involvement/activity among adolescents. The goal is to reduce this behavior by 10% between 2000 and 2010 with 1995 as the benchmark year.
b. Increase the use of contraception among sexually active adolescents. The goal is to increase this behavior by 10% between 2000 and 2010 with 1995 as the benchmark year.
c. Reduce pregnancies among adolescent females. The goal is to reduce teen pregnancies by 12% between 2000 and 2010 with 1995 as the benchmark year.

In 1995, the "Children's Vision", a benchmarking initiative was started with 6,000 young people describing the type of Hawaii they wanted to live in. In September 1995, the Hawaii Adolescent Wellness Team was formed to attend a two (2) day Maternal and Child Health conference. The Wellness Team committed to developing a holistic framework and resource document. The Hawaii's Adolescent Wellness Plan - Laulima In Action (or many hands working together) was the result of that commitment. In May 1997, Laulima In Action was finalized as a systemic approach in moving Adolescent Wellness forward on multiple levels. This strategic planning framework, based on best practices approaches, could prevent or reduce critical indicators among adolescents aged 10-18 years. This plan has identified specific goals from inception through the year 2010.

The Department of Human Services is a member of the Adolescent Wellness Team. Some of the Laulima In Action activities include:

Community Adolescent Wellness Teams: 14 community teams piloted Laulima In

Action: In July 1996, developing diverse teams (including youth) and vision statements; reviewing existing needs (including Healthy and Hawaii People 2000 Objectives in the plan) and sharing this with the community; selecting critical indicators; adopting benchmarks; developing action plans and stakeholder agreements.

Basic Concepts in Identifying the Health Needs of Adolescents: Over 800 individuals (30 trained as trainers) worked on improving assessment and communication skills with adolescents. Efforts continue to expand trainers and i implementing the curriculum as best practices approach of adolescent wellness initiative. In 2000 and 2001, these activities included the initiation of a new program. "Live Your Life Before You Make One" is a statewide educational campaign aimed at preventing teen pregnancies.

Abstinence Grant: DOH administers the Abstinence-Only Education Grant from the ACF through a contract with the Boys and Girls Club, which implements the nationally recognized "Smart Moves" curricula at 4 sites, targeting 10-12 year old
Hawaii Page4 FFY 2005 youths and their families/significant adults. Peer and adult mentors offer resistance skills education and community prevention teams to support the curricula and program continuance. This program will continue and is in its eighth year.

Peer Helping Peer Model: The Peer Education Program is a collaborative effort between the DOH and DOE in15 schools statewide. Peer educators are taught healthy decision making skills and provide accurate information to other youth on risky behaviors related to substance use, pregnancy, depression and suicide, HIV/AIDS and STDs. This program will continue to provide standards-based health education.

Middle School Survey and Expansion of High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey:

The Middle School Survey was developed and implemented in 1997, and the high school Youth Risk Behavior Survey was expanded to include a sample of private schools in 1997. Middle School (since 1997) and High School (since 1991) surveys continue to be administered in odd-numbered years. A Middle School Survey was implemented in 1999 to assist in benchmarking data and to monitor priority health- risk behaviors of younger youth.

Healthy Children Healthy Communities: Coordinated School Health Program (CSHP): This program initially received Tobacco Settlement funds through the Healthy Hawaii Initiative, and is now being augmented by a Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention Cooperative Agreement with the DOE and DOH. Previously, there was collaboration with the DOE to assure, as part of the Comprehensive Student Support System, early identification of risk-taking behaviors and interventions for healthy behavioral outcomes and educational achievement for Hawaii's youth. Included in this activity is the support for an information and referral hotline. The "Mothers Care Phone Line" offers statewide referrals and information. This activity is continuing.
Public Policy Reform: The Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition has developed a legislative package and an information package for the general public.

Areas of concern include teen pregnancy prevention including abstinence, substance abuse prevention for pregnant women, the Children's Health Insurance program, and injury prevention.

To provide education and training on the problem of statutory rape and to assure that teenage pregnancy prevention programs are expanded in scope to include men, the department:
1. Collaborates with the Child Advocacy Center, County Police Departments and community members in providing training on sexual and physical abuse issues;
2. Participates in planning efforts with community groups whose goals are to decrease the incidence of sexual assault and to provide counseling and treatment to victims, families and offenders;
3. Participates with other state agencies in both juvenile and adult sex offender treatment teams to ensure that offenders receive appropriate treatment to prevent sexual abuse;
4. For family members under the jurisdiction of the department and family court, counseling is provided to educate victims, offenders and other family members in the dynamics of sexual abuse to prevent further abuse.

Teen Pregnancy Prevention Efforts of the Department of Human Services:
The department has 20 contracts with private providers such as Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children and KALO, as well as Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) with various state departments, such as the Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DOE), University of Hawaii (UH), Office of Youth Services (OYS), and State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. The services encompass the Teen Pregnancy Prevention effort to include alternative activities for children with after-school programs, community-based involvement, and teacher training and course offerings in teen pregnancy prevention curricula. A brief description of each service is provided below.

• Healthy Lifestyles in Our Community: The program is in conjunction ,with the Department of Defense and is designed for at-risk youth between the ages of 5 and 18 years of age to focus on alternative activities, family strengthening, prevention and reduction of out-of-wedlock pregnancies, and drug awareness issues.
• Kanu 0 ,Ka Aina Learning (KALO): Teen pregnancy prevention and family strengthening services at ten (10) Native Hawaiian charter schools.
• Monitoring and Assessment: Through the MOA with DOH, to provide guidance and expertise in the realm of teen pregnancy prevention efforts, including monitoring and assessment of teen pregnancy prevention programs and services.
• Parent and Child Education (PACE) Program: In a contract with Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children, Teen Intervention Program, the department provides a school-based interactive skill-building training program, by way of a puppet show to fifth and sixth graders. The program also provides interactive skill-building teen pregnancy prevention training to parents and/or significant adults.
• Peer Education Program (PEP) and Graduation, Reality and Dual Skills (GRADS) Training: In conjunction with the DOE, through the Office of Curriculum, Instruction and Student Support, we are providing training to PEP and GRADS instructors and students in the Making a Difference (MAD) and Reducing the Risk (RTR) curricula.
• State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (SFCA): The department entered into an agreement with the SFCA to provide arts and cultural education and other related services that are intended to increase or improve the prevention and reduction of out-of-wedlock pregnancies by "leveling the playing field" for youngsters from disadvantaged circumstances so that such youngsters may avail themselves of the proven ability of the arts to promote life skills and prevent bad decision making.
• Teacher Development Course: A professional development course in sexuality through the University of Hawaii, available for public and private school teachers, counselors and administrators from K through 12th grade.
• Uniting Peer Learning, Integrating New Knowledge (UPLINK): An activity-based after-school program through an agreement with the DOE, to proactively prevent middle school students from engaging in risky behaviors during the late afternoons when schools are not in session.
• Youth Service Centers: Through the MOA with OYS, at-risk youth and their families can feel comfortable accessing a continuum of services and resources during after-school hours, weekends, school intercessions and holidays provided at twelve (12) community-based locations statewide.

Hawaii encourages and supports the formation and maintenance of two parent families through our state funded two parent family program. One of the primary hypotheses of this program was that families need two incomes to survive in our economy. We therefore decided to run parallel programs for one and two parent families. There are no penalties for households that include two adults.

The department has also committed $500,000 in TANF funds to the Department of Health. These funds are being used to expand the educator base trained to work with youths in our school to prevent out of wedlock pregnancies, to evaluate teacher implementation, mentoring and student outcomes on the sexuality education programs, to fund an interactive skill building teen pregnancy prevention training through the Parent and Child Education Program and to hire a pregnancy prevention state specialist.

We have also made compliance with the Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) a condition of eligibility. Families who fail to comply, without good cause, are ineligible for financial assistance until they comply. Additionally, we are participating with CSEA and Welfare to Work (WTW) regarding WTW eligibility for absent parents and financial incentives to encourage participation.

9. An estimate of the total number of individuals who have participated in subsidized private sector employment, subsidized public sector employment.
Participants in FY 2005 in Subsidized Private Sector Employment: 177
Participants in FY 2005 in Subsidized Public Sector Employment: 0

SIGNATURE:____________________
NAME: Gary Kemp
TITLE: Assistant Division Administrator

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

1. Name of Benefit or Service Program: First to Work (FTW)

2. Description of the Major Program Benefits, Services, and Activities: This program provides employment service case management, education, training, job search, job placement and supportive services to families with children. Federal and state funds are used for our TANF families. Only state funds are used for our families receiving assistance under our separate state program.

3. Purpose(s) of Benefit or Service Program: Purpose of the program is to assist and support independence and self-sufficiency within a five years time limit.

4. Program Type. (Check one)

___X_ This Program is operated under the TANF program.
___X_ 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):

Unsubsidized employment.
Subsidized Public and Private Sector Employment
Work Experience which places individuals in a State Agency (Work Plus) or in a City and County, Federal or Private, Non-Profit Agency (Community Worked Experience Program) for work experience.
On- the- Job Training
Job Search and Job Readiness Activities
Vocational Educational Training.

6. Total State Expenditures for the Program for the Fiscal Year: _$17,533,524___

7. Total State Expenditures Claimed as MOE under the Program for the Fiscal Year:
__$4,562,243___

8. Total Number of Families Served under the Program with MOE Funds: ___1,208__

This last figure represents (check one):
_______ The average monthly total for the fiscal year.
____X__ The total served over the fiscal year.

9. Eligibility Criteria for Receiving MOE-funded Benefits or Services under the Program: The household must include children. At least one adult must be a mandatory work participant and not employed full time and they must qualify for financial assistance.

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

Yes _X_ No ___

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."

NAME: __Garry Kemp _______________________
TITLE: __Assistant Division Administrator______

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

1. Name of Benefit or Service Program: Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF).

3. Description of the Major Program Benefits, Services, and Activities: This program provides financial benefits to meet basic living needs. Assistance is provided to families in which children are living with specified relatives, all household members are United States citizens and all children have at least one parent absent from the home. These families receive employment supports, participate in work components and receive time-limited benefits if all adults are employable.

3. Purpose(s) of Benefit or Service Program: Purpose of the program is to meet the day to day basic needs of families while they are working towards self-sufficiency within a five year time limit.

4. Program Type. (Check one)

_____ This Program is operated under the TANF program.
__X__ This Program is a separate State program.

7. Description of Work Activities in the SSP-MOE program (I.e., Complete only if this program is a separate State program): N/A

8. Total State Expenditures for the Program for the Fiscal Year: $23,597,544__

7. Total State Expenditures Claimed as MOE under the Program for the Fiscal Year: $23,597,544_

8. Total Number of Families Served under the Program with MOE Funds:
__ 8,212___

This last figure represents (check one):
___X__ The average monthly total for the fiscal year.
______ The total served over the fiscal year.

9. Eligibility Criteria for Receiving MOE-funded Benefits or Services under the Program: The household must include children. All children have at least one parent absent and all household members are U. S. Citizens or U. S Nationals. The children must be living with a specified relative and meet our income and resource requirements. They must participate in a work activity if the household includes at least one “employable” adult and they must accept treatment 14407040services if they are exempt as a result of disability, substance abuse or domestic violence.

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

NAME: __Garry Kemp_______________________
TITLE: __Assistant Division Administrator_______

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

1. Name of Benefit or Service Program: A+ Child Care and Child Care

4. Description of the Major Program Benefits, Services, and Activities:
This program provides before and after school care through the A+ program for children of working parents who meet income eligibility requirements. We also use state funds to fund regular child care for working parents .

3. Purpose(s) of Benefit or Service Program: Purpose of the program is to provide safe low cost child care that allows parents to work.

4. Program Type. (Check one)

_____ This Program is operated under the TANF program.
___X_ This Program is a separate State program.

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

This child care assistance is provided only for working families.

10. Total State Expenditures for the Program for the Fiscal Year:_$10,556,383

11. Total State Expenditures Claimed as MOE under the Program for the Fiscal Year:
__$10,556,383

8. Total Number of Families Served under the Program with MOE Funds: _7,845

This last figure represents (check one):
__X__ The average monthly total for the fiscal year.
_____ The total served over the fiscal year.

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

Households must meet TANF income eligibility standard. The parents must be employed. The children receiving assistance are under the age of 13 and attending school.

10. Prior Program Authorization: Was this program authorized and allowable under prior law (i.e., as defined at §260.30)? (check one)
Yes _X_ No ___

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."

NAME: ___Garry Kemp______________________
TITLE: __Assistant Division Administrator_______

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

1. Name of Benefit or Service Program: State Expenditures of Administrative and System Costs for Costs Claimed as MOE Expenditures.

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

These administrative and system costs are used for the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Temporary Assistance to Other Needy Families (TAONF) and First To Work (FTW) programs exclusively.

3. Purpose(s) of Benefit or Service Program: Purpose of the expenditures is to administer, implement and support the TANF, TAONF, and FTW programs.

4. Program Type. (Check one)

__X_ This Program is operated under the TANF program.
_____ This Program is a separate State program.

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

13. Total State Expenditures for the Program for the Fiscal Year:
$10,600,098 (Admin), $1,758,280 (Systems), Total_$6,955,466_

Total State Expenditures Claimed as MOE under the Program for the Fiscal Year:
_$6,137,964 (Admin), $817,502 (Systems), Total _$6,955,466_

8. This last figure represents (check one):
________ The average monthly total for the fiscal year.
________ The total served over the fiscal year.

9. Eligibility Criteria for Receiving MOE-funded Benefits or Services under the Program: Must be administering or supervising a TANF, TAONF or FTW program or servicing recipients of TANF, TAONF or FTW

10. Prior Program Authorization: Was this program authorized and allowable under prior law (i.e., as defined at §260.30)? (check one)
Yes _X_ No ___

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."

NAME: _Garry Kemp_________________

TITLE: _Assistant Division Administrator____

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

1. Name of Benefit or Service Program: Temporary Assistance to Other Needy Families (TAONF).

6. Description of the Major Program Benefits, Services, and Activities: This program provides financial benefits to meet basic living needs. Assistance is provided to families in which children are living with specified relatives and at least on child has two parents or the family includes at least one non-citizen who is a permanent, legal resident of the United States. These families receive employment supports, participate in work components and receive time-limited benefits to meet day to day living expenses.

3. Purpose(s) of Benefit or Service Program: Purpose of the program is to encourage the family to remain together while working towards independence and self-sufficiency within a five years time limit.

4. Program Type. (Check one)

______ This Program is operated under the TANF program.
__X_ This Program is a separate State program.

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

Unsubsidized employment.
Subsidized Public and Private Sector Employment
Work Experience which places individuals in a State Agency (Work Plus) or in a City and County, Federal or Private, Non-Profit Agency (Community Worked Experience Program) for work experience.
On- the- Job Training
Job Search and Job Readiness Activities
Vocational Educational Training.

16. Total State Expenditures for the Program for the Fiscal Year: _$26,399,257__

7. Total State Expenditures Claimed as MOE under the Program for the Fiscal Year: ___$26,399,257 ___

8. Total Number of Families Served under the Program with MOE Funds: __2,951 _

This last figure represents (check one):
___X__ The average monthly total for the fiscal year.
______ The total served over the fiscal year.

9. Eligibility Criteria for Receiving MOE-funded Benefits or Services under the Program: The household must include children. At least one child has both parents in the home or includes at least one non-citizen. All children must be living with a specified relative and meet our income and resource requirements. They must participate in a work activity if the household includes at least one “employable” adult. They must also accept services for rehabilitation, substance abuse and domestic violence if services are indicated.

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

NAME: ___Garry Kemp_____________

TITLE: _Assistant Division Administrator________