Annual Report on State TANF and MOE Programs

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Annual Report on State TANF and MOE Programs - 2005
Minnesota

Attachment A

2005 Annual Report on TANF Programs Under 45 CFR 265.9(b)

The sections below address the information required in the State’s Annual Report.

1) Minnesota’s Definition of Work Activities

Minnesota’s work activities meet all of the participation requirements of TANF. The terms listed below are Minnesota’s work activities.

Pre-employment activities. This activity includes chemical and mental health assessments, treatment and services, learning disability services, child protection services, family stabilization services and other services designed to support employability.

Job search. Job search may be supervised or unsupervised. It may include job club, job readiness assistance, job placement and job development.

Job skills training directly related to employment. Short term classes related directly to work skills including, but not limited to computer basics, keyboarding, communication skills, interpersonal skills, preparing for back-up plans for transportation and child care.

Vocational training/education of 12 months duration or less. Vocational programs lasting 12 months or less that are related to employment.

English as a second language (ESL). This is for persons who have spoken language proficiency for English below SPL6, as measured by nationally known tests.

Adult basic education (ABE). This activity is for persons who have a reading or math proficiency below 9th grade level and is designed to give them the basic skills needed to succeed in the workplace.

Functional work literacy (FWL). This activity is for non-English speakers and is designed to give them the basic English skills needed to function in a safe, effective manner in the workplace.

High school completion. High school course work, where appropriate, for those clients without a high school diploma.

General education development (GED) training. High school equivalency training, where appropriate, for those clients without a high school diploma.

On-the-job training (OJT) public sector. Training for clients in public sector jobs where the employer is reimbursed for the training.

On-the-job training (OJT) private sector. Training for clients in private sector jobs where the employer is reimbursed for the training.

Volunteer and community service. Volunteer and other community service placements that serve to enhance a participant’s employability.

Grant diversion. A placement where all or part of the participant’s grant is diverted to help pay for training the participant and subsidizing their employment.

Community work experience program (CWEP). Unpaid work placements in the community designed to provide work experience to participants, and also designed to move them into regular paid employment.

Paid work experience. A temporary paid work experience placement in a public, or non-profit, or private sector job.

Unpaid work experience. A temporary unpaid work experience placement in a public, or non-profit, or private sector job.

Child care for an individual in a community service program. Child care that is provided by an MFIP recipient to the child(ren) of another MFIP recipient who is participating in a community work experience program placement.

Unsubsidized employment. Regular unsubsidized job placements that also include work study, paid apprenticeships and internships.

2) A description of the transitional services provided to families who are no longer receiving assistance due to employment.

For up to 12 months after a family becomes ineligible for MFIP or the Diversionary Work Program (DWP) Minnesota provides Transition Year Child Care assistance to families who are not receiving program benefits for any reason other than disqualification from MFIP or DWP.

Families who have completed their transition year of child care assistance and who are eligible, but on a waiting list for the Basic Sliding Fee (BSF) Program are eligible for child care assistance through Transition Year Extension. A family may participate in Transition Year Extension for the length of time necessary for the family to be moved from the BSF program.

Each Minnesota county has the option to offer transitional employment services to working families that are no longer eligible for MFIP or DWP benefits and have income at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

3) A description of how Minnesota will reduce the amount of assistance payable to a family when an individual refuses to engage in work activities without good cause.

(a) Sanctions for MFIP participants who are out of compliance with work activities, who have not received 60 months of MFIP are imposed as follows:

When an MFIP participant fails to comply with employment services requirements, the job counselor or the county agency provides a notice of intent to sanction to the participant. The notice specifies the program requirements that were not complied with, informs the client of the sanction which will be imposed, describes what action the participant must take to come into compliance, and provides the participant with an opportunity to request a conciliation conference. After the notice of intent to sanction is sent, the county sends a notice of adverse action 10 days before the grant reduction is to take effect. The notice of adverse action provides notification of the grant reduction, the reason for the reduction, the effective date of the reduction, and the right to appeal.

For the first occurrence of non-compliance with employment service requirements by a participant in an assistance unit, the assistance unit's grant is reduced by ten percent of the MFIP standard of need for an assistance unit of the same size with the residual grant paid to the participant. The reduction in the grant amount must be in effect for a minimum of one month and is removed in the month following the month that the participant returns to compliance.

For a second, third, fourth, fifth, or sixth occurrence of noncompliance by a participant in an assistance unit, the assistance unit's shelter costs are vendor paid up to the amount of the cash portion of the MFIP grant for which the assistance unit is eligible. At county option, the assistance unit's utilities may also be vendor paid up to the amount of the cash portion of the MFIP grant remaining after vendor payment of the assistance unit's shelter costs. The residual amount of the grant after vendor payment, if any, must be reduced by an amount equal to 30 percent of the MFIP standard of need for an assistance unit of the same size, before the residual grant is paid to the assistance unit. The reduction in the grant amount must be in effect for a minimum of one month and is removed in the month following the month that the participant returns to compliance. The vendor payment of shelter costs and, if applicable, utilities are removed six months after the month in which the participant or participants return to compliance. If both participants in a two-parent assistance unit are out of compliance at the same time, it is considered one occurrence of noncompliance.

If an assistance unit is sanctioned by 30 percent, the participant's case file must be reviewed to determine if the employment plan is still appropriate.

For a seventh occurrence of noncompliance by a participant in an assistance unit, or when the participants in a two-parent assistance unit have a total of seven occurrences of noncompliance, the county agency will close the MFIP assistance unit's financial assistance case. The case must remain closed for a minimum of one full month. If closed under this provision, the participant may still be eligible for food and medical support. Before the case is closed, the county agency must review the participant's case to determine if the employment plan is still appropriate and attempt to meet with the participant face-to-face. If a face-to-face meeting is not conducted, the county agency must send the participant a written notice that includes information that would have been discussed during the face-to-face meeting.

If the client is found to have an exemption or good cause for not participating with employment services, then the grant must be restored to the first of the month the exemption or good cause reason existed.

An assistance unit whose case is closed effective the seventh occurrence of non-compliance may reapply for MFIP and may be eligible if the participant complies with MFIP program requirements and demonstrates compliance for up to one month. No assistance is paid during the period the participant is demonstrating compliance.

An assistance unit whose case has been closed for non-compliance that reapplies and is found eligible is subject to sanction of a 30 percent grant reduction for the first occurrence of non-compliance after reopening the case, and 100 percent sanction for any subsequent occurrence of non-compliance.

(b) Sanctions for DWP participants who are out of compliance with work activities are imposed as follows:

A family unit that includes a participant who fails to comply with DWP employment services requirements, without good cause, is disqualified from DWP. The county must provide written notice to the participant prior to disqualifying the family de to noncompliance. The disqualification does not apply to food support or health care benefits.

A family unit that has been disqualified from DWP due to noncompliance with employment services may regain eligibility for DWP during the 4-month period by complying with program requirements. Unlike MFIP, there is no minimum time period that the case must be closed. Once the participant has been reinstated, the county issues prorated benefits for the remaining potion of the month for which there was no disqualification.

A family unit that has been disqualified from DWP is not eligible for MFIP or any other TANF cash program for the remainder of the DWP four-month period. In a two-parent family, both parents must be in compliance before the unit can regain eligibility for benefits.

The disqualification period ends after the 4-month DWP program and does not carry over if the family later applies for MFIP. Families who have received 60 months of TANF are not eligible to receive DWP.

(c) MFIP participants who have received 60 months of MFIP, have met criteria for a hardship extension of MFIP benefits and who are out of compliance with work activities have sanctions imposed as follows:

The policies for imposing a first, second, and third occurrence sanction for non-compliance with employment services requirements is the same for participants receiving MFIP under hardship criteria as for those who have received fewer than 60 months of MFIP.

For a fourth occurrence of noncompliance, the assistance unit is disqualified from MFIP. If a participant is determined to be out of compliance, the participant may claim a good cause exception, however, the participant may not claim an exemption from participating in employment service activities. If both participants in a two-parent assistance unit are out of compliance at the same time, it is considered one occurrence of noncompliance.

An assistance unit that is disqualified (case is closed) effective the fourth occurrence of sanction, may be approved for MFIP if the participant complies with MFIP program requirements and demonstrates compliance for up to one month. No assistance is paid during this compliance period.

An assistance unit that reapplies and is found eligible for MFIP is subject to a ten percent grant reduction for a first occurrence of noncompliance. A subsequent occurrence of noncompliance results in a permanent disqualification.

Prior to a disqualification under this provision, a county agency must review the participant's case to determine if the employment plan is still appropriate and attempt to meet with the participant face-to-face. If a face-to-face meeting is not conducted, the county agency must send the participant a notice of adverse action which will inform the participant of the disqualification, the reason for the disqualification, the effective date of the disqualification, and the right to appeal.

In a two-parent assistance unit where only one parent is not compliant, the assistance unit has the option of disqualifying the non-compliant parent. The unit is then treated as a single parent family with a shared household standard. A parent who was disqualified for non-compliance may reapply and become eligible if he/she demonstrates compliance for up to one month. If a parent is disqualified again, the disqualification is permanent.

A unit in which an adult has received 60-months of TANF assistance is not eligible for DWP benefits.

4. The average monthly number of payments for child care services made by MN through the use of disregards, by types of child care provider.

Minnesota does not use disregards for child care services.

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.

Minnesota has adopted the Family Violence Option under Subpart B of part 260 and wants recognition of its good cause Domestic Violence waivers.

(a) Being a victim of domestic violence is not a category for exemption from Employment Services (ES) and unless otherwise exempt, past or current victims of domestic violence are referred to ES.

Victims of domestic violence who want to be exempt from the 60-month time limit and want to waive regular ES requirements must develop a specialized employment plan (EP). The participant develops the EP, with the assistance and collaboration of a person trained in domestic violence and a job counselor. The goal of the specialized EP is to ensure the safety of the caregiver and the children. The plan includes activities designed to lead to self-sufficiency provided the activities do not endanger the safety of anyone in the unit.

The employment plan is reviewed by the county or by the job counselor every three months, or more often, if circumstances warrant, determining if the activities in the plan continue to be appropriate or if the participant is able to safely comply with the plan. As long as a participant is complying with an EP, the participant is exempt from the 60-month time limit.

(b) The aggregate number of domestic violence waivers granted in FFY 2005 is 996.

6) A description of any nonrecurring, short-term benefits including: (a) eligibility criteria, policies that limit payment and procedures for activities developed under the TANF program to ensure that individuals diverted from assistance receive information/referrals to other program benefits;
(b) policies that limit payments to families that are eligible for TANF assistance;
(c) procedures or activities developed to ensure that individuals diverted from assistance receive information about referrals to other program benefits.

(a) The 2003 Minnesota legislature created a new statewide short-term, work-focused program for families called the Diversionary Work Program (DWP). All counties implemented the program on July 1, 2004. DWP provides short-term, non-assistance services and supports to eligible families to help them move immediately to work rather than go on long term assistance.

Families with children under age 18 (up to age 19 if in secondary or vocational school full-time), or pregnant women and their spouses are eligible for DWP.
All parents, including both parents in a two-parent family, are required to develop and sign an employment plan before the family is approved for DWP. Most parents must seek full-time work immediately when approved. Employment services providers can help the family identify and address family issues which may prevent or delay the parents in getting a job. The employment plan may include limited training that can be completed in four or fewer months.

Families that are not required to participate in DWP and go directly to MFP are:
- Child only cases
- single-parent family units that include a child under 12 weeks of age (one time only)
- minor parents without a high school diploma or GED
- Caregivers age 60 or over
- family units with a parent who received MFIP or DWP within the past 12 months
Two parent families must participate in DWP unless both parents meet one of the exceptions above.

Families in the following groups may be moved out of DWP and into MFP at any point during the four months if the county determines the person is unlikely to benefit from DWP:
- a participant with an illness or incapacity expected to last 60 or more days;
- a participant determined to be needed in the home to care for a family member, including children meeting special medical criteria as defined in MN Statute section 256B.0651;
- a pregnant woman determined unable to work due to their pregnancy; and
- a unit that contains a participant who has applied for SSI.

DWP supports families while they work or look for work. Supports available to eligible DWP families may include help with rent, utilities or other housings costs and a personal allowance. Other supports for which families might be eligible are Food Support, health care and child care assistance. After four months of DWP, a family may be eligible for MFIP. Families also may be eligible to continue Food Support, health care and child care assistance.

The interview to determine financial eligibility for DWP must be conducted within five working days of the receipt of the application form. During the intake interview, the financial worker must discuss:

- the availability of child care assistance and if child care is needed the worker must obtain a completed application for child care from the applicant before the interview is terminated,
- if the applicant has not requested food support and health care assistance on the application, the worker must, during the interview process, talk with the applicant about the availability of these benefits.

Families who receive DWP are required to cooperate with the Child Support agency to establish and enforce their child support orders. Although families on DWP are required to cooperate with the Child Support agency, child support is not assigned to the state and 100 percent of the child support is passed through the family.

The four months of DWP run consecutively and do not count against the 60-month TANF time limit.

(b) To be eligible for MFIP or DWP, an assistance unit must have established residency in Minnesota which means the unit is present in the state and intends to remain here. An assistance unit is considered to have established residency in Minnesota only when a child or caregiver has resided in this state for at least 30 consecutive days with the intention of making the person’s home here and not for any temporary purpose. A county must waive the 30-day residency requirement when unusual hardship would result from denial of assistance.

(c) The combined application form (CAF) is designed so that applicants for cash, food support and medical benefits complete the same application to apply for benefits. Each program the applicant is interested in receiving is shown by checking a box listing that program.

7) A description of the grievance procedures Minnesota has established and is maintaining to resolve displacement complaints, pursuant to section 407(f)(3) of the Social Security Act.

This information is in the 2003 Minnesota State Plan, Number 11 and in MN Statute 256J.72.

8) A summary of State programs and activities directed at the third and fourth statutory purposes of TANF.

Minnesota has a goal of reducing our out-of-wedlock birth rate to no more than 15.0/1,000 women ages 15 to 44. While Minnesota has been successful in the teen pregnancy rate, overall births to unmarried non-teens remains high. The out-of-wedlock birthrate in Minnesota in 2004 was 18.7/1,000 women ages 15 to 44. This is an increase from 16.9/1,000 in 2002 and 17.7/1,000 in 2003. To address this issue, Minnesota intends to continue to broaden the focus from reducing teen pregnancies to reducing unintended pregnancies. Our multi-faceted approach includes the following strategies:

Abstinence education program targeted at 10 to 14 year olds. This program funded by federal 510 abstinence education funds and enhanced with state general revenue funds involves teens, their parents and community organizations, including schools, in activities that support and reinforce the message of postponing sexual involvement. Currently, twenty-one grantees are working to develop a systematic, coordinated approach to affecting behavior change by empowering youth, strengthening parental relationships and influencing community norms to support positive healthy behaviors.

The Family Home Visiting Programs goals have included promoting economic self-sufficiency and teen pregnancy prevention. There has been a significant program focus on working with pregnant or parenting teens. A large metropolitan county in Minnesota received a national award for the interventions, including home visiting that led to positive outcomes for pregnant and parenting teens.

Even with the availability of subsidized family planning services through Family Planning Special Projects, federal Title X funds, Medicaid and the state’s subsidized health insurance, MinnesotaCare, almost half of the women in need of subsidized family planning services cannot be served. This put them at risk for an unintended pregnancy. Financial resources, difficulties accessing care or knowledge of family planning services all play a role. To address the gap in the need for subsidized family planning services, Minnesota has submitted and received federal approval of an 1115 Waiver for family planning services. This waiver will allow the state to serve significantly more individuals at risk for unintended pregnancy and should ultimately support progress in meeting our out-of-wedlock goal. Implementation of the Medicaid waiver is scheduled to begin in 2007 and will allow the state to serve significantly more individuals at risk for unintended pregnancy and should ultimately support progress in meeting our out-of-wedlock goals and reducing unintended pregnancies.

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

The estimated number of individuals who have participated in subsidized employment under 261.30(b) and (c) during FFY 2005 is 0

State of Minnesota Fiscal Year: 2005

Date Submitted: 12/30/05

1. Name of Service Program: Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP)

2. Description of the Major Program Benefits, Services and Activities. [MN Statutes 256J.02 - 256J.74] Grants to Individuals - MFIP grants provide integrated cash and food assistance to families with children or to pregnant women while the caregiver works toward becoming self-sufficient. Caregivers are expected to participate in employment services requirements.

4. Program Type: This program is operated under the TANF program.

5. Description of Work Activities: N/A this is not a separate State program.

6. Total State Expenditures for the Program for the Fiscal Year: $56,292,651.

7. Total State MOE Expenditures under the Program for the Fiscal Year: $56,085,261.

8. Total Number of Families served with MOE funds: 28,959.

This last figure represents the average monthly total for the fiscal year.

9. Financial eligibility criteria for receiving MOE-funded program benefits or services:
Pregnant women or a caregiver with a child under age 18, or under age 19 if the child is in secondary education. The resource limit is $2,000 for applicants and $5,000 for participants. Income eligibility is with 115 percent of FPG adjusted for family size. Participants must be citizens or legal non-citizens.

10. Program Authorization: Was this program authorized and allowable under prior law?
Yes _____ No ___X___

11. Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995: $0.

State of Minnesota Fiscal Year: 2005

Date Submitted: 12/30/05

1. Name of Service Program: Two Parent Separate State Program - Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP)

2. Description of the Major Program Benefits, Services and Activities. [MN Statutes 256J.02 - 256J.74] Grants to Individuals - MFIP grants provide integrated cash and food assistance to two-parent families with children or to a pregnant woman and her spouse while the caregivers work toward becoming self-sufficient. Caregivers are expected to participate in employment services requirements.

3. Purpose(s) of Benefit or Service Program:
MFIP grants provide basic assistance to eligible families. The combined cash and food benefit program also includes an earned income disregard factor that has been shown to encourage work. In addition, a longitudinal study shows that the grant structure as it relates to two-parent families has a positive impact on two-parent formation.

4. Program Type: This program is a separate state MOE program.

5. Description of Work Activities:
- Paid Work Experience - Unsubsidized Employment
- Job Search/Job Readiness - Unpaid Work Experience
- Job Skills Training - Structured Job Search
- On-the-Job-Training (OJT) - Subsidized Private Sector Employment
- Subsidized Public Sector Employment - Community Work Experience Program
- Grant Diversion - Vocational training
- Child Care for an Individual in Community Service Programs.

Appendix B provides descriptions of each activity.

6. Total State Expenditures for the Program for the Fiscal Year: $19, 253, 391.

7. Total State MOE Expenditures under the Program for the Fiscal Year: $19,253, 391.

8. Total Number of Families served with MOE funds: 3, 278
This last figure represents the average monthly total for the fiscal year.

9. Financial eligibility criteria for receiving MOE-funded program benefits or services:
Pregnant women or a caregiver with a child under age 18, or under age 19 if in secondary education. The resource limit is $2,000 for applicants and $5,000 for participants. Income eligibility is with 115 percent of FPG adjusted for family size. Participants must be citizens or legal non-citizens.

10. Program Authorization: Was this program authorized and allowable under prior law?
Yes _____ No __X__

11. Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995: $0.

Final approval of the Food Stamp Waiver allowing the MFIP program to go forward was effective January 1, 1998. The legislation authorizing MFIP was passed during the 1997 session. Legislation authorizing the separate state program was passed by the MN Legislature in 2001 and was effective October 1, 2001. The food stamp waiver was again authorized by FNS in October 2002.

State of Minnesota Fiscal Year: 2005

Date Submitted: 12/30/05

1. Name of Service Program: Consolidated Fund - Emergency Needs

2. Description of the Major Program Benefits, Services and Activities.
Short-term, nonrecurring shelter and utility needs that are excluded from the definition of assistance under TANF, for families who meet the MFIP residency requirements.

3. Purpose(s) of Benefit or Service Program:
Grants provide short-term, basic help to eligible families who find themselves in a crisis or emergency situation.

4. Program Type: This program is operated under the TANF program.

5. Description of Work Activities: N/A this is not a separate State program.

6. Total State Expenditures for the Program for the Fiscal Year: $150,568.

7. Total State MOE Expenditures under the Program for the Fiscal Year: $118,867.

8. Total Number of Families served with MOE funds: 130

This last figure represents the total for the fiscal year.

9. Financial eligibility criteria for receiving MOE-funded program benefits or services:

Families with a minor child, a pregnant woman, or a non-custodial parent of a minor child receiving assistance with an income below 200% of the federal poverty guideline for a family of the applicable size are eligible for services funded under the Consolidated Fund.

10. Program Authorization: Was this program authorized and allowable under prior law?
Yes __X__ No ______

11. Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995: Not Applicable, this program began effective July 1, 2003.

State of Minnesota Fiscal Year: 2005

Date Submitted: 12/30/05

1. Name of Service Program: State Administration

2. Description of the Major Program Benefits, Services and Activities.
State Administration. Those funds represent the state share of the administrative costs of running the MFIP program as allocated through the state’s approved cost allocation plan.

3. Purpose(s) of Benefit or Service Program:
The purpose of state administration is to oversee county administration of the MFIP program to ensure that clients are served under federal and state guidelines.

4. Program Type: This program is operated under the TANF program.

5. Description of Work Activities: N/A this is not a separate State program.

6. Total State Expenditures for the Program for the Fiscal Year: $2,576,259.

7. Total State MOE Expenditures under the Program for the Fiscal Year: $2,576,259.

8. Total Number of Families served with MOE funds: not applicable.

9. Financial eligibility criteria for receiving MOE-funded program benefits or services:
State staff administers TANF program rules and regulations by supervising county administration of TANF funds.

10. Program Authorization: Was this program authorized and allowable under prior law?
Yes ___X__ No ______

11. Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995: Not Applicable.

State of Minnesota Fiscal Year: 2005

Date Submitted: 12/30/05

1. Name of Service Program: County Administration

2. Description of the Major Program Benefits, Services and Activities.
County Administration. Those funds represent the state share of the administrative costs of running the MFIP program as allocated through the state’s approved cost allocation plan.

3. Purpose(s) of Benefit or Service Program:
The purpose of county administration is to provide eligibility determination, case maintenance, fraud control and prevention, and related administrative services.

4. Program Type: This program is operated under the TANF program.

5. Description of Work Activities: N/A this is not a separate State program.

6. Total State Expenditures for the Program for the Fiscal Year: $16,665,190.

7. Total State MOE Expenditures under the Program for the Fiscal Year: $16,665,190.

8. Total Number of Families served with MOE funds: not applicable.

9. Financial eligibility criteria for receiving MOE-funded program benefits or services:
County staff administers the TANF program rules and regulations under federal and state guidelines.

10. Program Authorization: Was this program authorized and allowable under prior law?
Yes ___X__ No ______

11. Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995: Not Applicable. Effective July 1, 2003 this program is funded under the Consolidated Fund.

State of Minnesota Fiscal Year: 2005

Date Submitted: 12/30/05

1. Name of Service Program: MFIP/DWP Child Care Assistance

2. Description of the Major Program Benefits, Services and Activities.
MFIP/DWP Child Care Assistance. [MN Statute 119B] The MFIP Child Care Assistance program helps caregivers receiving MFIP or Diversionary Work Program benefits with child care costs while participating in authorized activities such as working, looking for work, or participating in other activities that are part of an employment service plan. In addition, a family who leaves MFIP or DWP may be eligible to receive Transition Year Child Care Assistance for up to 12 calendar months after leaving MFIP/DWP.

3. Purpose(s) of Benefit or Service Program:
The purpose of MFIP/DWP child care assistance is to help families with child care costs while they are participating in MFIP/DWP authorized activities, such as job search, employment, or training/education.

4. Program Type: This program is operated under the TANF program.

5. Description of Work Activities: N/A this is not a separate State program.

6. Total State Expenditures for the Program for the Fiscal Year: $44,552,781.

This amount includes the state’s matching requirement under CCDF of $23,943,035.

7. Total State MOE Expenditures under the Program for the Fiscal Year: $21,734,367.

This amount can be double-counted up to the amount of the state’s CCDF MOE
requirement of $19,690,299.

8. Total Number of Families served with MOE funds: 1,993

This last figure represents the estimated average monthly total for the fiscal year.

9. Financial eligibility criteria for receiving MOE-funded program benefits or services:
Child care though MFIP is available to families who have an approved job search support or employment plan under MN Statutes 256J.521 or meet the employment requirements under MN Statutes 119B.

10. Program Authorization: Was this program authorized and allowable under prior law?
Yes ___X__ No ______

11. Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995: Not Applicable.

State of Minnesota Fiscal Year: 2005

Date Submitted: 12/30/05

1. Name of Service Program: Basic Sliding Fee Child Care Subsidy (BSF)

2. Description of the Major Program Benefits, Services and Activities.
Basic Sliding Fee Child Care Assistance program. [MN Statute 119B] The BSF program assists low-income working families who are not participating in MFIP/DWP with child care costs.

3. Purpose(s) of Benefit or Service Program:
The purpose of the BSF child care assistance is to help pay the child care costs while low-income non MFIP/DWP families work, look for work or attend educational programs.

4. Program Type: This program is operated under the TANF program.

5. Description of Work Activities: N/A this is not a separate State program.

6. Total State Expenditures for the Program for the Fiscal Year: $18,490,091.

Total State MOE Expenditures under the Program for the Fiscal Year: $18,247,069.

This amount can be double-counted up to the amount of the state’s CCDF MOE
requirement of $19, 690,299.

7. Total Number of Families served with MOE funds: 2,172

This last figure represents the estimated average monthly total for the fiscal year.

8. Financial criteria for receiving MOE-funded program benefits or services:
Families may enter the BSF program if their income is less than or equal to 175% of the federal poverty guidelines, adjusted for family size. Families moving from Transition Year to BSF are considered to have met the income entry requirement in the first subprogram in which they participated. Families may receive child care assistance until their income reaches 250% of the federal poverty guidelines, adjusted for family size. Eligible families may receive BSF child care assistance for children under the age of 13 or, for children with a disability, under the age of 15. Parents must be working, looking for work, or in an authorized education/training activity.

10. Program Authorization: Was this program authorized and allowable under prior law?
Yes ___X__ No ______

11. Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995: Not Applicable.

State of Minnesota Fiscal Year: 2005

Date Submitted: 12/30/05

1. Name of Service Program: Non-citizen Medical Assistance Program

2. Description of the Major Program Benefits, Services and Activities.
Non-citizen Medical. This program provides medical assistance to recently-arrived immigrants who are barred from the federal Medicaid program during their first 5 years of residence in the U.S.

3. Purpose(s) of Benefit or Service Program:
The purpose of Non-citizen Medical Assistance is to provide medical benefits to non-citizens so that adults can pursue employment and work activities and so that children may be cared for in their homes.

4. Program Type:This program is a separate state program.

5. Description of Work Activities: N/A - this is a non-assistance program.

All recipients are MFIP participants and thus would be involved in the range of work activities described in Appendix A.

6. Total State Expenditures for the Program for the Fiscal Year: $874,227.

7. Total State MOE Expenditures under the Program for the Fiscal Year: $515,980.

8. Total Number of Families served with MOE funds: 386

This last figure represents the total for the fiscal year.

9. Financial eligibility criteria for receiving MOE-funded program benefits or services:
To be eligible for the program, the recipient must be an adult or minor caregiver receiving MFIP benefits, but ineligible for the Medicaid program due to the non-citizen restrictions in PRWORA.

10. Program Authorization: Was this program authorized and allowable under prior law?
Yes ______ No __X__

11. Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995: $0.

This program was authorized by the Legislature in 1997 in response to the non-citizen provisions of PRWORA.

State of Minnesota Fiscal Year: 2005

Date Submitted: 12/30/05

1. Name of Service Program: Minnesota Working Family Credit

2. Description of the Major Program Benefits, Services and Activities.
MN Working Family Credit. This program provides a tax benefit to eligible
low-income families through a refundable income tax credit.

3. Purpose(s) of Benefit or Service Program:
The purpose of the program is to provide economic support to low-income families as well as to encourage employment among low-income parents.

4. Program Type: This program is operated under the TANF program.

5. Description of Work Activities: N/A

6. Total State Expenditures for the Program for the Fiscal Year: $111,409,794.

7. Total State MOE Expenditures under the Program for the Fiscal Year: $35,532,713.

8. Total Number of Families served with MOE funds: 48,884

9. Financial eligibility criteria for receiving MOE-funded program benefits or services:
To be eligible for the MN Working Family Credit program, a family with one child must have an income under $ 31,300 and a family with two or more qualifying children must have an income of $35,399 or less.

10. Program Authorization: Was this program authorized and allowable under prior law?
Yes ______ No ___X__

11. Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995: $22,800,000.

State of Minnesota Fiscal Year: 2005

Date Submitted: 12/30/05

1. Name of Service Program: Employment and Training Services

2. Description of the Major Program Benefits, Services and Activities.
Employment and Training Grants. These grants are state funds provided to counties to pay for Employment Services for MFIP and DWP participants.

3. Purposes(s) of Benefit or Service Program:
These are grants to counties to provide various services to MFIP and DWP clients that assist them in becoming employed. The services include, but are not limited to – job search, job club, GED, employment related education, work literacy, case management, job retention, and job or skills update.

4. Program Type: This program is operated under the TANF program.

5. Description of Work Activities: N/A.

6. Total State Expenditures for the Program for the Fiscal Year: $8,184,856.

7. Total State MOE Expenditures under the Program for the Fiscal Year: $7,074, 730.

Total Number of Families served with MOE funds: 11,729.

This is a monthly average of caregivers participating in employment services activities. The average quarterly number of caregivers with records open on the employment services tracking systems is 33,043. This number represents an average taken in October 2004 and in January, April, and July 2005.

8. Financial eligibility criteria for receiving MOE-funded program benefits or services:
To be eligible for the program, the recipient must be an adult or minor caregiver receiving an MFIP or a DWP grant.

9. Program Authorization: Was this program authorized and allowable under prior law?
Yes _____ No __X__

10. Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995: N/A

This program was first authorized in the 1997 Legislative session and was repealed effective June 30, 2003. The program was replaced with the supportive services portion of the Consolidated Fund which provides only TANF-funded reimbursements in the final quarter of FFY 2003. The Diversionary Work program became part of the Consolidated Fund July 1, 2004.

State of Minnesota Fiscal Year: 2005

Date Submitted: 12/30/05

1. Name of Service Program: Diversionary Work Program (DWP)

2. Description of the Major Program Benefits, Services and Activities.
Diversionary Work Program. DWP began on July 1, 2004. It is a short-term and can be received for a maximum of 4 months in a 12-month period. DWP is a work-focused program that requires immediate engagement in Employment Services. The months on DWP are considered non-assistance and do not count toward the TANF 60-month time limit. Additional information on DWP can be found in Minnesota’s July 30, 2003 amendment to the State TANF Plan.

3. Purpose(s) of Benefits or Service Program:
DWP is intended to move people to work as quickly as possible, diverting families from having to apply for MFIP. All adult caregivers must complete an employment plan before DWP benefits are issued and are expected to cooperate with Employment Service requirements. The monthly benefit amount that can be received under DWP is the difference between the family’s countable income and the family’s maintenance needs (rent, mortgage, and utilities), plus up to $70 personal needs. The benefit amount cannot exceed the cash portion of the appropriate MFIP standard for that family size.

4. Program Type: This program is operated under the TANF program

5. Description of Work Activities: N/A this is not a separate State program.

6. Total State Expenditures for the Program for the Fiscal Year: $169,217.

7. Total State MOE Expenditures under the Program for the Fiscal Year: $139,065.

8. Total Number of Families served with MOE funds: 335 – this is an annual amount.

9. Financial eligibility criteria for receiving MFO-funded program benefits or services:

Families with a minor child, a pregnant woman, or a non-custodial parent of a minor child may be eligible for DWP. Child-only cases do not receive benefits through DWP. The resource limit is $2000 for applicants and $5000 for participants. Income eligibility is 115 percent of the FPG adjusted for family size. Participants must be citizens or legal non-citizens.

10. Program Authorization: Was this program authorized and allowable under prior law?
Yes _____ No ___X___

11. Total Program Expenditures in FY 1995: $0.

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This is a Historical Document.