Native Employment Works Program

Program Instruction

INDIAN TRIBES, ALASKA NATIVE ORGANIZATIONS, AND TRIBAL CONSORTIA ADMINISTERING THE
NATIVE EMPLOYMENT WORKS (NEW) PROGRAM – NEW program grantees that DO NOT include
their NEW programs in projects under Public Law 102-477

Native Employment Works (NEW) renewal plans for the period July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2010

Sections 404(e) and 412(a)(2) of the Social Security Act, as amended; 45 CFR Part 287 (the NEW program regulations)

To provide guidance to NEW grantees on submission of NEW program renewal plans for the three-year period beginning July 1, 2007.

The Native Employment Works (NEW) program was created by amendments made to title IV-A of the Social Security Act by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.  The NEW program replaced the Tribal Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training (JOBS) program, beginning in fiscal year (FY) 1997.  The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-171) authorizes the NEW program through September 30, 2010.

The purpose of the NEW program is to make work activities available to grantees' designated service populations and service areas.  Eligibility for NEW funding is limited by law to Indian tribes and Alaska Native organizations that conducted a Tribal JOBS program in FY 1995.  NEW grant awards are set by law at grantees' FY 1994 Tribal JOBS funding levels.  NEW grant awards are subject to the availability of funds.

Each NEW funding period (program year) begins on July 1 and ends the following June 30.  The NEW regulations specify that NEW plans are three-year plans.

To receive NEW grant funding for the period starting July 1, 2007, eligible tribes and organizations must prepare and submit NEW plans using the revised program plan guidance provided with this program instruction.  These renewal plans should cover the period July 1, 2007 - June 30, 2010, which includes program year 2007-2008 (July 1, 2007 - June 30, 2008), program year 2008-2009 (July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009), and program year 2009-2010 (July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010).

This program instruction (PI) provides guidance to eligible tribes and organizations on preparing and submitting NEW plans for the three-year period beginning July 1, 2007.  It transmits the revised NEW program plan guidance that has Office of Management and Budget (OMB) clearance through February 28, 2010.  This program plan guidance is based on requirements for plans in the NEW program regulations.  OMB approval has expired for previous program plan guidances; they should no longer be used.

This PI does not apply to grantees whose NEW programs are included in demonstration projects under Public Law 102-477.

To apply for and conduct a NEW program for the period July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2010, an eligible tribe or organization must submit a plan to the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) that meets the requirements in the attached NEW program plan guidance.

These renewal plans should cover uses of NEW funds to be awarded in program years 2007-2008, 2008-2009, and 2009-2010.  They also should cover uses of any NEW funds awarded on or after July 1, 1999, that remain(ed) unobligated at the end of the program year for which they were awarded and are carried forward for use during the period covered by these renewal plans.  (See NEW-ACF-PI-04-02 on carryover of unobligated NEW grant fund balances.)

There is no required format for NEW plans.  To expedite preparation and review of these NEW renewal plans, applicants may wish to follow the order in which the required plan elements are listed in the program plan guidance.  This PI and program plan guidance are available on the Office of Family Assistance web site at www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs. 

Grantees should submit the original of the NEW plan to the appropriate ACF regional office, and one copy to the Office of Family Assistance (OFA), Division of Tribal TANF Management (DTTM) in the ACF central office. 

Information on OFA contacts in the ACF regional offices, including mailing addresses, is attached to this program instruction.

The mailing address for OFA/DTTM is:

Department of Health and Human Services

Administration for Children and Families

Office of Family Assistance

Division of Tribal TANF Management, Attention: NEW Team

370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW

Washington, DC  20447.

NEW renewal plans will be jointly reviewed by the appropriate ACF regional office and the ACF central office to verify that NEW program requirements are met.  If the plan is not approvable as submitted, the applicant will be notified about additional action needed for plan approval.  Applicants will be notified of plan approvals.  Approved NEW plans may be amended using the procedures in the NEW regulations at 45 CFR 287.85.

NEW renewal plans should be submitted as soon as possible to assure that they can be reviewed and approved, and grant awards for PY 2007-2008 can be made, by the first week in July 2007.  Applicants should make every effort to submit their renewal plans to ACF by at least May 15, 2007.

Inquiries should be directed to the appropriate ACF regional office, or to the ACF central office at 202-401-5308 (OFA/DTTM) or 202-401-4629 (OA/OGM/DMG).

Native Employment Works (NEW) program plan guidance for program years beginning July 1, 2007 (PDF - 32KB)

Standard assurances/certifications that apply to the NEW program (4) (PDF - 438KB)

Provisions under 45 CFR Part 287 describing activities and services that may be provided with NEW program funds (PDF - 73KB)

Administration for Children and Families/Office of Family Assistance regional office contacts for the NEW program (PDF - 13KB)