Fact Sheets

The Division of Tribal TANF Management in the Office of Family Assistance is responsible for providing program guidance and technical assistance to: 1) federally recognized American Indian tribes and certain statutorily identified Alaska Native entities in development, implementation, and administration of tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs; 2) federally recognized tribes and tribal organizations in implementation and administration of Native Employment Works (NEW) programs; 3) tribes and tribal organizations administering TANF programs in implementation and administration of Tribal TANF – Child Welfare Coordination projects; and 4) where appropriate, providing general and specific information, guidance, and technical assistance to tribes and state and federal agencies on issues relating to these programs, related legislation, and other initiatives affecting these programs.

Technical assistance for TANF and NEW is provided to current grantees and applicants by ACF Regional TANF Program staff and OFA Central Office (TANF Bureau) staff on a continuing basis via telephone conversations, e-mails, fax, direct meetings, site visits, grantee training and technical assistance conferences and grantee meetings, peers, and TA contractors.

Technical assistance for Tribal TANF – Child Welfare Coordination grantees is provided by OFA Central Office (TANF Bureau) staff utilizing the same methods noted above.

The Website for the Tribal TANF, NEW and Tribal TANF – Child Welfare Coordination programs is: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/.

• Tribal TANF: 202-401-5020 or 401-5150
  Native Employment Works: 202-401-5308
  Tribal TANF – Child Welfare Coordination Grants: 202-401-5308 or 401-2794
  
  Department of Health and Human Services
  Administration for Children and Families
  Office of Family Assistance
  Division of Tribal TANF Management
  370 L’Enfant Promenade SW, 5th Floor East
  Washington, DC 20447

Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Program Requirements and Eligibility

Tribes must submit a TANF plan to the appropriate ACF Regional Office and to the Division. The plan must be for a maximum of 3 years and may start on the first day of any month. Submission dates for plans are dependent on the proposed implementation date. The appropriate ACF Regional Office should be contacted for information. The plan will be reviewed and approved by the Regional Office and Central Office staff in the Division of Tribal TANF Management.

ACF has issued regulations, a Tribal TANF Guidance Document, several Program Instructions and Program Announcements and variety of technical assistance and informational documents to assist tribes in expanding their knowledge of the TANF program and developing TANF plans. Copies can be obtained from the appropriate Regional Office or the Division of Tribal TANF Management.

The regulations, guidance documents, etc., provide guidance to the tribes that acknowledges the unique conditions and needs of tribal communities and allows for tribes to develop and administer TANF programs for specifically identified populations, address the special economic, social, and cultural needs of these populations, and use TANF dollars to provide connections to employment, ensure necessary support services, and work toward accomplishing the purposes and goals of TANF.

Upon approval of the plan and proper notification to the State in which the Tribe is located, the appropriate amount will be withdrawn from the State's TANF Block Grant and allocated to the Tribe. The dollar amount of the Tribal TANF program funding an eligible tribe would receive is equal to the dollar amount of the Federal funds that the State spent for AFDC and related programs for the designated service population in Fiscal Year 1994. In addition, states may also, at their discretion, provide state MOE funds to the tribal grantee.

Eligibility is restricted by law to Federally-recognized Indian Tribes in the lower 48 states and to the designated 12 Alaska Native regional nonprofit associations and the Matlakatla Indian Community in Alaska.

The Native Employment Works (NEW) Program

Authority: The NEW program is authorized by section 412(a)(2) of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.

Regulations: The federal regulations for the NEW program are found at 45 CFR Part 287. NEW programs also are subject to 45 CFR Part 92, 2 CFR Part 225, and OMB Circular A-133.

Eligibility for funding: By law, only federally-recognized Indian tribes and Alaska Native organizations that operated a Tribal Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training (JOBS) program in FY 1995 are eligible for NEW program funding.

Number of grantees: There currently are 78 NEW program grantees.

Funding: By law, NEW grant awards are set at FY 1994 Tribal JOBS funding levels. Annual NEW grant amounts range from $5,187 to $1,752,666. Total annual NEW funding is $7,633,287.

Purpose: The purpose of the NEW program is to make work activities available to grantees’ designated service populations and service areas.

Allowable work activities include:
• Educational activities, including support for GED, remedial, vocational, post-secondary, and alternative education;
• Training and job readiness activities, including job skills training, job readiness training, on-the-job training, entrepreneurial training, and management training;
• Employment activities, including job search, job development and placement, community work experience, community service programs, traditional subsistence activities, and subsidized and unsubsidized public and private sector work experience and employment.

Allowable supportive and job retention services include: transportation; child care; items such as uniforms, clothing, tools, and eyeglasses that are needed for employment or training; medical services; counseling; and other work and family sufficiency related services necessary to enable clients to participate in the program and to assist clients in preparing for, obtaining, and retaining employment.

Allowable activities also include labor/job market assessments, job creation, and economic development leading to job creation.

Persons served: Each year, NEW programs serve more than 10,000 clients.

NEW replaced the Tribal JOBS program. NEW grantees have more flexibility than Tribal JOBS grantees had in selecting their service area, service population, and equitable eligibility criteria, and in determining plan format, work activities, supportive services, and program outcomes. NEW grantees are not required to serve welfare clients. NEW grantees must carry out their programs in accordance with their approved NEW plans and with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. NEW programs work with other programs, helping grantees bridge service gaps and provide coordinated services to their clients.

10/2009

Tribal TANF – Child Welfare Coordination Grants

Ten Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families grantees currently administer discretionary demonstration grants for Coordination of Tribal TANF and Child Welfare Services to Tribal Families at Risk of Child Abuse or Neglect. These grantees are: Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Reservation, Forest County Potawatomi Community, Hoopa Valley Tribe, Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, Quileute Tribe, Red Cliff Band of Chippewa Indians, South Puget Intertribal Planning Agency, and Tanana Chiefs Conference. Current total annual funding for these Tribal TANF – Child Welfare Coordination grants is $1,489,296. The project period for these grants is five years, from September 30, 2006 to September 29, 2011.