policy trends in tanf and child welfare national alliance to end homelessness ending homelessness:...
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Policy Trends in TANF and Child Welfare
National Alliance to End Homelessness Ending Homelessness: The Time is Now
July 9, 2007Jody Grutza, MSW
TANF - DRA
Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) Imposed significant limitations on state flexibility
and policy changes to the TANF Block Grant. Included new $$ for child care funding Imposes new rigor around work requirements Interim Final Rules limit state flexibility Limits vocational education training to 12 months
in a lifetime.
TANF - DRA
Interim rules were not published until June 2006. Guidance for rules has been released 5 times in 3
formats. This has created chaos based on its inconsistency.
To date, no states has an approved plan from ACF. According to the DRA, state plans must be approved
and in place by September 30, 2007 or penalties will occur.
TANF - DRA
Congress got burnt out on the process of the TANF reauthorization.
The focus was on the Iraq War and current spending.
“Pay Go” is also affecting TANF For most states, the new work participation
rules are unreachable, yet penalties may still apply.
TANF - State Concerns
Congress currently has no interest in re-opening DRA discussions.
Final Rules release date may not give states time to implement changes that result in compliance.
Attendance verification and documentation for each hour of participation is extraordinary and creates a paperwork burden.
There is no distinction in work participation rates for those with a disability.
TANF - State Concerns
The way that participation hours are counted leads to only weeks or months of training being done.
Excused absences must be counted in days and not hours, unlike the real world of work
Narrow definitions of job readiness exclude activities like arranging child care and work transportation – known to be necessary for job success.
Serving individuals with multi-barriers will be difficult due to time limits and narrow interpretation of countable.
Proposed Legislation
Rockefeller Bill (S. 1461) introduced in May 2007. TANF penalty relief bill. Prohibits DHS from imposing penalties against states for
failing to meet work participation rates for 12 months from the date of HHS plan approval.
Smith Bill (S. 1730) introduced in June 2007. Pathways to Independence bill Brings TANF in line with ADA regulations. Allows states to work individually with people with disabilities
and count each of them in the work participation rates.
TANF - States Utilizing Innovation
Los Angeles, California – LA County GAIN Sanction Home Visit Outreach
Program St. Paul, Minnesota – Ramsey County
Workforce Solutions
Child Welfare Legislation
109th Congress – 2nd Session
Adam Walsh
Act
JUL 2006
Deficit Reduction
Act
FEB 2006
Child & Family Svcs
Imp Act
SEPT 2006
Safe & Timely Interstate
Placement Act
Federal Legislative Activity in 2006
Deficit Reduction Act (DRA – PL 109-171) Limitation on Eligibility for Foster Care Maintenance and Adoption
Assistance Limitation on IV-E Administrative Cost Claiming Additional Court Improvement Funding under Title IV-B Limitations on Targeted Case Management, but still awaiting the
regulations from CMS.
Safe & Timely Interstate Placement Act (PL 109-239) Home Study Time Limits – 60 days: IV-E State Plan Amendment
Does not include education/training of prospective foster/adoptive parents
15 day extension under certain circumstances Home Study Incentive Bonus – 30 day: $1500
Unclear how this will be monitored by HHS and what data will be required
Federal Legislative Activity in 2006
Adam Walsh Act (PL 109-248) Requirement to conduct fingerprint checks of potential foster or adoption
parents in the national registry before the placement is finalized; regardless of receipt of maintenance payments
Requirement to check any child abuse and neglect registry run by the state or other states in which prospective foster or adoptive parents or other adult in household has resided within the past 5 years
Child & Family Services Improvement Act (PL109-288) Reauthorized PSSF (Title IV-B, subpart 2) through FY 2011. PSSF funds are flexible for prevention, foster care, post-adoption, and
family preservation. These funds could also be used for housing, but they are capped. Discretionary Funds: $89 million has been appropriated, but Congress had
the option to appropriate up to $200 million. Mandatory Funds: $345 million.
National Child Welfare Funding
Child Welfare: Joint Financing Recommendations
NATIONALCHILD ABUSE
COALITION
Partners:
Child Welfare: Joint Financing Recommendations
(1) Guarantee services, supports and safe homes for every child who is at-risk of being or has been abused or neglected by strengthening the federal-state child welfare partnership by amending the federal Title IV-E statute to do the following without converting any of Title IV-E to a block grant.
Align the federal and state governments to create a partnership Create a full continuum that allows funding and programming
beginning with prevention and going all the way through to post-permanency.
Guarantee children placed permanently with legal guardians receive federal, as well as state, financial support
Ensure that children living with relatives while in foster care have access to Title IV-E federal, as well as state, financial support
Assure that Native American children have access to federal support
Making Things Happen: Child Welfare Financing Reform
(2) Promote program effectiveness Improve outcomes for children by enhancing and
sustaining a competent, skilled and professional child welfare workforce
Ensure that all children involved with the child welfare system receive intensive, quality casework services
Promote rigorous evaluation of programs and practices – by allowing reinvestment of penalties and disallowances
Making Things Happen - Child Welfare Financing Reform
(3) Enhance accountability Enhance fiscal accountability – reporting on
funds spent Evaluate the effectiveness of this package of
reforms – GAO study Increase the knowledge about outcomes for
children – allow states to submit state level data for the CFSRs
Child Welfare and Housing Innovation
Connecticut – Supportive Housing for Families Family Unification Housing Vouchers Intensive Case management Reunifying families Contact Kim Somaroo-Rodriguez at
[email protected] or Betsy Cronin at Connections, Inc at (860) 344-0682 for additional information.
Adolescent and Transitional Youth Supportive Housing.
CONTACT INFORMATION
TANF:Linda Lawson, Senior Policy Associate – [email protected]
Food Stamps:Larry Goolsby, Senior Policy Associate – [email protected]
Child Care and Child Welfare: Rachel Demma, Policy Associate – [email protected]
Medicaid:Martha Roherty, Director, NASMD – [email protected] Maresca, Senior Health Policy Associate, NASMD –
APHSA: (202) 682-0100