Community-Based Services (View all answered questions for this category)

• New Jersey is establishing a food bank benefit consisting of a three day supply of groceries with TANF funds for families whose income is below 250% of the State's poverty level. Their concerns are that the benefit not be considered assistance, and that monitoring of usage to preclude recurrent use will present an administrative burden that will discourage contractors from joining the program. The non-recurrent, short-term benefit exclusion to the definition of assistance requires that the benefit is not intended to meet recurrent needs. This implies that a State should monitor usage. We are advising the State that they could develop guidelines recommending notification to the appropriate State agency if the contractor notices that the family is using the food bank on an on-going basis. The State has requested to know what practices other states have developed to define, monitor and resolve recurrent usage of food bank benefits that are classified as non-assistance. Please provide the names of states with such food bank programs, a State contact person, and a brief description of how recurrent usage is defined, monitored and resolved. Results of survey will be provided. (1 response)
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• Is anyone aware of any State initiatives under TANF to bridge the digital divide? (1 response)
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• Compromise of Arrears when Parents Marry or Re-marry Two states, Washington and Vermont, have taken steps to help parents who marry or re-marry handle any state child support debt that might have accumulated while they were not living together. We are interested in identifying any other states that through statute, procedures or written policies have developed mechanisms for reducing or suspending state child support debt when parents marry or re-marry. (2 answers)
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• What "transitional" assistance is there for people living rurally without any reliable (including public) transportation to make this necessary transition off welfare? (1 response)
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• How many states have a General Assistance Program or a State Disability Program? (1 response)
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• Colorado DHS staff has a working group with a number of external partners that deals with ADA as it relates to TANF clients. State staff have asked me to check to see what other states may be doing in the area of data collection of TANF clients with ADA issues. Colorado is interested in specific data elements that states may use to identify TANF clients with ADA considerations, (what information is collected), how the info is collected, i.e. via automated systems or by other means, and to whom the information is reported or released after it is collected. (1 response)
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• How do States handle the issue of criminal background checks for TANF clients. Should the State notify employers sponsoring work activities about clients who have a criminal record. Please provide State contacts if possible. (1 response)
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• Are there any grants available to non-profit groups that want to try to fund a Fatherhood Coordinator? (1 response)
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• What are States doing to promote/support the institution of marriage? Please provide information on supportive services, such as marriage counseling, courses of instruction, paring older couples with younger couples, and money management. (8 answers)
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• What are States doing to promote/support the institution of marriage? Please provide information on supportive services, such as marriage counseling, courses of instruction, paring older couples with younger couples, and money management. (8 answers)
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• New Jersey is establishing a food bank benefit consisting of a three day supply of groceries with TANF funds for families whose income is below 250% of the State's poverty level. Their concerns are that the benefit not be considered assistance, and that monitoring of usage to preclude recurrent use will present an administrative burden that will discourage contractors from joining the program. The non-recurrent, short-term benefit exclusion to the definition of assistance requires that the benefit is not intended to meet recurrent needs. This implies that a State should monitor usage. We are advising the State that they could develop guidelines recommending notification to the appropriate State agency if the contractor notices that the family is using the food bank on an on-going basis. The State has requested to know what practices other states have developed to define, monitor and resolve recurrent usage of food bank benefits that are classified as non-assistance. Please provide the names of states with such food bank programs, a State contact person, and a brief description of how recurrent usage is defined, monitored and resolved. Results of survey will be provided. (1 response)
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• Have any State or county TANF agencies established constructive relationships with their local public housing agencies? If so, describe how this collaboration was formed and what results/changes have taken place due to this collaboration. (1 response)
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