| Y2K Readiness of State
Children and Family Programs |
|Preparing
Health and Human Services for the Year 2000 |
| HHS Reports
All Systems are Y2K-Ready | HHS
Monitors New Millenium "Roll Over" Period |
| HHS
Systems Roll Into Year 2000 Without New Years Night Problems |
| HHS
Agencies Open For Business Without Y2K Problems |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2000
Contact: Michael Kharfen, (202) 401-9215
HHS Secretary Donna
E. Shalala reported today that all state children and family programs
are operating on a "business as usual" basis. HHS Administration
for Children and Families (ACF) has five of the department's high impact
programs -- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF or welfare),
child support enforcement, child welfare, child care and LIHEAP (Low Income
Home Energy Assistance Program). These programs are run directly by states
and funded by ACF. States have reported that their computer systems are
running normally. ACF systems did not experience any Y2K difficulties
and continue to provide funds to the states.
"With leadership
from the statehouses and Washington, millions of children and their families
who rely on these critical benefits and services can rest easy,"
said Secretary Shalala. "We are continuing to work with states to
monitor the ongoing operation of these programs."
ACF sent out teams
to assess the readiness of all state children and family programs, provided
technical assistance, requested contingency plans and tracked completion
of state efforts. All states had either completed Y2K remediation, implementation
and testing prior to January 1 or had manually operated programs not reliant
on computer systems. Several territories are providing services manually
while completing computer upgrades.
State agencies are
responsible for determining eligibility and providing either direct benefits
or services through these federally funded programs. TANF serves 6.9 million
adults and children, child support enforcement agencies collect and distribute
support to nearly 10 million children, over 500,000 children are in the
state child welfare system, 1.5 million children receive child care assistance,
and LIHEAP provides benefits to 4.5 million households.
"We needed
to get the work done and it got done," said Olivia A. Golden, HHS
assistant secretary for children and families. "We're very proud
of the many dedicated federal, state, local and private individuals who
worked tirelessly to ensure children and families received the services
and benefits they need."
A couple of states
experienced minor problems on January 3, the first business day after
the New Year, which were resolved immediately.
###
Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are
available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.
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