TANF, Child Support and Employment Program Partnerships

Promoting family self-sufficiency through coordinated service delivery

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF EACH OF THESE PROGRAMS?

Title IV-A: Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)

To provide assistance to families so that children may be cared for in their own, or a relatives’ home, by promoting job preparation and work, and by encouraging the formation and maintenance of two-parent families

Title IV-D: Child Support Program (CSP)

To ensure that both parents financially (and emotionally) support their children
Focus on obtaining financial support from the non-custodial parent (NCP)

Employment and DOL job programs

To make job search, work activities, including education, skills and job-readiness training, available to clients who require assistance

WHAT IS THE COMMON GOAL OF TANF, CSP, AND EMPLOYMENT/JOB PROGRAMS?

Common Goals

Empowering families to achieve self-sufficiency through regular employment, and when necessary, paying child-support
The combination of regular job earnings, and regular child support payments, helps low-income families to become, and remain, self-sufficient
Reducing dependency on government benefits, which allows governments to provide benefits to other families and children in need
Providing services leading to self-sufficiency through education, job search assistance, job-skill training and education and support services (transportation, childcare, counseling, medical insurance)

Why is it important that IV-A and IV-D have good partnerships?

To ensure families receive the optimum benefits from all the services that are available
To maximize resources by ensuring programs are not providing duplicate services
To ensure the programs meet heir respective objectives efficiently and effectively

Program Services

Is each program aware of the services available under the other programs?
If so, how is that information shared with clients?
Are referrals made to other programs, and if so, who is responsible for follow-up?

Maximizing Resources

Are programs providing timely and/or similar services?
If so, which program is in a position to provide the most comprehensive service?
Can programs pool resources and personnel to achieve shared-goals?

Meeting Program Requirements

How can the actions of one program affect the responsibilities and performance of another program?
How can programs ensure they support the responsibilities and performance of another program?

COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION-SHARING

Why is information-sharing important?

To accurately identify the legal custody of children and the services needed by CP’s, NCP’s and relative care-givers so no one falls "between the cracks"
To accurately track court-ordered and required program activities for clients that are receiving services
To identify fraudulent activities
Prompt assessment and opening of cases to ensure timely services
Sharing of information and providing education on the services a client may qualify for under other programs
Joint-efforts to support family needs

Communication

How does each program identify a “case” (parent, child, relative)?
How does each program make, and track, referrals to other program (is their a central point of contact, by case number)?
Is input from the other programs requested when taking action on a case (how is this accomplished)?

WHAT IS WORKING...

Best Practices

Co-locating staff in the same building or in close proximity
Teaming of the respective program staff that works the same caseload
Creating a Coordinator Position to facilitate IV-A/IV-D links
Cross-training and shared-training to facilitate a better understanding of the respective programs
Formation of a team, with representatives from each program, to review the shared cases and determine the best course of action for the family
Manual and systems development to expedite referrals and case-management activities

WHAT OTHER PROGRAMS PLAY A PART...

Clients with Special Needs

Identify clients with shared- needs that the programs can not address:
- Physical disabilities
- Alcohol and Drugs
- Mental and Emotional Health
- Domestic Violence
What State/Tribal programs can address these needs?
Who qualifies for services?
How can you create better relationships with these programs?
If a referral is made, how does he referring agency inform other IV-A/IV-D/Employment programs of the referral?