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August 27, 1999
Dear State and TANF Administrator:
The implementation of welfare to work programs raises a series of challenges and opportunities. One such challenge is ensuring that welfare reform programs are implemented in a manner that is consistent with Federal civil rights laws.
In an effort to assist you in understanding the application of Federal civil rights laws to your programs, we are enclosing two technical assistance documents, along with a letter that Secretary Shalala sent to all governors explaining the documents. These documents, entitled “Civil Rights Laws and Welfare Reform - An Overview,” and “Technical Assistance For Caseworkers on Civil Rights Laws and Welfare Reform,” explain in detail how Federal civil rights law interface with welfare to work programs. Our goal in preparing these materials is to assist you in recognizing potential civil rights issues and thereby enabling you to prevent problems from occurring as you administer welfare to work programs.
Regional office staff from the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and Administration for Children and Families (ACF) will be contacting you to provide additional technical assistance and to answer any questions or concerns you may have related to the guidance documents. A list of Federal agencies is enclosed for your convenience. Please feel free to contact the regional office that serves your State.
Sincerely,
Thomas E. Perez
Director, OCR
Alvin C. Collins
Director, Office of Family Assistance
ACF
Enclosures
Civil Rights Laws and Welfare Reform - An
Overview
Technical Assistance for Caseworkers on Civil Rights Laws
and Welfare Reform
Date of last revision: August 30, 1999