Which state or sub-state areas have TANF and child support enforcement joined forces to prioritize TANF cases nearing their TANF time limits for IV-D services, i.e. order establishment and enforcement? If so, how did they approach it, and how is it going?

A Region IX TANF program is asking if States are using video administrative hearings. (It appears that they are considering centralizing the hearing process via state video conference centers.) If you are aware of this practice in a state or local jurisdiction, can you please provide a contact name and phone number.

What strategies have states/localities used to partner with community-based organizations serving victims of domestic violence?

Which states have general state 1-800 numbers for TANF services information?

How are other states defining their work activities? Specifically, we would like to hear from states who have their own definition of work activities and how they are defined instead of statutory language.

How many states have a General Assistance Program or a State Disability Program?

Our TANF cases have started to level out during 2001, and now are starting to increase, significantly. Are any of your states having this same increasing problem during 2001? And/or is there a national survey addressing this issue, that is current for 2001 or is it too soon for all the data to be in?

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.

A representative from ASPE would like to identify any States that have developed statute procedures or written policies for reducing or suspending state child support debt when parents marry or re-marry. 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.

In what ways are State using volunteers to serve clients?