A representative from the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services, Division of Family Assistance would like to know if States count online courses, distance learning or other remote computer-based learning for participation hours for TANF clients in either the Vocational Education Training or Education Directly Related to Employment Activity? If so, how do States verify/supervise hours?

A representative from the Tennessee Department of Human Services would like to know how other States deal with the situation if a parent misses a work activity due to child sickness? While the agency grants the parent a good cause exception not to attend an activity if the child is sick, it still impacts the work participation rate. This is especially true when there is an virus/bacteria outbreak in a Day Care Facility.

A representative from the Tennessee Department of Human Services would like to have information on the sanction policy that other states use for participants who do not participate according to the regulations. Several clients are sanctioned for non-compliance, comply for the required period, then become non-compliant again, and this cycle continues. Do other states have limits on the number of times that a client can be sanctioned, then comply, within a time period?

A representative from the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development would like to hear from States who would be willing to share best practices to achieve TANF participation rate?