The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 gave tribal governments’ new authority to structure and administer their own cash assistance, employment and training, child care, and child support enforcement programs. This report describes some current characteristics of tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs and emerging challenges in serving tribal members through tribal and state TANF programs. It also presents findings from recent studies on welfare reform's impact on tribal members and explores tribal issues likely to be raised during TANF reauthorization in 2002.

This paper, from the Center for Public Policy and Administration at the University of Utah, provides an overview of the Navajo culture and their Tribal TANF program. The paper also discusses barriers that the Navajo Nation faces in effectively engaging their Tribal TANF clients and promoting self sufficiency. Barriers include support costs and lack of jobs among others.

This report to Congressional Requestors from the Government Accountability Office found that poverty and unemployment is still extremely high on Native American reservations despite Tribes’ efforts to stimulate the economy. According to the study, “57 Tribes with reservations reported that at least half of all families living of their reservations had incomes below the federal poverty level.” The report describes various specific Tribal enterprises. The authors also describe specific challenges that Tribes face in operating TANF programs including developing expertise quickly, obtaining data, and leveraging resources. Through the report, the Government Accountability Office recommended that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provide for more assistance to Tribes in operating their own welfare programs.

Written by Jo Ann Kauffman of the Kaiser Family Foundation, this paper describes case studies of eight Tribes. Of the Tribes studied, six operated their own Tribal TANF programs, one left TANF implementation up to the State, and the remaining Tribe served as a contractor for the State’s TANF program. The paper describes lessons learned in operating Tribal TANF programs and the appendices include the methodology for conducting the interviews.