In June 2012, the PeerTA Network collaborated with Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) to learn about their subsidized employment program and their efforts around data collection. The Tanana Chiefs Conference Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program is called the Athabascan Self-Sufficiency Assistance Partnership (ASAP), which provides services to the Tribal members of 37 federally recognized Tribes in Alaska. These Tribal members face several challenges living primarily in very isolated rural communities with limited roads, infrastructure, and jobs.
 

Operating a Tribal TANF Subsidized Employment Program: This podcast features Tanana Chiefs' subsidized employment program, which was initially started with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding and brought more than 160 people on the welfare rolls and gave them the opportunity to attain employment. TCC's success convinced the State of Alaska to expand its use of State funds and invest them to continue the program.

The Administration for Children and Families headquarters were joined by Regional offices in a first-ever combined face-to-face and virtual Tribal Consultation.

The Administration for Children and Families' programs are joining the fight for healthy and food secure American Indian and Alaska Native children and families.

The Administration for Children and Families' (ACF) vision for fatherhood is that every parent is actively engaged in his child's healthy development, and intellectual, emotional and financial well-being. ACF has provided a resource page with links and information about various Native Fatherhood support programs, Native Fatherhood grant opportunities, as well as local Tribal events.

The Administration for Children and Families' Office of Family Assistance (OFA), Division of Tribal TANF Management hosted a Webinar, "The Initial Steps for Tribal TANF: Submitting a Letter of Intent." This Webinar provided an overview of the Letter of Intent process for Tribes interested in applying to administer a Tribal TANF program for the first time. During this Webinar, Tribes learned how the Bureau of Indian Affairs Service Area Designation play a role in the process of administering a Tribal TANF Program. Webinar participants gained a better understanding of how to identify service population and service area. Speakers provided an overview of the roles of Office of Family Assistance staff in the Regions and Central office as they relate to the letter of intent process.

This Jobs for the Future report highlights the findings from a Breaking Through partnership facilitated by Jobs for the Future, the National Council for Workforce Education, and the American Indian Higher Education Consortium. This eighteen-month initiative focused on piloting workforce and education strategies to better serve low-skilled students at Tribal colleges and universities.

The Administration for Children and Families' Office of Family Assistance (OFA), Division of Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Management and the Office of Child Support Enforcement hosted a Webinar entitled "Partnering for Children: Collaboration Between Tribal TANF and Tribal Child Support." This Webinar provided the goals and objectives of the Tribal TANF and Tribal Child Support program, including conditions of eligibility for both programs. During this Webinar, speakers identified the differences between State and tribally administered TANF and child support programs. Webinar participants also had an opportunity to hear about collaborative approaches from representatives from Tribal TANF and Tribal Child Support programs at the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe and the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska.

The Administration for Children and Families' Office of Family Assistance (OFA), Division of Tribal TANF Management hosted a Webinar, "Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Webinar." This Webinar was the first of a two-part series, and provided a basic overview of the Tribal TANF program, including factors for a Tribe to consider when deciding if it wants to operate a TANF program and the process of implementing a Tribal TANF program. This Webinar was targeted at Tribes or Tribal staff new to the Tribal TANF program and Tribes interested in pursuing and administering a Tribal TANF program. The information was presented jointly by OFA Central and Regional Office staff, and included a question and answer session.

The Office of Family Assistance hosted the "Broadening the Scope of Work Activities: Using Cultural Activities in Tribal Communities" Webinar to provide an opportunity for participants to hear from Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs that count cultural activities as work activities to meet their work participation rates. Information on program models, designs, and implementation, along with populations served, partnerships, and challenges to service delivery were shared. A representative from OFA's Division of Tribal TANF Management provided an overview of allowable work activities and the unique provisions of Tribal TANF programs.

This presentation from Kathy Deserly of the National Resource Center for Tribes was given at the Region X Tribal TANF Conference in September of 2011. The presentation focuses on the different types of kinship care, how it is used in the child welfare and TANF systems, and advantages and challenges of kinship care. Ms. Deserly highlights characteristics of child-only cases within the TANF caseload and makes suggestions for addressing the specific and unique needs of this population.