The Rural Communities Initiative conducted a Site Visit to the White Mountain Apache Tribal TANF Program based on their request for TA. Rural Communities Initiative staff partnered with consultants from the U.C. Davis Extension at the University of California to provide the Tribe with an in-depth needs assessment in order to strategize on developing solutions for programmatic improvement. The consultants, Julie Gondry and Dr. Geni Cowan, are Tribal TANF subject matter experts with program based skills in training, case management, and data reporting. Based upon the assessment results, the White Mountain Apache Tribal TANF Program will receive valuable recommendations to further enhance aspects of their program’s structure and administration to reach the end goal of self-sufficiency for their TANF participants.

The Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation conducted this study to better understand the characteristics and participation of American Indians and Alaska Natives in State and Tribal TANF programs over time. Researchers conducted comparisons between Tribal and non-Tribal caseloads across State TANF programs.

Staff from the Montana (Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes/Roosevelt County) and Hoopa Valley Tribal TANF (California) met with personnel from various social service providers on the Turtle Mountain Reservation to learn more about innovative substance abuse prevention, job development, community building, and youth development programs currently being used on the Reservation. Both sites requested this visit due to their interest in investigating community/family centered strategies that supported substance abuse prevention and empowered Tribal communities.

The Hoopa Valley Positive Indian Family Network in California requested technical assistance (TA) from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance to help improve Hoopa Valley’s Positive Indian Family Network and their collaboration with other Hoopa Valley human service agencies, particularly Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). The Network operates through a Tribal TANF-Child Welfare Coordination Grant. An event was held on July 8-9, 2008, that focused on wraparound case management practices and the Systems of Care framework from the perspective of the Medicine Moon Initiative through the Native American Training Institute.

Welfare Peer Technical Assistance (TA) staff attended the 2008 National Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Institute that took place July 21-24, 2008. Sponsored by the University of California, Center for Human Services, U.C. Davis Extension, the Institute consisted of a three day training course designed to promote the development of culturally sensitive case management practices and delivery of services to Tribal TANF participants in a culturally appropriate way. The Institute was designed to offer solutions to Tribal TANF programs and to offer skill building and networking opportunities for participants.

The Welfare Peer Technical Assistance Network (Welfare Peer TA) sponsored the Navajo Nation follow-up site visit conducted on December 8-12, 2008 in six locations over the course of five days. Staff from the Navajo Nation’s Native Employment Works (NEW) program requested Dr. Geni Cowan and Julie Gondry from the University of California - Davis Extension to assist them in improving services in various programmatic areas including case management, linkages and coordination with related programs and other resource groups, outreach, recruitment, and other areas essential to customer services. Welfare Peer TA staff accompanied Dr. Cowan and Ms. Gondry on the site visit. The Native Employment Works program operates within the Navajo Nation’s Department of Workforce Development (NDWD). The site visit was structured to include interviews with program directors, staff, and program participants. From the visit, the team identified areas where the NDWD could improve their services. The Navajo Nation Administrative Offices will be reviewing the team’s recommendations and seek to implement changes within the Department throughout the year.

Welfare Peer TA conducted a Site Visit to the Mille-Lacs Band of Ojibwe Tribal TANF Program based on their request for TA. Welfare Peer TA staff partnered with consultants from the U.C. Davis Extension at the University of California to provide the Tribe with an in-depth needs assessment in order to strategize on developing solutions for programmatic improvement. The consultants, Julie Gondry and Dr. Geni Cowan, are Tribal TANF subject matter experts with program based skills in training, case management, and data reporting. Based upon the assessment results, Mille-Lacs will receive valuable recommendations to further enhance aspects of their program’s structure and administration to reach the end goal of self-sufficiency for their TANF participants.

Staff from the Healthy Family/Healthy Child Project in Siletz, Oregon, submitted a technical assistance (TA) request to the Welfare Peer TA Network in hopes of increasing their knowledge around collaborating among their tribal service agencies to better serve their TANF and Child Welfare participants. The Healthy Family/Healthy Child Project operates through a Tribal TANF-Child Welfare Coordination Grant from the U.S. Department of Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance. In response to the request, an event was held on December 3-5, 2008 that focused on wraparound case management practices and the Systems of Care (SOC) framework from the perspective of the Medicine Moon Initiative through the Native American Training Institute. Deb Painte, Director of the Medicine Moon Initiative, Jan Birkland, Sacred Child Project Coordinator for the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, and Claresa Blacksmith, Parent Coordinator for the St. Mary’s Parent Support Group of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, facilitated the meeting.

This PowerPoint, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance, provides information on parts of Title 45 which pertain to Child Care Development Funds and Tribal TANF programs. Also, the slides run through the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) circulars and certifications. The PowerPoint provides information on basic grant principles including specific grant penalties and administrative requirements. Lastly, the PowerPoint provides the Tribal TANF supplement guide which includes tools and helpful forms for grantees to utilize.

This resource, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, provides answers to common questions on the Tribal TANF Final Rule. There are answers to questions on TANF assistance, funding, uses of Tribal TANF grants, work activities, and data reporting.