Acknowledging the needs of Tribal TANF programs in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance, Region X Office convened the Region X Tribal TANF Fiscal and Data Meeting in Seattle, Washington, on April 26-27, 2011. The meeting was a direct response to requests of Tribal TANF Programs regarding further guidance on data management, processing, reporting, and fiscal procedures.

Families across the nation have been hit hard by the recent economic recession and TANF families and other low-income families have disproportionately witnessed increased poverty, unemployment, and underemployment. The Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance, Regions VI and VIII convened the Improving Families’ Well-Being during Challenging Times: 2011 Bi-Regional TANF and Tribal TANF Directors ’ Conference in Denver, Colorado, on August 1-4, 2011 to discuss the impact on TANF programs and foster peer dialogue around practical solutions to challenges facing TANF programs and recipients. This year’s conference provided State and Tribal TANF Directors from Regions VI and VIII with the opportunity to engage with Federal, State and Tribal partners through interactive sessions and discussions around promising program models and strategies for improving service delivery to families. Over the conference's four days, attendees engaged in a variety of sessions that included specific topic areas such as the impact of the recent recession on low-income families and State policy responses to the recession. The participants also engaged in discussions and informative workshops on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, increased program efficiencies and streamlined services, enhancing career pathways, TANF Flexibility and Reauthorization, effective assessment and service options for domestic violence survivors, Tribal and State TANF child welfare and kinship care, improving State-Tribal relations, preventing fraud, waste and abuse, and Tribal TANF program accountability and implementation.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Family Assistance (OFA), Regions V and VII hosted 14 Tribes, community stakeholders and topical experts at the 2011 Tribal TANF Meeting in Prior Lake, Minnesota on August 16th and 17th, 2011. The conference agenda featured experts and presenters who helped Tribal TANF programs strategize to develop stronger programs that would better serve their participants. Presenters discussed reauthorization, working with State governments, managing data, meeting fiscal requirements and other critical issues relevant to the Tribes in Regions V and VII. The meeting was designed with ample opportunity for Tribal TANF programs to share amongst themselves, interact with their Tribal Council members and ACF.

For many years Tribal communities throughout Arizona have been challenged to meet the economic needs of low-income residents. Many Tribal communities suffer from high unemployment and low educational attainment and are hampered economically by low-income levels. On September 1-2, 2010, to respond to the ongoing and specific needs of Tribes in Arizona, the US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Region IX hosted a Tribal TANF meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona. The meeting focused on comprehensive case management for Tribal TANF participants, administrative guidance, job creation, data management, and program development. As requested by the participants of the 2009 Tribal TANF meetings in ACF Region IX all care was used to develop a more interactive session between presenters and participants. As a result, the 2010 ACF Region IX Tribal TANF meetings were developed as discussion forums and there are no additional printed resources available at this time. For any additional information on these meetings, please contact ACF Region IX.

The Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance, Regions V and VII hosted the Tribal TANF in the Heartland 2010 Meeting on August 11-12, 2010. The goal of the meeting was to help Tribal programs develop responsive and comprehensive Tribal TANF programs, especially in times of economic recession. Sessions included a variety of topics including case management, job creation, domestic violence, and fiscal management. This roundtable style event included presentations from experts in various fields and the opportunity for Tribal TANF representatives to share and network with their peers in innovative peer sharing and learning sessions.

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.