TANF, Child Support and Employment Program Partnerships Promoting family self-sufficiency through...
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Transcript of TANF, Child Support and Employment Program Partnerships Promoting family self-sufficiency through...
TANF, Child Support and Employment Program
Partnerships
Promoting family self-sufficiency through coordinated service delivery
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF EACH OF THESE PROGRAMS?
Title IV-A: Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
To provide assistance to families so that children may be cared for in their own, or a relatives’ home, by promoting job preparation and work, and by encouraging the formation and maintenance of two-parent families
Title IV-D: Child Support Program (CSP)
To ensure that both parents financially (and emotionally) support their children
Focus on obtaining financial support from the non-custodial parent (NCP)
Employment and DOL job programs
To make job search, work activities, including education, skills and job-readiness training, available to clients who require assistance
WHAT IS THE COMMON GOAL OF TANF, CSP, AND
EMPLOYMENT/JOB PROGRAMS?
Common Goals
Empowering families to achieve self-sufficiency through regular employment, and when necessary, paying child-support
The combination of regular job earnings, and regular child support payments, helps low-income families to become, and remain, self-sufficient
Common Goals
Reducing dependency on government benefits, which allows governments to provide benefits to other families and children in need
Providing services leading to self-sufficiency through education, job search assistance, job-skill training and education and support services (transportation, childcare, counseling, medical insurance)
Why is it important that IV-A and IV-D have good partnerships?
To ensure families receive the optimum benefits from all the services that are available
To maximize resources by ensuring programs are not providing duplicate services
To ensure the programs meet heir respective objectives efficiently and effectively
Program Services
Is each program aware of the services available under the other programs?
If so, how is that information shared with clients?
Are referrals made to other programs, and if so, who is responsible for follow-up?
Maximizing Resources
Are programs providing timely and/or similar services?
If so, which program is in a position to provide the most comprehensive service?
Can programs pool resources and personnel to achieve shared-goals?
Meeting Program Requirements
How can the actions of one program affect the responsibilities and performance of another program?
How can programs ensure they
support the responsibilities and performance of another program?
COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION-SHARING
Why is information-sharing important?
To accurately identify the legal custody of children and the services needed by CP’s, NCP’s and relative care-givers so no one falls “between the cracks”
To accurately track court-ordered and required program activities for clients that are receiving services
To identify fraudulent activities
Information-Sharing continued…
Prompt assessment and opening of cases to ensure timely services
Sharing of information and providing education on the services a client may qualify for under other programs
Joint-efforts to support family needs
Communication
How does each program identify a “case” (parent, child, relative)?
How does each program make, and track, referrals to other program (is their a central point of contact, by case number)?
Is input from the other programs requested when taking action on a case (how is this accomplished)?
WHAT IS WORKING…
Best Practices
Co-locating staff in the same building or in close proximity
Teaming of the respective program staff that works the same caseload
Creating a Coordinator Position to facilitate IV-A/IV-D links
Cross-training and shared-training to facilitate a better understanding of the respective programs
Best Practices
Formation of a team, with representatives from each program, to review the shared cases and determine the best course of action for the family
Manual and systems development to expedite referrals and case-management activities
WHAT OTHER PROGRAMS PLAY A PART…
Clients with Special Needs
Identify clients with shared- needs that the programs can not address:
- Physical disabilities- Alcohol and Drugs- Mental and Emotional Health- Domestic Violence
Special Needs
What State/Tribal programs can address these needs?
Who qualifies for services? How can you create better
relationships with these programs? If a referral is made, how does he
referring agency inform other IV-A/IV-D/Employment programs of the referral?