TANF Emergency Fund

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 created a new TANF Emergency Fund to assist states in expanding services during the recession.  States that increased spending on assistance, short-term non-recurrent benefits, or subsidized employment last year or during FY 2010 can receive 80 percent reimbursement of the increased costs. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) issued a policy announcement regarding the emergency fund and released a updated form ACF-100 for states to use to apply. In addition, ACF has posted answers to frequently asked questions on topics including administrative costs, claiming of third-party expenditures, purchase of gift cards, and subsidized employment.

The TANF Emergency Fund is scheduled to end on September 30, 2010. However, the President's budget proposal calls for an additional $2.5 billion for the emergency fund in FY 2011. The proposal would also expand the allowable uses of the emergency fund to include employment-related services and allow subsidized employment to be claimed for 100 percent reimbursement rather than 80 percent.  Each state could receive no more than 50 percent of its annual block grant from the Emergency Fund and the Contingency Fund during FY 2011. 

The emergency fund has been a valuable tool in promoting assistance to vulnerable families, and should be extended. See Extending the TANF Emergency Fund Creates Jobs Now.

URGENT:  The TANF Emergency Fund expires on September 30, 2010.  Congress should take action soon to provide additional funding for next year.   Learn more and take action.

TANF Emergency Fund Listserv

Sign up now for CLASP's TANF Emergency Fund Listserv!  Those interested in the TANF Emergency Fund can use the listserv to ask questions, share ideas, and exchange resources.  We'll also use it as a vehicle for forwarding new HHS guidance as it emerges.  The rules are simple: only members of the list can email the list, and all emails to the list must be cleared by a moderator before they're sent out to member inboxes. 

CLASP Resources and Publications on the TANF Emergency Fund:

• TANF Emergency Fund: Creating Summer Jobs for Youth.
• Sample documents related to the TANF Emergency Fund.
• Chart on maximum allocations states could receive from H.R. 5893
• TANF Emergency Fund: State Applications Approved as of August 19.
  
• Questions and Answers about the TANF Emergency Fund.
• The TANF Emergency Fund: A New Resource for Domestic Violence Programs.
  
• Making the Employment Connection:  New Opportunities to Support Transitional Jobs Programs Using the TANF Emergency Contingency Fund.
• Presentation: Opportunities in the Recovery Act for Income Support for Low-Income Women and Children.
  
• Audioconference: Rebuilding the Safety Net: State and Local Opportunities in Income Support, March 11, 2009.
  
• Audioconference: Building Public-Private Partnerships in Human Services: Inside the New York Back to School Benefit Example, September 3, 2009.
• Audioconference: What the TANF Emergency Fund Can Do for Your Cash-Strapped State, November 16, 2009.
  
• Testimony on the Emergency Fund before the Human Services Committee, DC Council, October 5, 2009.
• Additional American Recovery and Reinvestment Act resources.
  

Other Resources on the TANF Emergency Fund

General

• ACF Powerpoint on the TANF Emergency Fund
• Compilation of Federal Rules on Claiming Third-Party Expenditures toward the TANF Maintenance of Effort Requirement
• ACF List of approved Emergency Fund applications by category.
• Opportunities under the TANF Emergency Fund Created By the Federal Recovery Act, Liz Schott, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, July 29, 2009. 
• Testimony on the Safety Net's Response to the Recession, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, LaDonna Pavetti, October 8, 2009.
• Needy Families and the Recovery Act Funds: Is your state leaving money on the table?, Renee Davidson, Journalism Center on Children and Families, December 8, 2009.
• County Welfare Directors' Association of California wiki for TANF Emergency Contingecy Funds.
• TANF Emergency Fund Extension Has Wide Support, Liz Schott, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, May 3, 2010.
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Short-Term Non-Recurrent Assistance

• Press Release about Missouri's award of 24.7 million to help with their food assistance programs.
• Washington Post article on problems caused by the pending expiration of the Emergency Fund, focusing on Virginia's dental program for low-income residents.
  
• Using TANF Emergency Funds to Provide Food Assistance to Struggling Families, Liz Schott, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, June 18, 2010.
• Ten Ways to Use Short-Term TANF Benefits and (Mostly) Federal Money to Help Low-Income Families and Children, National Conference of State Legislatures, October 2009.
• Open Society Institute and New York State press releases on Back to School Initiative.
• ACF's list of short-term non-recurrent assistance programs in approved state applications.
• National Alliance to End Homelessness article on using the TANF Emergency Fund to fight homelessness.

Subsidized Employment

• General Information
  • Walking Away From a Win-Win-Win: Subsidized Jobs Slated to End Soon Are Helping Families, Businesses, and Communities Weather the Recession, LaDonna Pavettia and Liz Schott, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, September 2, 2010
  • Personal stories and a petition from the 145 people placed at Internet Archive through the TANF ECF.
  • New York Times article, "Job Subsidies Also Provide Help to Private Sector", July 28, 2010.
    
  • Going, Going, Almost Gone: Job-Creating TANF Emergency Fund Set to Expire, LaDonna Pavetti, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, July 26, 2010.
  • Baltimore Sun article on stimulus money's potential dual role.
  • If It's Working, Keep it Going!, Jared Bernstein, White House Middle Class Task Force Blog Post, July 14, 2010.
  • CNN Money article on the successes of subsidized employment funded through the Emergency Fund.
  • New York Times column about the success of subsidized employment initiatives funded through the Emergency Fund.
    
  • San Francisco Chronicle article about the need to extend the Emergency Fund to protect subsidized jobs.
  • Video of Vice President Biden's Middle Class Taskforce Roundtable on subsidized employment and the TANF Emergency Fund.  See also short article from the Middle Class Taskforce blog about the event; longer article by the Middle Class Taskforce about subsidized employment and the TANF Emergency Fund.
  • TANF Emergency Fund Transitional Jobs Implementation Toolkit, National Transitional Jobs Network.
    
  • Joint ACF/ETA letter regarding youth subsidized employment opportunities under the TANF Emergency Fund.
  • Article on subsidized jobs programs nationwide, and the need to extend the TANF Emergency Fund.
  • NASWA, NCSL, HHS, and DOL webinar on using the TANF Emergency Fund for subsidized employment and summer youth employment.  See also transcript and slides.
  • Extending the TANF Emergency Fund Would Create and Preserve Jobs Quickly and Efficiently, Liz Schott and LaDonna Pavetti, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, April 6, 2010.
  • Extending TANF Emergency Fund Would Help Small Businesses Recover from Recession, LaDonna Pavetti and Liz Schott, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, March 23, 2010.
  • With 100,000 Newly Created Subsidized Jobs at Stake, It's Critical to Extend and Expand TANF Emergency Fund as Part of New Jobs Bill, LaDonna Pavetti, Liz Schott, and Robert Greenstein, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, February 26, 2010.
  • Extending TANF Emergency Fund Meets CBO Criteria for Effective Policies to Increase Employment, LaDonna Pavetti, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, February 22, 2010.
  • Stateline article on subsidized employment nationwide.
• Alabama
  • Factsheet about Alabama's subsidized employment program.  See also article on the Alabama subsidized employment program. 
  • Press release and factsheet about the Student Subsidized Employment Program, the student jobs component of the Alabama subsidized jobs program.  See also article on the Student Subsidized Employment Program.
• California
  • Homepage for the Transitional Subsidized Employment Program, the Los Angeles County subsidized jobs program.  See also Los Angeles Times article on the Transitional Subsidized Employment Program and Daily Breeze article on a press conference held to highlight the program.
    
  • Press release and website for San Francisco JOBS NOW!, the San Francisco County subsidized jobs program.  See also San Francisco Chronicle article about the need to extend the Emergency Fund to protect subsidized jobs in San Francisco.
    
  • Homepage for AC Hire, the Alameda County subsidized jobs program.
  • Homepage for SMC Works, the San Mateo County subsidized jobs program.
  • Homepage for the Solano County subsidized jobs program.
  • Homepage for the Fresno 80/20 Subsidized Employment Program.  See also Fresno Bee article on the Fresno 80/20 Subsidized Employment Program.
  • Brochure about the 80/20 Subsidized Employment Program in the City of Roseville.
  • Homepage for the Subsidized Transitional Employment Program in the City of Gardena.
  • Overview of the San Bernadino County Subsidized Employment Program.
    
  • Request for qualifications from employers for Work Today, the Kern County subsidized employment program (contains details about the program).
  • Article on Sonoma County subsidized jobs program, January 1, 2010.
  • San Francisco Chronicle article on opportunities for subsidized jobs programs in California under the TANF Emergency Fund, January 30, 2010.
  • Op/Ed by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe on the importance of TANF Emergency Fund subsidized employment programs and the need to extend the TANF Emergency Fund, February 11, 2010.
• Colorado
  • Homepage for the HIRE Colorado program in Teller and El Paso Counties.
  • Employer homepage for the HIRE Colorado program in Larimer County.  See also employee Homepage for Larimer County Colorado HIRE.
    
  • Boulder County press-release introducing HIRE Colorado.  See also article about HIRE Colorado in Boulder County.
    
  • Mesa County HIRE Colorado pamphlet.  See also article about HIRE Colorado in Mesa County.
    
  • Article about HIRE Colorado statewide.
  • Article about HIRE Colorado in northern Colorado counties.
  • Press Release from CBPP on future of program without an extenstion of the TANF EF, September 2, 2010.
• Connecticut
  • Press-release from the governor's office on July 3, 2010 announcing the use of TANF funds for job assistance.
  • Article in New Britain Herald on summer youth employment.
  • Press Release from CBPP on future of program without an extenstion of the TANF EF, September 2, 2010.
    
• Delaware
  • Factsheet about Delaware subsidized jobs programs (see page 11).  See also Philadelphia Inquirer article on Delaware subsidized jobs programs, February 23, 2010.
• Florida
  • Homepage for the Florida Back to Work Program, the Florida subsidized jobs program.  See also overview of the Florida Back to Work Program in Miami Dade County and Monroe County; article on the Florida Back to Work Program in the city of Ocala, January 6, 2010; article on the Florida Back to Work Program in Bay, Franklin, and Washington counties, March 29, 2010.
    
• Georgia
  • Homepage for Jobs for Georgians, the Georgia subsidized jobs program.  See also presentation on the use of TANF Emergency Funds in Georgia, with extensive discussion of subsidized employment.
  • Also see their FAQ page and the announcement regarding the end of the application process on July 6, 2010.
• Hawaii
  • Hawaii Department of Human Services homepage for See Hawaii Work, the Hawaii subsidized jobs program.  See also Goodwill Industries of Hawaii, Inc. homepage for See Hawaii Work.
• Illinois
  • Homepage for Put Illinois to Work, the Illinois subsidized jobs program.  See also press release from Governor Pat Quinn announcing the introduction of Put Illinois to Work; New York Times article and Huffington Post article about Put Illinois to Work.
  • Press Release from CBPP on future of program without an extenstion of the TANF EF, September 2, 2010.
• Kentucky
  • Homepage for the Ready-to-Work Program, an education and training program for TANF recipients with a large work-study component.  See also CLASP brief about Ready-to-Work. 
  • WorkNow Kentucky's site for employers and site for jobseekers.  Also see the article in the Richmond Register about the program.
• Minnesota
  • Press Release from CBPP on future of program without an extenstion of the TANF EF, September 2, 2010.
• Mississippi
  • Homepage for the Mississippi STEPS program, the Mississippi subsidized jobs program.  See also factsheet about Mississippi STEPS; New York Times article on Mississippi STEPS, February 16, 2010; press release from Governor Haley Barbour announcing the introduction of Mississippi STEPS, September 15, 2009; presentation about Mississippi STEPS; Stateline article featuring Mississippi STEPS.
    
• Montana
  • Homepage for the Montana Subsidized Employment Program, administered by Career Futures, Inc.
• New Jersey
  • Philadelphia Inquirer article about the availability of TANF Emergency Funds for subsidized jobs in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, February 13, 2010; Philadelphia Inquirer article on subsidized jobs programs in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, June 15, 2010.
• New York
  • Press release on subsidized jobs programs, July 14, 2009. 
  • Press release about and homepage of the Green Job Corps program, a New York State subsidized jobs program.
  • Homepage for the Temporary Employment Program, a New York State subsidized jobs program.
  • Factsheet about the Health Care Jobs Program, a New York State subsidized jobs program.
• North Carolina
  • Department of Health and Human Services memo to counties about subsidized jobs programs.
  • Homepage for the Opportunity Project, the Mecklenburg County subsidized jobs program.  See also article from the Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services community newsletter, Reaching Out, on the Opportunity Project, February 12, 2010; Charlotte Observer article on the Opportunity Project, March 1, 2010.
• North Dakota
  • Information about the youth subsidized employment program in North Dakota, funded through the TANF Emergency Fund (see pages 48-49).
• Ohio
  • Department of Job and Family Services memo about subsidized employment programs.
  • Homepage for Seneca County subsidized jobs program.
  • Homepage for Lucas County subsidized jobs program.
  • Article on Washington County subsidized jobs program, January 23, 2010.
  • Article on Franklin County (Columbus) subsidized jobs program, March 26, 2010.
  • Article on Columbiana County subsidized jobs program, March 25, 2010.
  • Press Release from CBPP on future of program without an extenstion of the TANF EF, September 2, 2010.
• Oklahoma
  • Overview of the Oklahoma Subsidized Employment Program.  See also regulations implementing the Subsidized Employment Program; article on Stephens County subsidized jobs program, March 20, 2010.
• Oregon
  • Homepage for the JOBS Program, one component of which, the Jobs Plus program, is the Oregon subsidized employment program.
• Pennsylvania
  • Homepage for Adult Way to Work, the Pennsylvania subsidized employment program.  See also Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry and Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare guidance on Adult Way to Work; Philadelphia Inquirer article about the availability of TANF Emergency Funds for subsidized jobs in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, February 13, 2010; Philadelphia Inquirer article on Pennsylvania's subsidized jobs program, February 27, 2010; Philadelphia Inquirer article on subsidized jobs programs in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, June 15, 2010  Also see John Dodds on Fox News on Way to Work on September 01, 2010 here.
  • Homepage for Youth Way to Work, the Pennsylvania summer subsidized youth employment program.  See also Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry and Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare guidance on Youth Way to Work.
    
  • Philadelphia Inquirer editorial on the need to draw down TANF Emergency Funds for subsidized employment, July 23, 2010.
  • Announcement by Mayor Nutter of Philadelphia on subsidized jobs program, July 22, 2010.
  • Press Release from CBPP on future of program without an extenstion of the TANF EF, September 2, 2010.
• Rhode Island
  • Department of Labor and Training guidance on Jobs Now Rhode Island, Rhode Island's subsidized jobs program.  See also Providence Journal article on Jobs Now Rhode Island, February 1, 2010; information about Jobs Now Rhode Island for job seekers; information about Jobs Now Rhode Island for employers. 
    
• South Carolina
  • Brochure about DSS On-the-Job Training (DSS/OJT), the South Carolina subsidized employment program.
  • Press Release from CBPP on future of program without an extenstion of the TANF EF, September 2, 2010.
• Tennessee 
  • Testimony on Perry County, TN subsidized jobs program, Virginia Lodge, Tennessee Department of Human Services, October 8, 2009.  See also ACF Welfare Peer Technical Assistance Network summary on Perry County; State government press release about Perry County, July 16, 2009; Tennessean article on Perry County, July 26, 2009; New York Times article on Perry County, July 27, 2009.  Also available from the TN DHS website is a video on the public sector piece of their subsidized jobs program.
• Texas
  • Memo from the Texas Workforce Commission to Local Workforce Development Boards about opportunities for subsidized employment initiatives under the TANF Emergency Fund.
  • Memo from the Texas Workforce Commission to Local Workforce Development Boards about the Texas Back to Work Initiative, the Texas subsidized employment program.  See also Texas Workforce Commission press release announcing the creation of the Texas Back to Work Initiative, February 9, 2010; public radio piece on the Texas Back to Work Initiative, March 31, 2010; article about the Texas Back to Work Initiative in Dallas, March 31, 2010; article about the Texas Back to Work Initiative in Corpus Christi, March 15, 2010; Austin American-Statesman article about the Texas Back to Work Initiative, April 26, 2010; Houston Chronicle article about the Texas Back to Work Initiative, June 16, 2010.
    
• Virginia
  • Department of Social Services guidance on the use of the TANF Emergency Fund for subsidized jobs programs by third parties.
• Washington
  • Washington WorkFirst Handbook section on Community Jobs, the Washington State subsidized employment program.  See also overview of Community Jobs.

Additional Recovery Act Provisions Affecting TANF

• Carry-Over Funds: In May 2009, ACF issued an interim final rule implementing the Recovery Act provision that allows TANF funds carried over from previous fiscal years to be used for any allowable TANF benefit, service or activity.  Previously, carry-over funds could only be used for assistance.

• Caseload Reduction Credit:  In April 2009, ACF issued a program instruction, explaining the provision of the Recovery Act that allows states to receive, for FYs 2009, 2010 and 2011, the caseload reduction credit that they received in either FY 2008 or FY 2009 – including any credit due to excess MOE --  if that credit was higher than they would otherwise receive.  This provision is designed to hold states harmless for caseload increases and encourage them to provide assistance to needy families in the face of the recession.