Welfare, Welfare Reform, & TANF

Content Data and Sample Key Findings Conclusions Endnotes

American Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages have embraced the goals, objectives, and programs associated with welfare reform, but the lack of jobs limits the success of tribal programs such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Welfare-to-Work (WtW). The lack of jobs is one of the biggest problems in Indian Country.

This guide serves three purposes: First, it assists state policymakers and others in understanding what the Medicaid statute and regulations require of states in terms of Medicaid eligibility, enrollment, redetermination, notice and appeal rights, and other program and policy areas.

Final Report July 2004 Prepared for:U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesAssistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation

This project, which resulted in both a key highlights issue brief and a full report, examines how a state's ability to fund social welfare programs affects its state spending choices on programs to support low-income populations. The project includes a two-part study of state spending on social services.

Content The Study What We Found Endnote Social welfare programs strive to improve the well-being of needy and vulnerable populations.

By: Cynthia Miller, MDRC, Mary Farrell, The Lewin Group, Maria Cancian, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Daniel R. Meyer, University of Wisconsin-Madison Prepared for: Jennifer Burnszynski and Linda Mellgren  

Between 1996 and 2001, welfare cases declined nationally by 52 percent, while child-only cases declined by much less. Thus, while the number of child-only cases has fluctuated over time, their proportionate share of the TANF caseload has increased. Children in TANF child-only cases with relative caregivers occupy uncertain territory between the TANF and the child welfare service systems.

Despite the TANF program's emphasis on employment, the policies, practices and attitudes of the employers of TANF recipients have received limited attention.

This report examines the implementation of TANF sanctions in three states, looking at the ways that case managers used sanctions to promote compliance with work requirements. They found that case managers often exercised discretion in deciding whether and when to initiate a sanction, especially when a client partially met participation requirements.