Since 2006, The Administration for Children and Families/Office of Family Assistance has funded three rounds of discretionary demonstration grants to improve coordination of Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and child welfare services provided to tribal families at risk of child abuse or neglect. These discretionary grants were made possible through the Healthy Marriage/Responsible Fatherhood program established by Congress and provide opportunities for Indian tribes and tribal consortia that administer Tribal TANF to develop more effective and efficient strategies to meet the unique needs of at risk populations.
On October 6, 2020, ACF announced the award of $1.8 million in TANF — Child Welfare Coordination grants to 8 tribes and tribal organizations. The grant awards demonstrate models of effective coordination of Tribal TANF and child welfare services provided to tribal families at risk of child abuse or neglect. These projects are tailored to meet the needs of each tribe. Activities will be aimed at the coordination of services: to improve case management for families eligible for assistance from a tribal TANF program; to provide supportive services and assistance to tribal children in out-of-home placements and the tribal families caring for such children, including families who adopt such children; and to provide prevention services and assistance to tribal families at risk of child abuse and neglect.
The project period for these grants is five years, from September 30, 2020, through September 29, 2025. The projects are located across the United States. The project period for these grants is five years beginning September 30, 2020 through September 29, 2025.
The eight awarded Tribal TANF Child Welfare grantees are:
- Central Council or Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes (Juneau, Alaska)
- Confederated Salish and Kootenai (Pablo, Montana)
- Cook Inlet Tribal Council (Anchorage, Alaska)
- Karuk Tribe (Happy Camp, CA)
- Forest County Potawatomi, (Crandon, Wisconsin)
- Pascua Yaqui Tribe (Tucson, Arizona)
- Tolowa Dee-Ni’ Nation (Smith River, California)
- Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska (Winnebago, Nebraska)