A Descriptive Study of Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Programs

Health Navigator Perspectives on Implementation of Healthy Michigan Plan Work Requirements

“…These early findings from states implementing Medicaid work requirements appear to be consistent with the experience of work requirements previously instituted under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. In prior assessments of the work requirements of those programs, there was no evidence of sustained improvements in employment or socioeconomic status among beneficiaries, calling into question the utility of such policies . Similarly, Sommers and Allen found that implementation of Medicaid work requirements in Arkansas was not associated with substantial increases in employment, hours worked, and community engagement activities.…”

The Local Revolution under Second‐Order Devolution: The Effect of County Governments on TANF Administration

“…And interestingly, there is a growing body of literature demonstrating that devolving discretion over TANF does not have an effect on program participation or administration. For instance, a recent report from the Department of Health and Human Services (Hahn, Kassabian, Breslav, & Lamb, 2015) notes that program participation is not affected when states opt to devolve control to local entities. In an examination of California, a state that has devolved control to local governments, Sheely (2013) finds that counties respond similarly in sanctioning and denial of benefits, even in the face of harsh economic conditions.…”

“…This devolution took on a variety of forms, though, as states managed to further shift discretion to local governments, bureaucracies, and regional workforce development organizations (Lurie, 2006; Riccucci, 2005; Ridzi, 2004). The number of states to devolve control to local governments has changed somewhat in the past 15 years, though, with 10 states, in various ways, opting to hand some control of the program to county governments (Hahn et al, 2015). The state still supervises the program, but the administration of TANF is controlled, in varying degrees, by the county government.…”

“…Moreover, the county board manages and approves TANF budgets, as well as hiring contractors to administer TANF services. Ultimately, county governments can have a significant impact on TANF administration and programming either directly as a governing body or indirectly through their selection of TANF directors, contractors, and employees (Hahn et al, 2015).…”