Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program

(a) Conduct a program designed to serve all political subdivisions in the State (not necessarily in a uniform manner) that provides assistance to needy families with (or expecting) children and provides parents with job preparation, work, and support services to enable them to leave the program, specifically cash assistance, and become self-sufficient (section 402(a)(1)(A)(i) of the Social Security Act).

Overview of TANF Programs

TANF Programs are designed around four main purposes:

1. Provide assistance to needy families so that children can be cared for in their own homes;

2. Reduce the dependency of needy parents by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage;

3. Prevent and reduce the incidence of out–of–wedlock pregnancies; and

4. Encourage the formation and maintenance of two–parent families.

The State of Maryland’s DHS Family Investment Program provides TANF children resources and support that they need to succeed as adults while providing older participants with the tools necessary to become self-sufficient as soon as possible.  In Maryland, the TANF program is called TCA. The FIA Program assistance consists of services and cash assistance to eligible individuals. The assistance program components under Family Investment Program include TANF, Welfare Avoidance Grants, Child Care and Medical Assistance, as well as a full range of programs targeted at special issues and populations.

The TANF Federal Block Grant funds designated for workforce development are allocated to Maryland’s 24 local jurisdictions recognizing that the local jurisdictions are able to accurately target resources, programs, and services needed by their customers. Each local department submits a plan defining the program for their jurisdiction, which includes the core program components. The requirements and procedures may be tailored to fit the unique population of the jurisdiction.

Financial and technical eligibility criteria are the same for all programs, including those funded by state maintenance of effort, unless otherwise noted in program descriptions. The financial (income and resource) eligibility criteria for the Family Investment Program core components are found in the Code of Maryland Regulations section 07.03.03. Unless otherwise stated in their program descriptions, Family Investment Program non–core programs that are described as serving needy families have income criteria but do not have resource criteria.

TANF Partnership with WIOA for Enhanced Workforce Development Services

Currently, Maryland’s TANF workforce programs are built on connecting individuals to work participation activities that ultimately result in permanent employment. LDSS workforce programs are operated through pay–for–performance vendors, vendors, or the LDSS themselves. This allows the LDSS to achieve the federal TANF performance measure of 50 percent for WPR. DHS will continue to deploy an “employment first” model, but with TANF’s new mandated partnership in the WIOA system, DHS can leverage the myriad of opportunities that the WIOA Partners will offer to improve upon the employment and training trajectories of TANF recipients in Maryland.

Over the first four years of the WIOA Combined Plan, DHS has integrated TANF into the WIOA system as a full partner, thus increasing meaningful access to WIOA services for TANF work eligible individuals (WEI) who are determined to be ready, supported, and eligible.

A few WIOA Priority of Service populations, within the WEI TANF group, may include: work ready TANF recipients; TANF recipients between the ages of 18–24 who may be able to take advantage of the new focus on older, out–of–school youth services; individuals receiving or who have exhausted UI and may need TANF; and non–custodial parents. All of these groups fit into Maryland’s overall list of targeted populations for Priority of Service. In addition, TANF will be able to offer potential services and supports to other eligible customers within the WIOA system thus providing value to the entire system on the whole.

DHS, with the 24 LDSS and the WIOA Partners, will implement this partnership using a phased–in approach over the four year period of the Plan in all of Maryland’s 12 Local Areas. This will allow for strategic and thoughtful roll–out, flexibility based on critical local needs and input, evaluation, and ability to change course as needed.

DHS leaders continue to serve on the WIOA Alignment Group to ensure an ongoing active TANF voice. Further, the WIOA Partners in the Alignment Group created under this Plan have ensured that high level leaders from the LDSS, and other decision makers from partnering agencies, have adequate representation on Local Boards. This has ensured local TANF representation for alignment, effective operations, compliance, evaluation, and partnership purposes. To assist Maryland with this phased in approach of TANF integration within the WIOA system, DHS, the LDSS, and other WIOA Partners, successfully completed the Health and Human Services Office of Family Assistance (OFA) Systems to Family Stability National Policy Academy (the Academy). Through leveraging the Academy’s resources, tools, and subject matter experts, Maryland will continue to:

• Assess the current status of LDSS and Local Area partnerships;
• Provide direct technical assistance and guidance to the areas selected to phase in first. Areas will be offered a variety of technical assistance options to work towards a meaningful, operational partnership;
• Monitor the progress of the partnership plans and provide ongoing technical assistance; and
• Set up evaluation criteria, to measure the effectiveness of the partnership.

As a general framework, based on a strong individualized assessment, TANF recipients will receive appropriate services through one of three portals: (1) the LDSS only; (2) through a combined effort between the LDSS and WIOA system; or (3) through the WIOA system only.

All services delivered to TANF recipients should focus on: (1) meeting the WPR by placing TANF recipients in federally countable work activities for sufficient hours each week and (2) achieving the WIOA performance measures, as applicable. The ultimate goal is for TANF recipients to achieve employment that leads to long–term independence from public assistance. Throughout participation in these activities, the LDSS will provide supportive services that may include: child care, medical assistance, transportation, food assistance, emergency assistance, clothing assistance, and employment retention services.

Through the WIOA system, TANF recipients may:

• Receive Labor Market Information, recruitment, job development, and placement services through WIOA, in partnership with LDSS business services staff;
• Participate in training programs such as short term credentialing training programs, work based learning programs, on–the–job training programs, MD Labor’s EARN industry–led training programs, Career Pathways training programs, and/or apprenticeships; and/or
• Participate in Adult Basic Education (ABE), Adult Secondary Education (ASE), or English Language Acquisition (ELA).

In order to achieve this partnership, DHS will continue to:

• Consider co–location of LDSS and/or WIOA Partners at AJCs or LDSS, depending on the nature of local partnerships and operations to:
  • Monitor the progress of TANF WEI and keep them countable for the federal WPR;
  • Become an integrated part of the WIOA Partners and serve customers collaboratively;
  • Become an integrated member of the WIOA Partners Business Services teams  in order to engage with the business community collaboratively and provide the best customer service to businesses and jobseekers alike;
  • Develop common intake and assessment strategies; and
  • Braid and blend funding as appropriate.
• Leverage existing financial and in–kind contributions to the WIOA system:
  • Analyze existing LDSS vendor contracts with the WIOA System and possibly re–tool to create more meaningful access and integration into the WIOA system;
  • Explore partnership models that leverage existing funding to increase TANF recipients’ participation in WIOA system programs;
  • Analyze existing co–location contracts or consider co–location of staff or shared space;
  • Provide training and access to DHS’ online benefits application and access system, myDHR; and
  • Offer TANF and other LDSS services as needed.

• Contribute outcomes data to the WIOA system:
  • Provide and report on performance data for some of the proposed WIOA Common Measures and
  • Use the data to evaluate the TANF/WIOA partnership.
• Participate in Statewide WIOA Partners activities:
  • Serve on the statewide WIOA Alignment Group;
  • Participate in the planning of Maryland’s WIOA Convenings; and
  • Contribute to the Jobseeker Advisory Groups to ensure the inclusion and participation of TANF recipients on the Advisory Groups.

Maryland will leverage DHS’ research partner to research, track, and evaluate the TANF partnership with the WIOA system throughout the life of this first WIOA Combined Plan. As Maryland continues to rollout the partnerships regionally and statewide, a research partner will provide the WIOA Partners with data and recommendations of how the partnership are working regarding such components as performance, types of WIOA services for TANF recipients, collaborative policies and procedures, shared funding, administration, alignment of program missions, and cross–program staff training and knowledge.

Whole Family Approach

Following the recommendations of Governor Hogan and Lt. Governor Rutherford, this TANF state plan adopts a Two-Generation approach (2Gen) to serving families.  The 2Gen approach intentionally works to build the whole family’s well-being through coordinated programs and services both within the Administrations of DHS and throughout the state of Maryland.  The 2Gen approach to TANF seeks to support families achieve their goals; help families navigate state and local resources; and promote policies and services that reflect the lived experience and input of customers.

Customer Informed Approach: The success of Maryland’s 2Gen approach is driven by the needs of Maryland’s families. Families are able to inform decisions at both the State and local level, via a direct link to service providers, policy makers, and funders through a streamlined, electronic feedback loop. The customer service survey is vital to the success of Maryland’s 2Gen approach and TANF program as it identifies areas of need, opportunities for improvement, and gaps in services.

Current TANF Workforce Programs

DHS, through the local departments, provides workforce related services and referrals to all applicants or recipients of TANF assistance. The local departments have the responsibility and some flexibility, within state and federal guidelines, to develop the systems, processes, and programs necessary to implement the work requirements of the Act specific to their local jurisdiction.

Annually, the local departments submit their local plans called the Partnership for Achieving Self– Sufficiency (PASS) Plans. These plans describe the activities that local departments will operate to implement the work requirements of the TANF law.

DHS Special Target Populations

Families with disabilities: DHS is committed to strengthening a diverse workforce and connecting TANF customers and their families with disabilities to the supports necessary so that they may fully participate in the state’s economy.  DHS will enhance staff knowledge and strategies on connecting customers with disabilities with career pathways best suited to a family’s specific situation. In doing so, the agency will leverage resources and expertise of WIOA partners including but not limited to the MSDE DORS and MD Labor.

Returning citizens: Maryland sees approximately 10,000 individuals released from prison each year and within three years, 40 percent of those are rearrested. The unemployment rate among those released exceeds 50 percent.  While research shows that an employed ex-offender is less likely to commit crimes and return to prison, a criminal record is the greatest barrier to employment, creating a vicious cycle where affected individuals become dependent on criminal activity for living. The State is intentional in providing returning citizens training opportunities, access to expungement services, and career pathways that are accessible to those with criminal records.

Non-Custodial Parents: DHS will maximize the impact the TANF Block Grant has on a family by supporting non-custodial parents (NCP). Non-custodial parents eligible to participate include those with children who receive TANF, SNAP, SSI, Medicaid, and/or Maryland Children’s Health Program (MCHP). Expanding the eligible population for workforce and training services with the goal of increasing earnings for NCP’s will reduce caseloads and prevent TANF leavers from returning to assistance. Supporting NCP’s also means that they will be more equipped to meet child-support obligations- decreasing the likelihood that their children will also become welfare recipients.

LEP: 16 percent of Maryland’s population is foreign-born. DHS is committed to TANF programming that is nimble and responsive to the changing needs of the States’ diverse population. Maryland will use TANF to address the needs of families with LEP by creating programs that address barriers to the population such as low English language literacy, lack of U.S. work experience, unrecognized education and training credentials, limited professional networks, cultural differences and more.

Substance Abuse: DHS is clear on the impact of the current opioid epidemic. The Department has noticed a shift in caseload demographics such as children residing with relatives as well as an increased need for supportive services such as mental health and/or substance abuse treatment. DHS will ensure any family impacted by substance abuse has the necessary services needed to be successful in gaining and maintaining employment. Through supportive services, the Department will ensure the necessary referrals are made not only to those experiencing a substance abuse disorder but also those impacted by a family member experiencing addiction. In line with the States’ 2Gen approach, families who are impacted by substance abuse will be screened so both somatic and mental health needs are addressed for all impacted members of a family.

Caretaker Relatives

Due to the current drug crisis, DHS has noted a trend of increased cases where grandparents and/or other relatives are caring for minors. These trends are most notable in areas with higher rates of opioid misuse. Presumably, parents are unable or unwilling to care for their children due to a variety of reasons that are directly related to drug abuse such as prolonged absences from home, incarceration, admission to treatment facilities, etc. DHS will intentionally screen caretaker relatives and identify opportunities for enhanced supports that address secondary trauma and an often complex system to navigate.

Youth

In harmony with the Department’s 2Gen approach, DHS is committed to providing youth with the resources and opportunities they need to make informed choices that will positively impact their education and career goals. Work-based learning is a proven practice that leads to better employment outcomes as adults. DHS will provide youth opportunities for contextualized learning to better enhance career opportunities as they enter the workforce.

Plan goals include:

• Maintain current TANF Work Program goals:
  • A minimum WPR of 50 percent – This goal is important because WPR is a key benchmark that the federal government uses to evaluate the effectiveness of Maryland’s TANF program,
  • Universal Engagement (All TANF recipients must be engaged in a federal or State defined activity unless otherwise exempted), and
  • Job placements at prevailing minimum wage (federal, state, or local) Job placements in full-time employment paying 130% above the local minimum wage or more;

• • Improve outcomes for all workforce development vendor contracts;
  • Develop meaningful partnerships that advance DHS goals, to include partnership with the WIOA system; and
  • Leverage local, state, and federal resources to assist individuals with moving towards self–sufficiency.

The Local PASS Plans also include the state–defined work activity of substance abuse treatment for the purposes of section 402(a)(1)(A)(ii) of the TANF law as well as any additional locally defined work activities that are also incorporated as state defined activities for the purposes of that section of the law. As long as the individual is participating with substance abuse requirements and is not able to participate in a work activity, the substance abuse treatment is considered the individual’s activity for a specified length of time.

In order to monitor and ensure that TANF recipients are engaging in work activities, DHS uses a key tool, the PASS Scorecard (FY 2014 and FY 2015 performance included in the Plan) to obtain a snapshot view of a local departments’ performance. The Scorecard posts three critical metrics that indicate the overall levels of performance local departments made in engaging TANF recipients in work activities and moving them into employment. These measures include: the universal WPR, universal engagement, clients placed in employment, and clients placed in full–time employment paying 130% above the local minimum wage or more.

In addition to workforce development, Maryland’s TANF program provides a broad range of other services. The Department’s FIA formed partnerships with other administrations within DHS, including the Child Support Enforcement and Social Services divisions, and with other State agencies and community organizations. DHS’ FIA works with these partners to promote DHS’ goal to protect children by assisting their families to become independent through work, personal and family responsibility, and community involvement.

The Department expanded its goal to include support for low income working families. This new edition to the TANF portion of Maryland’s Combined State Plan continues to strengthen those partnerships by empowering staff in offices across the State to work together to provide employment and training activities, supportive services, and benefits that enable customers to get jobs and improve their economic circumstances. Additionally, Maryland is committed to providing targeted services to customers facing multiple barriers to employment, including LEP and disabilities.

This Plan includes a full range of programs targeted at special problems and needy populations in every jurisdiction throughout the State. These programs are:

Core Family Investment Program Components

Eligible individuals may be referred to one or more program components during the application process. The Family Investment Program core components all have the same eligibility criteria mentioned above, unless noted in the component description. They are funded out of TANF, TANF–MOE, or Commingled Funds as appropriate and as reported in Maryland’s fiscal reports.

TANF

Individuals may apply for TANF when available resources and referrals do not fully address their families’ needs. Applicants must satisfy child support requirements before their applications for TANF are approved. Medical Assistance eligibility is determined in a separate determination and system for each member of an active TANF assistance unit.  DHS contracted with two vendors who are qualified to implement TANF/workforce programs for refugees and/or asylees: the International Rescue Committee and the Ethiopian Community Development Center. In order to qualify as a provider for refugee services, vendors must be authorized through the Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the United States Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration.

Diversion Programs

Maryland operates a diversion program, the Welfare Avoidance Grant (WAG). A local department may offer a WAG according to criteria described in a local plan approved by DHS. A WAG is a one–time only, short–term cash benefit to a family with children, which is paid based on an agreement signed by the applicant or recipient and the local department. Following the intent of §407 of the Social Security Act, WAG is a non–assistance TANF diversion program that provides for a specific family episode of need, rather than a chronic or continuing situation. The WAG provides funding to meet that need so that the breadwinner may take a job or return to a job. A WAG payment is not intended to cover a family’s on–going needs. Applicants or recipients may not receive TANF during any period covered by a WAG. An application for TANF is denied during the period covered by the WAG. Any on–going TANF case would be closed. This program provides non– assistance.

Alternative Programs

An alternative program is an optional program, in addition to Family Investment Programs, which may be developed and implemented by a local department to achieve the Family Investment Program goals. The program shall have the approval of the Secretary of DHS, is funded within the local department’s allocated funds and any local supplement, and operates within Federal requirements. Local department welfare diversion programs are included in this category.

Emergency Assistance to Families with Children

Maryland’s Emergency Assistance to Families with Children program uses TANF funds to operate. Funds are allocated to local departments to meet emergencies for families with children. The financial eligibility criteria for this component differ from the other components, in that the family is needy if they have an emergency situation, as defined in the local plan, and do not have income or readily available liquid assets to meet that emergency. The family must have at least one child under the age of 21, and the emergency cannot have been created by quitting a job.

Transitional Support Services

The Transitional Support Services (TSS) initiative began in July 2019. The purpose of the initiative is to help TANF leavers to smoothly transition to self-sufficiency. Through TSS, a TANF household is able to continue to receive cash assistance for a period of time after their TANF case closes due to income over-scale. A TANF leaver may receive up to three consecutive months of a cash benefit equal to the TCA grant amount at the time of case closure.  DHS will continue to enhance the program to include additional support services (i.e. case management and post-job placement) assistance to ensure that TANF leavers are able to not only maintain employment, but also, they thrive. DHS is currently developing a process to automatically refer TSS recipients to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training to access additional services that will lead to increased household income and improved overall economic wellbeing.

Extended the Allowable Time Period for Vocational Education and Education Program

Beginning July 1, 2020, the State will allow an applicant or a recipient to meet the work activity requirement for a maximum of 24 months by either:

1. Engaging in a minimum of 20 hours per week of vocational education training that is directly related to employment and education that leads to an associate degree, a diploma or a certificate; or
2. Engaging in an average of at least 20 hours per week of education directly related to employment, which may include an adult basic education program, an English as a second language program or a GED^® program.

Program Requirements

The following section outlines requirement for the state’s TANF Program.

Assessment

The application for a Family Investment Program includes an assessment to consider the individual’s reasons for applying for, or continuing to rely on, assistance, educational level, job skills and readiness, identifying potential impairments, disabilities, and interests to enable evaluation for appropriate program activities, and any available personal and family resources to facilitate independence. Based on the assessment of needs, the local department offers supportive services to the individual which may include, but are not limited to:

• Child support services;
• Job services;
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP / Food Supplement Program);
• Medical Assistance;
• Social services;
• Referral to Family Planning and Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment Services;
• Child care;
• Transportation; and
• Other appropriate services.

The applicant signs a Family Responsibility Plan with the local department specifying the requirement to comply with requests for cooperation, participation in work activities, and supportive services which the local department provides. The applicant’s actions may include, but are not limited to, participating in child support activities, job search activities, employment activities, community service, and substance abuse treatment programs, if appropriate.

Application Decision

A decision on an application for any Family Investment Program component is made as promptly as possible, no later than 30 calendar days from the date the signed application is received in the local department.

Residence

The applicant and all recipients shall be residents of the state. A resident of the state is one who is living in the state voluntarily, and not for a temporary purpose, and has no immediate intention of moving from the state, and is not receiving assistance from another state.

Citizenship Status

A Family Investment Program recipient must be a U.S. citizen or a qualified alien as defined in §8 USC 1611 et seq., as amended. A state program for other qualified legal immigrants who are not eligible under federal law has been developed and is paid with 100 percent state maintenance of effort (MOE) funds.

Employment and Education Requirements

Each adult in the assistance unit, and each child age 16 years or older in the assistance unit who is not enrolled full–time in school, must participate as requested in a work activity which is approved by the local department and is likely to result in unsubsidized employment. The participation requirement is based on the concept of immediate universal engagement and is compliant with the 24 month work rule found in §402(a)(1) A (ii) of the TANF law.

Exemptions from the work activity requirements are:

• A single custodial parent who is required to care for a child under age one who is a member of the assistance unit (This exemption applies for a cumulative total of 12 months for a parent’s lifetime and does not apply to each child);
• A child under age 16;
• A teen parent (either head of household or included as a child on an adult’s TANF case) who has not finished secondary school may not be exempt to care for a child younger than one year old;
• A caretaker relative in the assistance unit with a child cared for by a non–parent relative who has demonstrated need, and has no dependent children of his or her own in the assistance unit; and/or,
• An immigrant, parent/caretaker relatives who are not eligible for federal TANF assistance, with the exception of adult only qualified immigrant households for which TANF eligibility is based on an unborn child.

Failure of any non–exempt adult to cooperate in a work requirement without good cause, including failure to accept offered employment, shall result in ineligibility for the entire assistance unit until the household cooperates.

Work Requirements

The state of Maryland provides work–related services and referrals for services to all applicants or recipients of TANF. These referral services are initiated at the local departments. The local departments have the responsibility and limited flexibility, within state and federal guidelines, to develop the systems, processes, and programs necessary to implement the work requirements of the Act specific to their local jurisdiction.

Quitting a Job

When an adult voluntarily quits a job within 30 days of their TANF application date, the entire assistance unit is ineligible for TANF for 30 days after the quit. When a 16–17 year old child applicant who is not enrolled in school voluntarily quits a job within 30 days of the TANF application date, the child is ineligible, and the child’s incremental portion of the TANF grant is not paid. To be eligible, the adult or child must work at a new job or wait 30 days after the quit date to apply for TANF. When an adult recipient voluntarily quits a job without good cause, the entire assistance unit is ineligible after conciliation and sanction procedures are applied. When a 16–17 year old child recipient who is not enrolled in school voluntarily quits a job without good cause, that child is ineligible, and the child’s incremental portion of the TANF grant is not paid. Work sanctions are imposed on both adults and children over age 16 and must be cured before benefits are paid. Good cause reasons are stated in the Code of Maryland Regulation at 07.03.03.07.

Participation Rates

The state of Maryland elects to take the option to exempt individuals from work requirements and participation rates that are single custodial parents of a child under the age of 12 months. This exemption applies for a cumulative total of 12 months for a parent’s lifetime and does not apply to each child.

Child Support Requirements

As an eligibility condition for the Family Investment Program, the caretaker relative must file an application for child support enforcement services at the time of application for the Family Investment Program and assign to the State the right to support for any child included in the Family Assistance Program assistance unit for the period of time the child receives Family Assistance Program assistance. The TANF policy and Maryland regulations were revised to address the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 changes to child support requirements. The caretaker relative must, unless exempt for good cause, cooperate in the establishment and enforcement of child support for each child in identifying and locating the absent parent of a child for whom assistance is requested, establishing the paternity of a child born out of wedlock for whom assistance is requested, and obtaining support payments or any other payments or property due to the caretaker relative or the child for whom assistance is requested. A determination of non–cooperation without good cause or adequate reason results in ineligibility of the entire assistance unit until the household cooperates.

The Assistance Unit

The assistance unit includes parents or another caretaker relative acting as a parent, a minor child, or a pregnant woman. The degree of relationship for the caretaker other than a parent is not a factor. A minor child is under the age of 18 or expected to complete a program of secondary education or the equivalent level of vocational or technical training before the child turns 19.

To encourage the formation and maintenance of two–parent families, one parent and two–parent assistance units are treated the same and follow the same regulations even though they have different funding sources. When determining the amount of the TANF benefit, the needs of the assistance unit may not include a child age 16 (not head of household) or older who is not a full–time student and who failed to comply with work requirements without good cause. The assistance unit may not include families with an adult head of household or spouse who has received 60 months of benefits under this Act, unless the individual lived in Indian Country as described in §408 of the TANF law or, because of hardship is included in the 20 percent of caseload exception allowable under the TANF law. Nor may it include a teen parent who is not participating in educational activities directed at the attainment of a high school diploma or its equivalent.

The needs of an individual failing to comply with substance abuse treatment requirements are removed from the grant. Also, an individual may not be included in the assistance unit for ten years, if the individual misrepresented a residence in order to receive duplicate benefits. In addition, an individual who is a fugitive felon or parole and probation violator as described in §408 of the TANF law may not be included in the assistance unit. The assistance unit does not include the caretaker relative in families with a child cared for by a non–parent relative who has not demonstrated need and has no dependent children of his or her own in the assistance unit.

The assistance unit cannot include immigrant, parent/caretaker relatives who are not eligible for federal TANF assistance, with the exception of adult only qualified immigrant households for which TANF eligibility is based on an unborn child. Adult only legal immigrant households will be one of the Separate State Program TANF sub–populations. For the federal TANF funded families, a room and board payment is made for the children only. The adults are not included in the assistance unit. Any 100 percent federal TANF funded assistance unit with a dependent 19 year old student in a household that shows a demonstrated need will qualify for separate state funded TANF.

The assistance unit may include married same gender adults and their child(ren). The child(ren) must be related to both parents by birth/blood, marriage, or adoption for both parents to be eligible for TANF. In situations where only one parent in the marriage is related to the child(ren), the assistance unit will be treated as a step-parent case. Maryland also serves families with a parent and/or child who has a disability which will last more than 12 months and who is required to apply for SSI, and the SSI application is approved, pending, or in the appeal stage with 100 percent TANF funds. This program includes services to assist the recipient adult/child apply for and pursue eligibility for SSI benefits.

60–Month Time Limit

Families that reach their 60–month time limit and are granted a hardship exemption remain eligible for TANF. Families that reach their 60–month time limit and are not meeting one or more of the Family Investment Program requirements are not eligible for TANF. Maryland emphasizes that conversations regarding the 60-month time limit start the day of initial application. TANF case managers work with families to identify a family centered plan from day one. The plan ensures that customers are engaged early on in activities that will help them achieve self-sufficiency. Criteria for granting a hardship exemption are stated in the Code of Maryland Regulation at 07.03.03.20. Penalties for not meeting Family Investment Program requirements are stated in Code of Maryland Regulation at 07.03.03.19.

Primary Prevention Initiative

As part of the plan to both reduce infant mortality and encourage children to remain in school, Maryland requires TANF recipients with children, age seven and under to provide medical documentation of annual health checkups. TANF recipients with children age seven and over must verify their children are registered in and attending school at least 80 percent of the time. Children not meeting either the health verification requirement or the school attendance requirement cause a TANF disallowance or reduction in the TANF benefit of $25 per child, per month. When the child is back in compliance, the full benefit is reinstated.

Families Served in a Separate State TANF Program

Because of their special circumstances, the state of Maryland serves the following families in a Separate State TANF Program funded with 100 percent TANF Maintenance of Effort funds. The eligibility requirements are the same as for TANF/TANF–MOE funded families:

• For families where there are qualified immigrant adults (admitted to the country on or after August 22, 1996) who are not eligible under federal law, but meet all other TANF eligibility requirements and include a pregnant adult, but no other children, a separate state program will serve these families until the child is born.
• For families consisting of a parent (or parents) or a non–parent caretaker relative (or non–parent caretaker relatives) with the only child (or children) in the household who is a full time student in a secondary school or an equivalent program and expected to graduate in the year the child turns 19, eligibility ends the month after the month of the child’s graduation.
• Adult parents in families that are determined by the local department to be exempt for reason of hardship and who meet all other TANF technical and financial eligibility requirements, who are not eligible under federal law because of the 20 percent hardship exemption limit.

Families Served in a Segregated State TANF Program

Because of their special circumstances, the state of Maryland will serve the following families in a TANF Program funded with state funds segregated within the TANF program. The eligibility requirements are the same as for TANF/TANF–MOE funded families:

• Families with at least one assistance unit member who is employed,
• Has countable earned income, and
• Receives Maryland’s 40 percent income disregard.

These families are not subject to the 60–month time limits but are subject to all other TANF requirements.

Because of their special circumstances, the state of Maryland serves the following families in a Segregated TANF Program funded with federal TANF funds. Maryland uses TANF funds to provide adoption services (that do not constitute "assistance") to a needy family in which an unrelated adult is in the process of adopting a child.

To qualify on the basis of income:

• The annual adjusted gross income, as defined by the Internal Revenue Service, of the prospective adoptive family may not exceed 80 percent of the latest published figure for the median income for a family of that size for the state, as set forth in Schedule A under COMAR 07.02.04.11;
• The adoptive child is included in determining the family size; and
• The annual adjusted gross income of the family shall be the latest figure that was reported to the Internal Revenue Service. In this circumstance, Maryland cannot provide income support (i.e., assistance) to the family prior to adoption because the family would not include a child living with a parent or adult relative. Maryland uses segregated Federal TANF funds to pay for the services because the family would not be an "eligible family" for Maintenance of Effort purposes. Funds used for this program are for services and are non–assistance, outside the purview of the IV–E (child welfare) program and meet the first purpose of TANF.

Families Served with State General Funds Not Counted Toward the TANF Maintenance of Effort Requirement

Maryland opts to serve families with two able–bodied parents, including same gender married couples, in the assistance unit in a program with its own funds and will not count these funds toward its TANF Maintenance of Effort requirement. Such families are subject to the work requirements of the TANF program.

Minor Children Who Are Absent From the Home for a Significant Period

States may opt out of paying TANF for a child who has been, or expected by a parent or other caretaker relative to be, absent from the home for a period of 45 consecutive days, or at the option of the state, a period of no less than 30 and not more than 180 consecutive days. The state of Maryland elects the option to continue assistance for a child absent from the home fewer than 180 consecutive days. The state of Maryland elects the option to establish a good cause exception to allow children to exceed this 180 day limit: when the absence is for educational or treatment purposes, approved by the Secretary, the parent does not relinquish responsibility for the child, and the removal of the child from the assistance unit creates a hardship for the child’s family.

Unmarried Minor who is a Parent or Pregnant

When TANF is granted for a minor who is an unmarried parent or pregnant, the minor shall reside in the household of the minor’s parent, legal guardian, other adult relative, or in a supportive living arrangement in order to receive assistance. The parent, legal guardian, or the adult supervisor in a supportive living arrangement is the authorized representative for the unmarried parent or pregnant minor.

Relative of a Minor Child who is Absent for a Significant Period of Time

Assistance may not be provided for a period of three months, to a parent (or other caretaker relative) of a minor child, who fails to notify the local department of the absence from the home of the minor child, by the end of the 5–day period that begins with the date it becomes clear to the parent that the minor child will be absent longer than 180 days.

Child Care Allowance

A disregard of out of pocket child care payments from earned income may not exceed $200 per month for the care of each child in the assistance unit when the caretaker is employed 100 hours or more per month, or $100 per child in the assistance unit when the caretaker works less than 100 hours per month.

Income Calculations

The TANF income calculations are stated in the Code of Maryland Regulations at 07.03.13. Eligibility for benefits is measured against a payment standard at 07.03.03.17, which is reviewed each year. These income calculations apply to both members of an assistance unit and non–members whose income is countable to the assistance unit. Each member of the assistance unit is considered to be a recipient of the Family Investment Program, even though no cash assistance is paid. The income countable to TANF from a stepparent is determined by excluding income which falls below 50 percent of the official poverty level established under the Federal Community Services Block Grant, adjusted for family size, and counting as available to the TANF benefit, income which equals or exceeds 50 percent of the poverty level established under the Federal Community Services Block Grant, adjusted for family size.

Benefit Amount

The local department determines the TANF benefit payment amount by deducting the net countable income, rounded down to the nearest dollar, from the allowable amount for the assistance unit size. The period of time covered by the TANF benefit is a calendar month. The assistance unit budget is determined for the length of the eligibility period or until there is a change in circumstances. At the end of the eligibility period, the family’s eligibility for assistance is re–determined and the budget is re–calculated. The eligibility period is usually four, six, or 12 months, set by the local department based on the family’s circumstances.

Assets

Effective May 1, 2010, the state of Maryland chose to exclude all assets for the financial determination of TANF benefits.

Drug Felonies

In order to receive assistance, individuals convicted of drug kingpin or volume drug dealer felonies must agree to random drug testing and treatment if necessary. Individuals who fail to comply with drug testing or treatment are denied TANF and Food Supplement Program benefits. Individuals convicted of a drug kingpin or volume drug dealer felony after receiving assistance are ineligible for TANF and Food Supplement Program for one year from the date of conviction and are subject to substance abuse testing for a period of two years from the date of:

• Release from incarceration
• Completion of probation
• Completion of parole or mandatory supervision
• Sanctions for Noncompliance with Program Requirements

Failure to Comply with Program Requirements

When an adult does not comply with program requirements, the entire assistance unit becomes ineligible. The Family Investment Program case manager investigates the reasons for noncompliance and helps the individual comply by sending a letter to schedule a conciliation conference and by following up through telephone or personal contact to the extent appropriate and feasible. The first sanction is not imposed less than 30 days from the start of the conciliation process. For noncompliance with any program requirement other than a work activity, TANF is resumed upon compliance with the program requirement. When a 16–17 year old child, who is not enrolled in school, does not comply with a work activity, the child’s needs are removed and the child remains a member of the assistance unit. The TANF grant for the family is therefore reduced by the child’s incremental portion. For noncompliance with a work activity, TANF is resumed immediately upon compliance in the first instance of noncompliance, after ten days of compliance with the work activity in the second instance or after 30 days of compliance with the work activity in any future instance. States may elect to allow Medical Assistance eligibility to adults who fail to comply with work requirements until compliance is met. For noncompliance with the requirement for prohibited use of an electronic benefits transfer card for federally funded cash assistance programs, Maryland elects to warn recipients in violation the first time that their EBT card is in danger of being revoked. After a second instance of using the electronic benefits transfer card to access TANF benefits, it will be revoked. Recipients whose electronic benefits transfer cards have been revoked will be required to either provide checking or savings account information for direct deposit of their assistance benefits, or accept a paper check.

Sanctions for Intentional Program Violations

An individual who has waived the right to an administrative hearing, or was found to have committed an intentional program violation, is ineligible to participate for a period of 12 months after the first finding of fraud or until full repayment of any overpayment of TANF benefits, 24 months after the second finding of fraud or until full repayment of any overpayment of TANF benefits, and permanently after the third finding of fraud. Allegations of potential TANF fraud must be reported by any individual or entity working with the TANF program.

Fraud Under Means–Tested Welfare and Public Assistance Programs

If an individual’s benefits under federal, state, or local law relating to a means–tested welfare or a public assistance program are reduced because of an act of fraud by the individual under the law or program, the individual may not, for the duration of the reduction, receive an increased benefit under any other means– tested program.

Other Sanctions

Maryland elects to sanction a family, which fails to ensure that minor dependent school age children attend school, and minor dependent preschool children receive preventive health care. The sanction is a disallowance of $25 per child not meeting the attendance or health care requirement.

Timely Notice of Termination or Reduction

The local department mails or hand delivers advance, written notice at least ten calendar days before the date of reduction, termination, or suspension action.

Local Department Waivers

Any LDSS may submit a request for a waiver of Family Investment Program regulations to the Secretary of DHS. The waiver(s) may be granted for up to two years if the Secretary determines that the waiver:

• Promotes more efficient, effective, and appropriate management and delivery of Family Investment Program services and benefits;
• Improves opportunities for Family Investment Program customers to gain self–sufficiency;
• Provides more flexibility to the LDSS in administering the Family Investment Program; and
• Remains cost neutral for the duration of the waiver.

A waiver that violates federal law or regulations may not be granted to any local department unless prior approval has been received from HHS. The Secretary has the authority to terminate a waiver by written notice to the LDSS 30 days prior to the effective date of the termination.

Demonstration Projects

Demonstration projects are developed through grants to non–profit organizations in partnership with local departments and approved by DHS. The Department may also contract with non–profit organizations including charitable, private, and faith–based organizations, and institutions of post–secondary education to develop demonstration projects. Faith–based organizations may participate in the Family Investment Program demonstration projects on the same basis as any other non–governmental entity. The funds allocated to demonstration projects may not be used to further sectarian religious instruction or worship. An individual may not be required to accept assistance from a faith–based organization if acceptance would violate the individual’s bona fide religious beliefs and practices.

All demonstration projects are subject to prescribed outcomes consistent with the Department’s mission, goals, and objectives. All demonstration projects must meet specified performance measures as developed by the Department as prescribed by the state’s Managing for Results guidelines. The Secretary of DHS will award grants for these demonstration projects through a competitive bid process which includes the issuance of a request for a proposal in accordance with the requirements of the Human Service Article §5–319 Annotated Code of Maryland, and establishment of an evaluation panel to review competing proposals and to recommend to the Secretary of DHS those proposals which have the greatest programmatic and financial merit. Multi–year awards based on program performance may also be considered. The request for demonstration project proposals requires applicants to specify the ways in which the proposed demonstration projects create incentives for increased employment and job retention.

Formula for Disbursement of Funds

While TANF cash assistance is distributed centrally through an Electronic Benefits Transfer system, the Department allocates funds to local departments for child care, work activities, welfare avoidance, emergency funds, administration, and other services that the Secretary of DHS deems appropriate for the program.

Displaced Workers Grievance Procedure

Maryland has established and maintains grievance procedures to resolve complaints concerning the displacement of workers by an adult in a work activity associated with the Family Investment Program.

Non–Custodial, Non–Supporting Minor Parents

Maryland does not currently provide activities for non–custodial, non–supporting minor parents within its TANF program.

Other options

Maryland does not have Tribal Family Assistance as a category of assistance.

2Gen Innovation Grants

Maryland’s 2Gen Innovation Grants provide funding for community-based organizations seeking to implement and test new approaches to coordinating services for families receiving TANF.  The grant program will fund proposals for technical assistance, strategic planning, updates to data management, management of information systems, or other approaches that result in simultaneous interventions for both parents and children, reflect 2Gen best practices, and demonstrate a clear effort to remove silos in existing programs or strategies that serve different members of the family.

PROGRAMS FUNDED BY COMMINGLED FUNDS

Maryland has developed a broad array of services for families and children that are reasonably calculated to accomplish the first and second purposes of the TANF law. These are funded out of federal TANF and TANF Maintenance of Effort funds or other sources. Maryland has designed these programs to be as effective and efficient as possible. Using the flexibility in the statute and regulations, Maryland will report the exact amount of federal TANF and/or TANF Maintenance of Effort funds charged to these programs using the appropriate federal mechanisms. Unless otherwise noted, for the purposes of this Plan and federal reporting, eligibility for the following programs is generally limited to those families with incomes under 300 percent of the federal poverty level at the time of service delivery.

Children in Need of Assistance – Drug–Addicted Babies (1997 Md. Laws, Chapter 367)

The purpose of the SB 512 Program is to identify newborns exposed to heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine; to refer the mothers to drug treatment; and to provide supportive services to the families. Hospitals assess mothers for risk of child abuse and neglect. When deemed high risk, the mother is referred to the LDSS and to drug treatment. If the mother refuses drug treatment or does not successfully complete drug treatment, and if neither the mother nor the father is able to provide adequate care for the child, the LDSS may file a Child In Need of Assistance and begin the process of termination of parental rights. The program serves up to 300 women who deliver newborns exposed or addicted to heroin, cocaine, or crack cocaine in seven jurisdictions statewide. Services are available to both TANF and non–TANF recipients who are within 300 percent of the poverty level. This program does not serve women whose parental rights have been severed. This program provides non–assistance.

DHS/SSA Model Demonstration Program at Tuerk House

DHS has entered into contracts with the Baltimore City Health Department for the purpose of providing substance abuse treatment for Baltimore City parents receiving TANF for themselves and their children with an identified substance abuse problem. Those parents are provided access to seven substance abuse treatment beds at the Tuerk House substance abuse treatment program. Additionally, customers receive continuing treatment as prescribed, parenting classes, and support in the community. The primary objective is to demonstrate that a comprehensive family focused, community based, integrated substance treatment, and support service delivery model reduces and prevents child maltreatment and other problems that jeopardize the health, safety, and independent survival of some families. The program also provides help to needy families, so children may be cared for in their homes in an effort to end the dependence of needy parents on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage. Eligibility is limited to families with income below 300 percent of the federal poverty level. This program provides non–assistance.

Post–Entitlement Case Management Services

Services are provided to former TANF customers within 12 months of leaving TANF. Case management services are provided to former TANF families for up to 12 months from the family’s last TANF grant. These services are tailored to help the family stay off assistance by providing individualized support and referrals to the family. The purpose is to end dependence of needy parents by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage. Eligibility is limited to families with income within 300 percent of poverty and $5,000 or less in assets. This program provides non–assistance.

Attendant Care Program

The Attendant Care Program allows individuals, in needy families with children, with chronic or permanent physical disabilities, to maintain their independence, and live with their families in their own homes. This includes adults who are currently employed or seeking employment or enrolled in post–secondary or higher education. The program also serves adults who can be discharged from, or avoid placement in, a nursing home or similar institution to live at home with their family on the basis of receiving these benefits. However, Maryland will only claim expenditures made on behalf of eligible families. The program provides financial reimbursement to adults who must rely on the services of attendants for help with bathing, dressing, eating, and transportation, in order for them to seek or maintain employment, participate in an educational or training program, or to prevent an institutional living arrangement. Eligibility is limited to families with income below 300 percent of the federal poverty level. Payment is calculated using a sliding scale based on annual gross income and family size. This program provides non–assistance.

In–Home Aide Services Program (IHAS)

This program assists individuals in needy families with activities of personal care with nursing supervision, chore services, meal planning and preparation, transportation/escort services, respite care, training in self–care, and/or care taking skills (help with children or homemaking tasks). The program also offers family members training in care–giving skills as well as guidance and support in coping with stress associated with caregiving. Another component of the program provides Parent Aides, who intervene to prevent child abuse and neglect by providing hands on service and help with children or homemaking tasks when parents are unable to perform these activities. As a result, the home remains a safe environment for the child and there are more opportunities for the parent to interact with the child. This program serves families under 300 percent of the poverty level. This program provides non–assistance.

Job Skills Enhancement Pilot Program

The Jobs Skills Enhancement Pilot Program is in limited areas and targets newly employed, unskilled, and semiskilled current TANF recipients. Former TANF recipients are also targeted as part of the post–entitlement continuing services package provided to families beyond cash assistance. Participants are provided with training to enhance existing skills, gain additional or alternative skills, or learn interpersonal communication and other related skills to retain their jobs and increase the potential for advancement beyond their entry–level positions. The pilot program is administered by the LDSS or through the state service delivery area system. This program provides non–assistance. Current TANF recipients are eligible for this program. Former recipients are eligible if they meet the criteria below:

• Former recipients’ assets must not exceed $5,000,
• Income cannot exceed 300 percent of the federal poverty level for a comparable family size, and
• One vehicle for each employed family member is excluded.

Job Skills Enhancement for Non–TANF Families Program

The Job Skills Enhancement for Non–TANF Families Program provides comprehensive job skills enhancement services to low–income working families whose employed members’ lack of job skills consigns the family to inadequate income and little opportunity for improved earnings in the future. Such families are at risk of welfare dependence. By enhancing the job skills of these wage earners, this program improves participants’ incomes and their capacity for long term financial self–sufficiency. The Job Skills Enhancement for Non–TANF Families Program offers comprehensive workforce support services including, but not limited to, child care, transportation, skills training, and more. The program provides non–assistance services and not payments. Close interagency cooperation and extensive involvement of the business community, from whom skill enhancement services are procured, characterize the program.

Participants, all of whom are voluntary, receive a menu of services tailored to meet their individual needs. Recruitment and orientation is followed by an individual assessment to assist program participants in defining skills, aptitudes, and interests. Assessment results are used to identify and develop the participant’s Individual Training Plan. The Individual Training Plan identifies the participant’s goals, action steps, outcome measures, and specific time frames – not to exceed one year. This jointly developed plan outlines appropriate training and education to meet the state’s career objectives. Job skill enhancement activities may include experiential learning and/or formal training.

In addition, the program’s multi–agency configuration and its close links with the business community affords participants the opportunity to enroll in on–the–job training, job shadowing, career exploration, business tours, mentoring activities, and more. Information pertaining to job openings, industry projections, labor market analyses, and job skill demand are utilized to assist participants in developing their Individual Training Plan. The program is a diversion program intended to assist Maryland families in avoiding welfare dependency by improving their job skills, and thus, their capacity for achieving long–term financial self–sufficiency.

For program purposes, “family” also includes a pregnant woman or a parent with one or more minor children or a caretaker relative with one or more minor children. Targeted customers are Maryland families whose adult wage earners have been employed for a minimum of six months for not less than 30 hours per week in entry–level and other positions with limited potential for advancement and whose income meets the program’s eligibility criteria. Participant families are limited to those with an annual earned income up to 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, adjusted for family size and $5,000 or less in assets. The program will also exclude one vehicle for each working person in the family. This program provides non–assistance.

Family Preservation

Family Preservation represents a variety of programs available to families to provide supportive services to promote safety and well–being of children and their families. This includes families with identified stresses around family life, including disruption, child abuse and neglect issues, domestic violence, homelessness, substance abuse, mental health, physical health, and educational concerns, who are within 200 percent of the poverty level. The principal purpose behind these programs is to enable children to continue to live and thrive in their home with their parents or relatives. Each program is child safety based, goal oriented, family focused, flexible, provided in the home or community, culturally relevant and sensitive, and designed to build on family strengths and unity. Manageable caseload sizes and a team approach of social worker and case associate are an integral part of all services. Each service has designated timeframes, with the possibility for limited extensions when service goals have not been realized. Employment and self–sufficiency are program goals and part of the mutually agreed upon family service agreement. This program provides non–assistance.

Individual Development Accounts

Maryland and/or local jurisdictions may elect to fund Individual Development Accounts for families under 300 percent of the poverty level, in accordance with local plans and budgets. Federal funds are not used for Individual Development Accounts. State General Funds or local funds may be used to fund these Individual Development Accounts. These programs provide non–assistance.

The Eviction Assistance Program

To prevent homelessness, this program provides funds to local jurisdictions to hire staff and work with families under 300 percent of the poverty level who are facing imminent eviction. The recipient of a grant must show that the grant will resolve the issue.

The Displaced Homemaker Program

This program provides a continuum of comprehensive services to help individuals, who have income less than 300 percent of the poverty level, enter or re–enter the workforce in order to become self–sufficient. Recipients must be: 35 years or older; experienced a loss of income through separation, divorce, disability, or death; and received assistance through care of a child on TANF and are no longer eligible or have received TANF for 24 or more months. This program provides non–assistance.

The Maryland Emergency Food Program

This program provides cash grants to assist emergency food providers (including soup kitchens and food pantries) in purchasing food for needy families with income under 300 percent of the poverty level. This program provides non–assistance.

Summer Youth Employment Program

The summer youth employment program is designed to provide work subsidies for work placements focused on basic skills enhancement and the opportunity to learn marketable work skills. These summer programs can operate in partnership with WIOA Partners, thus creating robust work experiences for youth. Program counselors help youth develop positive work habits and attitudes and can reinforce the relationship between the skills acquired on the job and what is learned in an educational setting. Transportation for youth to travel to and from the work site may also be provided. Summer youth employment programs reduce the risk of welfare dependency by improving the youths’ capacity to obtain employment that leads to long–term financial self–sufficiency. This program serves youth ages 14 through 21 that are members of a family whose total family income is up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level. This program provides non–assistance.

Refugee Employment Programs

Refugee Employment Programs provide employment and supportive services to families who hold a humanitarian immigrant status (refugees, asylees, certified Victims of Trafficking, Cuban-Haitian parolees, Amerasians, and Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrant Visa holders). Refugee Employment Programs are funded through the federal Administration for Children and Families, Office of Refugee Resettlement. DHS’ MORA works through a network of public and private service providers to assist eligible humanitarian immigrants in achieving economic self-sufficiency as soon as possible. Services include, but are not limited to job development, job placement, removal of employment barriers (such as childcare, transportation, LEP, financial literacy, and unfamiliarity with U.S. work culture and customs), case management, and follow-up after job placement. Certain Refugee Employment Programs also provide vocational training that allows participants to attain job upgrades or to return to their previous field of work. Services are available for up to 60 months following the date when an eligible immigration status is received, and there is not an income limit for program participation.

Informal Kinship Care Services

These services are provided to children who live with their relatives through an informal arrangement made within the family. The child is not in the care, custody, or guardianship of the LDSS. Both the child and the relative caregivers receive informal kinship care support services, including information and referral through LDSS and the Kinship Care Resource Center funded by the Department of Human Service and entities such as the Brookdale Foundation. The children’s income must be within 300 percent of poverty. This program provides non–assistance.

Post Adoption Services

Post Adoption Services provide supportive services to adoptive parents and children with income under 300 percent of the poverty level. Services provided include, but are not limited to: individual and group support, child or family mentoring, marriage support, information and referral, crisis intervention, community and recreational services, and educational support, such as tutoring and educational plan development. Benefits under this program meet the definition of non–assistance under the TANF program. This program is reasonably calculated to meet the first goal of the TANF statute.

Independent Living Program

The Independent Living Program is a part of a continuum of foster care services administered by the Social Services Administration and delivered by the 24 LDSS. The purposes of the program are to: (1) end the dependence of needy parents on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage and (2) prevent and reduce the incidence of out–of–wedlock pregnancies and establish annual numerical goals for preventing and reducing the incidence of these pregnancies. The program provides a wide range of services designed to enable families to live independently. The goal of the program is to prepare older foster care youth for self–sufficiency by their 18th birthday or upon completion of high school. The youth may remain in foster care up to age 21 if in school, in training, or disabled. Eligibility for this program’s services is based on receipt of foster care maintenance payments paid to the kinship care family on behalf of the child and on assessment outcomes. The financial and eligibility criteria for the foster care maintenance payment are in the Code of Maryland Regulations at 07.02.11.26, and the schedules against which payments are measured are at 07.02.11.34. The program provides non–assistance.

Kinship/Foster Care Maintenance Payment

This program serves children who are full time students, under age 19, who are not eligible for Foster Care IV–E (child welfare) funds and who can no longer reside in their home of origin because of abuse or neglect. These children were determined to be a Child in Need of Assistance through the court system, committed to a LDSS, and placed in the home of a relative. The targeted population is relative caregivers of needy children committed to a LDSS and the Child in Need of Assistance children living with that relative who is a licensed foster parent. The purpose of the program is to provide assistance to needy families so children may live with their relatives. Relative caregivers in this program are local department–approved foster parents of the kin child. The children for whom payment is made must have income below 300 percent of the poverty level. The complete financial and eligibility criteria for the foster care maintenance payment are in the Code of Maryland Regulations at 07.02.11.26 and the schedules against which payment is measured are at 07.02.11.34. Foster care maintenance payments are made to the caregiver on behalf of the child. This program provides assistance.

 Local Programs Administered by the LDSS

This includes a wide variety of programs that have funds in them coming from a wide variety of sources, such as county and local governments, contributions from churches and other non–profit organizations, and philanthropic entities. Because of the nature and history of the service delivery system in Maryland, many of these groups view their LDSS as the best vehicle to deliver help to low–income families, beyond that available through the principal programs administered by the department. These programs are sometimes stand–alone and at other times supplement some of the programs mentioned elsewhere in this Plan. They provide eligible families with income under 300 percent of the poverty level with the following kinds of services, which are all considered to be non–assistance for TANF purposes:

• Emergency Food Programs;
• Local supplemental funding for welfare to work programs, including funding for additional space, staff, services, etc.;
• Family Counseling;
• Emergency relief services to help families attain safe and affordable housing, which include the provision of emergency shelter, relocation assistance, homeownership counseling, home repairs, utility restoration, or shut–off prevention;
• Information and referral;
• Medical supplies and services, of an emergency nature, that are not covered by medical assistance or for those ineligible for medical assistance (only state funds are used for costs associated with this program);
• Substance Abuse Services;
• Family Support Services, which are primarily community–based preventive activities designed to promote parents’ ability to successfully nurture their children; enable families to use other resources and opportunities available in the community; and create supportive networks to enhance the child– rearing abilities of parents;
• Family Preservation Services that help families alleviate crises that might lead to the out–of–home placement of children, maintain the safety of children, support families preparing to reunite, and assist families in obtaining services and other supports necessary to address their needs (they include, but are not limited, to parent skill training and crisis intervention services);
• Transportation to work, training, job interviews or to access other needed services;
• Clothing to replaces that which is lost in an emergency, is needed for work preparation, or which the family cannot afford because of their present circumstances, which includes such disposable items as diapers;
• Domestic Violence programs that offer services to victims of domestic violence and their families (services include, but are not limited to: safe accommodations for a period of less than four months, hotline counseling, advocacy accompaniment and abuser intervention);
• Boys Club/Girls Club support;
• After school programs;
• Screening for local department services; and
• Grants to Food Bank Services.

Assistance to Individuals with Disabilities

Maryland provides assistance to individuals and families with disabilities applying for or receiving TANF. Maryland: (1) ensures equal access to people with disabilities; (2) reasonably modifies policies, practices, and procedures for people with disabilities where necessary; and (3) ensures that methods of administration do not discriminate on the basis of disability. Applicants and recipients are provided special accommodations and auxiliary aids, such as interpreters for the hearing impaired, large type reading materials for visually impaired, and telephone interviews for those customers whose impairment prevents them from coming into the department of social services.

English Language Learners

This program’s services provide language and other services needed by families with LEP in applying for or receiving TANF or TANF–MOE funded benefits. Examples of services include, but are not limited to, interpreter services and English Language Acquisition classes. This program serves those with incomes under 300 percent of the federal poverty level and provides non–assistance.

Adoption Assistance

Maryland provides adoption benefits that include a monthly payment and other non–financial services to needy parents of an adopted child who is not eligible for title IV–E (child welfare) adoption assistance. In this instance, the final adoption establishes a parental relationship even if no blood relationship exists. To qualify on the basis of income, the annual adjusted gross income, as defined by the Internal Revenue Service, of the adoptive family may not exceed 80 percent of the latest published figure for the median income for a family of that size for the state, as set forth in Schedule A under COMAR 07.02.04.11. The adoptive child is included in determining the family size. The annual adjusted gross income of the family shall be the latest figure that was reported to the Internal Revenue Service. This program provides assistance.

Electric Universal Service Program

The Electric Universal Service Program is an affordable electric service program authorized under the Electric Customer Competition and Choice Act of 1999 to help low–income, needy families afford electric service in the deregulated environment and to have safe and reliable electric service. The program provides a one–time–only payment that targets the elderly, working poor, disabled, and families with children. Eligibility is limited to families with income up to 175 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. The program provides non–assistance.

Refundable Earned Income Tax Credit Refunds

The Earned Income Tax Credit Refund Program provides a state paid earned income credit that is refundable to eligible low–income taxpayers with one or more dependents. “Eligible low income taxpayer” means an individual, or an individual and individual’s spouse if taxes are filed jointly, whose federal adjusted gross income does not exceed the applicable poverty income level and has applied for these benefits. The “applicable poverty income level” is defined as the amount specified in the poverty income standard that corresponds to the number of exemptions to which the taxpayer is entitled to claim. Poverty income standard means the most recent poverty income guidelines published by HHS, as of July 1 in the taxable year. The EIC can be claimed against state and local income tax. In addition, EIC Support Services include, but are not limited to, Volunteer Tax Preparation, Public Awareness Campaigns, and a 24–Hour Hotline. The purpose is to increase the income levels in low–income families and end dependence of low–income, needy parents on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage. This program provides non– assistance.

Transportation Assistance Program

The Transportation Assistance Program (TAP) empowers TANF families with financial challenges to achieve economic self-sufficiency and personal independence through car ownership. This program affords customers the ability to purchase a used Maryland state-inspected vehicle at or below the vehicle’s market value through Vehicles for Change (VFC), a vendor that serves all of Maryland. FIA anticipates providing vehicles to 100-120 families per year at an estimated cost to FIA of $4,000 per car. Each customer receiving a vehicle is responsible for paying a flat fee of $800 (the customer’s portion of the vehicle’s cost). The customer may pay part of the fee or the entire portion at the time of vehicle selection. In order to be eligible for TAP, VFC applicants:

• Must be currently receiving TANF (or if no longer on TANF, must have been a TANF recipient within the last 12 months), a youth aging out of foster care age 18-21,  a current TANF-connected  non-custodial parent, or a non-custodial parent connected to a TANF case that has closed within the last 12 months;
• Must be employed or have a verified job offer working an average of 30 hours per week or greater;
• Must have a valid Maryland Driver’s License;
• Does not have access to any other vehicles in the household; and
• Does not have a driving while intoxicated (DWI) or driving under the influence (DUI) citation on his or her driving record.

PROGRAMS FUNDED BY SEGREGATED FEDERAL TANF FUNDS

Maryland has developed a broad array of services to families and children that are reasonably calculated to accomplish the third and fourth purposes of the TANF law. These programs are not means tested (Maryland has designed these programs to be as effective and efficient as possible. This has the effect that certain specific services and/or beneficiaries of some of the services of some of these programs may not be eligible for federal TANF or MOE. Maryland will determine the exact amount using the appropriate federal mechanisms outlined it its Cost Allocation Plan.). These programs provide non–assistance.

Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention

The Governor’s Office for Children provides funding for initiatives and/or training throughout the state that focus on teen pregnancy prevention and/or intervention. The program’s main goal is to prevent adolescent pregnancies, which will subsequently prevent and reduce the incidence of out–of–wedlock births. The program includes initiatives that provide parenting skills and promote responsible fatherhood. The program serves pre–adolescents, teenagers, parents, educators, and counselors, according to specific program criteria. This program provides non–assistance.

Maryland’s Tomorrow

Maryland’s Tomorrow is a statewide dropout prevention program operating in 70 high schools across the state (all jurisdictions are covered) and 23 middle schools in nine jurisdictions. The purposes of the program are to: (1) prevent and reduce out–of–wedlock pregnancies and improve the self–esteem, attendance, school performance, promotion rate, and behavior of at–risk students in grades six through 12 and (2) to motivate them to succeed in high school, make wise career choices, and continue their education and training. Case managers visit elementary schools and identify students who meet at least one of the following criteria (there is no monetary criteria):

• Low achievement on standardized tests,
• Prior grade retention,
• Poor attendance, or
• A GPA of less than 2.0.

Programs are arranged during the summer between fifth and sixth grade. This approach is also used for eighth graders who are going into high school. Local school systems can choose different approaches. Services can include after school tutoring and computer assisted instruction, daily help with homework, student–operated businesses, jobs in the school community, weekly service learning, wellness activities, rewards, and incentives. Activities may involve families, businesses, and communities. This program provides non–assistance.

Home Visiting

This program provides home visitation and on–site services to families, such as parenting education, family planning, and employment services. The program’s main goal is to reduce subsequent out–of–wedlock pregnancies among participants through family planning counseling. The program serves clients over age 16 who are expecting their first child. Both parents must be involved in this program, which is also designed to prevent intergenerational welfare dependency. This program provides non–assistance.

Family Support Center Network

Family Support Centers were developed to establish preventive supports for families during the early formative years and to encourage the formation and maintenance of two–parent families. The Family Support Centers are community–based programs that provide services to assist mothers and/or fathers with children ages birth to three, particularly those in high–risk communities, raise healthy children, and build productive futures. Comprehensive services are provided either on–site or through referral, and existing programs coordinate to benefit mothers and/or fathers and their children and develop new resources to satisfy unmet needs. Services include parenting skills, outreach, peer support and recreational activities, infant and child stimulation, employability and literacy opportunities, health education, and referral for services. This program also includes services developed using this same, successful model. For example, the Family League of Baltimore has also developed a similar set of services based on this Family Support Center Model called “Success by Six,” which also includes home visitors, many of whom are former TANF recipients.

There is no income criteria required to participate in the Family Support Center program, although a significant number of participants receive TANF. Others may need cash assistance but choose not to receive TANF. There are also participants who are financially capable of attending to their basic daily life needs but need Family Support Center services to enhance their parenting skills. The objective is to develop a cadre of services appropriate for each family. This program provides non–assistance.

Collaborative Supervision and Focused Enforcement Initiative

The Collaborative Supervision and Focused Enforcement initiative is a statewide crime reduction strategy that promotes locally based, comprehensive planning in high–crime at–risk neighborhoods for youth and adults. The program is based on strategies implemented by neighborhoods and nonprofit advocacy groups that are successful in collaborating and engaging key community leaders in solving problems in the community. The program aims to develop locally based strategies to respond to the problems that interact at the neighborhood level and bring the justice system to the community, as opposed to bringing the community to the justice system. Many of the strategies include an after school program. These strategies are designed to enhance the motivation, performance, and self–esteem of youth and are thus reasonably calculated to achieve the third goal of the TANF law, the reduction of out of wedlock pregnancies.

The overall goal for the initiative is a 25 to 35 percent reduction in serious crime and quality–of–life improvements in communities that implement the comprehensive strategy. Each participating community surveys residents to measure whether there are improvements in the quality of life and changes in their sense of hopefulness and ability to make a difference. The program seeks to involve youth, as much as possible, in all phases of planning and implementation. This program provides non–assistance.

Project Retain

This project supports welfare reform efforts in Maryland by assisting former and current TANF customers. Project Retain supports welfare reform and workforce development efforts in Maryland in two ways. First, the project enhances staff capacity in local departments by providing skills training on post–employment retention and advancement strategies to avoid high welfare recidivism rates for employed former and current customers. High–performance customer service also requires staff to learn about the career path for higher paying jobs and employers. Secondly, Project Retain assists employed customers with solving problems, removing barriers, or resolving issues that place them at risk of termination or self–termination from employment. Project Retain services help TANF customers retain employment, work toward job advancement, and achieve and sustain self–sufficiency. These efforts reduce welfare rolls and interrupt the cycle of dependency. Additionally, Project Retain provides training to LDSS to build staff capacity. The training is conducted by internal staff, resulting in cost savings to local departments that would otherwise have to use outside contracts for retention and advancement services. This program provides non–assistance and is reasonably calculated to accomplish TANF purpose number four.

Responsible Choices Projects

Responsible Choices Projects work with middle school age adolescents and high school age teens to promote abstinence. Of note is the Best Friends Program, which enlists peer support. Special efforts are also made to work with first–time teen parents, age 16 and older, in an effort to reduce the incidence of subsequent non–marital births using the Healthy Families America home visitation model. These programs provide non–assistance.

Maryland Fatherhood/Motherhood Initiative

This initiative builds on Maryland’s highly successful individually focused, location specific welfare to work program to serve the non–custodial parents of TANF children eligible either at present or in the past 12 months or who owe a TANF related arrearage to the State. By supplementing existing welfare to work strategies and contracts for this population, this initiative is able to make the best use of limited resources to achieve, among other things, employment of the non–custodial parent, payment of child support, decreased recidivism if previously incarcerated, and engagement in the Department’s other Healthy Marriage/Healthy Families initiatives. This program provides non–assistance.

The Offender Workforce Transition Initiative

The Offender Workforce Transition Initiative prepares and supports inmates’ efforts to re–integrate into the community, become productive wage earners, and lead personally satisfying and fulfilling lives. Collaboration with various federal, state, local, business, and community partners ensures that soon to be released inmates have the necessary career training, work habits, teamwork, conflict resolution skills, and interview techniques that will enable them to land and keep good jobs with a self–sustaining salary. Workforce development professionals and career development facilitators work with individuals on financial literacy and communication strategies. They support efforts to reunify family members and encourage custodial and non–custodial parents to be “responsible” parents. Staff works with recommended offenders until job placement occurs and continues with post–employment follow–up. The goal is to encourage the ex–offenders’ adjustment to living and working in a non–restrictive environment and to be competitively employed in an economically viable career pathway. The initiative reduces inmate recidivism and supports the formulation and maintenance of two–parent families. This program provides non–assistance.

Block Grant Programs

Maryland provides an extensive array of services to families and children under its Social Services Block Grant, Community Action Block Grant, Title IV–B State Plan, the Child and Maternal Health Block Grant, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Block Grant plans that are reasonably calculated to accomplish the third and fourth purposes of TANF. To the extent that the state expends state or local funds on these services that exceed available block grant funds, the state reserves the option to use TANF funds or TANF–MOE as appropriate and reported in the state’s fiscal reports subject to federal limitations. The funds claimed for these will be for non–assistance.

Maryland Higher Education Commission scholarship programs

These scholarships are eligible for TANF funding because post–secondary educational attainment by state residents decreases the incidence of out–of–wedlock births by raising the “opportunity cost” of having children outside of marriage. Studies also show that professional careers (often the product of higher education) delay fertility. These programs provide non–assistance.

PROGRAMS FUNDED BY COMMINGLED FUNDS

Maryland has developed a broad array of services for families and children that are reasonably calculated to accomplish the third and fourth purposes of the TANF law. The changes brought by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 allow these programs to be funded with federal TANF dollars or count toward the state’s MOE requirement. Maryland has designed these programs to be as effective and efficient as possible. This has the effect that certain specific services and/or beneficiaries of some of the services of some of these programs may not be eligible for federal TANF or MOE. Maryland will determine the exact amount using the appropriate federal mechanisms outlined it its Cost Allocation Plan. These programs provide non–assistance.

Means Tested Programs

Child First Authority Extended School Day Programs

This program provides extended school day activities from 3–6 p.m. to 1,100 children of low income families in ten Baltimore City public elementary/middle schools – 98 percent of the schools’ student population is eligible for free or reduced lunch. The eligibility standard is 300 percent of the federal poverty level. Teachers and/or school principals in participating schools can refer a child to Child First Authority if the child is determined to be at risk of poor school performance and/or attendance. All parents of participating children must actively participate in nine hours of Child First Authority sponsored training or activities each school year.

The extended school day enriches children’s lives and enables parents to work or attend school. Child First Authority programs focus on safety, self–esteem, motivation, performance, character development, and educational enrichment. Child First Authority programs provide additional educational experiences by conducting sessions in art, music, dance, history, reading, writing, and math. Many of the participating schools do not have “arts” activities as a part of their curriculum. The Annenberg Institute chose Child First Authority as one of nine successful initiatives nationally for School Reform. Child First Authority partners include the Maryland Historical Society, Maryland Institute of Art, numerous faith organizations, and parent volunteers. The purpose of the program is to enhance the motivation, performance, and self–esteem of youth and is thus reasonably calculated to achieve the third goal of the TANF law, the reduction of out of wedlock pregnancies. This program is not in any way a component of Maryland’s system of free public schools. This program provides non–assistance.

Substance Abuse Treatment and Services Program

The Welfare Innovation Act of 2000 and HB 1024 of the 2005 Session of the Maryland General Assembly required the hiring and placement of addictions specialists in LDSS to conduct screening, testing, assessments, referrals, and reporting for TANF adults and minor parents, and certain Food Supplement Program applicants and recipients (custodial and non–custodial parents who are convicted drug felons). The program requirements and possible sanctions for TANF adults and minor parents are mentioned above as part of the Family Investment Program Core Components. This program provides non–assistance to TANF eligible individuals and certain Food Supplement Program applicants and recipients whose income is less than 130 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.

After School Programs

The basic after school program is available statewide for school age children in families at or below 300 percent of poverty. This also includes local programs that provide the same or similar services. Vendors chosen to operate within the statewide program must incorporate features that will have a positive measurable impact on one or more of the conditions of well–being for children and youth identified by a report of Maryland results and indicators of child wellbeing. One of the results and indicators is “Babies Born Healthy,” which includes a measure for “the rate of births to adolescents less than 18 years of age.” Another is “Stable and Economically Self–Sufficient Families,” which includes a measure of “the percent of single parent households.”

Additionally, local providers offer a variety of after school opportunities to Maryland’s youth using their own or combinations of state and local funds. Programs include those housed in local schools that have an academic focus in addition to traditional recreation programs and those based in the community, in a church, recreation center, or similar facility, which stress academics, recreation, and artistic skill development equally as well as programs providing skill development activities around a particular artistic activity. Some pair older youth in a tutoring relationship with younger youth, an experience geared to prepare for the work world. Outcomes sought by these activities include: increased school attendance, increased school achievement, reduction in delinquent behavior, reduction in substance abuse, and reduction in teen pregnancy. Therefore, this program is reasonably calculated to achieve purposes three and four of the TANF statute. This program provides non–assistance.

Howard P. Rawlings Program of Educational Excellence Awards

The State funds two need–based scholarships under this program: (1) the Guaranteed Access Program and (2) the Educational Assistance Grant. The Guaranteed Access Program is open to current high school seniors who will complete a college preparatory program or a student who graduated prior to the current academic year who provides written documentation explaining why they were unable to attend college within one year of graduating from high school. The income scale for the Guaranteed Access Grant program is below and annual updates can be found at: https://mhec.maryland.gov/preparing/Pages/FinancialAid/ProgramDescriptions/prog_gagrant.aspx.

2020-2030 Guaranteed Access Grant: Family Income Requirements

The Educational Assistance Grant is open to Maryland residents who are full time undergraduate students. The awards are based on a financial need formula that relies on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). An Educational Assistance Grant is determined by student need.

Need for an Educational Assistance Grant is determined using the following formula:

– College Cost of Attendance

            – Expected Family Contribution + or – Regional Cost Of Living Adjustment

 – Certain State scholarship awards (if awarded)

– Federal Pell Grant (if eligible)

= Financial Need

Both types of Rawlings scholarships provide non–assistance.

Programs Funded and Administered by Entities Other than the LDSS

This may include a wide variety of programs in receipt of funds from a wide variety of sources, such as county and local governments, contributions from churches and other non–profit organizations, and philanthropic entities. In accordance with Policy Announcement TANF–ACF–PA–2004–01, the State will claim as MOE only those expenditures made under agreements between the State and these third party entities that permit the State to count those expenditures toward its MOE requirement. These programs provide eligible families under 300 percent of the poverty level, with the following kinds of services which are all non–assistance for TANF purposes:

• Emergency Food Programs;
• Local supplemental funding for welfare to work programs, including funding for additional space, staff, services etc.;
• Family Counseling;
• Emergency relief services to help families attain safe and affordable housing, which include the provision of emergency shelter, relocation assistance, homeownership counseling, home repairs, utility restoration, or shut–off prevention;
• Information and referral;
• Medical supplies and services, of an emergency nature that are not covered by medical assistance or for those ineligible for medical assistance (only state funds are used for costs associated with this program);
• Substance Abuse Services;
• Family Support Services, which are primarily community–based preventive activities designed to: promote parents’ ability to successfully nurture their children, enable families to use other resources and opportunities available in the community, and create supportive networks to enhance the child– rearing abilities of parents;
• Family Preservation Services that help families alleviate crises that might lead to the out–of–home placement of children, maintain the safety of children, support families preparing to reunite, and assist families in obtaining services and other supports necessary to address their needs (they include but are not limited to parent skill training and crisis intervention services);
• Transportation to work, training, job interviews, or to access other needed services;
• Clothing to replace that which was lost in an emergency, is needed for work preparation, or which the family cannot afford because of their present circumstances, which includes such disposable items as diapers;
• Domestic Violence programs that offer services to victims of domestic violence and their families (services include but are not limited to safe accommodations, hotline counseling, advocacy accompaniment, and abuser intervention);
• Boys Club/Girls Club support;
• After school programs;
• Screening for local department services;
• Grants to Food Banks; and
• Food Bank Services.

Non–Means Tested Programs

Responsible Fathers Programs

These programs provide services to custodial and non–custodial fathers such as parenting education, family planning, GED^® instruction, job training, employment– search assistance, and self–esteem building. Sites throughout the state serve young fathers, age 16+, who have one or more children. The program’s main goal is to reduce subsequent out–of– wedlock pregnancies among participants through family–planning counseling. Program objectives seek to increase parent–child interaction, emotional support, financial responsibility, and the development of two parent families.

These programs also encourage co–parenting for non–custodial fathers. Although participation in the program is voluntary, participants are required to comply with Child Support Enforcement, if not currently doing so. Programs serve fathers who are initially unemployed. Though not a requirement of program enrollment, participant referrals are actively solicited from LDSS’ TANF and child support enforcement rolls. This program provides non–assistance.

The Maryland Healthy Marriage / Healthy Families Initiative

This initiative recognizes that children are more likely to thrive in the context of a two–parent family. The Maryland Healthy Marriage / Healthy Families Initiative has been established as the umbrella for several family focused programs. The purpose of the initiative is to build the capacity of participants, so they are prepared for the responsibilities of parenting and marriage, and ultimately to enhance the lives of their children. The family focused programs target mothers, fathers, and youth, providing a continuum of services to strengthen and empower families. The programs include fatherhood and non–marital birth reduction initiatives and a marriage preparation curriculum.

The Maryland Healthy Marriage / Healthy Families Initiative focuses primarily on expectant and never married parents and fragile families in need of support services. The initiative connects participants with resources, information, and services to strengthen and empower families. Some of the services offered include parenting skills enhancement, educational activities, employment development, job search and support, counseling, and anger management. The services are provided through a network of social service systems, educational systems, and community and faith based organizations. This program provides non–assistance.

The Responsible Fathers, Healthy Marriage and Healthy Families Programs

These programs include activities that are enumerated in sections 403(a)(2)(A)(iii) and 403(a)(2)(C)(ii) of the Social Security Act. States may claim these pro–family expenditures for non–assistance benefits provided to or on behalf of an individual or family as MOE, regardless of financial need or family composition, unless a limitation, restriction or prohibition under 45 CFR 263 Subpart A applies.

There are instances when the following programs that are not means tested serve eligible families. The State will count these expenditures for services received by needy families as TANF–MOE expenditures only when an audit trail can be established that links the non–means tested service to needy families.

One example is when a program supplies an enrollment list and it is matched to the TANF caseload. If the list shows that five percent of families served were needy, then five percent of the non–federal expenditures for that FY may be claimed as TANF–MOE.

The following commingled funded programs will use this or a similar methodology if TANF–MOE expenditures are claimed.

Community Partnerships

These programs are locally defined and based on indicated needs to help families by providing family support through projects such as home visiting, after school programs, and family preservation. The program objectives seek to reduce out–of–wedlock pregnancies, increase parent–child interaction, emotional support, and financial responsibility, and promote the development of two parent families. This program provides non–assistance.

Safe and Stable Families

There are a variety of programs available to families to provide supportive services to promote safety and well–being of children and their families, promote stability and permanency, preserve family unity, and build empowerment, self–sufficiency, and psychosocial well– being. This includes families with identified stresses around family life, including disruption, child abuse and neglect issues, domestic violence, homelessness, substance abuse, mental health, physical health, and educational concerns. These programs help families by providing: protective services or potential protective services to families, family support through projects such as parenting classes and after school programs, and family preservation, through grants for Interagency Family Preservation Services and through other means as appropriate, such as by counseling families in crisis, referring them to other existing services, and providing a wide range of service to the family to maximize the chances the children grow up in safe, stable, and loving homes. The programs include, but are not limited to, Families Now, Intensive Family Services, Continuing Protective Services, Services to Families with Children, Kinship Care, Parent Aide Services, and those provided through Inter–Agency Agreements such as the Family Recovery Program. These programs prevent or reduce out–of–wedlock pregnancies and encourage the formation and maintenance of two parent families, since the ultimate goal of all of them is to provide a safe home for children in a stable, two–parent environment. These programs provide non–assistance.

Baltimore City Public Schools After-School Program

In an agreement between State and City officials, the Maryland After-School Opportunity Fund Program was expanded for Baltimore City. As required by legislation, vendors chosen to operate the program must incorporate features that "will have a positive measurable impact on one or more of the conditions of well–being for Maryland children and youth identified by the Maryland Partnership for Children, Youth and Families.” The Maryland Partnership for Children, Youth and Families has developed results and indicators of child wellbeing with assistance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.

One of the results and indicators is “Babies Born Healthy,” which includes a measure for “the rate of births to adolescents less than 18 years of age.” The programs support the Baltimore City Public Schools’ efforts to provide quality after school experiences for at risk students enrolled in the City’s public schools. Programs are designed to help children succeed in school, increase positive and healthy behaviors, and decrease negative behaviors such as juvenile crime, substance abuse, and teen pregnancy. This program provides supervision and activities for children of many low–income families and is reasonably calculated to achieve the third goal of the TANF statute. This program provides non–assistance.

Enhancement Grants for Local School Systems

These grants help local school systems provide full day, all year, early childcare and educational programs. Funds can be used to: provide before and after care services for public schools, preschools, pre–kindergarten, or kindergarten programs; increase the number of child care programs that are open full day and year round; expand services to half day programs; and provide family support programs promoting parental involvement. This program provides education and supervision for children of eligible families under 300 percent of the poverty level and promotes parental involvement in their children’s learning. The program is reasonably calculated to achieve the first and second goals of the TANF statute. The program provides non–assistance.

Maryland will apply the following methodology for any MOE funds claimed from this program. An enrollment list from the program will be matched to the TANF caseload. If the list shows that X percent of families served were needy, then X percent of the non–federal expenditures for that FY may be claimed as TANF–MOE.

Child Support Pass-Through Initiative

This initiative began July 2019. All or a portion of child support payments received through DHS’s Child Support Administration will be passed through to eligible TANF household’s Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. If the TANF household has one child, up to $100 of the monthly child support payment received will be passed-through to the TANF household. If the TANF household has two or more children, up to $200 of the monthly child support payment received will be passed-through to the TANF household. The amount passed through will be disregarded towards the household’s TANF benefit calculation.

SEPARATE STATE PROGRAMS FUNDED BY 100 PERCENT TANF MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT

Maryland has developed a broad array of services to families and children that are reasonably calculated to accomplish the first and second purposes of the TANF law. These are means tested and are funded out of 100 percent TANF Maintenance of Effort funds in a Separate State Program or other sources that are not federal TANF or TANF Maintenance of Effort. Maryland has designed these programs to be as effective and efficient as possible. This has the effect that certain specific services and certain specific beneficiaries of some of the services of some of these programs may not be eligible for federal TANF or that Maryland will not find it necessary to claim all of the TANF funds that could be claimed for the program because of its own substantial investment in it.

Using the flexibility in the statute and regulations, Maryland will report the exact amount of state funds for MOE charged to these programs using the appropriate federal mechanisms. Unless otherwise noted, for the purposes of this Plan and federal reporting, eligibility for the following programs is limited to those families with incomes under 300 percent of the federal poverty level in effect at the time of service delivery.

Job Access and Reverse Commute

The goal of the Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) program is to improve access to transportation services for employment and employment related activities for TANF recipients. Helping individuals successfully transition from welfare to work and reach needed employment support services such as childcare and job training activities. JARC addresses the unique transportation challenges faced by TANF recipients seeking to get and maintain employment. TANF recipients of urbanized areas and non-urbanized areas are transported to suburban employment opportunities. With many new entry-level jobs located in suburban areas, TANF recipients have found it difficult to access these jobs from their inner city, urban and rural neighborhoods on a daily basis. Many entry-level jobs require working late at night or on weekends when conventional transit services in many communities are either reduced or non-existent. Finally, many employment-related trips are complex for low-income persons, often involving multiple destinations including reaching childcare facilities and other services as part of the work trip. Maryland will ensure that funds utilized under the program name JARC are standalone transportation assistance dollars not being used to meet cost-sharing requirements for other programs.

Rental Assistance Program to Work

The Rental Assistance Program to Work provides rental assistance to families currently receiving TANF, former TANF families who received TANF in the past year, and families who received a Welfare Avoidance Grant and who are employed or unemployed and in a work activity (as defined by the LDSS). The families receive assistance from the Rental Assistance Program for up to 12 months. Six–month extensions may be granted if customers provide reasonable explanations of why they are not becoming self–sufficient. Eligibility is limited to families who receive income that is 30 percent or less than the statewide or area median income. Rental assistance provides reasonable, stable housing to keep families working, enhance family income, and keep the family off TANF. In addition, rental assistance provides stable, low–cost housing to TANF families preparing for work or working at a low–wage job that will eventually move off TANF. This program provides assistance.

Judith P. Hoyer Early Child Care and Family Education Centers (Judy Centers)

Judy Centers are unique early childhood learning centers that promote school readiness through an integrated approach. The centers, written into Maryland Law in May 2000, envision professional collaboration in integrating a wide spectrum of early childhood education programs and family support services for children from pre–birth to age six. The centers have a “one stop” approach eliminating fragmented services. Children and their families can visit a single location to access community–based organizations providing services such as health services, family support and family literacy, Head Start, and the public library. The community–based services are in addition to the services provided by the Center, such as: early intervention services, health care (immunizations, vision and hearing tests, and pediatric care), professional family support, and student breakfast and lunch. This program encourages eligible families with incomes under 300 percent of poverty to obtain the services they need to ensure their children are healthy and successful in school by making the services easily accessible. The program is reasonably calculated to achieve the first and second purposes of the TANF statute. The program provides non–assistance.

Adoption Benefits Funds

This provides funds for adoption benefits to needy parents of an adopted child who is not eligible for title IV–E adoption assistance. Families are eligible if their annual adjusted gross income, as defined by the Internal Revenue Service, does not exceed 80 percent of the latest published figure for the median income for a family of that size for the state, as set forth in Schedule A under COMAR 07.02.04.11. The adoptive child is included in determining the family size. The annual adjusted gross income of the family shall be the latest figure that was reported to the Internal Revenue Service. Funds are available to pay for benefit payments. The final adoption establishes a parental relationship even if no blood relationship exists. This program is reasonably calculated to meet the first goal of the TANF statute. Benefits under this program meet the definition of assistance under the TANF program.