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States Improve Services for Rural Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Recipients

November 27, 2004 /

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Bear Paw Development Corporation is a private non-profit organization created for the purpose of administering programs to help improve regional economic conditions in Hill, Blaine, Liberty, Chouteau and Phillips Counties and the Fort Belknap and Rocky Boy's Indian Reservations.

Many state Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs have developed non-traditional methods to help rural welfare recipients enter the workforce and have initiated cooperative strategies to leverage resources. Approximately 14 percent of all families receiving (TANF) reside in rural areas, with many facing barriers to self-sufficiency because of their residence in counties with concentrated economic disadvantages. State methods for helping rural residents are described in a new report published by the Government Accountability Office.

http://www.nga.org/center/frontAndCenter/1,1188,C_FRONT_CENTER%5ED_7581,00.html

Some of the state innovations highlighted in the GAO report include:

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In eastern North Carolina, a call center has been established to serve low-income and TANF families who have questions regarding job openings. Call center employees also work with families to develop plans to become more economically self-sufficient.
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The state of New Mexico has developed a mentoring program for TANF clients. The Gold Mentoring Program matches retirees with TANF clients to help provide additional support for families receiving welfare.
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Vermont founded the Good News Garage non-profit organization, which has since been used as a model in several other states. The organization solicits donated cars, which are then refurbished and sold to TANF clients at a reduced fee.
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A technical college in Arkansas provides pre-employment training services to TANF clients through a mobile lab. A van was outfitted with computers and moves to various sites around the county to deliver services.

About 293,000 families in rural counties received cash assistance during an average month in 2003. Rural and Urban caseloads have decreased by about 40 percent since 1997. The GAO report also provides information on the proportion of state TANF caseloads that are urban versus rural. Examples of barriers to employment that are more frequently encountered by rural clients are also included in the report.
Related Links:

* GAO Report, ”Rural TANF Programs Have Developed Many Strategies to Address Rural Challenges” http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d04921.pdf