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(Revised 7/01 ML #2697)
TANF provides dramatic and far-reaching reforms to North Dakota's welfare programs. TANF is based on a system that comprehensively addresses the economic problems and barriers to self-sufficiency that confronts today's low-income families.
The objectives of TANF are to:
The key elements of this program are to:
Simplify design;
Tailor services to the family's needs;
Provide benefits contingent upon progress toward self-sufficiency; and
Emphasize individual and family responsibility with rigorous enforcement of child support.
Ensure the rights of every person to economic security and necessary education or training while realizing that every person has the corresponding responsibility to take affirmative action toward maximizing self-sufficiency and independence.
Provide benefits on the basis of a social contract which will delineate the responsibilities of the client in achieving self-sufficiency and the duties of the public agency in facilitating the achievement of attainable goals.
Allow families to retain a reasonable level of resources to meet current and projected needs while remaining eligible for the receipt of assistance.
Provide a uniform budget methodology to guide the determination of eligibility and benefits for families.
Encourage the recipient's responsibilities under the social contract by providing time-limited benefits except in cases of disability or hardship.
Engage the private business sector as a major partner in program development and operation.
Provide incentives to make work more rewarding than assistance.
Require all non-custodial parents to share in the support of their children. Strengthen existing program procedures and develop new procedures to bring about improved enforcement and collection of child support.
Support relocation of individuals and families in order to pursue training opportunities and to secure meaningful employment.
Evaluate individual cases and agency performance based on the achievement of stated goals. The evaluation of outcomes are based upon the person reaching self-sufficiency, or movement toward self-sufficiency, rather than accountability of the program's mechanical procedures.
Promote the health and development of children through participation in the North Dakota (ND) Health Tracks.
Maintain the overall objective throughout the reform effort of preserving and strengthening the family structure.
