Grants for Coordination of Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Child Welfare Services to Tribal Families at Risk of Child Abuse or Neglect

The grant program announced by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Family Assistance, aims to support demonstration projects that test the effectiveness of tribal governments or tribal consortia in coordinating child welfare services and services under Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs for tribal families at risk of child abuse and neglect. This initiative is focused on improving case management for families eligible for assistance, providing supportive services to tribal children in out-of-home placements and the tribal families caring for such children (including adoptive families), and delivering prevention services to tribal families at risk of child abuse and neglect. The grant encourages system changes for sustained improvements beyond the project period, encouraging activities like revising intake and assessment procedures, developing informed consent documents for information sharing across programs, cross-training for TANF and child welfare staff, joint case management, and enhancing information technology systems for better coordination. Successful grantees are expected to detail their approach, anticipated outputs, outcomes, and share lessons learned with the broader Tribal TANF and child welfare community.