TANF: State Approaches to Screening for Domestic Violence Could Benefit from HHS Guidance
Highlights
The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program introduced specific work requirements and benefit time limits. However, the Family Violence Option (FVO) requires states that adopt the FVO to screen TANF clients for domestic violence and grant waivers from program requirements for clients in domestic violence situations. TANF also allows the use of TANF funds for marriage and responsible fatherhood programs. Given states' broad discretion in implementing the TANF program, including most aspects of the FVO and marriage and responsible fatherhood programs, this report examines (1) how states identify victims of domestic violence among TANF recipients, (2) how states address domestic violence among TANF recipients once they are identified, and (3) the extent to which states spend TANF funds on marriage and responsible fatherhood programs, and how, if at all, these programs are addressing domestic violence.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services should examine current domestic violence screening practices of states, and determine whether certain practices--such as employing and training, where possible, domestic violence specialists--are particularly promising approaches to screening for domestic violence. |
HHS reported that an array of best practices would be desirable. It has not examined or determined which practices would be most promising, so it cannot advocate specific screening methods over others. Instead, the agency provides information on a variety of screening practices. For example, the Welfare Peer Technical Assistance Network, an HHS web site, includes information on screening practices from different agencies around the country. The "Promising Practices Guide," funded by HHS and issued in January 2009, includes information on screening practices from several state and local programs. It also includes a chapter on screening and enrollment that describes promising screening practices and identifies assessment tool resources.
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| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services should provide states with information on these practices, and, through agency guidance or memoranda, encourage their adoption. |
HHS provides information to states on screening practices in various ways. The agency funded the "Promising Practices Guide," (January 2009), which is intended to be helpful to various audiences, including state agencies. The Guide includes information on screening practices from programs in several states, such as Minnesota, Texas and Maryland. The Guide includes a chapter on screening and enrollment that describes promising screening practices and identifies assessment tool resources. HHS also operates the "Welfare Peer Technical Assistance Network," a web site that provides technical assistance on domestic violence topics. The site includes information on various state agency screening procedures and techniques, including the Denver Department of Human Services' "Domestic Violence Screening Document" form and Nebraska's new Employment First Screening and Assessment Form and Guide. Finally, the agency funds the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, which provides technical assistance and training nationwide, including to states.
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