TANF Emergency Fund in the Recovery Act of 2009 and Summer Food Service Programs

1. TANF Emergency Fund in the Recovery Act of 2009and Summer Food Service Programs ACF Website: www.acf.hhs.gov HHS Recovery Website: www.hhs.gov/recovery Administration for Children & Families, US DHHS

2. TANF Emergency Fund Basics • $5 billion available until September 30, 2010 for increases in: • Basic assistance • Non-recurrent, short-term benefits • Subsidized employment • Pays 80% of increase over base year (FY 2007 or 2008) expenditures • Each state can qualify for up to 50% of its TANF block grant, subject to overall cap • To date, we have awarded states over $2 billion • Administration has proposed continuation into FY 11, with $2.5 billion available for FY 11 Administration for Children & Families, US DHHS

3. Qualifying Expenditures • Combined federal and state spending (20% does not have to be state dollars) • Must be an increase over comparable quarter in the base year (FY 2007 or FY 2008) • May be third-party spending claimed as state “maintenance-of-effort” (MOE) spending • Third-party expenditures • Third-party spending, including in-kind donations • Employer supervision and training costs • Need appropriate agreements Administration for Children & Families, US DHHS

4. TANF Emergency Fund and Summer Food Service Programs • Opportunities to leverage additional TANF Emergency Funds for activities supporting Summer Food Service Programs • Categories: • Non-recurrent, short-term benefits • Subsidized employment Administration for Children & Families, US DHHS

5. Non-recurrent, Short-term Benefits • Must meet 3 conditions: • Address a family’s specific crisis situation or episode of need; • Is not intended to meet recurrent or ongoing needs; and • Will not extend beyond 4 months • Very broad, flexible category of spending • Can go to low-income families whether or not they receive cash assistance Administration for Children & Families, US DHHS

6. Non-recurrent, Short-term Benefits: Examples related to Summer Food Service Programs • Short-term leased or rented equipment • Transportation services to transport food and/or children to feeding sites • Recreational activities to attract more youth to program locations • Meal preparation costs that are not otherwise reimbursed under the SFSP (including the cost of additional meals and meals provided to parents of SFSP-eligible children) Administration for Children & Families, US DHHS

7. Subsidized Employment and Summer Food Service Programs • Sites can create subsidized employment positions for staff support to provide supervision and programming at summer feeding sites • Can include the cost of wage subsidies, staffing and development, and employer supervision and training • State may assume supervision costs equal 25 percent of employee’s wage without special documentation Administration for Children & Families, US DHHS