The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 amends Section 403 of the Social Security Act to create a new $1 billion Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund (PEAF) for states, tribes, and territories to assist needy families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 14, 2021, the Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Family Assistance (OFA) hosted an informative webinar for territories to learn about the PEAF. Participants heard from OFA’s TANF policy experts on how they can use this fund, its requirements, and the process for applying for the funds. OFA speakers included Susan Golonka, Acting Director; Julie Siegel, Director, Division of State TANF Policy; Stan Koutstaal, Division Director, Tribal TANF Management and Regional Operations; and Peter Germanis, Senior Policy Advisor and National Expert. In addition to this webinar, OFA hosted a separate webinar for tribes. Also, additional guidance will be published with more information about the allocations formulas, how to request funds, and other general policy guidelines.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance (OFA) held the 2021 Regions IV-VIII Tribal TANF and NEW Program Virtual Meeting entitled Moving Forward: Weaving Stories of Perseverance During COVID-19 on March 16-18, 2021. This virtual event brought together Tribal TANF and Native Employment Works (NEW) program representatives from OFA Regions IV-VIII and focused on how programs can best address the needs of families during the pandemic and beyond. The meeting included sessions on promising practices for innovation from Tribal TANF and NEW programs, ideas for program adaptations, strategies for customer engagement, and discussions on broadband access and technology.

Hosted by the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance, this webinar portion of a Tribal Case Management Series focused on strategies for improving employment outcomes for Tribal TANF recipients. During the webinar, participants learned strategies on providing one-on-one coaching to job seekers on effective job search techniques, three categories of interview questions they can use to screen applicants, and four strategies for keeping clients active during the job search activity.

This session from the December 2020 OFA Regions IX and X Virtual Tribal TANF Technical Assistance Meeting examined strategies and tools for assessing employment trends and included presentations on designing employment partnerships adapted to economic realities in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Speakers included: Theresa Lujan, the Indian and Native American Employment Rights Program (INAERP); Evette Cullen, Nevada Department of Health and Human Services; Mike Yoder, Nevada Department of Health and Human Services; and Isla Young, Governor’s Office of Workforce Innovation (OWINN), State of Nevada.

This Administration for Children and Families Program Instruction (PI) includes a description of the Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund (PEAF) Allotment Request Form that states, tribes, and territories must use to inform the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services whether they intend to use all of their PEAF allotment, and supporting instructions on how to submit the form.

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 amends Section 403 of the Social Security Act to create a new $1 billion Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund (PEAF) for states, tribes, and territories to assist needy families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 19, 2021, the Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Family Assistance (OFA) hosted an informative webinar for states to learn about the PEAF. Participants heard from OFA’s TANF policy experts on how they can use this fund, its requirements, and the process for applying for the funds. OFA speakers included Susan Golonka, Acting Director; Julie Siegel, Director, Division of State TANF Policy; Peter Germanis, Senior Policy Advisor and National Expert; and Deborah List, Associate Deputy Director. In addition to this webinar, OFA hosted separate webinars for tribes and territories. Also, additional guidance will be published with more information about the allocations formulas, how to request funds, and other general policy guidelines.

Coaching is a person-centered, strength-based way of working with others that helps them direct the changes they want to make in their own lives. On March 31, 2021, the Office of Family Assistance (OFA) hosted a PeerTA webinar introducing a new free resource that OFA is making available to all State and Tribal TANF agencies and Native Employment Works (NEW) programs – a 14-module eLearning Curriculum called “Coaching for Success.” Based on Public Consulting Group’s Human Services Coaching Framework, the curriculum aims at training employment case managers in how to leverage coaching techniques to improve their case management skills. The curriculum includes self-paced learning modules that will cover topics such as active listening, powerful questions, emotional intelligence, praise, and other important techniques that can elevate TANF case management services.

Speakers included: Deborah Joffe, Public Consulting Group and Paul Lefkowitz, Public Consulting Group.