We currently have forty families on the waiting list for childcare assistance. Tribes are not and will not be as fortunate as the States are in having vast unexpended TANF block grant dollars that can be used for expanding the availability of childcare. Increase the child care block grant award to tribes who need it and can use it. Pascua's decision to subcontract with the State for eligibility determination, benefit issuance and related functions was a matter of economics and good social work practice. Currently, an individual, using the same application form, can apply for TANF, medical assistance and food stamps in one location with the State Agency.
Economies of scale do indeed work.
My thanks to Representative Anderson for planting the seeds in law that permits the State, with appropriate federal waivers, to subcontract the medical assistance and food stamps eligibility functions to tribes with an approved TANF plan. Encourage the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Agriculture to approve the waiver request. Another welfare related program that the Pascua Yaqui Tribe has a burning interest in accessing is Title IV-E foster care assistance. The fact that 4-E dollars are directly related to the receipt of TANF assistance, makes is a natural progression of services for the tribe to directly assume from the federal government. Make Title IV-E dollars directly available to tribes with an approved TANF Plan.