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TRIBAL ALERT! ACTION NEEDED! The Governor’s proposed budget cut of $30.5 million to Tribal TANF programs could mean cuts of up to 90% for some Tribal TANF programs. The Governor’s proposal would drastically reduce and limit state funding support to only “cash assistance” cases -- although Tribal TANF programs are intended, designed, and funded by the federal government to provide both cash assistance and prevention services. Since Tribal TANF programs are still in the early stages of development, their percentage of cash assistance cases compared to the 1994 baseline are low. Some of this is due to the youth of the programs; some to the lack of county cooperation. However, the biggest reason is that it is harder for our impoverished families to qualify for cash assistance. Statewide, the total amount of cases stands at only 50% of the 1994 levels. Tribal TANF is more than cash assistance. Tribal TANF also emphasizes education, healthy families, youth programs, and other preventive services that will help Indian families strive toward self-sufficiency and away from needing to rely on cash assistance in the first place. The principles of Tribal TANF focus on culturally-appropriate prevention, which we believe will lead to self-sufficiency. At this time, there is no formulary to determine the dollar value of such prevention. Senator Wes Chesbro has introduced trailer bill language that provides for a compromise. The Senate Subcommittee on Health and Human Services voted to revert $15.5 million in unspent 2003-2004 TANF funds and an across-the-board cut of approximately 20% to all Tribal TANF programs. This will accomplish the Governor’s goal of saving $30.5 million in new spending in the 2004-2005 fiscal year. Also included in the trailer bill are provisions to streamline the consultation process between the Department of Social Services and tribes and to develop a formulary for prevention services. Tribal TANF programs strongly support this trailer bill. Tribal TANF programs have worked extremely hard to reach this compromise and we need your help. Please send a letter supporting the trailer bill language to the Governor as soon as possible, copying it to your own local representatives in the State Legislature. Click here for a sample letter. Letters should be faxed to the Governor at (916) 445-4633, and follow-up with originals by mail. If you have questions, please contact Barbara Beller, Legislative Consultant, Owens Valley Career Development Center at (916)338-3820 or (916)747-0882 (cell). |