Reproductive Health Provisions and Teen Requirements Survey

This is the survey the State Policy Documentation Project used to collect information on TANF issues relevant to reproductive health and teens.  The survey was completed by an independent policy advocate in each state (except Alaska) and DC.  A report based on the answers was sent to the state TANF agency for verification, and discrepancies were resolved by SPDP staff, using statute and regulations and through discussions with survey respondents and state agency staff.  Please note that SPDP information on Abstinence Education programs, as well as several topics on minor living arrangement, was collected directly from state agencies.

Instructions

Please answer the survey based on written state policy. "Policy" refers to what is written in a statute, regulation or worker manual. Unless a question asks about practice, the answer should be based on your state’s written policy. If there are conflicts among a state’s written policies, then base your answer on the statute first, regulation second, and work manual last. Here are guidelines for what authority to use for your answers:

• Answer the questions based on the most recent statute, regulations, and worker manuals.
  
• When a recently enacted statute is in conflict with existing regulations (i.e, new regulations have not been promulgated), answer using the statute. When a statute gives an agency authority to issue regulations about a policy, but no new regulations have been promulgated, answer using existing regulations if they do not conflict with the new statute. For example, a statute may set out which minor teen parents may be allowed to live independently but leave all other aspects of the living arrangement provision to the agency's discretion. If the agency has not issued new rules, answer using the statute (for the allowance of the minor parent living arrangements) and the existing regulation, if applicable, (for other aspects of the minor parent living arrangement provisions). We would like the most recent policy, even if it less detailed in the statute than in the regulation.
  
• If an issue is only addressed in a worker manual, use that for answering questions.

Table of Contents

Family Cap/Child Exclusion

Minor Living Arrangement

School/Training Participation Rules for Teens/Minors

Overview

1A. Has your state established a family cap provision?    Yes/No

If yes, proceed to question 1D.

1B. Has your state established a flat grant? Yes/No

1C. If yes, does the state (check and fill in all that apply):

(   )  provide the same flat grant amount to all families of all sizes

(   )  provide the same flat grant amount to families with 4 or fewer children

(   )  specify other flat grant provisions (please describe):

(   )  increase the flat grant for families with special needs or circumstances, e.g., TANF recipient families with children born as a result of rape or incest, etc. (please describe):

1D. When a child subject to the provision or flat grant is born, does the family receive:

(   )  no additional benefit

(   )  reduced benefit (please describe):

(   )  benefits in the form of vouchers given to the adult

(   )  benefits in the form of third party payees

(   )  other (please describe):

If the state has no family cap or child exclusion provision, proceed to Question 6A.

2A. Which groups are exempt from the family cap? Check all that apply and fill in the blanks where appropriate:

(   )  children born less than months after case opened

(   )  first born children of minor parents who are receiving TANF as children

(   )  children conceived between spells of assistance lasting month(s)

(   )  children conceived as a result of rape or incest

(   )  children in families eligible for the Family Violence Option

(   )  other exemptions (please describe):

States set the age at which an adult is exempt from participation in a TANF work activity based on the age of the youngest child. Some states have a lower age at which activities are mandated for adults with an "excluded" child compared to adults without an "excluded" child.

2B. Does your state set a lower age that triggers work participation for families with "excluded" children?  Yes/No

2C. If yes, please describe:

Benefits/Services

3A. Are families subject to family cap (check all that apply and fill in the blanks where appropriate):

(   )  eligible for an additional earnings disregard earned by the adult (please indicate the dollar amount disregarded by the family cap): $

(   )  eligible for an additional earnings disregard earned by any children in the unit (please indicate the amount of the child earning disregard related to the family cap): $

(   )  allowed to retain more of the child support collected on behalf of a "capped" child than the amount "passed through" for other children.

3B. Are families subject to family cap:

(   )  referred to family planning services (please describe):

(   )  required to participate in family planning services (please describe):

(   )  prioritized for services such as training, work placement, child care (please describe):

Evaluation

4. Please indicate whether a family cap evaluation (check all that apply):

(   ) is being funded by an agency other than the state agency

(   ) is being planned

(   ) is not being planned at this time

(   ) unknown

States are precluded from providing assistance with federal TANF funds to an unmarried, minor (under age 18) custodial parent unless the minor teen lives with a parent, legal guardian or other adult relative; if such a living arrangement is not appropriate the state may require the minor teen parent to live in an adult supervised setting (e.g., "second chance home") and under limited circumstances may allow "independent living" by the minor teen. The law establishes that the state has an affirmative duty to assist in locating adult supervision for those minor teen parents in need of it.

Eligibility

14. Under state rules, is a minor teen parent eligible for TANF assistance if she lives (check all that apply):

(   ) with an adult relative or guardian other than her parents

(   ) with a supervisory adult

(   ) "independently" in an approved arrangement that is not supervised living

Assessment of Relatives

(   ) there is concern about abuse/neglect by the minor teen parent's current caretaker

(   ) there is reported abuse/neglect by the minor teen parent=s current

(   ) caretaker

(   ) no parent/guardian/adult relative willing to be responsible for the minor

(   ) teen parent

(   ) no permanent housing available for the minor teen parent

(   ) there is housing overcrowding

(   ) there is alcohol and/or drug abuse by the minor teen parent=s current

(   ) caretaker

(   ) the minor teen parent is a runaway

(   ) other. Please describe:

Adult Supervision

(   ) nothing established

(   ) state funded cash assistance during assessment period

(   ) case management

(   ) referral to child welfare

(   ) list of possible "second chance" homes

(   ) list of youth organizations that might help

(   ) nothing established

(   ) other. Describe:

Adult Supervised Settings

(   ) live with a family through the foster care system

(   ) live in group home through the foster care system

(   ) live with family of boyfriend

Exceptions

(   ) No available supervised living arrangement slot

(   ) The minor is successfully living on her own

(   ) The minor is about to turn 18 years old

(   ) Other. Describe:

(   ) specialized case management

(   ) required reporting by the minor to TANF or other agency

(   ) other. Please describe:

Head of Household

Under TANF, the state defines who is a "head of household." This definition is significant for a minor teen parent because if she is defined as a head of household the time-limit clock ticks.

Grant Payments

Under state policy, when minor teen parents receive their own assistance:

the teen directly

the parent

a supervisory adult

other. Describe:

Under TANF, states are precluded from spending federal TANF funds on minor, unmarried, custodial teen parents (with a child 12 weeks of age or older) unless the minor participates in an educational activity or approved training program. Some states have placed similar restrictions on other students or have expanded the restrictions.

Overview

(   ) all single and married teen parents under years of age

(   ) all single teen parents under years of age

(   ) other. Describe:

(   ) elementary school students

(   ) middle school students

(   ) high school students through age ____

Other (describe):

"Other" applies to:
Minor Teen Parents

All Teen Parents

All Teens (parents and non-parents)

Middle School Students

Elementary School Students

Sanctions/Bonuses

a reduction in the family's grant. Please describe:

elimination of the family's grant.

one month

until individual complies

other. Please describe:

(   ) for minor teen parents receiving TANF

Enrollment:

Attendance:

Each Grade Completed:

GED Completion:

Graduation:

Other:

Exemptions

24A. Please indicate which exemptions apply to the state's TANF school/training requirements: (Mark with an X to indicate whether the exemption applies to minor parents only or to all teen parents and fill in ages where indicated in the Exemption column)

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