Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 888
Release: 1997
Genre: Economic assistance, Domestic
ISBN:

Identifies and describes specific government assistance opportunities such as loans, grants, counseling, and procurement contracts available under many agencies and programs.

Behavioral Science & Policy: Volume 2, Issue 1

Behavioral Science & Policy: Volume 2, Issue 1
Author: Craig Fox
Publisher: Brookings Institution Press
Total Pages: 110
Release: 2016-11-22
Genre: Education
ISBN: 0815729642

The success of nearly all public- and private- sector policies hinges on the behavior of individuals, groups, and organizations. Today, such behaviors are better understood than ever, thanks to a growing body of practical behavioral science research. However, policymakers often are unaware of behavioral science findings that may help them craft and execute more effective and efficient policies. The pages of this new journal will become a meeting ground: a place where scientists and non-scientists can encounter clearly described behavioral research that can be put into action. By design, the scope of BSP is broad, with topics spanning health care, financial decisionmaking, energy and the environment, education and culture, justice and ethics, and work place practices. Contributions will be made by researchers with expertise in psychology, sociology, law, behavioral economics, organization science, decision science, and marketing. The journal is a key offering of the Behavioral Science & Policy Association in partnership with the Brookings Institution. The mission of BSPA is to foster dialog between social scientists, policymakers, and other practitioners in order to promote the application of rigorous empirical behavioral science in ways that serve the public interest. BSPA does not advance a particular agenda or political perspective. The first issue’s contents follow. Behavioral Science & Policy, vol. 2, no. 1 Table of Contents: Editors' Note Spotlight—Pre-Kindergarten Interventions: American Policy on Early Childhood Education & Development: Many Programs, Great Hopes, Modest Prospects, Ron Haskins Evidence for the Benefits of State Prekindergarten Programs: Myth & Misrepresentation, Dale C. Farran & Mark W. Lipsey Reforming Head Start for the 21st Century: A Policy Prescription, Sara Mead & Ashley LiBetti Mitchel Home Visiting Programs: Four Evidence-Based Lessons for Policymakers, Cynthia Osborne Launching Preschool 2.0: A Road Map to High-Quality Public Programs at Scale, Christina Weiland A 10-Year Strategy of Increased Coordination & Comprehensive Investments in Early Child Development, Ajay Chaudry & Jane Waldfogel Reimagining Accountability in K-12 Education, Brian P. Gill, Jennifer S. Lerner, & Paul Meosky Featured Topic: Healthy Through Habit: Interventions for Initiating & Maintaining Health Behavioral Change, Wendy Wood & David Neal Making the Truth Stick & the Myths Fade: Lessons from Cognitive Psychology, Norbert Schwarz, Eryn Newman, & William Leach Editorial Policy

Federal Evaluations

Federal Evaluations
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 856
Release:
Genre: Evaluation research (Social action programs)
ISBN:

Contains an inventory of evaluation reports produced by and for selected Federal agencies, including GAO evaluation reports that relate to the programs of those agencies.

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant
Author: Gene Falk
Publisher:
Total Pages: 90
Release: 2008
Genre: Political Science
ISBN:

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant provides federal grants to states for a wide range of benefits, services, and activities. It is best known for helping states pay for cash welfare for needy families with children, but it funds a wide array of additional activities. TANF was created in the 1996 welfare reform law (P.L. 104-193). TANF funding and program authority were extended through FY2010 by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA, P.L. 109-171). TANF provides a basic block grant of $16.5 billion to the 50 states and District of Columbia, and $0.1 billion to U.S. territories. Additionally, 17 states qualify for supplemental grants that total $319 million. TANF also requires states to contribute from their own funds at least $10.4 billion for benefits and services to needy families with children -- this is known as the maintenance-of-effort (MOE) requirement. States may use TANF and MOE funds in any manner "reasonably calculated" to achieve TANF's statutory purpose. This purpose is to increase state flexibility to achieve four goals: (1) provide assistance to needy families with children so that they can live in their own homes or the homes of relatives; (2) end dependence of needy parents on government benefits through work, job preparation, and marriage; (3) reduce out-of-wedlock pregnancies; and (4) promote the formation and maintenance of two-parent families. Though TANF is a block grant, there are some strings attached to states' use of funds, particularly for families receiving "assistance" (essentially cash welfare). States must meet TANF work participation standards or be penalised by a reduction in their block grant. The law sets standards stipulating that at least 50% of all families and 90% of two-parent families must be participating, but these statutory standards are reduced for declines in the cash welfare caseload. (Some families are excluded from the participation rate calculation.) Activities creditable toward meeting these standards are focused on work or are intended to rapidly attach welfare recipients to the workforce; education and training is limited. Federal TANF funds may not be used for a family with an adult that has received assistance for 60 months. This is the five-year time limit on welfare receipt. However, up to 20% of the caseload may be extended beyond the five years for reason of "hardship", with hardship defined by the states. Additionally, states may use funds that they must spend to meet the TANF MOE to aid families beyond five years. TANF work participation rules and time limits do not apply to families receiving benefits and services not considered "assistance". Child care, transportation aid, state earned income tax credits for working families, activities to reduce out-of-wedlock pregnancies, activities to promote marriage and two-parent families, and activities to help families that have experienced or are "at risk" of child abuse and neglect are examples of such "nonassistance".

Legislative Calendar

Legislative Calendar
Author: United States. Congress. House. Committee on Education and Labor
Publisher:
Total Pages: 542
Release: 1988
Genre: Calendars
ISBN: