239B.4 - DEPARTMENTAL ROLE.
239B.4 DEPARTMENTAL ROLE.
1. The department is the state entity designated to administer
federal funds received for purposes of the family investment program
and the JOBS program under this chapter, including but not limited to
the funding received under the federal temporary assistance for needy
families block grant as authorized under the federal Personal
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Pub.
L. No. 104-193, as reauthorized under the federal Deficit Reduction
Act of 2005, Pub. L. No. 109-171, and as codified in 42 U.S.C. § 601
et seq., and as such is the lead agency in preparing and filing state
plans, state plan amendments, and other reports required by federal
law.
2. The department is responsible for a management information
system, eligibility determination, participant grant calculations and
issuance of payments, contracting for services, provision of an
appeal or resolution process to applicants and participants,
determining the suitability of a family home maintained by a
specified relative applicant or participant, and other activities as
necessary to administer the family investment program and the JOBS
program.
3. The department shall develop and use a screening tool for
determining the likely presence of family and domestic violence
affecting applicant and participant families. The department shall
require the use of the screening tool by trained employees.
4. The department shall continue to work with the department of
workforce development and local community collaborative efforts to
provide support services for participants. The support services
shall be directed to those participant families who would benefit
from the support services and are likely to have success in achieving
economic independence.
5. The department shall continue to work with religious
organizations and other charitable institutions to increase the
availability of host homes, referred to as second chance homes, or
other living arrangements under the federal Personal Responsibility
and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Pub. L. No. 104-193,
§ 103, and any successor legislation. The purpose of the homes or
arrangements is to provide a supportive and supervised living
arrangement for minor parents receiving assistance who may receive
assistance while living in an alternative setting other than with
their parent or legal guardian.
6. The department may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A as
necessary to administer this chapter. Section History: Recent Form
97 Acts, ch 41, §5, 34; 98 Acts, ch 1218, §51; 2005 Acts, ch 175,
§106; 2007 Acts, ch 124, §2 Footnotes
Legislative intent that department of human services work with
Indian tribes providing federal grant services to Indians who reside
outside the reservation to develop a formula for providing matching
funding for tribes' expenditures for such services; recommendation
required for implementation of the formula beginning in FY 2009-2010;
2008 Acts, ch 1187, §5