Payments to States for Family Support Activities 2/ State-by-State amounts represent State estimates of expenditures. The total amount of program obligations is estimated at $463,038,000. 3/ State allocations based on available ceiling for all States in FY 1991 including $89,557 for American Samoa. REFUGEE CASH AND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE Federal payment of refugee cash assistance (RCA) and refugee medical assistance (RMA), available to needy refugees who meet the means test but not the family structure eligibility requirements of the major Federal programs, is being continued for the first 12 months after a refugee's entry. Question. What percentage of refugees receive RCA and RMA, compared to those participating in the AFDC, SSI, and Medicaid programs? Answer. The following information, as of September 30, 1989, is the latest available: In All AFDC and SSI recipients are eligible for Medicaid, and all RCA recipients are eligible for RMA. addition, some non-cash-assistance recipients are eligible for Medicaid only or RMA only, but data are not collected on such eligibility. Question. What information do you have on the extent to which refugees who are initially resettled under a voluntary agency matching grant program also access Federal or Stat welfare programs, either during or after their participation in the voluntary agency program? Answer. In 1989, the Office of Refugee Resettlement obtained data on cash assistance usage by participants in the voluntary agency matching grant program in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia. Cash assistance records were reviewed for refugees who arrived between October 1, 1987, and March 31, 1988. The preliminary findings for those who were under age 65 at their time of arrival in the U.S. are as follows: FY 90. COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT If so, Question. This program [CSBG] expires at the end of Will you propose its reauthorization? what legislative changes, if any, do you consider necessary? Answer. The Department is not proposing reauthorization. Question. Does the Federal Office of Community Services (OCS) coordinate the design of its programs with other related agencies? For example, what is the relationship between your Community Economic Development program and related activities administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development or the Department of Commerce? Similarly, are your rural housing and community food and nutrition programs coordinated with the Department of Agriculture? you protect against duplication of services? How do Answer. The Office of Community Services has no formal relationship with the other Federal agencies in question. Re duplication of services: In reviewing applications for funding under OCS discretionary programs, OCS officials take into account all other funds which will be mobilized for the proposed projects and would be aware if other funds, Federal or non-Federal, would be allocated for the specific activities for which the OCS funds have been requested. In addition, OCS requires that all of its grant funds be audited. Although we do not believe that the OCS funds are duplicating other Federal funds, it should be noted that the Department is not requesting reauthorization of these programs because evidence shows that some of the services are available through other Federally-funded programs. Services and cash grants that are provided to organizations and low-income individuals through these programs are substantially the same as those authorized by, for example, meals and food distribution programs administered by the Department of Agriculture, the Administration on Aging's nutrition programs, and the JOBS program. AID TO FAMILIES WITH DEPENDENT CHILDREN (AFDC) JOBS PROGRAM Estimates of the Congressional Budget Office indicate that a relatively small percent of AFDC families can be expected to leave the AFDC rolls as a result of participation in the JOBS program. To be realistic, should the Administration focus more on the goal of helping AFDC mothers become less dependent on welfare rather than totally free of welfare? Question. Will the $350 million appropriated for FY 1990 be sufficient to fund the JOBS program (and phase out the Work Incentive (WIN) program)? Does it appear that the full authorization of $1 billion will be needed to fund the JOBS program in FY 1991? Answer. Based on the data available, the current estimate for JOBS for FY 1990 is $463,038,000. The entitlement by law for this program in FY 1990 is $800,000,000; should funds in excess of $463,038,000 be required, these will also be available up to the $800,000,000 ceiling under the indefinite authority included with the FY 1990 appropriation to meet unanticipated needs. The $1,000,000,000 request for FY 1991 is based on estimates of caseload projections and program participation rates. Currently, we estimate that FY 1991 outlays will total $879,662,000. Question. As of January 1990, over half of the States had implemented their JOBS program in all or part of their State. Do you expect the rest of the States to start their JOBS program before the required date, October 1, 1990? Answer. We anticipate that eight more States and the District of Columbia will seek approval to start their JOBS programs either on April 1, 1990, or July 1, 1990. The remainder of the States are expected to begin JOBS on October 1, 1990. Question. How many Indian tribes or Alaska Native organizations have applied to the Secretary to conduct a JOBS program? Answer. One hundred twenty five (125) tribes and Alaska Native organizations have applied. Question. Have all of such applications been approved (if not, why not)? Answer. The applications of 40 grantees have been approved and are operating JOBS programs. Tribes and Alaska Native organizations were required to submit their applications for JOBS by April 13, 1989 (6 months after the date of enactment of the Family Support Act). order to comply with this statutorily required deadline, In we permitted tribes and Alaska Native organizations to submit an initial application, with final documentation to be provided 45 days prior to planned implementation. We are working with these organizations as they develop appropriate JOBS programs. Tribal entities have until August 15, 1990 to provide us with final documentation for their applications. Question. Have any of the programs been implemented? Answer. Yes. Forty tribal entities and Alaska Native organizations have implemented JOBS. (See attached charts and maps.) |