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Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) States that include TANF in the Combined State Plan must outline how the State will meet the requirements of section 402 of the Social Security Act including how it will: a. Conduct a program designed to serve all political subdivisions in the State (not necessarily in a uniform manner) that provides assistance to needy families with (or expecting) children and provides parents with job preparation, work, and support services to enable them to leave the program, specifically cash assistance, and become self-sufficient (section 402(a)(1)(A)(i) of the Social Security Act). Alabama’s renewal plan is effective October 1, 2021. The State will continue to conduct programs designed to serve all political subdivisions in the State (not necessarily in a uniform manner) to provide assistance and/or services to needy families with children under the administration and supervision of the Alabama Department of Human Resources through County Departments of Human Resources located in the 67 counties in Alabama. The program in Alabama is known as the Family Assistance Program. Program operating guidelines which include all policies, procedures, etc., for the determination of initial and continuing eligibility for each program will be issued to the County Departments of Human Resources from the State Department of Human Resources as needed. Such operating guidelines contained in department program manuals or other correspondence is binding on the County Departments of Human Resources. Provision of assistance and/or services to eligible, needy families is contingent on the availability of program funding. Activities of these county offices include: accepting and processing applications for assistance; and as appropriate conducting reviews and redeterminations of eligibility, providing child support enforcement services, information and referral services, providing family intervention and preservation services and managing a program of work activities and requirements known as the JOBS Program. Family Assistance Program components: 1. Basic Assistance to Needy Families A. Temporary Cash Assistance (limited to 5 years); B. Work Program (includes services to current and former recipients of cash assistance) 2. TANF Emergency Assistance 3. TANF (Direct) Child Welfare 4. Special Projects Financial criteria are provided for each program component in Attachment E in section (k) and section(m) as appropriate. General program descriptions for the components of the Family Assistance Program are as follows: