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2 CERTIFICATION California will operate a program to provide temporary assistance for needy families so that children may be cared for in their own homes or in the homes of relatives; to support parents’ self-sufficiency by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage; to prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies and establish annual numerical goals for preventing and reducing the incidence of these pregnancies; and to encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families. This program is known as the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) Program. Executive Officer of the State: Gavin Newsom, Governor The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) is the responsible administering agency for the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. At the state level, CDSS collaborates with the Department of Child Support Services, the Department of Public Health, and the California Department of Health Care Services. CDSS also provides for supervision of local political subdivisions in the administration of the TANF Program. California’s 58 local health and human services agencies directly administer the TANF Program locally. CDSS has authority under state law to make rules and regulations that are binding on such political subdivisions. This state plan will be binding on the subdivisions and will be in effect throughout the state. In administering and operating a program that provides temporary assistance for needy families with minor children under Title IV-A of the Social Security Act, the State: 1. Assures that local governments and private sector organizations: (A) have been consulted regarding the plan and design of welfare services in the state so that services are provided in a manner appropriate to local populations, and (B) have had at least 45 days to submit comments on the plan and the design of such services through the Office of Administrative Law. 2. Operates a Child Support Enforcement program under the state plan approved under Title IV, part D of the Social Security Act. 3. Operates a foster care and adoption assistance program under the State plan approved under Title IV part E of the Social Security Act, and the State takes such actions as are necessary to ensure that children receiving assistance under such part are eligible for medical assistance under the State plan under Title XIX of the Social Security Act.