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Colorado State Plan Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Effective July 1, 2018
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(2) A “county diversion” is a needs-based, cash or cash-equivalent payment made to a participant who is eligible for assistance pursuant to the maximum eligibility criteria for non-recurrent, short-term benefits established in the State plan, in the county-defined expanded eligibility based on federal poverty and other standardized guidelines, and in county policies.
(A) Eligibility for Colorado Works county optional benefits and service requires:
(1) A family consisting of child(ren) living with a specified caretaker or parent(s) with unborn child(ren); and,
(2) The family’s gross income is within the county limit, up to $75,000 per year.
Notwithstanding the above eligibility requirements, all Colorado residents are eligible to receive services intended to reduce out-of-wedlock pregnancies and/or encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families if paid exclusively with federal TANF funds. The federally funded Personal Responsibility Education Program intends to decrease teen pregnancies through the implementation of evidence-based comprehensive sexual health education curriculum. The grant requires additional programming to focus on three federally outlined Adult Preparation Subjects: healthy life skills, healthy relationships, and adult/child communication.
Additional Colorado Works Benefits and Services. Other benefits and services include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) Colorado allows county departments to use Colorado Works funds to provide vouchers for State approved job placement agencies.
(2) Colorado provides family planning services not available through Medicaid.
(3) Colorado provides employment incentives to participants or employers as determined necessary by county policy.
(4) Colorado screens for domestic violence as a part of the assessment process but will only exempt domestic violence victims from time limits and other requirements for work participation when indicated by the assessment, not as a standard practice. Colorado refers domestic violence victims for needed services. Colorado is meeting the requirements for the federally approved domestic violence waiver.