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Delaware TANF State Plan 10-1-23 to 09-30-26 Page 30 of 59

(Provide assistance to needy families so that children can be cared for in their own homes and prevent and reduce the incidence of out- of-wedlock pregnancies).

vi. Conduct a program, designed to reach State and local law enforcement officials, the education system, and relevant counseling services, that provides education and training on the problem of statutory rape so that teenage pregnancy prevention programs may be expanded in scope to include men.

Statutory Rape Prevention

The Sexual Predator Act of 1996 imposes more severe criminal sanctions on adult males who are significantly older than their victims and holds them financially accountable when children are born as a result of violations of this law. Each year an administrative notice regarding the Act is published informing DSS staff how to identify instances of statutory rape and how to make appropriate referrals to the Division of Family Services.

The legislation requires a cooperative agreement as part of a multi- faceted effort to combat teenage pregnancy and reform welfare. Specifically, the law requires Delaware’s Attorney General's Office, the Department of Health and Social Services, the Department of Services to Children, Youth, and Their Families, the Department of Public Instruction, and statewide law enforcement agencies to establish a cooperative agreement specifying the various roles of the agencies involved. As a result of this legislation, the Department of Health and Social Services and the Department of Public Instruction conducts programs designed to reach state and local law enforcement officials, the educational system, and relevant counseling services on the problem of statutory rape.

Delaware has a partnership with the Delaware Life Center to conduct programming that addresses statutory rape through community presentations and the distribution of literature. The program will provide education and training on the problem of statutory rape so that teenage pregnancy prevention programs may be expanded in scope to include men.

vii. Implement policies and procedures as necessary to prevent access to assistance provided under the State program funded under this part through any electronic fund transaction in an