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Delaware’s TANF State Plan 10-1-2017 to 9-30-2020

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The legislation requires a cooperative agreement as part of a multi- faceted effort to combat teenage pregnancy and reform welfare. Specifically, the law requires the 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.

A new initiative is a partnership with the Delaware Fatherhood and Family Coalition (DFFC). DFFC develops 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 automated teller machine or point-of-sale device located in a place described in section 408(a)(12), including a plan to ensure that recipients of the assistance have adequate access to their cash assistance.

TANF Benefits Issued Via Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Delaware does not issue TANF benefits through electronic benefit transfer (EBT) and therefore has not established policies or procedures to address EBT access and use as they relate to TANF benefits. If in the future, Delaware begins to distribute benefits through EBT, it will establish policies and procedures that ensure compliance with the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012. Prior to implementation of EBT distribution, these policies and procedures will be detailed in a state plan amendment and in a letter sent to the Secretary.

Delaware issues TANF benefits via check. Delaware has an agreement with PNC Bank, which has locations throughout the State, to cash the TANF checks of recipients. Recipients cashing their TANF check at a PNC branch incur no fees for cashing the checks. There are also no fees related to electronic fund transfer, since Delaware issues paper checks.