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I. General Provisions

A. Program Administration and Management

The Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) administers the TANF program at the state level while services are delivered at the local level through the network of DFCS offices located in each of Georgia’s 159 counties.

The identified services are available in all political subdivisions in the state. The services are directed by county staff in collaboration with other local public and private agencies. A range of job placement, job preparation and support services are available in each county office but may vary in scope depending on local resources. All services provided are in keeping with the current goal of reducing dependency by helping families leave the cash assistance rolls as soon as possible and by diverting applicants toward employment so they will have no need for cash assistance.

Services are provided through a structure that connects TANF applicants and recipients to jobs, job preparation, and support systems. The Department uses non-financial agreements when possible and paid agreements when necessary to ensure that clients can access needed services. Some services may be provided through other divisions within DHS.

Working with other state agencies and providers outside of DHS is crucial to the Department’s success in making needed services available. The range of services needed by recipients is provided through partnerships with the Department of Public Health, Department of Education and local Boards of Education, the Board of Regents, Community Action Agencies, Chambers of Commerce, business associations, community-based organizations, and religious groups.

Coordination of local services and obtaining the cooperation and involvement of communities are priorities of DHS. Third-party contractors help to develop resources at the local level and ensure the involvement of numerous local service providers, agencies, and businesses.

To ensure the effective and efficient management of the Georgia TANF program, outcome-based performance measures are identified and evaluated on an ongoing basis. These outcome measures include, but are not limited to:

• Increases in family income, including a review of family income as a percentage of the federal poverty level; • The number of TANF families that achieve employment; • Decrease in the out-of-wedlock pregnancy rate, with special focus on data about teens; • The number of former TANF recipients returning to the roles; and • The number of applicants diverted from cash assistance.

The purpose of the program is to provide state-level administration to program staff that manage the TANF program. Administration costs cover state-level administration staff, program personnel, and overhead expenses. Qualifying state expenses are direct charged or identified