Page 29

Iowa’s TANF State Plan

29

Affordable Child Care Arrangements means that child care for approved PROMISE JOBS components is provided at no cost to the FIP family.

Unsuitability of Informal Care means a child care center that has not completed the licensing process or a nonregistered child care provider who cannot pass child abuse or criminal record checks or who cannot meet the minimum health and safety requirements for nonregistered child care home providers.

The unavailability of appropriate child care within a reasonable distance from the participant’s home and work-related activity exempts a PROMISE JOBS participant from work requirements. Participants must demonstrate an inability to obtain needed child care. If the participant needs assistance in choosing a provider, the local PROMISE JOBS or Iowa HHS office will refer the participant to the child care resource and referral agency serving the county or provide the participant with the list of approvable providers kept by the county Iowa HHS office. The availability of appropriate child care will be verified periodically. This exemption does not extend the 60-month lifetime benefit limit.

The Iowa HHS informs parents of the child care exception to work requirements and of the definitions and criteria above used to determine whether a parent demonstrates an inability to obtain needed child care. Parents are also advised that granting this exception does not extend the time limit for receiving federal TANF benefits.

(iv) Take such reasonable steps as the State deems necessary to restrict the use and disclosure of information about individuals and families receiving assistance under the program attributable to funds provided by the Federal Government.

All Iowa HHS records are open to the public except those containing confidential information. Confidential information cannot be disclosed except to administer programs of the Iowa HHS or as otherwise authorized by federal or state law.

The following information is confidential:  Names, addresses and the type of assistance provided;  Client’s social and economic circumstances;  Agency evaluations; and  Medical or psychiatric data.

Information may be released to:  Public officials to administer program requirements;  Law enforcement officials under certain limited conditions; and  A multidisciplinary team approved by the Iowa HHS if the sole focus is identifying services for children who are victims of, and children at risk of becoming victims of, human trafficking

(v) Establish goals and take action to prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of- wedlock pregnancies, with special emphasis on teenage pregnancies, and establish numerical goals for reducing the illegitimacy ratio of the State (as defined in section 403(a)(2)(C)(iii)).