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Iowa’s TANF State Plan

36 As certified by the Governor in the attached TANF State Plan Certifications, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) is the state agency with the primary responsibility for administering the program referred to in paragraph (1).

Iowa implemented TANF effective January 1, 1997. In October 1996, Iowa sought advice from a Welfare Reform Advisory Group made up of representatives of county governments, local community organizations, business, labor, religious groups, state legislators, the general public, and several state agencies, to achieve the objective in subparagraph (A). The Welfare Reform Advisory Group originally organized several broad-based work groups to focus on specific aspects of implementing federal TANF provisions. (See Attachment A that shows the work group structure.) Although the Advisory Group and the individual work groups no longer meet, the TANF program as it exists today is in large part a product of recommendations from those original work groups.

As certified by the Governor in Attachment B, local governments and private sector organizations have also been consulted and given 45 days to submit comments on the November 1, 2025, plan, and design of Iowa’s welfare services. The TANF State Plan will be posted to the Iowa HHS website at Welcome | Health & Human Services under Cash Assistance Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) | Health & Human Services.

(5) CERTIFICATION THAT THE STATE WILL PROVIDE INDIANS WITH EQUITABLE ACCESS TO ASSISTANCE. A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that, during the fiscal year, the State will provide each member of an Indian tribe, who is domiciled in the State and is not eligible for assistance under a tribal family assistance plan approved under section 412, with equitable access to assistance under the State program funded under this part attributable to funds provided by the Federal Government.

As certified by the Governor in the attached TANF State Plan Certifications, each member of an Indian tribe who is not eligible for assistance under a tribal family assistance program under Section 412 of the Social Security Act, as amended, shall have equitable access to the State program funded under this part by funds provided by the Federal Government.

(6) CERTIFICATION OF STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES TO ENSURE AGAINST PROGRAM FRAUD AND ABUSE. A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the State has established and is enforcing standards and procedures to ensure against program fraud and abuse, including standards and procedures concerning nepotism, conflicts of interest among individuals responsible for the administration and supervision of the State program, kickbacks, and the use of political patronage.

As certified by the Governor in the attached TANF State Plan Certifications, Iowa has established and is enforcing standards and procedures to ensure against program fraud and abuse, including standards and procedures concerning nepotism, conflicts of interest among individuals responsible for the administration and supervision of the state assistance program, kickbacks, and the use of political patronage.

(7) OPTIONAL CERTIFICATION OF STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES TO ENSURE THAT THE STATE WILL SCREEN FOR AND IDENTIFY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.