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TANF State Plan FFY 2026 Effective October 1, 2025 Page 11 of 24 M. TANF Cash Assistance for Victims of Catastrophe In the event of an officially declared catastrophe, the State employs a Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) that ensures essential services, such as providing cash assistance, continues during an emergency. N. Services and Activities Available to Participants Receiving TANF The Department uses the full range of activities allowed in the federal law (Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996) to reinforce personal and family responsibility and further the family’s self-reliance goals. Each family’s IRP identifies and requires participation in activities that meet the standards of participation defined in the law. Additional activities not defined in federal law, such as classes and programs in parenting, budgeting, decision-making, problem solving, conflict resolution, health, and hygiene, are identified and added to the family’s IRP. Examples of additional services and resources are listed below: • Community Service: Community service activities may be included in the IRP. Community service is not mandated in deference to other activities that may better prepare a family to become stable. • Employment Services: The Department works with communities to identify employment opportunities for TANF participants. Unpaid opportunities are developed for work experience sites wherever necessary. These sites teach basic job skills to provide participants with current employment references and the basic skills needed to obtain employment. Participants are encouraged to be involved in other community activities to expand employment options. • Transportation Services: Transportation is available to those who could not otherwise participate in the activities identified on the IRP. • Child Care Services: TANF families are eligible for the Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP) if child care is needed for a parent or caretaker relative to participate in Individual Responsibility Plan activities. When a parent becomes employed and terminates TANF, the family may continue to receive child care as a Work-Related Service if they continue to meet ICCP eligibility requirements. O. Child Support Services Cooperation with Child Support Services is a requirement of TANF eligibility unless good cause exists. Cooperation with Child Support is critical because it supports and encourages parental responsibility through the activities of child support collection. The process of cooperation is discussed with each TANF applicant. A TANF applicant must cooperate in identifying the non-custodial parent, locating that parent, and establishing a support order as a condition of receiving TANF. If paternity has not been established, the applicant must cooperate with identifying and locating the father. Once TANF eligibility is established, the participant must continue to cooperate with child support requirements. Idaho’s TANF and Child Support services are linked into the Department’s overall Self-Reliance program. An applicant is screened to assess whether child support is being paid and, if not, the reasons for non- payment. Child support screening is necessary for the Department to ascertain which services are most appropriate to meet the family’s needs. Child Support services are key to participants achieving self- reliance. The processes to gather information, identify, locate, and enforce support orders begin at the time of application for assistance. Upon completion of the assessment, enforcement action takes place.