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I V - A S T A T E O F M A I N E T A N F S T A T E P L A N 18 | P a g e

related to school and also provides all program Participants with Student Navigators to offer wrap-around support. The goal of HOPE is to help Maine families increase their earning capacity through skills-based training and post-secondary education. HOPE participants cannot be receiving TANF or PaS.

TANF Initiative Programs The following programs meet one of the four purposes of TANF. These programs provide benefits in the form of services to Maine families. These services involve a wide variety of community partners such as other governmental agencies, non-profit organizations and others.

Head Start Head Start operates throughout the state of Maine to provide school readiness services to children from four to five. Early Head Start provides services for families with children from birth to three to promote child development, self-sufficiency, and support parental roles. Head Start prepares children to be successful as they move into elementary school and beyond.

Child Welfare – Supported Visitation The Supportive Visitation program is offered by DHHS to maintain the parent-child relationship between birth parents and their children. The purpose of supportive visitation is to provide non- custodial parents access to their children in a safe, conflict-free environment. The supportive visitation programs develop a child visit plan and supports parents in maintaining a close relationship with their child. This program is available to parents whose children have been removed from their custody and are trying to reunify.

Child Welfare – Home Visiting The Home Visiting program is offered on a voluntary basis to parents, families with children from birth to three (3) years old and pregnant women. Services include prevention-focused parental education and support. The program uses an evidence-based model. Services include child care tips, sharing best practices, and connecting parents to resources.

Child Welfare – Direct Benefits Maine provides funding to help children remain safely in their homes, and to reunify children who have been removed into state custody with their families. Funding can be used for a variety of needs related to maintain and promote the child’s wellbeing.

Child Welfare – Transportation The Child Welfare Transportation program provides transportation services to those involved with the child welfare system who have no other reasonable means of transportation to access necessary services. In order to be eligible, a participant must be referred by DHHS or a federally recognized tribe. Only transportation to and from TANF eligible services is claimed.

Alternative Response Program (ARP)