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Montana State Plan for the 7 TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES PROGRAM

Full Plan #25 Effective 01/01/2024 Supersedes #2 01/01/2021. household benefits from the service. This includes elderly, disabled and childless individuals because the TANF I & R brochure is designed to educate and serve all individuals in the community who want to use the services.

8. Montana operates a Supplemental Services Program (SSP) under a separate state program (MOE funded) which provides some mental health and family stabilization and reunification services for youth. Eligibility includes: o Youth 18 years of age or younger, without regard to emancipation, or if in secondary school, less than 19 years of age, and ▪ have a Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) ▪ qualify for Healthy Montana Kids Plus (HMK Plus/Medicaid), Healthy Montana Kids (HMK/CHIP) Extended Mental Health Benefit plan or HMK/CHIP authorized Therapeutic Group Home services ▪ countable income of the youth’s family does not exceed 185% of the Federal Poverty level ▪ the requested service is not covered by HMK Plus or HMK Extended Mental Health Benefit plan 9. Maintenance of Effort (MOE) funding is provided to Tribal TANF programs that are approved by the Federal Department of Health and Human Services after July 1, 1999 and choose to base its share of the federal TANF block grant on the same federal fiscal year 1994 service population. (Montana Code Annotated 53-4-210) A tribe or combination of tribes may use the MOE share for monthly cash benefits payments or supportive services costs as allowed under the Montana State plan. 10. In accordance with 45 C.F.R 260.31 (b)(1) Montana may use non-recurrent, short- term (NRS) benefits to help families who are experiencing a specific crisis or episode of need. The NRS benefit cannot extend beyond four months. 11. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) was approved for funding in the 2023 Montana Legislative session. Effective July 1, 2023, funding will be used to expand local CASA/GAL programs so they can maximize their effectiveness while advocating for Montana’s abused and neglected children, and to give every abused and neglected child in Montana the opportunity to thrive in a safe, loving permanent home. Funding will be used to support TANF purpose #1: To provide assistance to needy families so that children may be cared for in their own homes or in the homes of relatives. The Department considers any child involved with Child and Family Services Division (CFSD) categorically eligible due to the nature of their circumstances.

12. Home Visiting was approved for funding in the 2023 Montana Legislative session. TANF funding will be used to improve health outcomes for pregnant or parenting mothers and their babies, supporting TANF purpose #1: To provide