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children. This initiative is funded with 100 percent federal funds and leveraged with WIA funds. This initiative meets TANF purpose number two — end the dependence of needy parents on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage.

 Pennsylvania reserves the option to transfer TANF funds to the Child Care and Social Services Block Grants.

Identifying Domestic Violence (DV)

Pennsylvania exercises the federal TANF Family Violence Option (FVO) to certify that it screens for and identifies victims and survivors of DV. Since 1997, the Department has collaborated with the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV), Pennsylvania’s state domestic violence coalition, and its statewide contractor providing services to victims and survivors of DV, to develop a program to screen for and identify DV victims and survivors among TANF applicants and recipients. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, Title VII, section 703 amended section 402(a)(8) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 602 (a)(8)). The amendment requires state TANF programs to provide the following: universal notification procedures to ensure that applicants and recipients of TANF are notified of assistance made available to victims and survivors of DV, sexual harassment, sexual assault, and stalking. All agency personnel responsible for administering the TANF program must be trained in the nature and dynamics of DV, sexual harassment, sexual assault, and stalking including state standards and procedures relating to the prevention of, and assistance for individuals who are victims and survivors of DV, sexual harassment, sexual assault, and stalking. The state has established and enforces standards and procedures for screening and identifying victims and survivors of DV, sexual harassment, sexual assault, and stalking. Procedures have been established to ensure confidentiality of personal information and documentation related to applicants, recipients and their children who seek TANF public assistance and who have confided their experiences of DV, sexual harassment, sexual assault, and stalking.

DHS developed a training program, which has been maintained, that provides information on identifying and assisting victims and survivors of DV, sexual harassment, sexual assault, and stalking as well as guidance on how staff should use this information to protect and assist victims and survivors. Annual mandatory TANF FVO staff training, and PCADV required training for new staff includes the nature and dynamics of DV, sexual harassment, sexual assault, and stalking including state standards and procedures relating to the prevention of, and assistance for individuals who are victims and survivors of DV, sexual harassment, sexual assault, and stalking. Victims and survivors of DV, sexual harassment, sexual assault, and stalking may qualify for temporary good cause waivers of TANF program requirements such as time limits on receipt of cash assistance, employment and training requirements and child support cooperation requirements.