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Table of Contents Section 1 – GOALS, RESULTS, AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT 3 Section 2 – TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF) 6 Section 3 - EMPLOYMENT PLANNING 15 Section 4 - BENEFITS 20 Section 5 - PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY 24 Section 6 - TRIBES 25 Section 7 – FAMILY STABILIZATION INITIATIVES 26 Section 8 - ADMINISTRATION 28 ATTACHMENT A - Statutory Text 29 ATTACHMENT B - Certifications 32 ATTACHMENT C - Funding 34

3 Section 1 - GOALS, RESULTS, AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

The Department of Workforce Services (DWS) administers the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant along with other programs and services in a comprehensive one-stop system. Utah became the first state in the nation to consolidate employment and public assistance programs, creating Utah's Department of Workforce Services in 1997.

The department's mission is to strengthen Utah's communities by connecting the workforce to new opportunities and providing services to individuals and families in need. This mission is accomplished through cornerstones which are:

● Employee Success - We promote a culture that fosters professional and personal fulfillment for our employees. ● Customer Experience - We provide our customers with accessible, respectful and responsive service. ● Community Connection - We engage with our partners to support opportunities for communities to prosper. ● Operational Excellence - We deliver quality public service by implementing efficient solutions that are reliable and accurate.

The Department focuses on employment and seeks to serve employers by providing qualified applicants. At the same time, the department seeks to serve job seekers by engaging in activities that lead to appropriate, gainful employment tailored to meet the needs of at-risk populations.

DWS administers Utah's TANF program fairly and equitably. Utah doesn't discriminate based on age, disability, race, color, national origin, sex, political affiliation or belief, religion, or any other prohibited ground in the administration of its TANF program.

Utah refers to its one-stop, American Job Centers as employment centers. A statewide system of employment centers in nine Economic Service Areas (ESA) serve individuals and families with supportive services such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), child care, Medicaid and other medical programs, cash assistance, job search assistance, access to job training programs, educational and employment-related opportunities for displaced homemakers, refugees, disadvantaged populations, services for people who are older and services for individuals who have disabilities.

It is the responsibility of the department's employment counselors to adhere to department policy, provide assistance for customers with disabilities and assist customers with limited English proficiency. DWS ensures equality of opportunity for persons with disabilities, limited English proficient (LEP) persons, and other populations, (for example, Tribal populations) who are eligible for services. Persons who are otherwise qualified are afforded meaningful access to TANF programs and have equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from these programs. DWS has operating methods in place which promote non-discriminatory access for all persons due civil rights protection.