DHHS, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE)

The Lewin Group recently completed a report for HHS, ASPE to document the composition and trends of TANF child-only cases, focusing on three areas: Alameda County, (Oakland) California; Duval County, (Jacksonville) Florida; and Jackson County, (Kansas City) Missouri. The Lewin Group documented the policies and practices in place in the three states, collected data from the state administrative systems, and conducted a case file review in the three counties. Major findings include: The proportion of TANF cases that are child-only has been increasing since 1988 (to 68 percent in Duval County) primarily because non-child only cases are declining dramatically. State policies and county demographics directly affect the composition of child-only caseloads -- about two-thirds of the child-only cases in Jackson and Duval counties are relative caretaker cases; Alameda cases are divided more evenly into sanctioned, SSI, alien, and relative cases. Relative caretakers are more likely to be grandparents who are caring for a child due to desertion, substance abuse, incarceration, child abuse, or neglect by the parent. States are recognizing the importance of assisting cases where relatives are taking care of the children by creating alternative programs that provide services and increased financial assistance without the licensing requirements of foster care.

"Throughout the engagement, Lewin consultants listened to us and delivered superb analyses and thoughtful guidance–not canned solutions."  NONPROFIT HEALTH SYSTEM