State Accepting Public Comments On The Future Of TANF

The West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS) Bureau for Family Assistance announced it would accept public comments on its plan for the future of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), a federal block grant program that allows states to help low-income families achieve stability and self-sufficiency.

There are some new additions to the state plan including fatherhood programming, enhanced adolescent pregnancy prevention efforts, and strengthening of Family Support Centers across the state.

“Ensuring that West Virginia’s most vulnerable families have the support they need is paramount to our mission at DoHS,” said Janie Cole, DoHS’s Bureau for Family Assistance Commissioner. “We invite the public to actively engage in shaping the trajectory of the TANF program by providing feedback, which will be instrumental in its refinement as we continue our dedication to strengthen families statewide.”

Comments will be accepted from Feb. 5 to March 18. The plan is available to view at local Department of Human Services offices, the Secretary of State’s office and online.

Comments may be submitted in writing to the West Virginia Department of Human Services, Bureau for Family Assistance, Division of Family Support, 350 Capitol Street, Room B -18, Charleston, West Virginia 25301-3705, via email to DoHSPublicComments@wv.gov, or by calling (304) 352-4431.

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Charleston Area Medical Center and Marshall Health.