Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

As part of the HHS-funded Subsidized and Transitional Employment Demonstration (STED) project, we are producing a paper on how TANF programs are using subsidized employment opportunities to help Native American TANF recipients. An earlier report completed by the STED research team examined how states implemented subsidized employment activities with funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). As part of the ARRA study, the team conducted interviews with directors of six tribes that received ARRA support to run subsidized employment programs. This study found that tribal subsidized employment programs that received this funding differed from non-tribal programs in a few key ways. These programs faced higher levels of unemployment, they placed a higher percentage of their TANF caseloads into subsidized positions, and the placements were designed to help the tribal economy and tribal businesses.

To understand how subsidized employment programs are being used to help Native American TANF recipients today, the study team is conducting phone interviews with staff from Tribal TANF programs and Native Employment Works (NEW) programs that are operating subsidized employment programs. We are also conducting site visits with selected programs to meet with case managers, job developers, employers, and program leaders to gain a fuller understanding of operational challenges and strategies employed. Results of the interviews will be summarized in a short report.