Research / Health & Human Services
Policy Analysis | January 2020
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is a federal assistance program administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Established in 1996 as a replacement for Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), TANF is designed to provide struggling families with financial assistance, childcare support and job preparation to achieve self-sufficiency. Under TANF, states receive block grants from the federal government to operate their own programs to meet the following objectives:
- “Provide assistance to needy families so that children may be cared for in their own homes or in the homes of relatives”
- “End the dependence of needy parents on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage”
- “Prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies and establish annual numerical goals for preventing and reducing the incidence of these pregnancies”
- “Encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families”1
The amount of the TANF block grant is based on states’ expenditures for AFDC during the fiscal year (FY) 1992-1995 period, when the number of public assistance recipients was relatively high.2 The total annual TANF block grant amounts to nearly $17 billion, with SLC states receiving grants from a high of $538,595,947 in Texas, to a low of $62,839,408 in Arkansas during FY 2018.3
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Other | December 2019
Issues to Watch - 2020
As the 2020 legislative cycle approaches, legislators across the South are preparing and pre-filing legislation to address emerging and relevant policy issues in their states. With its regional focus, the Southern Legislative Conference (SLC) is uniquely positioned to identify and research current and emerging policy issues and trends. This report was prepared by Anne Roberts Brody, policy and program manager, and Roger Moore and Cody Allen, policy analysts, and provides a sampling of issues and trends that are anticipated to emerge during the 2020 legislative term. State actions referenced in this report may represent appropriate policy options for Southern lawmakers to consider and, as such, may include bills or policies originating outside the SLC region.
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Policy Analysis | November 2019
Federal Analysis: Rural Health Agenda
Rural hospitals have struggled to remain solvent in recent years. Since January 2010, 81 rural hospitals have closed in the SLC region. State and federal policy makers are working to mitigate this trend and promote the work of rural hospitals.* At the federal level, the recently introduced Rural Health Agenda offers potential assistance for rural hospitals and residents.
On July 31, 2019, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (TN) introduced the Rural Health Agenda in the Senate to support the provision of rural healthcare. The agenda includes the Rural America Health Corps Act, Telehealth Across State Lines Act of 2019 and Rural Health Innovation Act of 2019. The three bills were each read twice and referred to the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
On October 29, 2019, U.S. Representative Phil Roe (TN) introduced companion bills for the Rural America Health Corps Act and Telehealth Across State Lines Act of 2019 in the House of Representatives. Both bills were referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee; the latter was also referred to the Ways and Means Committee. That same day, U.S. Representative David Kustoff (TN) introduced a companion bill for the Rural Health Innovation Act of 2019, which was referred to the Energy and Commerce Committee.
The information provided is a summary of the three bills comprising the Rural Health Agenda. As the bills are in committee, they are subject to change. All information is current as of November 19, 2019.
Rural America Health Corps Act
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SLC Human Services & Public Safety Committee
2019-2020
Chair
Senator
Katrina Shealy
South Carolina
2019-2020
Vice Chair
Representative
Fredrick J. Love
Arkansas
Immediate
Past Chair
(former) Senator
Doug Overbey
Tennessee
Ensuring the public’s general welfare and protection are among states’ most pressing concerns, with both areas constituting considerable shares of state budgets. The SLC Human Services & Public Safety Committee has a broad agenda, which takes into account the challenges states face in the areas of human services and corrections, as well as policies and programs that address them. The committee frequently undertakes assessments of pressing health issues including the national opioid crisis, organ donations and long-term care, as well as various corrections issues such as aging inmate populations, female offenders and mental health parity in prisons.
More SLC Research into Health & Human Services
SLC Regional Resource | November 2019
Policy Analysis | August 2019
Comparative Data Reports | August 2019
Adult Correctional Systems, Education, Medicaid and Transportation
Policy Analysis | May 2019
Policy Analysis | April 2019
SLC Regional Resource | April 2019
Policy Analysis | April 2019
Policy Analysis | January 2019
Other | January 2019
SLC Issue Brief | October 2018
Policy Analysis | September 2018
Policy Analysis | August 2018
Comparative Data Reports | July 2018
Adult Correctional Systems, Education, Medicaid and Transportation
SLC Regional Resource | May 2018
Policy Analysis | April 2018
Efficacy and Adverse Effects of Medical Marijuana: An Overview
SLC Special Series Report | December 2017
Comparative Data Reports | July 2017
Policy Analysis | April 2017
Webinar | February 2017
SLC Special Series Report | January 2017
Webinar | July 2016
Comparative Data Reports | June 2016
Adult Correctional Systems, Education, Medicaid and Transportation
Policy Analysis | June 2016
SLC Regional Resource | May 2016
Policy Analysis | May 2016
Policy Analysis | April 2016
SLC Regional Resource | March 2016
Policy Analysis | January 2016
State Authority to Admit Refugees: Background and Recent Developments
Policy Analysis | November 2015
Webinar | October 2015
Policy Analysis | September 2015
Policy Analysis | June 2015
Policy Analysis | May 2015
Policy Analysis | May 2015
SLC Regional Resource | April 2015
Policy Analysis | February 2015
February 2015: The Status of Medicaid Expansion in the SLC States
Policy Analysis | January 2015
SLC Issue Alert | October 2014
Webinar | October 2014
Policy Analysis | August 2014
Comparative Data Reports | July 2014
Adult Correctional Systems, Education, Medicaid, Revenue and Transportation
Webinar | July 2014
In the Weeds: Exploring the Science around Medical Marijuana and the Operation of a State Program
Policy Analysis | May 2014
State Efforts to Reorganize and Reform Child Welfare/Social Services Agencies
SLC Regional Resource | March 2014
Webinar | October 2013
Policy Analysis | October 2013
Comparative Data Reports | July 2013
Adult Correctional Systems, Education, Medicaid, Revenue and Transportation
Policy Analysis | July 2013
Reduction of Early Elective Deliveries for Medicaid and SCHIP Recipients
Webinar | May 2013
Food Safety Modernization Act: Impacts for Farmers, Producers and States
Webinar | March 2013
Webinar | December 2012
The Meningitis Outbreak and the Regulation of Compounding Companies: Federal and State Roles
SLC Issue Alert | October 2012
Policy Analysis | September 2012
Comparative Data Reports | July 2012
Policy Analysis | June 2012
Policy Analysis | March 2012
Policy Analysis | September 2011
Comparative Data Reports | July 2011
Adult Correctional Systems, Education, Medicaid, Revenue and Transportation
Article | July 2011
Policy Analysis | May 2011
Policy Analysis | November 2010
SLC Regional Resource | July 2010
Policy Analysis | March 2010
SLC Regional Resource | January 2010
Policy Analysis | January 2010
Policy Analysis | October 2009
SLC Issue Alert | January 2009
Comparative Data Reports | July 2008
Adult Correctional Systems, Education, Medicaid, Revenue and Transportation
Policy Analysis | March 2008
Policy Analysis | February 2008
Comparative Data Reports | November 2007
Comparative Data Reports | November 2006
Adult Correctional Systems, Education, Medicaid, Revenue and Transportation
Comparative Data Reports | November 2005
Adult Correctional Systems, Education, Medicaid, Revenue and Transportation
Comparative Data Reports | July 2004
Adult Correctional Systems, Education, Medicaid, Revenue and Transportation
Comparative Data Reports | July 2003
Adult Correctional Systems, Education, Medicaid, Revenue and Transportation
Comparative Data Reports | July 2002
Adult Correctional Systems, Education, Gaming, Medicaid, Revenue and Transportation
Comparative Data Reports | November 2001
Adult Correctional Systems, Education, Gaming, Medicaid, Revenue and Transportation
SLC Regional Resource | April 2001
Comparative Data Reports | November 2000
SLC Regional Resource | November 2000
Southern States' Safe Child Abandonment Laws and Proposed Legislation