So let’s review:
- In Kansas, when they won millions of bonus federal dollars for their effective and well-run Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF) program, the TANF program administrator said “With our recent TAF caseload increases, these bonuses will really be needed to serve additional families” (Kansas’ TANF caseload has increased 11% in the past two years). (Source).
- The non-partisan Coalition on Human Needs, in their report on Kansas TANF, wrote that “Kansas needs every cent to serve its low-income families.” (Source).
- 11% of low-income Kansas families who return to TANF, could have avoided it if they had adequate assistance with child care or transportation. (Source)
So what should we do? Well, according to the “Kansas Healthy Marriage Institute,” it’s time to divert TANF money away from helping poor people with little petty things like food, shelter, child care, employment training, and the like.
…At a community summit organized by the Kansas Healthy Marriage Institute… Joyce Webb, director of counseling for Catholic Charities, gathered with about 20 community leaders to talk about what Kansas could do to strengthen marriage by interweaving counseling, research and social policy …Webb said one key may be money. About $200 million in federal funding will become available next year under a reauthorized Temporary Assistance for Needy Families welfare program, which could be used for marriage initiatives.
Oh, is that what the money could be used for? Well, as long as there’s nothing important it could be spent on.
(Link via Family Scholars Blog).
Sure, if a seven foot person needs to buy an oversized vehicle, that's fine - just as it's fine if…