United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2002-04-23 monographic deposited born digital GA 1.13:GAO-02-245 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-245 P0b002ee1803804bc f:d02245 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-245 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-245 GAO-02-245 Block grants Federal aid programs Disadvantaged persons Intergovernmental relations Contracts Aid to Families with Dependent Children Program Other Written Product A03121 Welfare Reform: Interim Report on Potential Ways to Strengthen Federal Oversight of State and Local Contracting (23-APR-02, GAO-02-245). The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 changed the nation's cash assistance program for needy families with children by replacing the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program, with the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant. As specified in PRWORA, TANF's goals include ending the dependence of families receiving government benefits by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage; preventing and reducing the incidence of non marital pregnancies; and encouraging two-parent families. Contracting with nongovernmental entities to provide TANF-funded services occurs in most states and exceeded $1.5 billion in federal and state funds in 2001. A GAO survey indicated that the most commonly contracted services included education and training, job placement, and support services to promote job entry or retention. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) relies primarily on state single audit reports to oversee TANF contracting by states and localities. HHS officials told GAO that their regional offices follow up on the TANF deficiencies identified and that HHS focuses on reported deficiencies that involve unallowable or questionable costs. However, HHS officials said that they do not know the extent and nature of problems pertaining to the oversight of nongovernmental TANF contractors that have been cited in state singe audits. State and local governments rely on third parties to help ensure compliance with bid solicitation and contract award procedures, including bid protests, judicial processes, and external audits. They use various approaches to oversee TANF contractors, but problems persist in contract oversight and contractor performance. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-245/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-245.htm GAO-02-245 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-245 Other Written Product GAO-02-245; Welfare Reform: Interim Report on Potential Ways to Strengthen Federal Oversight of State and Local Contracting; Block grants Federal aid programs Disadvantaged persons Intergovernmental relations Contracts Aid to Families with Dependent Children Program Public Law 98-502 Public Law 105-220