​TANF Hoarding
 
One of the ways our government provides a safety net for those less fortunate is through a program called Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF.  TANF was enacted in 1996 as a program that replaced Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), which used to provide cash assistance to families with children experiencing poverty.  Under TANF, the federal government provides a block grant to the states, which then use these funds to run their own programs.  To receive federal funds, states must also spend some of their own dollars on those programs and face severe fiscal penalties if they fail to do so.  This state-spending requirement, known as the “maintenance of effort” (MOE) requirement, replaced the state match that AFDC required.

States can use federal TANF and state MOE dollars to meet any of the four goals set out in the 1996 law: (1) assisting needy families so children can be cared for in their own homes or the homes of relatives; (2) reducing the dependency of needy parents by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage; (3) preventing pregnancies among unmarried persons; and (4) encouraging the formation and maintenance of two-parent families.

These goals are broad, giving states lots of freedom to use these federal dollars in a way that they think brings about positive outcomes.

So what have we done with the federal TANF money?

We’ve let it pile up unused.

ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power, recently published an unflattering article that calls out several states for doing nothing at all with large sums of money.  It reports:  “According to recently released federal data, states are sitting on $5.2 billion in unspent funds from the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, or TANF. Nearly $700 million was added to the total during the 2019 and 2020 fiscal years, with Hawaii, Tennessee and Maine hoarding the most cash per person living at or below the federal poverty line.”

​Source:  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

As this graph shows, the “unobligated balance” of the federal block grants, meaning federally authorized money that we haven’t spent, has been rising steadily over the last five fiscal years.  In federal fiscal year 2020 (the year starting Oct. 1, 2019, and ending Sept. 30, 2020), our unobligated balance was $364 million, equivalent to almost $3,000 per person living in poverty.

Certainly, we have been using part of the TANF money.  But we have been spending quite a bit of our own funds:

According to ProPublica, a Hawaii state spokesperson said that our state government plans to use its surplus to extend employment services like job coaching and placement for noncustodial parents who have children receiving TANF and to provide diaper assistance to families that are eligible for the program.  The state is also considering increasing benefits and offering monthly housing assistance.

The question, however, is why has it taken so long for our bureaucrats to come up with ways to put that money to good use?  It certainly won’t help alleviate poverty if it’s sitting in some bank somewhere.

Legislators and other interested people:  Here’s your chance.  The Legislature is now grilling each of the Executive Branch departments for answers on how they plan to spend your hard-earned dollars.  It’s a great time to ask the Department of Human Services what the heck is going on with their steadily growing wad of unused TANF cash.

Intermediate Level - Respiratory Program Administrator, Mandatory, 29 CFR 1910.134©(3)
 
8-Hours, OSHA – Mandatory, 29 CFR 1910.134©(3) – The employer shall designate a Respirator Protection  Program Administrator who is qualified by appropriate training or experience that is commensurate with the complexity of the program to administer or oversee the respiratory protection program and conduct the required evaluations of program effectiveness.
 
Implementing Hospital Respiratory Protection Programs is a challenging task. A healthcare facility can have up to 200 diverse types of work activities many requiring respiratory protection. Protecting all healthcare workers from potential exposures is a critical issue for EMS, hospitals, nursing homes, hospice, and other healthcare organizations.
Respiratory Program Administrator Healthcare Specific (8-Hour) LIVE IN PERSON AND ONLINE
Tue - Jan 11, 2022 - 7:00am HST – Student are encouraged to submit questions prior to the seminar.
 
Respiratory Program Administrator General Industry and Construction Specific (8-Hour) LIVE IN PERSON AND ONLINE - Wed - Jan 12, 2022 - 7:00am HST - Students are encouraged to submit questions prior to the seminar.
 
All training will be held in person or online via Zoom, depending on the registration you selected. The zoom link to launch the online safety training will be sent to your email once you register.
 
Both courses will help participants develop and maintain a respiratory protection program that exceeds all state and federal regulations. Course topics include: Administration of Programs OSHA, EPA, ANSI, Joint Communication, ASTM Elements, Respiratory Protection Administrator Responsibilities, Respiratory Program Program Elements, Source Control vs. Respiratory Protection, Occupational Risk-Based Approach to Respirator Selection, Medical Evaluation and Licensed Healthcare Professional Requirements, Fit Testing Requirements, Practical Applications to Your Programs, Responsibilities for Maintenance and Care, Appendix B-2, Performance Based Training, Annual Program Updates and Required Refresher Training, Program Evaluation and Recordkeeping.
 
Course material developed by Dennis A. Terpin, Ph.D., O.H.S.T, EMT-P, ASTM F23.65 Voting Committee Member, Respiratory Protection. FEMA/DHS Master Level Instructor Center for Domestic Preparedness, Respiratory Protections Programs. Approved for CEU’s including nursing.
 
Respiratory Program Administrator Healthcare (8-Hour)
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 Respiratory Program Administrator General Industry and Construction (8-Hour)
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$199 plus tax and registration/online ticketing fee (includes materials).

Safe Travels Quarantine Changes – Monday, January 3

• On January 3, Safe Travels Mandatory Quarantine period will be reduced from 10 days to 5 days.
  • For travelers who are currently on 10-day quarantine, if they’ve hit their 5-day “mark” on January 3 or later, they will be released from quarantine after the 5th day. For example, if January 3 is their 5th day, they will be released from quarantine on January 4.
• Travelers who arrive on January 3 and don’t have a pre-travel test result or aren’t fully vaccinated, their quarantine period is five days.
  • Day 1 is counted from day of arrival, i.e., arrives on January 3 -> quarantine through January 7; released on January 8.
  • This effects only domestic travel from the U.S. and its Territories. (Direct international travelers fall under Federal CDC guidelines.)
• Revised COVID positive isolation and quarantine policy – details may be found here: https://health.hawaii.gov/news/newsroom/doh-revises-states-isolation-quarantine-policy/
  • Guidelines for COVID-19 positive travelers will change:
    If COVID-19 positive regardless of vaccination status
    • Isolate for at least 5 days and until symptoms are gone.
    • Continue to wear a mask for five days after isolation.
  • If traveler is still symptomatic on day 5, traveler is advised to seek medical attention and quarantine until a COVID-19 test can be taken. If it’s positive, isolate in place for an additional 5 days and don’t travel.

Safe Travels Health Questionnaire Changes – Tuesday, January 4
Beginning January 4, the completion of the Health Questionnaire prior to departure will no longer be required. Travelers who wish to be exempt from the 5-day mandatory quarantine must submit the same documentation as is currently required. Once their exemption documentation has been accepted, their QR code will turn green as shown below. The green QR code is a tool to help expedite screening operations. The traveler must still be screened and a green check mark will appear next to “Screened: Yes” after the screening process is completed. This is what the updated “Trips” page will look like when hotels and rental car agencies check traveler’s exempt status. If traveler has minors on their Safe Travels trip, those minors must also be exempt in order for the QR code to turn green

Source: Click here