Appendix 5_StudySiteInvitation Letter

Appendix 5 – Study Site Invitation Letter

OMB 0970-XXXX

Expiration Date: XX/XX/XXX

Dear President Shirley:

The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), in consultation with the Office of Family Assistance (OFA), is conducting a descriptive study of the Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program. The purpose of this study is to gain knowledge about the characteristics, implementation, and promising practices of Tribal TANF programs. In addition to informing ACF and Congress, findings from this study may help Tribal TANF officials and staffs meet their program needs and priorities. I have attached a Project Synopsis for your review. Working with the study contractors (the Urban Institute and Support Services International, Inc.) and a group of experts in Tribal TANF (Tribal Advisory Group), OPRE has identified nine Tribal TANF programs for potential inclusion in the study. The Navajo Nation TANF Program is one of the selected programs. I am writing to ask if the Navajo Nation TANF Program will participate in the study.

I realize and appreciate the importance of the work performed by the TANF program and other programs operated by the Navajo Nation. Furthermore, participation in the Tribal TANF study represents a burden on the Navajo Nation as with other tribes that participate. Nevertheless, I believe the study will yield results that will be beneficial to the Navajo Nation, to other tribes operating TANF programs, to tribes that wish to assess the costs and benefits associated with operating the TANF program, to ACF, to Congress, and to all other stakeholders in the TANF program. I also realize and appreciate that the Navajo Nation has a history of participating in similar studies. I hope it will be able to participate in this study.

Participation in the proposed Tribal TANF study is strictly voluntary. The decision to participate will have no effect on grant award or administration. Furthermore, the study is not an evaluation or assessment of the performance of specific Tribal TANF programs. As indicated in the first paragraph, the purpose of the study is to gain an in-depth, systematic understanding of the program as a whole. Finally, the study is subject to review and approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as well as the Institutional Review Board of the Urban Institute.

There are two phases to the study. In the first phase, telephone interviews will be conducted with the program director of each of 9 tribal TANF programs. The purpose of these interviews is to gather information that supplements the information tribes submit in their Tribal Family Assistance Plans (TFAP) and the reports required by Section 411 of the Social Security Act and further specified at 45 CFR 286.245. Based on the information collected in Phase 1, four tribal programs will be selected for 2-day site visits which will include interviews with tribal leaders, Tribal TANF staff, related program managers and staff, and economic program managers, and discussion groups with current and former Tribal TANF participants.

I appreciate your consideration of this request. If you have any questions or comments please do not hesitate to contact the Project Officer for the study: Ms. Girley Wright 202-401-5070; girley.wright@acf.hhs.gov.

Sincerely,

Earl S. Johnson, Director

Office of Family Assistance

Administration for Children and Families

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

370 L’Enfant Promenade, SW

Washington, DC 20447

Email: earl.johnson@acf.hhs.gov

Phone: 202-401-9276

Fax: 202-401-4746