Tuolumne Me-Wuk Tribal TANF
The Tuolumne Me-Wuk Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, is a program available through the Tuolumne Me-Wuk Social Services Department. TANF provides assistance to Native American families with children in Tuolumne, Calaveras and Stanislaus Counties. We offer a five-year program supported by temporary financial assistance, with a foundation in educational incentives and work opportunities, to lead families to self-sufficiency. We opened in December 2015 with our main office in Sonora, and satellite sites in Modesto and San Andreas. We focus on traditional values and cultural awareness as we serve the Native community with a determination to support, educate and guide our clients along the path to self- sufficiency.
TANF Program Goals
- To provide assistance to needy families so that their children may be cared for in their own homes
- To end the dependence of needy parents on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work and marriage
- To prevent and reduce out-of-wedlock pregnancies
- To encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families
Cash Aid Program and Key Elements
- Eligibility limited to families
- 60-month limit (in a lifetime) for employable adults
- Program focuses on work, self-sufficiency and personal responsibility
- Must be a member or descendant of a federally recognized tribe, or be on the California Indian Judgment Rolls
Services
- Cash assistance
- Referrals to employment, education and training providers
- Supportive services, including child care and transportation
- Incentive payments for clothing allowances for children attending school, payments upon successful completion of activities and more
- Prevention programs, including services or activities that meet TANF Purpose 3 (Pregnancy Prevention) or 4 (Family Formation and Maintenance)
- Coordination and/or funding for services/activities for families and children who are at risk of being on public assistance. These services/activities focus on traditional culture, art, education, recreation, music and sports.
Tribal TANF Wellness Services
The Tuolumne Me-Wuk Tribal TANF Program offers prevention services for our TANF cash aid clients and Native American communities within our service areas. Our focus is to provide educational workshops and activities that will strengthen life skills, healthy decision making, and reinforce the Native American culture towards self-sufficiency and stronger family bonds.
Cash Aid Eligibility Requirements
- Income: Equal to or less than 250% of the Federal Poverty Level.
- Resources: Countable resources not to exceed $5,000
- Adults must be able to work, and must satisfactorily participate in approved work activities for a minimum 24 hours per week
- Approved work activities include, but are not limited to:
- Employment
- Work experience (WEX)
- On-the-job training (OJT)
- Subsidized employment
- Job club/job search
- Community service training
- Post-secondary education
- Vocational education
- Job skills training directly related to employment
- Education directly related to employment
- Domestic violence, substance abuse and mental health counseling/treatment
- Vocation rehabilitation
- Small business/micro enterprise training
- Life skills training
- Native American culture-related education and training activities
Contact Us
Sonora Office
14520 Mono Way, Suite 200
Sonora CA 95370
Modesto Office
4206 Technology Drive, Ste 1
Modesto, CA 95356
Phone: 1-844-303-TANF (8263)
Email: TribalTANF@mewuk.com