DSHS Children’s Administration/TANF Concurrent Benefit Program: Costs and Reunifications for SFY 2009 Removals

This is a short analysis of use rates, costs and reunifications associated with Washington State’s TANF concurrent benefits program. The program allows for continuation of TANF cash grants to families from whom a child has been removed by Children’s Administration (“removal family”) and placed with a licensed or unlicensed caregiver, either of whom could be a relative (“receiving family”). We found that—in 35 percent (1,550 out of 4,371) of the removal episodes—the removal families were receiving TANF grants when the children were removed from the home. Of those removal episodes, 80 percent (1,243 out of 1,550) involved removal families who received at least one month of continued TANF benefits while the child was in placement. The end result of these placements two years after removal was: 38 percent of the removal episodes ending with reunification, and 44 percent ending without reunification. TANF costs related to concurrent benefit episodes are identified.