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A Summary: INDIAN AND NATIVE AMERICAN WELFARE-TO-WORK (INA WtW) The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 authorized the Department of Labor (DOL) to provide welfare-to-work (WtW) grants to states, federally-recognized Indian tribes and local communities. One percent of the $3 billion authorized for the national Welfare-to-Work effort was set aside for Indian and Native American (INA) tribal governments. As is required in the state program, these funds are to be used to transition the hard-to-employ, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients with significant employment barriers into unsubsidized jobs offering long-term employment opportunities. The grants provide INA Welfare recipients with the job placement services, transitional employment, and job retention and supportive services they need to make the successful progression into long-term employment and economic self-sufficiency. DOL Employment and Training Administration's (ETA) Division of Indian and Native American Programs (DINAP) has been designated to administer the Indian and Native American Welfare-to-Work (INA WtW) Program. Historically, DINAP's primary function has been to administer Indian and Native American employment and training programs currently under the Job Training Partnership Act (JPTA) and continues under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. The total INA WtW set-aside is $30 million. Of this, $15 million was awarded in Fiscal Year (FY) 1998, and the remaining $15 million will be awarded in FY 1999. The INA WtW grantees will have up to three years from the date of the award to expend the funds. In October 1997, DINAP announced the availability of FY 98 INA WtW funds, and issued planning guidance to all federally-recognized tribes. Tribes who were already operating TANF or the Native Employment Works (NEW) programs were automatically eligible to apply for INA WtW grants. Other non-TANF or NEW tribal applicants had to verify that they currently, or within the last two years, had provided substantial employment and training services to welfare recipients. The review process resulted in the award of a total of 86 formula-funded grants totaling $15 million in FY 1998. The 86 INA WtW grantees are throughout the United States, including 12 in Alaska. INA WtW grantees are allowed to use up to 20% of total funds for administrative costs. The remaining allocation is split between the minimum 70% for direct services and the remaining funds devoted to targeting individuals with characteristics associated with long- term welfare dependence. Grantees are required to offer INA welfare recipients residing in their service areas, a variety of employment, post-employment and other services. Specific program activities allowable with INA WtW funds: employment opportunities (placements); work experience; community service employment; job retention services; and post-employment services. Though grantees are given latitude in defining and selecting which activities to offer, the primary objective must be to move participants into unsubsidized employment.