Acknowledgements This report was made possible through funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the W. K. Kellogg Foundation through the National Congress of American Indians. We extend special thanks to Sarah Hicks (National Congress of American Indians) for her guidance and support throughout the development of this report, to Delaine Alley and Ashley Cruse for invaluable research assistance, to the program administrators of the 34 HHS-approved tribal TANF programs for responding to the “Tribal TANF Administration Survey,” to Norm DeWeaver of the Indian and Native American Training Coalition for his contributions to and review of the document, and to the numerous tribal professionals, TANF program staff members, and other individuals who shared their expertise and experience with us and our colleagues at conferences and in dozens of conversations and interviews. Contacts For Further Information Dr. Eddie F. Brown, Director Kathryn M. Buder Center for American Indian Studies George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University Campus Box 1196, One Brookings Drive St. Louis, MO 63130-4899 Tel: 314-935-4510 Email:
[email protected] Dr. Stephen Cornell, Director Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, The University of Arizona 803 East First Street Tucson, AZ 85719 Tel: 520-884-4393 Email:
[email protected] Welfare, Work, and American Indians November 2001 Executive Summary The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) ushered in a new era of welfare programs in America. PRWORA and related legislation specifically addressed the needs of American Indian tribes. In this report we review the key features of the welfare reform legislation as it applies to American Indians and Indian Country, assess—to the best of our ability with currently available information—its impact on Indian nations and its chances of achieving its goals, and identify key issues that demand attention if welfare reform is to succeed on Indian lands.