Chapter VII - Whole Family Economic SecurityA.WHOLE FAMILY ECONOMIC SECURITY INITIATIVES:(1) General: The Department will annually provide a maximum of $2,000,000 from Maine's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant to community action agencies as defined in 22 M.R.S. §5324 or other community-based organizations to assist parents of minor children in their pursuit of stable employment or education intended to lead to employment.(2) Organization Qualification: The organization must demonstrate to the Department that it has the resources and capacity to implement evidence-based practices to provide services.(3) Family Eligibility: Selected vendors may provide services to parents and minor children whose monthly gross household income is less than 200% of the nonfarm income official Federal Poverty Limit. Current FPL amounts are issued annually by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and can be found on the Internet at: https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines.
An individual can also receive a copy of the current FPL amounts by contacting his/her local DHHS office, or by writing to:
OFFICE FOR FAMILY INDEPENDENCE
11 State House Station, 19 Union Street
Augusta, Maine 04333-0011
and requesting a copy. Department staff making eligibility determinations will also have current FPL information and can share that information with an applicant upon request.
(4) Contract requirements and process: a) The Department shall select vendors to provide these services.b) The Department shall review the contracts annually. The Department shall include in this annual review the evaluation of:
ii. Participant satisfaction and well-being; andiii. Fiscal and administrative accountable.c) Vendors will be required to demonstrate the items outlined in (4) (b) as a contractual requirement. C.M.R. 10, 144, ch. 331, VII