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State’s creative use
of federal funds
improves lives in Hawaii

The Lingle-Aiona administration is proud to provide so many new and expanded programs that are helping children and families make healthy choices and break the cycle of poverty, drugs and violence. To date, the administration has used the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families federal funds to finance more than $16 million in youth- and family-strengthening programs. Therefore, we welcome a legislative audit of the innovative way we are using TANF funds to improve the lives of Hawaii's needy children and families.

TANF funds, which are administered through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, have four purposes: provide assistance to needy families; promote self-sufficiency through job training and marriage; prevent unwanted pregnancies; and encourage the formation of two-parent families.

Although TANF funds have been available to Hawaii since 1997, the funds had not previously been used to their full capacity. The Legislature has exercised no oversight role in appropriating the funds, other than delegating the responsibility to the Department of Human Services.

To maximize use of the funds, we identified the TANF block grant as a flexible funding source that could be used to sustain and enhance new and existing youth drug prevention and family-strengthening programs.

We therefore take issue with Rep. Brian Schatz's comments in the Feb. 16 article "Poverty-funds audit urged," questioning whether an anti-drug awareness campaign "would be a good use of money designated for needy families."

A variety of strategies to attack the problem of poverty are needed. By focusing on preventing substance abuse, we are reducing risky behaviors that come from using drugs such as unprotected sex, which leads to unwanted pregnancies. Studies show a direct correlation between substance abuse and unwanted pregnancies and poverty. Reducing unwanted pregnancies, and thus poverty, is one of four stated purposes for using TANF monies.

Last year, the Legislature, through Act 40, appropriated $2.4 million in state monies for drug prevention, including drug education and awareness. Consistent with that policy, the administration found a way to save state dollars by using $513,000 (not $1 million as claimed by legislators and reported by the media) in federal funds for an anti-drug awareness campaign. This included creating and producing the spots, and buying air time on television and radio. The three spokespeople in the ads -- American Idol finalist Jasmine Trias, Olympian Bryan Clay and surfer Bethany Hamilton -- generously donated their time and talent to get the anti-drug message out to our youth.

This is just one way we are working with the federal government and community partners to find better ways to provide support for at-risk children and families, while freeing up state funds that can be applied to other needs. This year the administration will bring in more than $28 million in TANF federal funds not previously used in Hawaii. This will build on the successful programs we have helped through creative and efficient use of TANF money.

For example, in 2004 we used $550,000 in TANF money to fund three Kalihi youth service centers to expand teen pregnancy prevention and family-strengthening programs. At Susannah Wesley Community Center, youth were educated about teenage pregnancy and produced a video on what they learned.

The administration also used $1 million in TANF to fund About Face, which provides job experience and life skills to disadvantaged youth. The program started on Kauai and the Big Island last year and new sites will open this year on Oahu and Maui.

Two million dollars is earmarked for the new UPLINK after-school programs at eight middle schools statewide, starting with the Molokai Middle School pilot project that we launched in 2004.

Another creative use of TANF was to use $625,000 to fund arts and cultural programs that target at-risk and disadvantaged children and youth. These arts and cultural activities can have a profound and positive effect on children and help prevent risky behavior.

Earlier this year, we prepared and submitted to the Legislature the first-ever TANF disclosure report to show the public how federal funds are being used to improve the quality of life of our most vulnerable residents. This report will be a useful resource for the Legislature if it chooses to conduct an audit of TANF.

The Lingle-Aiona administration will continue to dedicate our energies to increasing Hawaii's access to federal dollars to help meet the needs of our residents. And now that legislators see the benefits of utilizing TANF money to supplement state funds, we look forward to working with them to find more ways to fund and expand more programs to help needy children and families.

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