Blending and Braiding Your TANF Initiative (BBYT) (2)

Funding:

The Colorado Department of Human Service’s Colorado Works Division is funding the BBYT Initiative with a grant from the Statewide Strategic Use Fund.

Description:

The Blending and Braiding Your TANF Initiative (BBYT) is an opportunity for local communities to collaborate and learn to use multiple funding streams to support evidence-based and best practice services, while maintaining the transparency and accountability required by Temporary Assistance for Need Family (TANF)’s outcome-focused funding stream.

Goals & Activities:

• Research federal and state eligibility requirements and regulations to clarify what uses of TANF funds are permitted and how to maintain compliance while using TANF funds;
• Work with 6 demonstration counties to provide technical assistance to create individualized, Colorado Works Division approved braiding plans with TANF and one or more additional funding streams to serve low income families; and
• Develop concrete tools and provide statewide training to prepare any interested county to fully use their TANF dollars and braid them with other relevant funding streams.

BBYT Partners:

• The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, where the project director is housed;
• The Colorado Systems of Care Collaborative, as the advisory group;
• The Family Resource Center Association, family advocacy organizations, and local counties to provide insight, expertise, and implementation opportunities;
• The Center for Systems Integration, to provide staff support and fiscal coordination expertise; and
• The Colorado Foundation for Public Health and the Environment is the fiscal agent