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and establishing good work habits. Don’t be discouraged by these requirements. Remember that this assistance can help to make it pos- sible for you to establish the financial health you need to stay debt free.
Each state has an assistance program that is funded by TANF. In Appendix A at the back of this volume is a list of states and their programs. Contact them to find out what assistance opportunities are available for you as a single parent. If you can’t find the program office, contact your state Social Services Department and ask them about the TANF program in your state.
The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF)
In 1990, Congress established the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG). The CCDBG Act was the Federal government’s effort to meet low-income families’ growing need for child care by helping them to get that child care, thus making it possible for more parents to achieve economic self-sufficiency. The program also helps children succeed in school and life through affordable, quality early- child care and after-school programs. The goals were to:
• Allow each State maximum flexibility in developing child-care programs and policies that best suit the needs of children and parents within each State
• Promote parental choice to empower working parents to make their own decisions on the child care that best suits their family’s needs
• Encourage States to provide consumer education information to help parents make informed choices about child care
• Assist States providing child care to parents trying to achieve independence from public assistance
• Assist States in implementing the health, safety, licensing, and registration standards established in State regulations
The Office of Family Assistance 39