Checklist

This checklist can serve as a guide for state policymakers seeking to assess their state’s efforts in maximizing revenues, returns on investments and reinvestment.

Tough Fiscal Times Checklist for State Policymakers
Are There Opportunities For Your State To:

Maximize Federal Funds

Achieved

Making Progress

Not Applicable

Comments

1. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly Food Stamp Program )
a. Expand outreach to increase participation        
b. Reduce error rates        
c. Expand eligibility        
d. Access employment and training funds        
e. Streamline eligibility determination and application processes        
2. Employment and training Programs
a. Access employment and training funds (FSET)        
3. Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
a. Access the TANF contingency fund        
b. Maximize work participation opportunities        
c. Ensure MOE requirements are met        
d. Streamline eligibility determination and application processes        
e. Access the TANF contingency fund        
4. SCHIP and Medicaid
a. Maximize SCHIP enrollment        
b. Maximize enrollment of individuals currently receiving state or local treatment        
c. Maximize retroactive claiming        
d. Provide presumptive eligibility        
e. Maximize administrative claiming        
f. Consider state plan amendments to expand coverage        
g. Maximize use of the Medicaid Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and treatment (EPSDT) Program        
h. Review Medicaid utilization        
5. Federal Tax Credits
a. Expand outreach for the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit        
b. Expand support for free tax preparation services        
6. New Federal Funding for State Child Welfare Agencies
a. Use federal Title IV-E funds for kinship guardianship assistance        
b. Eliminate barriers to safe and timely placement with relatives        
c. Maximize federal reimbursement for adoption assistance and reinvest savings        
d. Take advantage of Family Connection Grants        
e. Maximize federal claims for administration, training, and services        
f. Leverage Family Unification Program funds        
g. Use federal Title IV-E funds for kinship guardianship assistance        
h. Use federal Title IV-E funds for kinship guardianship assistance        
i. Eliminate barriers to safe andtimely placement with relatives        
Maximize Returns on Investments Achieved Making Progress Not Applicable Comments
1. Invest in Assuring Children Are Healthy and Prepared to Succeed in School        
a. Invest in Early Care and Education        
b. Ensure immunizations        
c. Expand Child Care Subsidies        
d. Ensure access to dental care        
e. Expand home visiting programs        
2. Invest in Promoting Family Economic Success
a. Increase Food Stamps (SNAP) participation        
b. Create or expand Earned Income Tax Credit        
c. Enhance Workforce Development        
3. Invest in Building Strong and Stable Families
a. Provide Family Preservation programs        
b. Expand Family Reunification services        
c. Provide or increase Adoption Assistance        
d. Establish or expand Subsidized Guardianship        
4. Invest in Preparing Youth to Succeed in Life
a. Expand community-based programs        
Generate Savings to Reinvest in What Works Achieved Making Progress Not Applicable Comments
1. Reinvest in Family Reunification for Children in Foster Care        
2. Reinvest in Permanent Guardianship for Children in Foster Care        
3. Reinvest in Juvenile Detention Alternatives