Pennsylvania Receives $31.6 Million High Performance Bonus Award HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Public Welfare Secretary Estelle B. Richman today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded Pennsylvania $31.6 million in Temporary Assistance for Needy Family (TANF) bonus funds. The award is tied to Pennsylvania's success in helping families find jobs and connecting families to Medical Assistance. "We are honored to be recognized for providing outstanding service to Pennsylvanians most in need," Secretary Richman said. "This award will enable us to continue to improve our welfare-to-work system and allow us to increase our investment in child care." Available through the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, the High Performance Bonus awards are given to states that choose to compete in various achievement categories during the federal fiscal year. Awards are granted to states for achievement in work-related measures such as job-entry rate, success in the workforce and increases in each measure; for helping low-income working families take advantage of available food stamps and Medicaid; for providing child care; and for increasing the proportion of children living in married couple families. In 2002, Pennsylvania was ranked first among all competing states for Medicaid enrollment and fifth for an increase in the job entry measure. Pennsylvania invests TANF funds annually to provide employment and training, child-care and other support services, such as transportation, clothing or uniform allowances and books or tools needed for education or training programs. For more information, visit http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/. CONTACT: Christina Novak of the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, +1-717-787-4592. DATASOURCE: Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare CONTACT: Christina Novak of the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, +1-717-787-4592 Web site: http://www.state.pa.us/ http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/

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