Program Description

This Program was implemented in Puerto Rico on July 1, 1982 by an amendment to Food Stamps Act (Act Num. 95-113). Said amendment is known as the Omnibus Reconciliation Act (Act No. 97-35 of August 13, 1981).

It is responsible for providing economic assistance to low income families and for providing them with a mechanism for acquiring food. Among its functions are furnishing nutritional benefits and providing nutritional education. The benefits supplied are for purchasing food from establishments certified by the agency. In addition, food stamps can be used in those establishments certified by the administration that provide prepared food for participants.

Other programs dedicated to food services for families are The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and Child and Adult Care Food Program.

• Provide economic assistance for families that are eligible for the program benefits using the Case Administration and Information System (SAIC, spanish acronym) that permits rapid, effective and economic presentation of services.

• Obtain 100% utilization rate from the families that receive the benefits provided by ADSEF food purchasing programs.

• Offer tools to qualified Nutritional Assistance Program participants who are homeless, disabled and the elderly so they can obtain food prepared in businesses certified for this purpose.

• Provide incentives to the working poor by substantially increasing the possibly of eligibility in the NAP Program as complementary assistance to ensure good nutrition in said families.

• Continue to improve nutritional education so that NAP participants have better eating habits and health.

• Update information systems so that they facilitate the processes used to certify different program applicants.

Statistical Data	2010	2011	2012
Benefits granted (in thousands)	1,902,775	1,910,000	1,910,000
Customers served (Families)	611,171	635,000	635,000
Customers served (Persons)	1,298,611	1,345,000	1,345,000

The statistical data was provided by the Agency during the Fiscal Year 2011-2012 budget preparation process.

Customers

Low income families

Authorized and Proposed Positions	2009	2010	2011	2012
Other staff	1,622	1,465	873	774
Maintenance and General Services Staff	19	18	9	9
Families and Community Services Staff	959	897	819	800
Total, Positions	2,600	2,380	1,701	1,583

Program Description

The TANF Program is a product of August 22, 1996 Act. 104-93, the Personal Responsibility Reconciliation and Employment Opportunity Act. (The Welfare Reform Law) (PRWORA). This act was reauthorized as the 2005 Deficit Reduction Act, effective February 2008.

It provides financial aid to people or families with low income. Financial assistance is provided so that the families are able to end their dependency on the government and become self-sufficient by acquiring the necessary skills to succeed in their jobs and marriages.

It also provides financial assistance to people 65 and older, the blind, disabled people over 18, adults with temporary or lifelong disabilities, people under 18 with lifelong disabilities living with an adult and children living with guardians.

Objectives

• To provide financial aid to families with children that lack the support of one or both parents because they are acquiring job related skills that will enable them to end their dependency on the government.

• To provide financial assistance to the elderly, the blind, disabled children and adults.

• To comply with the Basic Participation Rate for the total number of active cases in Category C of the Program.

• Extena the opportunities for training, retraining and employment to promote the self-sufficiency of the participants in our programs.

• To widen the reach of prevention projects using non-profits organizations to promote services that reduce out-of-wedlock pregnancies and encourage preparation of both parents. These organizations offer services to people in zones of critical financial needs, where drugs are used, and the percentage of schooldropouts and teenage pregnancies are high.

Statistical Data	2010	2011	2012
Benefits granted (in thousands)	65,794	66,000	66,000
Customers served (Families)	48,667	47,000	46,000
Customers served (Individuals)	71,251	70,000	70,000

The statistical data was provided by the Agency during the Fiscal Year 2011-2012 budget preparation process.

Customers

Low-income families and people

Human Resources

Authorized and Proposed Positions	2009	2010	2011	2012
Other staff	505	453	271	243
Maintenance and General Services Staff	6	5	2	2
Families and Community Services Staff	484	456	436	428
Total, Positions	995	914	709	673

This Program ended in Fiscal Year 2009 following agreements with the federal government.

Program Description

The Economic and Social Rehabilitation for Families in Extreme Poverty Program (PRES) was created from the following legal principles: Act No. 171 of June 30, 1968, as amended, known as the Department of the Family Act that empowered the development of programs intended to solve or mitigate social problems in Puerto Rico; Executive Order 5019-A of November 2, 1987 ordered the creation of the The Economic and Social Rehabilitation for Families in Extreme Poverty Program (PRES) under the Administration for Socio-economic Development of the Family (ADSEF) and Act No. 135 of December 2, 2002, known as the Puerto Rico Tax Incentives Law of 1988, as amended.

This program is intended to improve the living conditions of families in special isolated communities and other sectors of poverty by offering them educational opportunities and professional development that encourages self-sufficiency and community empowerment.

• Rehabilitate families and residents of isolated communities and other poverty sectors to integrate them into modern socio-economic development.

• Facilitate occupational training and job placement to unemployed members of the families that participate in the Program.

• Provide financial aid to Economic and Social Rehabilitation Program participants to refurbish their homes or to allow them to relocate to more adequate residences.

• Develop projects designed for self-employment or the establishment of a business or micro-business.

Statistical Data	2010	2011	2012
Customers served	6,120	6,120	6,120
Customers served (families)	1,954	1,954	1,954

The statistical data was provided by the Agency during the Fiscal Year 2011-2012 budget preparation process.

Customers

Economically disadvantaged families and people

Human Resources

Authorized and Proposed Positions	2009	2010	2011	2012
Other staff	64	61	46	42
Maintenance and General Services Staff	5	6	1	2
Families and Community Services Staff	65	61	60	58
Total, Positions	134	128	107	102

FISCAL YEAR 2011-2012 ADOPTED BUDGET

The adopted consolidated budget for Fiscal Year 2011-2012 is $2,188,029,000. The funding includes: $96,342,000 from the Joint Resolution - General Fund, $1,000,000 from State Special Funds and $2,090,678,000 in Federal Grants.

The operational expenses reflect a decrease of $39,721,000 in comparison with the Fiscal Year 2010-2011 Budget. This is due to the termination of non-recurring American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) funds.

Funds from the Joint Resolution - General Fund will provide opportunities for the development of socially and economically disadvantage people and will allow them to attain self-sufficiency and social integration. In addition, it will allow the Agency to move ahead with its programmatic initiatives and priorities, provide services and cover operational expenses.

Funds from the State Special Funds are available through the Economic Development Special Fund created by Act No. 135 of December 2, 1997, known as the 1998 Tax Incentives Law. These funds will enable families living in extreme poverty to obtain and manage their wealth while at the same time allowing them to improve their quality of life.

Some of the contributing federal programs are: Nutritional Assistance for Puerto Rico (NAP), Food Distribution (TEFAP), Food for the Care of Children and Adults (Child Care), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and the Energy Subsidy Program.

SUMMARY OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES

Nutritional Assistance for Puerto Rico (NAP)

Economic and Social Rehabilitation for Families (PRES)