1. How the special circumstances of tribes affect their WtW programs in particular and welfare reform in general;

2. The framework for implementation of tribal grantees' WtW programs;

3. How tribes are using WtW funding, the types of services provided, and the attributes of the clients served.

4. Promising approaches developed by tribes and tribal consortia in implementing WtW and other programs associated with welfare reform, as well as lessons learned and policy implications of grantees' experiences.

1. Program Framework and Implementation: WtW grants are small compared to the TANF program and to the number of unemployed tribal members; tribal WtW funds in the 10 sites are used to enhance and expand existing employment-related programs; recruitment was a challenge.

2. Program Services: Tribal WtW grantees offer many of the same services as nontribal grantees; tribal grantees must develop agreements with state agencies to promote referral from TANF offices; difficulties identifying TANF recipients who are tribal members can complicate WtW recruitment; despite the work-first philosophy and other WtW guidelines, some tribal grantees emphasize preemployment education and training, as well as supported-work opportunities.

3. Lessons Learned and Useful Strategies for the Future: Improving coordination with other programs, especially TANF, is critical to successful program implementation; states can be an important source of support and technical assistance; cooperation with states can strengthen child support enforcement and fatherhood initiatives; forming a consortium or establishing a 477 program can help tribes implement welfare reform and WtW programs; in Indian country, it may be necessary to supplement "Work First" with education, training, and supported work; WtW programs can help expand child care availability, but there are obstacles; WtW programs can help expand successful approaches to the transportation problem in Indian Country; WtW programs can help support the economic development efforts of tribes.

• Close scrutiny of 1994 AFDC data can be critical to TANF success. The amount of federal funding of tribal TANF programs is based on the number of tribal members who received AFDC in 1994, as reported by the state.
• Cooperation with the state can smooth the transition to a successful TANF program. The experience of tribes in the study suggests that:
  1. state TANF programs can provide vulnerable training for tribal TANF staff,
  2. subcontracting some TANF operations to the state during a transition period gives tribal grantees additional flexibility,
  3. using the state TANF information system can reduce costs,
  4. creating a contingency fund can help resolve unexpected problems, and
  5. coordinating with state programs (as well as federal and other tribal programs and the private sector) can enhance TANF job development activities.
• Federal policies and procedures could facilitate tribal TANF operations. Some federal policies, if refined, might better support tribal TANF operations, make it easier for tribal TANF participants to access other federal programs, and encourage more tribes to take over the operation of TANF.
• State policies and procedures are critical to the success of tribal TANF programs. States can deliver training, provide TANF services for a transition period, share state information systems and equipment, and ensure that tribal TANF participants have access to other state services.

• The federal government's ongoing commitment to Indian self-determination, tribal self-governance, and tribal sovereignty has had a positive impact on BD/ED in Indian country. This support has enabled tribes to take over operation of many federally funded programs, increased employment opportunities for tribal members, and enabled many tribal members to obtain experience needed to promote BD/ED.
• There is no single federally sponsored program that works best for all tribes/Native corporations. This is not surprising, given the diversity in the needs and circumstances of the tribes/Native corporations. Among the most valuable programs or initiatives to the tribes/Native corporations in the study were gaming, USDA rural development and EZ/EC programs, and the SBA 8(a) and HUBZone programs.
• While federal programs and initiatives have been key factors in some significant successes and have made valuable contributions to BD/ED throughout Indian country, many Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages continue to experience levels of unemployment that exceed 45 percent and levels of poverty that exceed 36 percent (NCAI 2003). Of the eight tribes and the areas served by the two Alaska Native corporations in the sample, seven reported unemployment rates exceeding 45 percent, the highest being 80 percent (Doyon and Cheyenne River Sioux).
• While it is too early to determine their effects, several federal initiatives that aim to attract investment capital to Indian country have been implemented. These promising initiatives create:
  1. the New Markets tax credit and the Indian reservation investment tax credit;
  2. tax credits for investors in CDFIs;
     and
     
  3. the authority for tribes to issue tax-exempt bonds.