A seven-year government project that researched ways to strengthen social services using principles from behavioral science, called Behavioral Insights to Advance Self-Sufficiency (BIAS), recently ended and published a case study based on their…

This report from the Department of Labor provides an overview of the state of the field related to career pathways programs. The report provides a synthesis of the existing research in the field on this type of program, offers various research…

This interactive tool from the Urban Institute allows users to look at a picture of their city’s financial health through wealth data, credit bureau information, and peer groups that highlight a city’s challenges and promising interventions. Since…

When TANF became law in 1996, welfare recipients were required to engage in work participation activities, and states were required to have 50 percent of their TANF cases meet these participation requirements. The intention of requiring individuals…

Higher family incomes are associated with a variety of positive effects on child well-being, and by connecting parents to career pathways in high-demand industries, states can foster more family stability. In this brief from Ascend at the Aspen…

Under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), public workforce programs were encouraged to make stronger partnerships with TANF. In this report, the Center on Law and Social Policy detailed the findings of a survey conducted in 2016 on…

States spend only half of their combined federal and state dollars under Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) on basic assistance for families with children, child care for low-income families, and work-related activities or supports.…

When the Aid to Families with Dependent Children legislation was replaced with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) in 1996, the following years saw a decrease in the number of families receiving cash assistance. In this report from the…

This brief from the Education Commission of the States examines how to increase coordination between community colleges and local workforce boards under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). It specifically discusses how states can…

The Arkansas Career Pathways Initiative (CPI) uses TANF funds to provide support services to over 30,000 qualifying students enrolled in occupational programs at Arkansas community and technical colleges. This issue brief from the National Skills…