A representative from the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families would like to know the best practices that states use to monitor their TANF performance contracts. What types of tools do states use to monitor contracts, and do they monitor overall data or conduct detailed reviews of caseloads?

A representative from Hawaii has two operational/logistical questions regarding TANF/WIOA:

1. How are other States addressing the requirement for an MOU with the one-stop delivery system that includes an agreement on funding costs of the services and the operating costs of the system(§678.500 (b)(2)? For HI, any agreement that includes a financial commitment requires a contract, and not an MOU.

2. How are other States addressing the placement of staff who are part of a collective bargaining unit in one-stop locations that are not operated by the State government, in particular those run by nonprofits? What are the issues, and how have they been addressed?

A representative from the Tuolumne Me-Wuk Tribal TANF program is interested in trainings or ideas for training new Tribal TANF Case Managers on how to use the information from intake assessments in building a Family Self-Sufficiency Plan.

A representative from the Alabama Department of Human Resources would like to know if any peers have resources or materials on motivational interviewing skills.

A representative from the Urban Institute would like to know if any states or counties have performance measures based on client employment outcomes. Also, do any states have the ability to track the employment of TANF leavers after they leave the program, and if so, for how long?

A representative from the Vermont Department for Children and Families, Economic Services, coordinates trainings for TANF case managers and staff who process TANF eligibility. The representative is interested in collaborating and communicating with peers in other states to share training ideas and professional development strategies. Please respond to this post or email Kristen.haydenwest@vermont.gov directly.

A representative from Community Financial Resources would like to know about advising TANF participants on how to direct deposit TANF benefits to a bank account (either checking or savings), instead of receiving a paper check or an EBT card.

A representative from the South Dakota Department of Social Services would like to know which states use a third party to deliver the work component of their TANF programs. Do those states use a monitoring tool, and where can that tool be accessed?

A representative from the Alaska Division of Public Assistance would like to know what are states’ knowledge, skills, education, and abilities standards for work services staff (including internal or contracted). Additionally, do states have annual professional development or continuing education standards and how are they monitored?

A representative from the Connecticut Department of Social Services would like to know if any TANF lead agencies use “housing search” as an approved work activity for homeless or transitional housing TANF participants.