Dear Colleague Letter on TANF and Child Welfare Prevention

The Children’s Bureau (CB) and Office of Family Assistance (OFA) released this Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) to offer guidance and support to states, territories, and tribal grant recipients as they address the basic economic needs of families as an evidence-informed strategy to prevent child maltreatment and ensure children remain cared for in their homes or with relative caregivers. The DCL provides a number of examples of possible actions TANF and child welfare agencies can take or strengthen in a range of areas. This DCL encourages grant recipients to reach out to OFA and CB for support implementing strategies within their local contexts and in accordance with federal laws and regulations.