Innovation through Integration: 2010 Heartland TANF Conference

For many years the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program has been integrating economic, work, and program services with other safety-net programs to improve the available supports for low-income and working families. The impact of the recent recession has provided additional impetus to improve better-coordinated service delivery systems. From the desire to simplify and streamline client processes to improving service effectiveness, integrating TANF with workforce, child support, child welfare, SNAP, medical assistance, and education is key to increasing economic self-sufficiency. On October 26-27, 2010, The Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance, Regions V and VII convened the Innovation through Integration: 2010 Heartland TANF Conference in Chicago, Illinois to bring together safety-net partners in an effort to enhance service integration and outcomes for TANF participants. The conference topics included TANF reauthorization, improving interoperability, serving immigrants and refugees, increasing work participation, employer engagement and program sustainability, domestic violence, and career development. The peer-focused conference sought to bridge the gaps between programs and begin the foundation for future technical assistance, program development, and integration.