Recruiting Clients: Practical Lessons from the BEES Project

Engaging families in programs and services is often one of the biggest challenges Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) agencies face. This MDRC resource shares practical lessons from the Building Evidence on Employment Strategies (BEES) Project on how organizations successfully recruited and connected with participants. For TANF practitioners, the strategies are especially relevant for improving outreach, increasing participation, and building trust with families who may be hesitant to engage with services.

The resource focuses on real-world approaches that help programs communicate more clearly, reduce barriers to participation, and better meet families where they are. TANF agencies can use these lessons to strengthen enrollment efforts, improve client retention, and rethink how they connect families to employment, education, and supportive services. The practical examples make this a useful tool for frontline staff, supervisors, and program planners alike.