TANF at 30: Virginia Supportive Services Program Spotlight

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, commonly known as TANF, which was established in 1996. TANF evolved from the former Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program, transforming the nation's approach to public assistance by emphasizing personal responsibility, employment, and self-sufficiency. One of TANF's four statutory purposes is to assist families in need so that children can be cared for in their own homes or in the homes of relatives.

To recognize this milestone, the Office of Family Assistance’s State and Tribal Technical Assistance and Resources (STAR) team is highlighting promising and innovative approaches for connecting TANF families with resources and supports to address immediate needs and build stability.

In this video, STAR speaks with leaders from Virginia's TANF employment program, or the Virginia Initiative for Education and Work. The video presents Virginia's approach and explains how it works, what makes it distinctive, and what the state and local programs are learning from its implementation and results.