TANF's Flexibilities to Provide Concrete and Economic Supports for Primary Prevention in Child Welfare

Families experiencing poverty who do not have access to economic assistance are more likely to be involved with the child welfare system than their counterparts experiencing poverty who do have access to economic assistance. Families of color are disproportionately affected and harmed by this link between the lack of economic assistance and child welfare system involvement. Considering the first statutory goal of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is to support needy families so that children remain safely at home or with relatives, TANF cash assistance can be leveraged to ensure families struggling to meet their basic needs have access to a robust set of concrete and economic supports. Research demonstrates that providing cash to families can reduce the risk of economic hardship and rates of child maltreatment and family involvement in child welfare, while also promoting stability. This recording is of a 2024 Research and Evaluation Conference on Self-Sufficiency plenary session, where panelists discussed research, practice, and policy considerations around how TANF can be used as a primary prevention resource to provide tailored and tangible economic supports to families at risk of engaging with the child welfare system. The Director of the Office of Family Assistance, Ann Flagg, moderated this plenary session.