As a result of the novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the United States is amid a national emergency. In addition to the urgent public health crisis underway, families across the country are struggling to find work and access benefits as a result of business closures, stay in place orders, and social distancing measures. In addition, TANF agency business processes are upended as workers adjust their work schedules while working from a new location, caring for themselves or a sick relative, navigating the absence of childcare, or simply adapting to what is a stark contrast from previous expectations for everyday working and living. As more states adopt policies to combat COVID-19, TANF agencies and other human services providers are required to reimagine and adapt previous expectations, behaviors, and communication styles for a digital and dispersed environment.

In this facilitated webinar hosted by the Office of Family Assistance on April 9, 2020 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. ET, presenters discussed the operational aspects of transitioning agency and frontline staff to remote work such as use of technology, data security, staff expectations and support, and communication. The webinar focused on sharing strategies for how TANF agencies can adapt to support their workforces, and in turn continue to address the growing needs of families across the country. Presenters included: Gerrie Cotter, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services; Susan Pugh, Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities; Maria Wortman-Meshberger, Nevada Department of Health and Human Services; and Beth A. Heinen and Joe Raymond, both of ICF.

Human services and workforce agencies face complex, systemic challenges in serving families receiving TANF and other low-income families. Such challenges include bureaucratic program requirements, program leadership and staff entrenched in a compliance-focused mindset, limited financial and staff resources, and a mismatch between what customers need and what programs can provide. The Office of Family Assistance will host a webinar on March 24, 2020 from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. which will describe the successes, challenges, and opportunities for getting good, evidence-informed interventions to stick in human service and workforce programs.

During the webinar, we will hear from Dr. Michelle Derr, a leading implementation researcher who has studied TANF and workforce programs for more than 20 years. Additional presenters include exceptional program administrators who have rolled out science-informed strategies across programs within their respective service delivery systems who can share their day-to-day experience with getting good interventions to stick!

The Office of Family Assistance hosted a webinar on Wednesday, February 26 entitled Improving Employment Outcomes for TANF Recipients with Substance Use Disorders. The webinar outlined employment-focused strategies that can contribute to, rather than inhibit, substance use treatment and featured experts with backgrounds in research and practice on working with TANF recipients who have substance use disorders. Speakers discussed national trends in substance use disorders and strategies to move those with substance use disorders towards treatment, employment, and economic stability.

Speakers included:

• Dennis Romero, Regional Administrator, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

• Dr. Christine Cauffield, Chief Executive Officer, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Managing Entity, Lutheran Services Florida

• Kim Griswold Releford, University of Kentucky, Opioid Use Disorder Project, Targeted Assessment Program