Families are experts in their own experiences, and their perspectives can help improve programs. This Office for Planning, Research and Evaluation toolkit provides practical strategies, tools, and resources for gathering and using family feedback to strengthen Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and child support services. TANF program leaders, frontline staff, and partners can use these resources to meaningfully engage families, improve service delivery, and ensure programs better reflect the needs and priorities of the communities they serve.

This Office of Family Assistance webpage is a directory of free resources available for Temporary Assistance for Needy (TANF) block grant programs and other federal workforce development programs. This 2025 edition of the Catalog includes 24 identified toolkits that were published by federal agencies, state agencies, research organizations, and workforce stakeholders. Each featured resource aligns with ACF priorities and uplifts the presidential administration’s streamlining of fragmented workforce development programs that have been historically too disconnected from propelling workers into secure, well-paying, and high-need American jobs. They include information on collaborating with employers, strengthening registered apprenticeship programs, linking community college or job training into sequential credentials, starting a Career Pathways initiative, and engaging state, local, and county partners.

Skills-based hiring is intended to help employers focus more on what people can actually do and less on traditional requirements such as degrees or years of experience. But making that approach work requires a clear understanding of which skills are needed for a job. This resource from the American Institutes for Research looks at how four states are working to define job-related skills in a consistent, evidence-based way. The effort focuses on public benefits specialist roles, making the lessons especially relevant to government agencies.

The resource is especially useful because it moves beyond the idea of “skills-based” hiring and looks at the foundational work needed to make it practical. By defining skills based on how jobs are performed, states can create more consistent approaches to hiring, career development, and workforce planning. For TANF agencies, these lessons can support both stronger internal workforces and more informed conversations with participants about the skills they can build and demonstrate in the labor market.

Access to education and training does not automatically translate into a good job. People also need help figuring out which opportunities make sense for their goals, how to pay for training, what credentials employers value, and what steps can lead to a sustainable career. This National Skills Coalition factsheet focuses on career navigation as an important part of making Workforce Pell work for students and workers. It highlights the role states can play in connecting people with information and support as they move through education and workforce systems.

Career navigation can make workforce referrals more useful by helping people move beyond simply identifying a training program to understanding how that program fits into a longer-term career pathway. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners can use the resource to think about stronger partnerships with workforce agencies, education providers, and employers, as well as the supports participants may need before, during, and after training. The broader lesson is important for TANF: connecting someone to a program is only the beginning; helping them understand where that opportunity can lead can make the pathway to employment much more meaningful.

States across the country are finding new ways to connect child support participants with employment opportunities. This federal webpage highlights child support-led employment programs operating across the country and the services they provide to help parents find and keep jobs. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs can use these examples to identify promising practices, strengthen partnerships with child support agencies, and expand employment supports for families.

Steady employment benefits both parents and children. This National Conference of State Legislatures resource highlights how child support agencies are partnering with workforce programs to connect parents with employment services that can improve earnings and increase their ability to support their families. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners can use these examples to strengthen partnerships with child support and workforce agencies while helping participants access employment opportunities that promote long-term financial stability.

Parents who face barriers to employment often need coordinated support to remain actively involved in their children's lives. This Office for Planning, Research and Evaluation report shares lessons learned from programs serving disadvantaged noncustodial parents, including strategies for improving employment, parenting, and family engagement outcomes. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners can use these findings to develop more effective services that address the unique needs of noncustodial parents while supporting stronger family stability.

Young adults ages 18 to 29 are often expected to make major decisions about work, education, housing, and relationships while they are still figuring out what they want their lives to look like. This Annie E. Casey Foundation podcast introduces the idea of “emerging adulthood” and explores why the transition from adolescence to adulthood can take longer and be more complicated than it was for previous generations. It highlights the importance of affordable education and training, supportive adults, career opportunities, and strong connections to community.

This resource can provide perspective for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners supporting young adults as they pursue education, employment, and greater financial independence. Rather than viewing a young person’s uncertainty or changes in direction as a lack of motivation, TANF practitioners can use the resource to better understand this stage of development and consider what types of support may help. The podcast reinforces the value of mentors, career pathways, training opportunities, and trusted relationships—resources that can help young TANF participants build confidence and move toward lasting economic stability.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs often work alongside workforce systems to help families prepare for and find employment, but navigating those systems can be challenging when programs operate separately. This Jobs for the Future report looks at how Michigan, New Jersey, and Ohio are strengthening workforce systems and highlights an integrated service delivery model in Utah. The examples show how states can coordinate programs, improve service delivery, and use their flexibility to make workforce systems more responsive to people’s needs.

For TANF practitioners, this resource provides insights into what states are already doing rather than simply describing what workforce modernization should look like. The case studies can help TANF leaders identify ideas that may be adaptable in their own programs, including stronger coordination across agencies, more connected services, and approaches that make it easier for people to access employment and training opportunities. The report is a useful resource for practitioners looking for concrete examples of how workforce systems can become more flexible, coordinated, and focused on helping people reach quality employment.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs are exploring new ways to improve services while helping staff meet growing demands. This MDRC video examines how organizations can thoughtfully evaluate artificial intelligence (AI) tools before using them to support clients. Rather than focusing only on technology, the video offers practical guidance for selecting tools that improve service delivery, protect client information, and complement staff expertise. TANF leaders and practitioners can use these insights to make informed decisions about incorporating AI into programming and identify opportunities to enhance client engagement without compromising trust or program quality.