A representative from the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) notes that in 2013, ACF clarified that TANF funds could be used to provide access to computers and the internet for needy parents (see https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ofa/resource/q-a-use-of-funds?page=2). It looks like for at least the next several months, virtual participation seems to be the best/only option for many needy parents to engage in employment, job search, education and training, and barrier removal activities such as mental health and substance abuse treatment. Given this, DSHS is researching the feasibility of using TANF funds to support laptops and internet access for grant recipients. Have any states or counties done this? How have you gone about it? How has it worked? Are any states or counties now considering it? If individuals have additional documents or information to share, please contact peerta@blhtech.com.

A representative from the New York Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Performance Evaluation and Data Analysis group asks: Which states include a place on their applications where clients give permission to be contacted for surveys to improve program functioning? Does anyone have a sample consent to contact language that they could share?

A representative from the New York Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance asks, Do any states use "permission to contact" language in their Public Assistance applications?

A representative from the Oregon Department of Human Services asks, "What are other states' best practices on documenting work participation hours, including online educational activities?"

A representative from the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families would like to know if there is a state directory that lists contacts for teen parent residential programs (also known as Second Chance Homes or Maternity Homes) across the U.S. for TANF recipients, and if so, how to locate such a directory.

A representative of the Iowa Department of Human Services is interested in finding out if any states require a home visit as part of their eligibility process for TANF cash assistance for all applicants, or for applicants meeting certain criteria. If so, is this requirement mandated by state legislation?

A representative of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services is interested in finding out if any states have successfully implemented programs or other initiatives to help individuals with the "benefit cliff" (i.e., when an individual loses TANF or other benefits due to increase in earnings)—maybe with matching programs, payment points for continued employment, etc.

North Dakota is interested in learning if there are any studies showing success in reducing the incidence of TANF and/or public assistance applicants who fail to appear at their scheduled in-person interviews.

A representative from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is interested in learning what states and counties are currently implementing or have in the past implemented Mobility Mentoring.

A question was asked by a State representative at a recent OFA Regional Workshop: How do you encourage trust from participants to communicate freely on barriers such as substance use in order to best meet their needs? What promising methods do you use to endear that trust?