A representative from the Vermont Agency of Human Services – Economic Services Division would like to know about transportation solutions for rural communities. Have states used Uber to transport participants? What are other transportation methods that are cost effective and can meet transportation needs in rural areas?

A representative from the Vermont Department for Children and Families, Economic Services, coordinates trainings for TANF case managers and staff who process TANF eligibility. The representative is interested in collaborating and communicating with peers in other states to share training ideas and professional development strategies. Please respond to this post or email Kristen.haydenwest@vermont.gov directly.

A representative from the Urban Institute would like to know if any states or counties have performance measures based on client employment outcomes. Also, do any states have the ability to track the employment of TANF leavers after they leave the program, and if so, for how long?

A representative from the South Dakota Department of Social Services would like to know which states use a third party to deliver the work component of their TANF programs. Do those states use a monitoring tool, and where can that tool be accessed?

A representative from Community Financial Resources would like to know about advising TANF participants on how to direct deposit TANF benefits to a bank account (either checking or savings), instead of receiving a paper check or an EBT card.

A representative from the Alaska Division of Public Assistance would like to know what are states’ knowledge, skills, education, and abilities standards for work services staff (including internal or contracted). Additionally, do states have annual professional development or continuing education standards and how are they monitored?

A representative from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services would like to know if there are any states that have completely discontinued serving 2-parent TANF households. If so, has the state received any pushback from the federal government, state legislature, or the media?

A representative from the Connecticut Department of Social Services would like to know if any TANF lead agencies use “housing search” as an approved work activity for homeless or transitional housing TANF participants.

A representative from the Utah Department of Workforce Services is interested in whether other states have effective models for individualized, strengths-based TANF employment planning – particularly plans that focus on individual goals along with performance measures and outcomes, and that separate out work activities so they can be flexible, and adjusted based on a client’s progress. Utah is also interested if any states have examples or templates of a strengths-based plan that they would be willing to share, or are any states in the process of developing this? If so, contact information would be helpful. Utah is also interested in information about how states define “strengths-based” in the context of employment planning, and what elements states see as important to include in a comprehensive plan.