Strengthening Families through Father Engagement in TANF: Part 2 - What Father-Focused Programs Do to Engage and Serve Dads

Record Description

This video provides an overview of three types of father-focused programs—Responsible Fatherhood, Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education, and Home Visiting— and their services. The video explains these programs so that Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs can identify opportunities for coordination and partnership to support TANF participants in forming and maintaining strong and stable families.

This video is the second in a three-part series designed to describe how Fatherhood Engagement programming and services can enhance TANF cash assistance programs to support the formation and stability of two-parent families and foster responsible parenting. The corresponding resource list allows viewers to access any links mentioned in this series.

Record Type
Combined Date
2026-04-09T00:00:00
Source
OFA Initiatives
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2026-04-09
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FatherhoodResourcesPT2_508.pdf 187.48 KB

Strengthening Families through Father Engagement in TANF: Part 1 - Why Fathers Matter

Record Description

This video explains the benefits of fatherhood engagement and how programs that serve fathers can support Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) participants in forming and maintaining strong and stable families.

This video is the first in a three-part series designed to describe how Fatherhood Engagement programming and services can enhance TANF cash assistance programs to support the formation and stability of two-parent families and foster responsible parenting. The corresponding resource list allows viewers to access any links mentioned in this series.

Record Type
Combined Date
2026-04-09T00:00:00
Source
OFA Initiatives
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2026-04-09
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)
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Attachment Size
FatherhoodResourcesPT1_508.pdf 187.48 KB

30-Day Comment Period Open for Work Participation Rate Calculation Changes: Recalibration of the Caseload Reduction Credit and Prohibition of Small Checks in Work Participation Rate Calculation

Record Description

The Administration for Children and Families published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on April 6, 2026, outlining changes to TANF work participation rate calculations, including recalibration of the caseload reduction credit and updates to how certain benefit payments are counted. These proposed updates may significantly affect how states measure performance and structure work activities. During the public comment period, stakeholders should review the proposed rule to understand potential impacts on program operations, reporting, and participant engagement, and are encouraged to submit feedback by May 6, 2026, to help inform the final rulemaking.

Record Type
Combined Date
2026-05-06T00:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2026-05-06
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)
Question / Response(s)

A Question about 3rd Party Expenditures & MOE

Question Text

A representative from South Dakota’s Department of Social Services is seeking information from states that have experience applying third-party expenditures within employment services contracts toward their TANF MOE requirement. The representative would like to learn more about that process, including whether states have successfully counted third-party expenditures from contracted employment service providers toward MOE, how these arrangements were structured and documented, and any challenges encountered during implementation or federal review. They are also interested in whether partnering with external providers has contributed to improved employment outcomes for TANF participants. States are welcome to share any examples, guidance, best practices, or lessons learned to inform program planning and strengthen approaches to supporting participant employment.

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Date
April 2026
Source
OFA Peer TA
Agency/Organization
South Dakota Department of Social Services
State
South Dakota
Topics/Subtopics
Employment
TANF Program Administration
Program Integrity
TANF Policy and Legislation

Improving Services for Families through Increased TANF Coordination with SNAP Employment and Training Programs

Record Description

This issue brief from the Office of Family Assistance explores how coordinated TANF and SNAP E&T services can improve employment and stability outcomes for families. It emphasizes alignment across programs to reduce service gaps and strengthen access to training, employment preparation, and supportive services during key transition points.

Record Type
Combined Date
2026-03-01T00:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2016-07-01
Section/Feed Type
PeerTA Resources (OFA Initiatives)

CSBG Reporting Is Burdensome and Does Not Accurately Describe How Funds Are Actually Used

Record Description

The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) provides flexible funds to states, territories, and tribes to support services that alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty and promote self-sufficiency, particularly by planning, coordination, and organization of local services, innovation, and community participation.

This Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation brief, co-written by Administration for Children and Families’ Assistant Secretary Alex Adams, describes the reporting practices used by CSBG. The brief delves into the burden associated with the reporting process and how the use of CSBG funds could be better documented. For TANF programs, it highlights the need to balance streamlined reporting with accurate, meaningful data that reflects how funds are used.

Record Type
Combined Date
2026-03-23T00:00:00
Source
OFA Initiatives
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2026-03-23
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)

Supporting Coordinated Benefits Delivery to Foster Whole-Family Approaches

Record Description

Coordinating services across multiple public benefit programs can significantly improve how families access supports and navigate human services systems. This toolkit, funded by the Administration for Children and Families, was designed to help state and local agencies better align programs and services to support whole families.

The resource provides practical tools and structured guidance for identifying coordination challenges, developing shared goals across agencies, implementing cross-program strategies, and tracking progress over time. By helping agencies move away from siloed service delivery and toward integrated approaches, the toolkit aims to reduce administrative barriers, improve the experiences families have when seeking multiple benefits, and strengthen outcomes for children and parents. For TANF programs, these strategies can support stronger coordination with programs such as workforce services, SNAP, childcare, and child welfare — helping families access the full range of supports needed to achieve long-term stability and economic mobility.

Record Type
Combined Date
2026-01-01T00:00:00
Source
OFA Initiatives
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2026-01-01
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)

TANF Program Integrity Office Hours

Record Description

TANF agencies are doing important work — but navigating program integrity can be complex, and opportunities to learn from peers are hard to come by. That is why the Office of Family Assistance is launching TANF Program Integrity Office Hours: a series of topical peer learning sessions where state agencies can share what's working, explore real challenges, and walk away with practical strategies they can use.

Although the live information session has concluded, you can still view the recording and register at any time between now and the final office hours in August 2026. Below are the titles of the four upcoming sessions; dates will be added as they are confirmed.

  1. Leveraging Cross-Agency Data to Strengthen Program Integrity – May 7, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. ET
  2. Structuring Provider Contracts for Accountability and Reporting – June 2026 – Exact date/time to be determined
  3. Building State Capacity for TANF Spending Oversight – July 2026 – Exact date/time to be determined
  4. Using Data to Inform TANF Program Decisions – August 2026 – Exact date/time to be determined

If you are interested in learning more, submit your email on the PI office hours webpage and receive invitations to the upcoming office hours. 

Remote Video Media
Record Type
Combined Date
2026-04-02T00:00:00
Source
OFA Initiatives
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2026-04-02
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)

Modernizing Child Welfare Technologies and Tools: Opportunities for Predictive Risk Modeling to Improve Child Safety and Outcomes

Record Description

This Administration for Children and Families brief, co-authored by Assistant Secretary Alex Adams, explores how predictive risk modeling and modern data systems can strengthen child welfare decision-making and improve safety outcomes. For TANF programs partnered with child welfare programs, this brief highlights opportunities to enhance data-informed collaboration, identify families who may benefit from early supports, and strengthen prevention-focused service delivery across systems.

Record Type
Combined Date
2026-03-05T00:00:00
Source
OFA Initiatives
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2026-03-05
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)

Marriage Penalties in Means-Tested Tax and Transfer Programs: Issues and Options

Record Description

This Administration for Children and Families paper examines how certain means-tested tax and transfer programs may create financial disincentives for marriage. It outlines how eligibility thresholds, benefit phase-outs, and combined household income calculations can affect family decision-making.

Record Type
Combined Date
2026-03-04T00:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2019-06-01
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)