This report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation reports on the discussions and lessons learned about social networks gathered from visits with families. Authors discuss the importance of the link between strong, positive social networks and achieving successful outcomes for families, as well as provide examples on how a social networks approach can support families.

This article outlines the critical components of community-monitoring systems (CMSs), designed to monitor the well-being of children and adolescents and the factors that influence their development. This resources from the Society for Prevention Research outlines key strategies to advance widespread and effective implementation of CMSs.

This report, from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, provides strategies for implementing state-funded TANF programs to better serve the families on the caseload. Authors offer information on why a solely state-funded program is beneficial as well as a target population for such services.

This study, from the Urban Institute, proves a description of how families connect to services through alternative response systems in Oklahoma and Kentucky. Through a variety of data collection methods, authors identified factors that affect how families connect to services, which include service network infrastructure, provider relationships with each other, and availability of services.

This article reviews how the three states of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania have fared under the 1996 welfare reform. Researchers from Mathematica Policy Research, provide information on how the policy changes have affected the TANF population with regards to short and long term outcomes.

This GAO report discusses the size and distribution of the rural TANF caseload, the challenges and strengths of various rural TANF programs, the current strategies being used to deliver social services in rural areas, and current Federal efforts to support rural services.

This article through the Annie E. Casey Foundation reviews the high cost of poverty for working families in rural areas. It identifies challenges for working families in rural communities such as the high cost of health care, housing, and basic needs.

From the Housing Assistance Council, this article reviews strategies for improving conditions for low-income families in rural areas through Individual Development Account Programs. IDAs have been proven to help low-income families save money to then build assets. Specifically, this resource provides information from three case studies around the country on IDA programs serving the population in rural areas.

While stable housing is important to improve conditions for rural low-income people, additional services are necessary to provide additional support to families. This resource offers information on organizations providing affordable housing plus services, and reports on five case studies on successful programs serving rural populations.

This brief from the Annie E. Casey Foundation reviewed a model to help low-income families in rural communities achieve long-term economic stability. The model combines strategies for increasing income, building assets, and accumulating wealth over time.