Individuals who receive human services and other assistance often receive those services from several independent programs. Analyzing data from multiple programs can improve leadership’s understanding of the overall system and how to improve services for all recipients. However, sharing data with other offices and agencies often raises legitimate concerns, such as whether it complies with applicable law, meets individuals’ privacy expectations, or creates a security risk. This case study reviews the data privacy and confidentiality challenges that Iowa encountered and resolved, and also discusses how Iowa’s Integrated Data System for Decision-Making (I2D2) worked with its stakeholders to develop a solution that met their needs and expectations.

The FAST-LC Initial Convening was hosted on October 18-19, 2023 in Bethesda, Maryland. The session “Overview of the LI2 Framework with a Focus on the Learn Phase” included a 20-minute plenary presentation on the Learn, Innovate, Improve (LI2) framework and its roots in implementation science. The presenter also highlighted practical ways for the FAST-LC sites to get started with Learn phase activities.

The FAST-LC Initial Convening was hosted on October 18-19, 2023 in Bethesda, Maryland. This session was presented by Clare Anderson at Chapin Hall, who discussed the history of child welfare and its impact on the economic stability of families who are involved with the child welfare system.

FAST-LC held a virtual event in January 2024 that aimed to provide a better understanding of how TANF dollars are used in Child Welfare and operational considerations for aligning funding with prevention efforts. This session reinforced the ways in which TANF spending in Child Welfare is consistent with the statutory purposes of TANF (particularly the first purpose), to inform FAST-LC participating sites’ action plans, and to learn from peers about how they are utilizing TANF funds for prevention strategies upstream of and within child welfare.

FAST-LC held a virtual event in February 2024, “Road Maps and Road Tests: Strategies to Strengthen Your FAST-LC Initiatives.” The FAST-LC site teams were in the process of designing and implementing new strategies to advance their FAST-LC initiative goals. Drawing on the Learn, Innovate, Improve (LI2) framework introduced at the October Initial Convening, this session introduced site teams to two key strategies to support the design and pilot testing of new strategies. The session also featured a practitioner alum from the Leveraging America’s Social and Economic Resilience TANF Learning Community, who shared about their site’s experience with road mapping and road testing.

FAST-LC held a virtual event in April 2024, “Sharing Is Caring: Challenges and Solutions to Integrating TANF and Child Welfare Data for Prevention.” FAST-LC site teams were at varying stages of integration when it came to the working relationships and processes between TANF and Child Welfare program teams. Some teams are housed within the same agency or division whereas others are organized under separate departments. The organizational structure had some bearing on the extent to which data sharing exists between TANF and Child Welfare as well as the possibilities for further interagency sharing of such data. Yet, most FAST-LC teams have identified the topic of data sharing and integration as an area of focus and need for support. This event was designed to (1) offer guidance and tips in response to top-of-mind issues and questions related to TANF-Child Welfare data sharing and (2) share two novel case studies from the field.

FAST-LC held a virtual event in May 2024, “Strategic Communication and Messaging: Shaping the Prevention Narrative.” During the FAST-LC Initial Convening, several site teams expressed an interest in and a need for support on how to strategically communicate with internal and external audiences about their prevention initiatives. The issue continued to be a priority over the course of the FAST-LC. This event explored the role that TANF and Child Welfare leaders can play as strategic communicators, specifically in service of their prevention initiatives. The session applied the lens of the Learn, Innovate, Improve (LI2) framework, considering specific opportunities for strengthening teams’ approach to communicating with one key audience.

The FAST-LC Capstone Convening was hosted on August 20-21, 2024 in Bethesda, Maryland. This convening brought teams from all the participating sites together to discuss their experiences and learn from one another. The session, Sustaining Your Work to Make a Difference, was presented by keynote speaker Linda Spears. Spears delivered motivating remarks about the sustainability of the FAST-LC work and offered principles and practical considerations for ensuring that site initiatives do not lose momentum and continue beyond the life of federal TA support. Following the presentation, OFA facilitated an audience Q&A.

The FAST-LC Capstone Convening was hosted on August 20-21, 2024 in Bethesda, Maryland. This convening brought teams from all the participating sites together to discuss their experiences and learn from one another. Day one ended with time for attendees to share their insights, closing thoughts, and reflections on their Gallery Walk experience, wherein the FAST-LC participating sites were able to review posters from all the sites describing their initiative, their next steps, and the lessons they learned from participating in the FAST-LC. This session was led by OFA Deputy Director La Sherra Ayala. After this interactive debrief, closing remarks were provided by Deputy Commissioner Cheri Hoffman of the Administration on Children, Youth and Families.

Self-regulation skills are the skills needed to finish tasks, stay organized, and control emotions, and they are critical in finding and maintaining employment. Poverty and other chronic stressors can hinder the development and use of these skills, but coaching can promote self-regulation skills and help adults with low incomes become economically secure. This Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation report presents findings from a study of four employment coaching programs conducted as part of the Evaluation of Employment Coaching for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Related Populations. The report presents estimates of impacts of coaching on participants’ self-regulation skills, employment, earnings, self-sufficiency, and other measures of personal and family well-being throughout the 21 months after enrollment.