TANF at 30

The history of the nation’s cash assistance programs reflects nearly a century of evolving approaches to supporting low-income children and families. Beginning on August 14, 1935, Aid to Dependent Children (ADC) was established under the Social Security Act as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal response to the Great Depression. ADC offered cash assistance specifically to needy children whose parents were absent, incapacitated, or deceased, without extending aid to adult caregivers. By 1962, Congress formally recognized the importance of the family unit and parental employment by allowing states to broaden the program—becoming Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC)—to include households with unemployed parents (UP) through the AFDC-UP option. These early developments laid the groundwork for the comprehensive reforms that would follow, ultimately leading to the modern Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
US House Majority Leader Newt Gingrich (stands behind Clinton) applauds US President Bill Clinton after Clinton signed the Balanced Budget Agreement on the South Lawn of the White House August 5th in Washington.

Landmark Dates for TANF

 
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Families are Stronger Together

 
Policy Announcement / Memoranda

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) announced a new childcare reform package aimed at making childcare more affordable, expanding access for families, and increasing parental choice. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (…

Policy Announcement / Memoranda

This Office of Family Assistance Information Memorandum (IM) highlights how Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds can be used to support families with childcare needs, including parents and caregivers who provide care at home. It…

Webinar / Webcast

The American Public Human Services Association will host a webinar on May 7, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. to explore how childcare systems and TANF programs can better align in a shifting policy and operational environment. TANF programs can use these…

Research-To-Practice Brief

This Chapin Hall brief helps unpack how families actually move through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) over time, going beyond simple caseload counts to show how long families stay connected to support. One of the key insights is…

Fact / Tip Sheet

This Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network tipsheet focuses on how Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs can support children living with relatives or caregivers who are not receiving full family benefits. It fills a key…

Webinar / Webcast

The Heritage Foundation will host a webinar on April 30, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. ET to explore how family stability connects to broader economic and social outcomes. This presentation will help Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs to…

Work Innovations

 
Webinar / Webcast

WorkforceGPS will host a webinar on May 7, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. ET to provide straightforward strategies to help job seekers present themselves more effectively, from resumes to interviews. This webinar will give Temporary Assistance for Needy…

Stakeholder Resource

This National Apprenticeship Week webpage identifies live sessions, webinars, and local activities focused on apprenticeships across different industries and workforce systems. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), this is a…

Toolkit

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs often serve young people who are expected to move toward independence while still developing basic skills needed for adulthood, such as managing money, maintaining housing, or making…

Toolkit

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs frequently serve youth who are moving into adulthood without stable family support; basic planning around housing, money, and daily decision-making can determine whether they stabilize or…

Webinar / Webcast

The National Youth Employment Coalition will host a webinar on April 30, 2026 at 2:30 p.m. ET to provide an overview of the current apprenticeship landscape and where opportunities are expanding across industries. For Temporary Assistance for…

Webinar / Webcast

The Heritage Foundation will host a webinar on April 30, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. ET to explore how family stability connects to broader economic and social outcomes. This presentation will help Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs to…

Promoting Healthy Marriages and Two-Parent Families

 
Dataset

The National Center for Children in Poverty’s Basic Needs Budget Calculator breaks down what it actually costs to meet essential needs like housing, food, childcare, and transportation. It highlights gaps between wages, benefits, and real…

Dataset

The Family Resource Simulator shows how earnings, benefits, and expenses interact as circumstances change. It makes “what if” scenarios visible in a way that is difficult to capture through conversation alone. In Temporary Assistance for Needy…

Stakeholder Resource

This resource explains the foundations of sexual risk avoidance education and how it is designed to support youth in making intentional, long-term healthy choices. It helps clarify how prevention-based approaches fit into broader adolescent…

Report

This report presents evidence and perspectives on how sexual risk avoidance approaches have proven to influence youth behavior and support healthier outcomes over time. It focuses on long-term patterns rather than short-term interventions. For…

Stakeholder Resource

This implementation guide outlines practical steps for designing, delivering, or partnering on sexual risk avoidance education programs. It emphasizes structure, consistency, and alignment with broader youth development goals. In Temporary…

Dataset

The Urban Institute’s Marriage Calculator shows how marriage can change a household’s income, taxes, and benefit eligibility. It helps surface the often complex financial consequences of family structure decisions. For Temporary Assistance for…