TANF at 30
Landmark Dates for TANF
Families are Stronger Together
Fathers are often the missing piece in family service plans — not because they don't want to be involved, but because systems were not built with them in mind. This Child Welfare Information Gateway webpage addresses that directly, offering…
Saying "fathers are welcome" is not the same as actually engaging them. This toolkit from the University of California, Davis offers concrete activities and approaches that help social services organizations make fathers feel like genuine…
Understanding the reunification process can be overwhelming for parents who are navigating foster care involvement. Written for families, this Child Welfare Information Gateway webpage guide outlines what parents can expect and how they can…
The most effective father-engagement programs listen, adapt, and improve over time. The Fathers and Continuous Learning project explored exactly that, and researched how organizations can build feedback loops so they're learning from fathers'…
To increase participant engagement, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs must create and offer programming that reflects community needs. This Chapin Hall resources describes how New Mexico strengthened their vital services…
When a parent can't care for their child, a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or close family friend often steps in without a second thought, even when it stretches their own household thin. These kinship caregivers are doing something remarkable, and…
Work Innovations
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…
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…
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…
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…
TAG-Ed will host a webinar on April 29, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET to explore how apprenticeships are being used to prepare workers for jobs that involve artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (…
This webpage offers a comprehensive approach to empowering parents and serves as an example of how Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs can think more intentionally about family formation as part of their services. It shows how…
Promoting Healthy Marriages and Two-Parent Families
This website is a free financial empowerment toolkit from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau designed to help frontline staff talk about money with the people they serve and support their meaningful financial progress. It includes 40+…
This companion guide to Your Money, Your Goals offers financial tools and approaches tailored for Native communities. Created by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, it highlights strengths, values, and financial practices rooted in…
Research from SmartAsset explores what it takes financially for one parent to stay home and the other to support the household. It adds context to the tradeoffs families face when making caregiving and work decisions. Within Temporary Assistance…
On September 30, 2025, the Administration for Children and Families announced over $100 million in Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood (HMRF) grants to 109 organizations across 38 states nationwide. This investment represents…
This webpage highlights the announcement of the new vision, mission, values, priorities, and guiding principles for the Administration of Children and Families. The webpage outlines the values and offers resources that highlight exemplary…
Families that receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash assistance are often in a state of crisis. They face immediate material needs, and these unmet basic needs put families at an increased risk for investigations in the child…