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 April 22, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. ET to highlight how apprenticeship models can connect youth to career pathways. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs can use this information to increase their…

Profile / Case Study

This Jobs for the Future case study demonstrates how apprenticeship programs can create practical pathways to stable employment for individuals who may not benefit from traditional education or training models alone. For Temporary Assistance for…

Dataset

The National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) provides data on outcomes for youth transitioning out of foster care, including education, employment, and housing. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners, this is a…

Stakeholder Resource

This AIR resource explores how adopting practices that focus on skills rather than other predictors of success like degrees and past job titles can open more employment opportunities. That approach aligns closely with Temporary Assistance for…

Fact / Tip Sheet

This Apprenticeship.gov resource highlights how intermediary organizations can help connect employers, training providers, and workforce programs to expand access to apprenticeships. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs,…

Podcast

This Annie E. Casey Foundation podcast highlights CareerReady ATL, a youth apprenticeship program, and shows how targeted workforce strategies can connect young people to education and employment pathways. For Temporary Assistance for Needy…

Promoting Healthy Marriages and Two-Parent Families

 
Report

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) 12th Report to Congress from the Office of Family Assistance provides data from the TANF program from fiscal years 2014 and 2015. It presents information on expenditures, caseloads, work…

Report

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Family Assistance (OFA), held the 2017 National Tribal Summit at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel in Arlington, Virginia on…

Webinar / Webcast

The Office of Family Assistance hosted a Webinar titled When TANF Intersects with Pregnant Teen and Young Parent Services on May 11th, 2016 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. EDT. Pregnant teens and young parents have been a…

Webinar / Webcast

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families' (ACF) Office of Family Assistance (OFA) hosted this webinar that highlights the redesigned OFA PeerTA (PeerTA) website. PeerTA facilitates information…

Webinar / Webcast

The Administration for Children and Families' Office of Family Assistance (OFA) hosted the "Strategies to Assist Noncustodial Parents in Improving Economic Well-Being" webinar. This webinar showcased several programs making headway in this area.…

Webinar / Webcast

On April 22, 2014, the Administration for Children and Families' Office of Family Assistance (OFA), Division of Tribal TANF Management and the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) hosted a webinar, "Tribal Child Support and Tribal TANF:…