This toolkit contains a collection of four one-page resources designed to facilitate strong, collaborative relationships with families. The toolkit includes flyers that can navigate Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners through discussions with participants by modeling co-regulation and self-regulation skills. It also includes handouts TANF participants that highlight healthy communication skills to support daily interactions at work and at home.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) supports families as they work toward financial independence, but misconceptions about who receives assistance and how they participate in work activities continue to shape public discussions. This issue brief, co-written by Office of Family Assistance Director David Swegle and Assistant Secretary of Administration for Children and Families Alex Adams, explores the gap between public perception and how TANF's work requirements operate in practice. As the first in a series on TANF work requirements, it explains the purpose of the federal work participation rate, why measuring state performance is more complex than it appears, and how federal rules influence program reporting and accountability. TANF leaders, administrators, and frontline staff can use this resource to better understand the policies behind work participation requirements and support informed conversations with partners and stakeholders.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs has launched the Indigenous Growth in New and Innovative Trade Employment (IGNITE) Grant Pilot Program, a competitive funding opportunity that will support implementation-ready Tribal workforce development programs. The grants will prepare participants for careers in construction and infrastructure trades as well as emerging technology fields, including advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, drone and geospatial systems, digital fabrication, and other STEM-related occupations. Programs are designed to lead directly to employment, apprenticeships, and industry-recognized credentials while aligning with local workforce needs.

For Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, IGNITE offers an opportunity to expand employment pathways for participants by applying for funding or partnering with Tribal organizations that apply. This opportunity can help Tribal TANF programs connect families to high-demand careers, strengthen workforce partnerships, and increase access to training that supports long-term economic independence. Applications are due September 18, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) supports families as they work toward financial independence, and the policies used to measure state performance play an important role in how the program is administered. This issue brief, co-written by Office of Family Assistance Director David Swegle and Assistant Secretary of Administration for Children and Families Alex Adams, examines the TANF Caseload Reduction Credit and how it affects state work participation requirements. As the second in a series on TANF work requirements, it explains how the credit is calculated and why it was created, identifies its limitations, and examines recent legislative attempts to strengthen work requirements. TANF leaders and administrators can use this resource to better understand the relationship between caseload trends, accountability, and work participation requirements, helping them interpret program data and engage in informed policy discussions about the impact of workarounds on TANF participants’ financial independence.

These Rural LISC case studies provide real examples of workforce development efforts in rural communities across the country. Each example shows different approaches to skills training, employer engagement, and community partnerships. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners can refer to these concrete ideas for building local partnerships, designing training programs, and supporting workers in rural areas.

• Upskill NW Arkansas
• Delta Compass, Washington County, MS
• People, Inc. of Virginia

Reaching both job seekers and employers can be especially challenging in rural areas. This WorkforceGPS webinar recording shares outreach strategies that help connect workers with workforce services and employment opportunities. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners can use the ideas shared to improve recruitment, strengthen employer relationships, and expand awareness of available services among families who may not regularly engage with the workforce system. A PowerPoint presentation and transcript are also provided.

This resource provides a peer example of transportation support designed to help participants transitioning off of Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) to access employment and related activities. It demonstrates how targeted transportation assistance can remove a major barrier to work participation. Tribal TANF practitioners can use the example to explore how transitional transportation services may help participants maintain employment, attend training, and successfully move toward greater self-sufficiency.

This Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility Technical Assistance Center technical assistance resource focuses on transportation coordination for people participating in employment and training programs. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners can use it to identify transportation solutions that support work activities, job training, and career development. By helping TANF programs coordinate across other social services, the resource can improve access to employment opportunities and reduce transportation-related disruptions.

This National Rural Transit Assistance Program webpage offers tools, training, and information for improving transportation services in rural communities. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, it can help identify strategies for connecting rural participants to jobs, training, childcare, and other essential services. The resource focuses on the unique transportation challenges faced by rural residents and offers practical approaches that can support employment goals.

This webpage highlights KANSASWORKS’ mobile workforce center that brings employment services to rural and underserved communities. This is a practical example of how workforce agencies can meet people where they are. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs can use the model to explore joint outreach events, job fairs, skills workshops, and other collaborative activities that make employment services more accessible to participants.