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 across the state by drawing on local input. Researchers from Chapin Hall and the Anna, Age Eight Institute conducted town halls and focus groups in seven counties with providers and residents to gather firsthand accounts of barriers preventing families from accessing medical care, childcare, housing, food, transportation, and behavioral health services. Residents described systems that were fragmented, under-resourced, and difficult to navigate, and reported staff interactions that increased their feelings of shame and stigma while seeking help. For TANF practitioners, this report is both a mirror and a roadmap. It reflects what families across the country commonly experience, and it offers concrete, community-generated solutions. It is also a strong model for how to conduct meaningful community listening, a skill all TANF program staff can use as they work to improve client engagement and outcomes.

The core mission of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is helping families reach self-sufficiency, but that goal is much harder when a parent is trying to go to school, raise children, and hold a job at the same time, all without reliable childcare or transportation. A two-generation (2Gen) approach tries to solve for the whole family at once by supporting parents' education and careers while investing in children's development. This report from Jobs for the Future examines Rising Futures Maine, an initiative that invests in community-based organizations as local 2Gen leaders that connect student parents to education and career pathways. The work spans three counties and includes models focused on cohort-based coaching, barrier removal, industry credentials, and even a father-focused pilot addressing long-standing gaps in engaging noncustodial parents. For TANF practitioners, this resource looks at what it takes, operationally and relationally, to support parents as both caregivers and students. The recommendations the report offers on sustaining funding, protecting income supports, and using data on student parents are directly applicable to how TANF programs are designed and prioritized.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly influencing how people work, learn, and access information. WorkforceGPS is hosting a four-part webinar series to introduce foundational AI concepts and explore the skills needed to navigate a rapidly changing workplace. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners, the series can help build understanding of emerging technologies while identifying ways participants may benefit from AI-related knowledge and workforce skills. It will offer an accessible starting point for staff who want to stay informed about technology trends and prepare participants for future employment opportunities.

As workforce needs continue to change, career and technical education programs are adapting to prepare individuals for new opportunities. This MDRC podcast explores how education and training programs are responding to shifts in the labor market and what that means for workers seeking career advancement. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners, the discussion offers insights into emerging workforce trends and strategies that can help participants gain skills aligned with employer demand. It can also spark ideas for TANF programs to strengthen employment pathways and help families move toward long-term economic stability.

Workforce Pell was created in response to a simple truth: a great education and a better life do not necessarily require a four-year college degree. Whether through apprenticeships, hands-on Career and Technical Education, or certificate programs, pathways that prepare students for high-skill, family-sustaining employment are critical to our nation’s success and should have access to the same Pell Grant funding as traditional undergraduate programs.

Beginning on July 1, 2026, students will be able to receive Pell Grants for enrollment in high-quality, short-term educational programs that prepare them for high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand jobs. This new program will help more Americans rapidly enter the workforce with little-to-no student debt while simultaneously strengthening the nation’s talent pipeline.

This new rule opens opportunities for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs and workforce partners to help participants access federal funding for short-term, job-focused training. Programs can explore how Workforce Pell Grants may support eligible participants in enrolling in credential and skills training that leads directly to employment in high-demand fields.

For TANF agencies, this is an opportunity to strengthen partnerships with training providers and education systems, reduce financial barriers to participation, and expand the range of training options available to families working toward stable employment and long-term economic mobility.

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 offers flexible ways for TANF programs to support family stability while recognizing the realities many caregivers face when balancing work, caregiving responsibilities, and economic hardship.

The IM can help TANF practitioners think more broadly about how childcare supports fit into employment and family well-being goals. It also offers useful guidance for program planning, policy discussions, and partnerships with childcare providers and community organizations. TANF programs looking to strengthen support for caregivers, reduce barriers to participation, or expand family-centered approaches may consider how they can apply this information in their own communities.

This MDRC report explores how two workforce programs in Los Angeles adapted employment services to better meet the needs of young people. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners serving youth and young parents, this resource offers insight into why flexible, individualized approaches matter. The resource highlights strategies such as personalized coaching, relationship-building, and responsive support services that help young people stay engaged and move toward employment goals. Programs looking to improve participation, reduce barriers, and better connect with younger clients may find useful ideas for strengthening their own service delivery models.

Work requirements are a central part of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), but the way they are defined and measured can be difficult to translate into everyday program decisions. This report breaks down how the federal work participation standard works in practice and how states meet it, helping TANF staff connect policy rules to real program operations.

A key detail is that child recipients are not considered work-eligible, meaning families where only children receive TANF assistance—or child-only cases—are excluded from work participation rate calculations. These cases can include situations where grandparents or other relatives are caring for children and receiving assistance on their behalf. Because of this distinction, programs are not evaluated on their engagement of these families in the same way as adult-recipient cases, which can significantly affect reported participation rates.

For TANF practitioners, this resource clarifies where compliance requirements apply and where they do not. It can help TANF programs design work activities that meet federal expectations while still reflecting the realities of the families being served. It can also support more informed program design decisions that balance accountability metrics with meaningful employment and family support strategies.

WorkforceGPS will host a free webinar on May 28, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. ET focused on how agencies can improve coordination through integrated systems and cross-program collaboration. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners, this is especially relevant because families often interact with multiple systems at the same time, including workforce, childcare, child welfare, education, and housing programs. When these systems are not aligned, families may encounter duplicated paperwork, service gaps, or confusion about where to access support.

The webinar will explore how integrated approaches can better align workforce, education, and human services, including TANF programs, by moving from strategy into implementation. It will highlight how data sharing can improve coordination, strengthen efficiency, and support better outcomes, as well as how labor market analysis can inform joint planning and decision-making across systems. Drawing on state examples, the session will share implementation approaches, lessons learned, and real-world impacts, along with practical considerations for putting integration into practice and emerging priorities for strengthening coordinated service delivery.

This AIR resource explores how Workforce Pell could expand access to short-term education and training programs that lead to employment opportunities in high-demand industries. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, many participants need flexible, affordable training options that can quickly connect them to stable employment and career growth.

TANF practitioners can use this resource to better understand emerging opportunities in workforce development and how short-term credential programs may support participants who cannot commit to longer educational pathways. It also highlights ways agencies can think about aligning education, training, and supportive services to help individuals gain skills while balancing work and family responsibilities. For TANF programs focused on economic stability, the resource offers insight into strategies that can make workforce pathways more accessible and practical for families.