The Office of Family Assistance initiative, “Leveraging America’s Social and Economic Resilience TANF Learning Community” (LASER TLC), supported ten TANF Programs across the country as they worked to address the challenges of human service delivery in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and focused on improving and delivering more responsive services to their TANF families. This document shares Kentucky’s journey during their participation in the 18-month learning community. The site journey conveys how their LASER TLC site team, along with support from their dedicated coaching team and application of the LI2 framework, contributed to developing their action plan and strategizing the implementation of their change agenda to benefit TANF families.

The Office of Family Assistance initiative, “Leveraging America’s Social and Economic Resilience TANF Learning Community” (LASER TLC), supported ten TANF Programs across the country as they worked to address the challenges of human service delivery in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and focused on improving and delivering more responsive services to their TANF families. This document shares North Carolina Work First’s journey during their participation in the 18-month learning community. The site journey conveys how their LASER TLC site team, along with support from their dedicated coaching team and application of the LI2 framework, contributed to developing their action plan and strategizing the implementation of their change agenda to benefit TANF families.

The Office of Family Assistance initiative, “Leveraging America’s Social and Economic Resilience TANF Learning Community” (LASER TLC), supported ten TANF Programs across the country as they worked to address the challenges of human service delivery in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and focused on improving and delivering more responsive services to their TANF families. This document shares Larimer County Colorado Department of Human Services’ journey during their participation in the 18-month learning community. The site journey conveys how their LASER TLC site team, along with support from their dedicated coaching team and application of the LI2 framework, contributed to developing their action plan and strategizing the implementation of their change agenda to benefit TANF families.

The Office of Family Assistance initiative, “Leveraging America’s Social and Economic Resilience TANF Learning Community” (LASER TLC), supported ten TANF Programs across the country as they worked to address the challenges of human service delivery in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and focused on improving and delivering more responsive services to their TANF families. This document shares Pennsylvania’s journey during their participation in the 18-month learning community. The site journey conveys how their LASER TLC site team, along with support from their dedicated coaching team and application of the LI2 framework, contributed to developing their action plan and strategizing the implementation of their change agenda to benefit TANF families.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance (OFA) held the 2022 Regions V-VIII State TANF Virtual Meeting on July 19-21, 2022. This virtual event brought together TANF program representatives from OFA Regions V-VIII and focused on how programs can best address the needs of families beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting included sessions on TANF fundamentals and updates, how the shift to the virtual world has impacted TANF customers and agencies, and changes programs can make to improve their support of customers throughout their TANF journey.

Also, participants chose from concurrent peer-to-peer sessions to attend based on their role within their state (case management, data personnel, or administrative/leadership) to discuss topics including eligibility and work requirements, TANF essentials, the new normal, and refocusing the customer.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating effects on the livelihoods, finances, and well-being of millions of individuals in Indian Country. Compounding the burden of job losses are widespread school shutdowns and the lack of affordable child care, which simultaneously hinder TANF-participating parents, particularly mothers, from gaining meaningful employment while imposing additional costs on already tight family resources. These trends present urgent and essential demands on Tribal TANF programs. To respond to these challenges, the Office of Family Assistance hosted a webinar on October 27, 2021, which provided insights on Federal and State resources that can assist parents in transitioning into employment, as well as innovative practices from Tribal TANF, child care, and community organizations to support low-income families. The webinar also identified strategies for coordinating Tribal TANF and Child Care offices.

The Office of Family Assistance hosted a webinar on Wednesday, July 14, 2021 to explore the role Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs play in supporting mothers as they reenter their community after a period of incarceration. Reentering mothers must overcome unique and difficult barriers to ensure their well-being and reduce their chances of recidivism. In this discussion, a panel of researchers and practitioners provided an overview of the impact of incarceration on children, the needs mothers face upon their release, and various approaches that state TANF programs, Department of Corrections reentry programs, and local non-profit organizations take to support reentering mothers in addressing these needs. Presenters also highlighted success stories and lessons learned from their experience helping reentering mothers and discussed how TANF can partner with community reentry programs to help mothers succeed.

The TANF Learning Community (TLC) is designed to help TANF agencies reimagine, develop, and implement innovative approaches and strategies to improve agency performance and outcomes for TANF recipients in a post-pandemic world. TANF agencies submitting self-nominations and selected to participate in the TLC will access and benefit from a compelling, comprehensive, and tailored set of TLC Training and Technical Assistance services. Self-nomination materials can be received by sending an email request to TANFLearningCommunity@blhtech.com. Questions about the self-nomination process can also be sent to the above email address. Additionally, materials from the June 2, 2021 TLC Interest Webinar are now available.

The deadline for nominations has been extended to June 28, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. ET.

The TANF Learning Community (TLC) is designed to help TANF agencies reimagine, develop, and implement innovative approaches and strategies to improve agency performance and outcomes for TANF recipients in a post-pandemic world. TANF agencies submitting self-nominations and selected to participate in the TLC will access and benefit from a compelling, comprehensive, and tailored set of TLC Training and Technical Assistance services. Self-nomination materials can be received by sending an email request to TANFLearningCommunity@blhtech.com. Questions about the self-nomination process can also be sent to the above email address. Additionally, materials from the June 2, 2021 TLC Interest Webinar are now available.

The deadline for nominations has been extended to June 28, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. ET.

In partnership with the Office of Early Childhood Development, the Office of Family Assistance will host an interactive webinar on Wednesday, May 26, 2021 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET. TANF staff and participants will discuss their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and highlight the innovative tools and practices they will use to help support themselves and their children during the next stage. Through the webinar registration process, registrants can offer insight and tools that they have used to navigate parenting during COVID-19, as well as post questions for the panelists. Speakers include representatives from the Hampton Roads Community Action Program and a parent from Washington State who is a former TANF funds recipient. ACF leadership will also cover American Rescue Plan Act funding that may be used to address child care and other family support needed for working parents.