Child support payments can make a meaningful difference for families receiving public assistance. This National Conference of State Legislatures resource explains pass-through and disregard policies, which allow some or all child support payments to go directly to families without reducing their public benefits. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners can use this information to understand how these policies support family financial stability and encourage consistent child support payments while helping families meet their everyday needs.

When families receive both child support and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), there are rules that determine how child support payments are shared between the family and the government. This is often called “cost recovery,” which means that states may use some or all of the child support payments to repay TANF assistance that was provided. This report explains how this process works in simple terms, why it matters for family income, and how it can affect the money families actually receive. TANF administrators and policymakers can use this report to better understand how these rules impact families and explore ways to support greater financial stability while still meeting program requirements.

Understanding the child support system can help Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners better support the families they serve. This National Conference of State Legislatures tutorial provides an overview of how child support programs operate, including how orders are established, payments are collected, and services are delivered. It is a valuable resource for TANF staff who are new to child support or want to strengthen their knowledge so they can connect families with the appropriate resources and explain how child support can contribute to long-term financial stability.

This Administration for Children and Families’ webpage serves as a timely outreach tool for explaining child support in a way families can use. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners, it offers ready-made materials that help show child support as more than enforcement: it is a source of income and a way to support children’s needs.

Young adults ages 18 to 29 are often expected to make major decisions about work, education, housing, and relationships while they are still figuring out what they want their lives to look like. This Annie E. Casey Foundation podcast introduces the idea of “emerging adulthood” and explores why the transition from adolescence to adulthood can take longer and be more complicated than it was for previous generations. It highlights the importance of affordable education and training, supportive adults, career opportunities, and strong connections to community.

This resource can provide perspective for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners supporting young adults as they pursue education, employment, and greater financial independence. Rather than viewing a young person’s uncertainty or changes in direction as a lack of motivation, TANF practitioners can use the resource to better understand this stage of development and consider what types of support may help. The podcast reinforces the value of mentors, career pathways, training opportunities, and trusted relationships—resources that can help young TANF participants build confidence and move toward lasting economic stability.

Men play a vital role in helping children and families thrive, yet they are often overlooked in conversations about foster and kinship care. This Creating a Family podcast episode explores the unique contributions of fathers, grandfathers, uncles, mentors, and other male caregivers, while discussing strategies for engaging and supporting them in meaningful ways. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners who work with kinship and foster families can use this resource to strengthen family engagement, promote inclusive caregiving practices, and better highlight the important role male caregivers play in helping children build safe, stable, and supportive relationships.

In August 2026, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and the Department of the Treasury jointly released a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document to help states, territories, and Tribes establish and administer Fostering the Future Accounts. 

New FAQ highlights include:  

• Establishing and administering Fostering the Future Accounts; 
• Available funding sources, including federal funds and private contributions; and 
• Fostering the Future Accounts eligibility, management, transfer, and withdrawal considerations. 

To further support implementation, ACF launched the National Fostering the Future Accounts Advancement Center to provide technical assistance tailored to the needs of states, territories, and Tribes. 

In June 2026, the Office of Family Assistance launched the Programming to Build Strong Families and Promote Economic Independence series, designed to provide flexible, practice-informed technical assistance and compliance support to Tribal TANF programs.

During the second session, participants heard from Subject Matter Experts and participated in discussions on strengthening two-parent families and father engagement through partnerships with Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education (HMRE) and Responsible Fatherhood (RF) programs. 

In June 2026, the Office of Family Assistance launched the Programming to Build Strong Families and Promote Economic Independence series, designed to provide flexible, practice-informed technical assistance and compliance support to Tribal TANF programs.

During the first session, participants heard from Tribal TANF practitioners and engaged in discussion about how to support economic and family stability and resilience. Presenters were invited to share practical knowledge of how Tribal TANF programs can provide holistic services to strengthen and stabilize families.

The Administration for Children and Families announced a new Technical Assistance Center to help states, Tribes, and territories implement Fostering the Future Accounts, a program designed to help eligible young people build financial security as they transition into adulthood. Once launched, the center will offer training, tools, and individualized support to help jurisdictions successfully establish and manage these accounts. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners who work with youth and young adults can access this resource to learn about new opportunities that promote financial well-being and strengthen pathways to long-term economic independence.