Aspen Institute released this financial capability toolkit designed for opportunity youth, or young people ages 16–24 who are disconnected from school and work. The toolkit helps practitioners bring financial education into programs through activities focused on money management, goal setting, savings, credit, and planning for the future.

For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners, the toolkit offers practical activities that can complement employment and education services for young adults. Rather than treating financial capability as a separate topic, it helps TANF practitioners connect money skills to younger participants’ immediate goals and longer-term plans. The resource can support conversations about building financial stability as young people move toward employment, independence, and economic security.

Young people leaving foster care often take on financial responsibilities earlier than their peers, while having fewer opportunities to learn about saving, banking, and building financial stability. This Annie E. Casey Foundation report examines the financial experiences of young people participating in the Opportunity Passport program, which combined financial guidance with savings accounts, stipends, and opportunities to receive savings matches. The report highlights both the challenges young people faced transitioning out of foster care and the supports that helped them begin building assets. 

For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners working with young adults, this resource offers a useful way to think about financial stability beyond monthly income. Young people may need support developing the skills, habits, and resources to manage money and build assets over time. The findings can inform conversations about financial coaching, savings opportunities, employment supports, and partnerships with organizations that help young adults strengthen their financial lives.

Estimating child support payments can help families better understand their financial responsibilities and plan for the future. This online calculator provides an estimate of potential child support obligations based on basic financial information. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners can use this tool as a conversation starter with families, helping participants better understand the child support process while encouraging informed financial planning. Because child support guidelines vary by state, estimates should be used for educational purposes only.

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. 

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.

Building financial security starts with making sure families know about available opportunities. This Urban Institute resource explores early findings showing that many families who could benefit from new Trump Accounts are unaware the program exists. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners, the resource reinforces the importance of outreach and trusted communication when introducing new benefits or savings opportunities, like the Trump Accounts. The resource can help TANF programs think about how to share information more effectively, encourage participation, and connect eligible families with tools that may support their children's long-term financial well-being.

This report is part of the Congressional Research Services series that focuses on changes in programs affecting low-income children in light of the upcoming 30-year anniversary of the enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA).

This report examines how Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for children with disabilities has changed over the past 30 years and what those changes mean for families with low incomes. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, it provides valuable context on how disability benefits can complement TANF services and support children with significant needs. TANF staff can use this resource to better understand how families may access multiple supports, strengthen referrals, and coordinate services that promote family stability and financial security.

Financial stability can play an important role in helping fathers support their children and strengthen their families. Financial Foundations is a free, virtual curriculum designed to help participants build practical skills related to budgeting, saving, debt management, and other key financial topics. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families programs, particularly those offering responsible fatherhood services, can share this opportunity with the fathers they serve and encourage their interested participants to apply. The curriculum can help fathers build financial confidence, make informed financial decisions, and develop skills that support long-term economic stability for themselves and their families.

Young people leaving foster care often face financial challenges as they transition to adulthood, including managing money, securing housing, and planning for future goals. This Annie E. Casey Foundation brief introduces their financial curriculum that helps young people build financial knowledge, develop savings habits, and strengthen their long-term economic stability. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs can review this introductory brief and share the curriculum with young adults, former foster youth, and kinship families to encourage financial capability education and asset-building. By connecting participants to this curriculum, TANF practitioners can help them develop the skills and confidence needed to pursue education, employment, housing, and other pathways to self-sufficiency.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs have long supported families in building economic stability. This Dear Colleague Letter by the Office of Family Assistance explores how TANF funds may now be used to support Trump Accounts, which are federally backed, tax-advantaged savings accounts for children, creating new opportunities to help children and families build assets for the future. For TANF practitioners, the guidance shares how these accounts can fit within broader strategies that promote financial well-being and long-term self-sufficiency. TANF programs may use this guidance to consider innovative approaches that help families move beyond immediate needs and build a stronger financial foundation.