A digital service may look efficient from an agency’s perspective while being confusing or frustrating for the people expected to use it. This guide from GovLoop explains the importance of understanding people’s experiences before redesigning or upgrading digital services. It introduces customer journey mapping and human-centered design as tools agencies can use to identify where people encounter problems and create services that are easier to navigate.

For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners, this approach can be useful when thinking about online applications, eligibility processes, appointment systems, document submission, and other digital interactions with families. Instead of assuming that a difficult process is simply a user problem, practitioners can examine the process from the client’s perspective and identify where confusion, unnecessary steps, or unclear instructions create barriers. The guide can help TANF leaders and staff ask practical questions about what families experience at each stage of accessing services and use that information to make improvements. Its emphasis on listening to users makes it a useful resource for agencies working to make digital services more accessible.

Finding out which public benefits a family may qualify for can be difficult when eligibility rules differ across programs and applications require time, information, and paperwork. This Urban Institute resource evaluates the initial implementation of MyFriendBen, a free online screening tool that helps people quickly identify benefits and community resources for which they may qualify. The evaluation found that the tool helped many users discover programs they did not know about, and most users who applied for a new benefit or resource were approved for at least one program. At the same time, the research shows that screening is only the first step; many people still needed help understanding application requirements and completing the process.

For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners, this resource offers practical lessons for improving benefits access. A digital screener can help families see the full range of supports that may be available rather than approaching each program separately. It can also help staff identify where technology can reduce information barriers while highlighting where personal assistance is still needed. TANF agencies can use the findings to think about how screening tools might connect families to navigators, community organizations, and application assistance.

Access to education and training does not automatically translate into a good job. People also need help figuring out which opportunities make sense for their goals, how to pay for training, what credentials employers value, and what steps can lead to a sustainable career. This National Skills Coalition factsheet focuses on career navigation as an important part of making Workforce Pell work for students and workers. It highlights the role states can play in connecting people with information and support as they move through education and workforce systems.

Career navigation can make workforce referrals more useful by helping people move beyond simply identifying a training program to understanding how that program fits into a longer-term career pathway. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners can use the resource to think about stronger partnerships with workforce agencies, education providers, and employers, as well as the supports participants may need before, during, and after training. The broader lesson is important for TANF: connecting someone to a program is only the beginning; helping them understand where that opportunity can lead can make the pathway to employment much more meaningful.

This Administration for Children and Families announcement highlights $6 million in funding for 10 jurisdictions to advance the use of predictive risk modeling in child welfare. These jurisdictions will pilot technology aimed at using data to help child welfare agencies identify patterns and potentially recognize situations where families may benefit from earlier or more targeted support.

This announcement is useful for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) leaders and staff who are thinking about how to strengthen coordination across systems and improve early intervention efforts. The announcement may encourage practitioners to consider how data can support human judgment, relationship-building, and direct engagement with families. Ultimately, it offers a window into how child welfare systems are evolving and what that may mean for the broader network of services that support family stability.

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.

States across the country are finding new ways to connect child support participants with employment opportunities. This federal webpage highlights child support-led employment programs operating across the country and the services they provide to help parents find and keep jobs. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs can use these examples to identify promising practices, strengthen partnerships with child support agencies, and expand employment supports for families.

Starting a Tribal Child Support Program requires careful planning and a clear understanding of federal requirements. This Administration for Children and Families guide walks Tribes through the start-up application process, offering practical guidance on program planning, required documentation, and implementation considerations. Because child support and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) are closely connected in supporting family economic stability, this resource can also help Tribal TANF programs strengthen coordination with child support services. Tribal leaders and program staff can use this guide to prepare strong applications, build effective partnerships between TANF and child support programs, and ensure families receive more seamless, whole-family support that promotes the needs of Tribal children and caregivers.

Steady employment benefits both parents and children. This National Conference of State Legislatures resource highlights how child support agencies are partnering with workforce programs to connect parents with employment services that can improve earnings and increase their ability to support their families. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners can use these examples to strengthen partnerships with child support and workforce agencies while helping participants access employment opportunities that promote long-term financial stability.

Parents who face barriers to employment often need coordinated support to remain actively involved in their children's lives. This Office for Planning, Research and Evaluation report shares lessons learned from programs serving disadvantaged noncustodial parents, including strategies for improving employment, parenting, and family engagement outcomes. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners can use these findings to develop more effective services that address the unique needs of noncustodial parents while supporting stronger family stability.

Oregon offers an example of how coordination between Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and child support programs can improve services for families. This resource explains how the two programs work together in practice, including shared processes, referrals, and the role child support plays in supporting family economic stability. Oregon exemplifies how intentional collaboration can reduce duplication, improve communication across programs, and create a more seamless experience for families. TANF practitioners can use this resource to consider how stronger partnerships with child support agencies can improve program operations and better support families on their path to self-sufficiency.