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. 

Kin caregivers often step in unexpectedly to care for children and may not realize they are eligible for support. This Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network fact sheet explains how Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) can help relatives raising children by providing financial assistance and connecting families with additional services. TANF practitioners can use this resource to better inform kin caregivers about available supports, answer common questions, and ensure families receive the assistance they need. This fact sheet can also be a useful tool for expanding awareness of TANF and helping caregivers access resources that promote stability for the children in their care.

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.

This vignette features a Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program that participated in the Family Routes Initiative Learning Community and expanded their Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood (HMRF) services. This resource highlights steps the program took to achieve their goals and concludes with a brief exercise for other TANF programs to bring to their programs.

This toolkit contains a collection of four one-page resources designed to facilitate strong, collaborative relationships with families. The toolkit includes flyers that can navigate Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners through discussions with participants by modeling co-regulation and self-regulation skills. It also includes handouts TANF participants that highlight healthy communication skills to support daily interactions at work and at home.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs are exploring new ways to improve services while helping staff meet growing demands. This MDRC video examines how organizations can thoughtfully evaluate artificial intelligence (AI) tools before using them to support clients. Rather than focusing only on technology, the video offers practical guidance for selecting tools that improve service delivery, protect client information, and complement staff expertise. TANF leaders and practitioners can use these insights to make informed decisions about incorporating AI into programming and identify opportunities to enhance client engagement without compromising trust or program quality.

In July 2026, the Administration for Children and Families released notice of funding opportunities for two highly anticipated competitive kinship navigator funding opportunities. Applications are due August 7, 2026.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs frequently support grandparents and other relatives who step in to care for children during difficult times. This resource explains federal funding opportunities available to Kinship Navigator Programs, which help caregivers connect with services such as financial assistance, legal support, health care, and community resources. TANF practitioners may want to consider strengthening partnerships with kinship organizations in pursuit of these grants to improve referrals and ensure the caregivers they work with receive the support they need to create stable homes for children. Additional supporting information is provided, including a toolkit for developing kinship navigator programs, a list of kinship navigator programs across the country, and a webinar recording examining which federally approved kinship navigator program model is right for your state or Tribe. 

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has announced the Title IV-E Prevention Accelerator Grant, a new funding opportunity to help eligible Title IV-E agencies implement and sustain evidence-based prevention services that strengthen families and help children safely remain at home. Grants ranging from $300,000 to $750,000 will support states and Tribes in building the infrastructure needed to move prevention programs from planning to long-term implementation.

For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, this opportunity highlights the value of partnering with child welfare agencies to better coordinate services for families with complex needs. State and Tribal TANF agencies may wish to explore collaboration with eligible Title IV-E agencies to align supportive services, strengthen prevention efforts, and improve outcomes for families. Applications are due August 17, 2026.