When a young person turns 18 in foster care, the system too often just disappears. Extended foster care (EFC) programs exist to bridge that gap, keeping older youth connected to support as they transition into adulthood. But not all extended care programs are equally accessible or effective, and youth themselves are rarely centered in decisions about how these programs are designed. The American Public Human Services Association (APHSA) will host a webinar on June 24, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. ET to highlight the work of the National Collaborative for Transition-Age Youth, a partnership among APHSA, FosterClub, and Youth Villages, and discuss EFC outcomes.

These organizations co-developed guidance with young people, child welfare leaders, and policymakers to strengthen services for youth turning 18 in foster care. Research shows that when extended care is available and inclusive, anywhere from 70 to 80 percent of young people in care at age 17½ will remain in the program at 19, and roughly half will still be enrolled at 21, with benefits that persist well into adulthood. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners working with transition-age youth, this session will offer both evidence and strategy to understand why extended care matters and how to better connect young people to the services that can make it work.

Young people aging out of foster care may face a stark reality. They leave the system at 18 with little financial cushion and few of the family safety nets on which most young adults rely. To address this, federal guidance has been issued by the Administration for Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of the Treasury enabling state, territorial, and Tribal child welfare agencies to open dedicated savings and investment accounts called “Fostering the Future Accounts” for children and youth in their care. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners, this is a critical moment to understand how these accounts fit into the broader picture of economic security for families you serve. Youth in or aging out of foster care are a population TANF programs frequently encounter; understanding how to help youth access and benefit from this new financial tool will position your program to be a more informed connector of services.

Families often need more than a single service to achieve lasting economic mobility. As a facilitation model for building long-term collaboration between communities, public systems, and nonprofit partners, the Blue Sky Possibilities Framework encourages organizations to think broadly about family well-being and identify opportunities to better support children, parents, and caregivers. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners, the framework can serve as a planning and discussion tool for exploring how programs can address both immediate needs and long-term goals. It helps TANF staff consider what conditions support family success and where partnerships, policies, or services may create stronger outcomes.

Families involved with both the child welfare and child support systems often face financial pressures that can affect reunification efforts. This Institute for Research on Poverty report examines how child support policies may influence a family's ability to reunify after foster care placement. While focused on system interactions, the findings provide valuable context for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners who support families working toward greater stability and self-sufficiency. Understanding these economic challenges can help TANF staff better coordinate services, identify barriers families may be facing, and connect parents with resources that support successful reunification.

Many children in rural communities are being raised by grandparents or other relatives, yet these caregivers often face unique challenges accessing services and support. This Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network guide highlights strategies for reaching and engaging kinship and grandfamilies, helping practitioners better understand the barriers these families may encounter. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, the resource offers practical ideas for connecting families to benefits, strengthening family stability, and ensuring caregivers know where to turn for assistance. It can help TANF staff identify gaps in outreach and develop approaches that better meet the needs of rural families.

The most effective father-engagement programs listen, adapt, and improve over time. The Fathers and Continuous Learning project explored exactly that, and researched how organizations can build feedback loops so they're learning from fathers' experiences rather than guessing what they need. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families programs, this is a model worth considering. Asking fathers what is working versus what is not and what they need, and then acting on those answers, is one of the most powerful things a program can do to increase engagement and improve outcomes for the whole family.

Many fathers enter child welfare involvement feeling confused, sidelined, or even afraid. They may not know their rights, aren't sure who to talk to, or don't understand how their involvement, or lack of it, affects their child's case. This Child Welfare Information Gateway resource was written for fathers to help them find their footing. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners can share it as a first step in building trust with a father who is uncertain about his role. When fathers understand the social services (TANF, child welfare, etc.) system, they are better equipped to show up, and when they show up, families have a stronger foundation for lasting stability.

Saying "fathers are welcome" is not the same as actually engaging them. This toolkit from the University of California, Davis offers concrete activities and approaches that help social services organizations make fathers feel like genuine partners, not afterthoughts. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs can use it to audit their current practices, spot the gaps, and try new strategies for outreach and involvement. The toolkit is especially useful for TANF teams who want to be more father-inclusive but aren't sure where to start. It turns intentions into practical steps.

Fathers are often the missing piece in family service plans — not because they don't want to be involved, but because systems were not built with them in mind. This Child Welfare Information Gateway webpage addresses that directly, offering strategies for locating fathers, building relationships with them, and keeping them engaged through the ups and downs of child welfare involvement. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, this is a call to examine your own practices: Are fathers being contacted? Are they being welcomed? Are they being offered services that meet their needs? The resources here can help TANF teams start answering those questions.

Before a child can come home, someone must determine that the home is safe and sustainable. This guide from Texas shows what that assessment process looks like; it details what factors are weighed, what strengths are considered, and what gaps need to be addressed. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners, it's a behind-the-scenes look at what reunification readiness actually means. That knowledge is powerful, because it helps TANF staff understand why a family might still be in the system despite making progress, and identify specific areas (stable employment, consistent housing, or financial management) where TANF services can make a direct difference.