IV-B Explainer Series: Kinship Navigator Programs

Record Description

Kinship care, which is when relatives step in to raise children, often occurs in families served by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs. It can be difficult for these families to navigate available supports. This Generations United video breaks down how Kinship Navigator programs connect caregivers to resources like financial assistance, legal help, and social services such as TANF. For TANF practitioners, it addresses the gap between identifying kin caregivers and supporting them. It can be used as a quick learning tool for staff or even shared directly with clients to help them understand where to turn for support.

Record Type
Combined Date
2025-11-19T00:00:00
Source
OFA Initiatives
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2025-11-19

Family Formation

Record Description

This webpage offers a comprehensive approach to empowering parents and serves as an example of how Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs can think more intentionally about family formation as part of their services. It shows how strengthening relationships, supporting responsible fatherhood, and building parenting skills can contribute to greater financial stability and better outcomes for children. For TANF practitioners, this helps fill a gap where programming may focus on employment alone without addressing the family dynamics that influence long-term success.

The model provides ideas TANF programs can adapt, such as incorporating relationship education, co-parenting support, and father engagement into existing services. These approaches can improve participant engagement by meeting families where they are and recognizing the role both parents can play in stability and self-sufficiency.

For practitioners in the St. Louis area, this program also serves as a direct referral option. Eligible participants can access services at no cost, giving TANF staff a concrete way to connect clients to additional support that strengthens their family structure while they work toward employment and economic goals.

Record Type
Combined Date
2026-04-29T00:00:00
Source
OFA Initiatives
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2026-04-29

Natural Family Planning

Record Description

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops provides education and guidance on Natural Family Planning, a fertility awareness-based approach that helps individuals understand reproductive cycles to support either pregnancy planning or spacing. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, this resource provides family planning education that centers on knowledge-building and personal decision-making. It can be used in supportive conversations or referrals to help individuals better understand how timing and planning for children connects to financial stability, caregiving capacity, and long-term goals. The value here is not just the method itself, but the way it broadens the range of family planning approaches available to participants—supporting informed choices that align with personal values while also reinforcing stability for parents and children.

Record Type
Combined Date
2026-01-01T00:00:00
Source
OFA Initiatives
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2026-01-01
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)

Apprenticeship Today — The Landscape and Opportunity

Record Description

The National Youth Employment Coalition will host a webinar on April 30, 2026 at 2:30 p.m. ET to provide an overview of the current apprenticeship landscape and where opportunities are expanding across industries. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners, this is a practical way to understand where to focus efforts when connecting participants to work. It can help staff identify high-demand sectors, partnership opportunities, and strategies that can lead to quicker employment outcomes. By offering a clearer picture of how apprenticeships are evolving, this resource can support TANF programs in building stronger pathways to employment—helping participants gain skills, earn income, and move toward greater financial independence.

Record Type
Combined Date
2026-04-30T14:30:00
Source
OFA Initiatives
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2026-04-30

AI, Apprenticeships, and the Future of Work Webinar

Record Description

TAG-Ed will host a webinar on April 29, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET to explore how apprenticeships are being used to prepare workers for jobs that involve artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, this will highlight how “earn while you learn” models can extend beyond traditional industries into growing, higher-wage fields. Practitioners can use this resource to identify new apprenticeship opportunities that incorporate digital skills, helping participants stay competitive in a changing job market.

Record Type
Combined Date
2026-04-29T12:00:00
Source
OFA Initiatives
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2026-04-29

Vertical Leap Learning Center and New Chapel Christian Academy Simulcast

Record Description

Vertical Leap Learning Center and New Chapel Christian Academy will host a webinar on April 28, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. ET in celebration of National Apprenticeship Week, highlighting how Registered Apprenticeships drive growth and innovation across critical industries. The webinar will showcase how education and workforce partners can work together to introduce apprenticeships earlier and build clear pathways into employment. Many Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program participants need structured, supportive entry points into the workforce. TANF practitioners can use examples from this webinar to think about how partnerships with training providers or community organizations can create smoother transitions into apprenticeships. It can help fill a gap around early engagement and preparation, making it easier for participants to step into work-based learning opportunities that support long-term employment.

Record Type
Combined Date
2026-04-28T11:00:00
Source
OFA Initiatives
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2026-04-28

Apprenticeship: Community of Practice

Record Description

This online community offers a space for workforce professionals to share ideas, tools, and real-world experiences related to apprenticeships. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners, this is a practical way to learn from peers who are working through similar challenges. It can help staff stay current on apprenticeship strategies, discover partnership opportunities, and troubleshoot implementation issues. This resource is valuable because it supports ongoing learning and connection, which can lead to stronger programs over time. By tapping into shared knowledge, TANF programs can more effectively engage participants in apprenticeship opportunities that lead to employment and long-term stability.

Record Type
Combined Date
2026-04-27T00:00:00
Source
OFA Initiatives
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2026-04-27
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)

Expanding Apprenticeship to New Sectors and Populations: The Experiences and Outcomes of Apprentices in the American Apprenticeship Initiative Final Report

Record Description

This Department of Labor report shares lessons learned from efforts to expand apprenticeships into new industries and reach more diverse populations, including individuals facing barriers to employment. Many Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) participants need opportunities that are designed with their challenges in mind. TANF practitioners can use this resource to identify what works when engaging populations similar to TANF clients, including strategies to improve retention and completion. It helps address the gap between access and success by showing how apprenticeship programs can be adapted to better support participants as they work toward employment and reduced reliance on benefits.

Record Type
Combined Date
2026-04-01T00:00:00
Source
OFA Initiatives
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2022-10-01

Public Sector Hub Apprenticeship Toolkit

Record Description

This toolkit is designed to help public sector organizations—including state and local agencies—develop and expand apprenticeship programs. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, this opens opportunities to connect participants to jobs within government and public service roles that offer stability, benefits, and clear career progression. Practitioners can use this resource to explore how their own agencies or partner organizations can create apprenticeship pathways for TANF clients. It can help them actively shape job opportunities, giving clients access to structured, paid pathways that support long-term employment and financial independence.

Record Type
Combined Date
2026-04-27T00:00:00
Source
OFA Initiatives
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2024-04-01
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)

A Toolkit for Apprenticeship Quality: Improving Apprenticeship Outcomes Through Skills Alignment

Record Description

This ACT toolkit focuses on how to better align training with the skills employers need—an issue that often determines whether participants can successfully transition into lasting employment. This is critical for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs. TANF practitioners can use this resource to strengthen apprenticeship partnerships so participants are placed into programs that lead to high-earning job opportunities. It helps address a common gap where training does not match hiring demand, making it more likely that participants complete apprenticeships and move into stable, higher-paying jobs.

Record Type
Combined Date
2026-04-01T00:00:00
Source
OFA Initiatives
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2022-04-01