As part of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, all states are required to submit the Secondary School Diploma or its Recognized Equivalent Attainment Rate report annually, with the first report due on November 14, 2027. This outcome measure is intended to help federal and state policymakers to better understand the effectiveness of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families programs in promoting successful education credential attainment. States have some flexibility in determining the data sources used to create this report. For states planning to collect administrative records, this document is both a roadmap and a checklist that assists you with creating the report and includes additional resources. We suggest that you work through the steps in this document with your team.

The Office of Family Assistance’s TANF Outcomes Technical Assistance and Logistics (TOTAL) team delivers training and technical assistance to state TANF programs and partners responding to the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (FRA). The team hosted their April office hours on April 29th, 2026 to review the National Directory of New Hires (NDNH), which is a database of individual-level employment and earnings information maintained by the Office of Child Support Enforcement. This session included an introduction to the NDNH and provided an overview of the Administration of Children and Families’ (ACF) Updates on Work Outcomes Calculations. The updates include how ACF calculates the three FRA work outcome measures, how NDNH limitations show up in the data, how to interpret provisional results, and what Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs’ reports look like.

Technology is increasingly shaping how human services are delivered, and this resource highlights how states and localities are using tools like AI to improve outcomes. For TANF practitioners, the value lies in seeing what’s possible—especially when it comes to reducing administrative burden and improving how clients access services. It helps bridge the gap between innovation and day-to-day practice, offering examples that can inform program improvements and spark new approaches to service delivery.

For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, access to reliable data is essential: not just for eligibility verification through systems like the Income and Eligibility Verification System (IEVS), but for understanding how families interact with multiple government assistance programs over time. This on-demand webinar recording from the National Center for Education Statistics explores how State-Level Data Systems (SLDS) support that broader view by integrating data across partners.

The value for TANF practitioners is how this resource connects the dots between systems. For example, IEVS provides critical verification data, but SLDS creates the structure that allows agencies to manage, share, and use that data alongside other sources. This webinar highlights how governance, data-sharing agreements, and coordinated practices make that integration possible. TANF staff can use these insights to improve how their programs collaborate with partner agencies, strengthen data quality, and make more informed decisions. It supports more coordinated service delivery and a clearer understanding of outcomes for the families TANF serves.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs rely on accurate, shared data to verify eligibility and coordinate services, but building those data-sharing relationships can be difficult. This on-demand webinar recording from the National Center for Education Statistics focuses on how to engage partners within State-Level Data Systems (SLDS)—the broader platforms that house and manage data across agencies, including systems like the Income and Eligibility Verification System (IEVS).

This recording helps practitioners navigate the human side of that infrastructure, including how to build trust, align priorities, and encourage participation from agencies and providers who may be hesitant to share data. It offers practical ways to strengthen collaboration so TANF programs can more effectively verify information, reduce duplication, and connect families to a broader set of supports.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs collect large amounts of data, but often face challenges turning that data into useful insights. This on-demand webinar explains how strong data governance—clear roles, standards, and processes—can help agencies use their data more effectively. Without a clear approach, data can become fragmented or underutilized. TANF practitioners can apply knowledge gained to improve data quality, support decision-making, and strengthen reporting. Better data governance ultimately helps staff understand client needs more clearly and design services that are more responsive and effective.

This resource from the Children’s Safety Network highlights data, strategies, and cross-sector approaches to preventing child abuse and neglect. It offers practical insight into how coordinated efforts across systems can better support families and reduce risk factors early.

TANF programs can use this guide to strengthen prevention-focused services by aligning with child welfare, public health, and community partners. By using data and evidence-informed strategies, programs can improve coordination, target supports more effectively, and reinforce stable, family-based environments.

The American Public Human Services Association will host a webinar on April 29, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. ET to discuss consent-based income verification and highlight strategies that improve program efficiency while strengthening trust with participants. TANF programs can use these approaches to streamline eligibility processes, reduce administrative burden, and enhance the overall customer experience while maintaining program integrity.

The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) provides flexible funds to states, territories, and tribes to support services that alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty and promote self-sufficiency, particularly by planning, coordination, and organization of local services, innovation, and community participation.

This Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation brief, co-written by Administration for Children and Families’ Assistant Secretary Alex Adams, describes the reporting practices used by CSBG. The brief delves into the burden associated with the reporting process and how the use of CSBG funds could be better documented. For TANF programs, it highlights the need to balance streamlined reporting with accurate, meaningful data that reflects how funds are used.