The Federal government has recently placed a greater emphasis on connecting survivors with asset building programs as a way to build financial independence for the population. With this goal in mind, this toolkit was designed as a step by step guide for both AFI programs and domestic violence service providers interested in creating partnerships. It provides information targeted specifically at each partners, as well as additional resources such as draft MOUs and letters of commitments.

This study examined the outcomes of an IDA program for survivors of domestic violence based in St. Louis, Missouri. The majority of the women involved in the program were able to save money and made matched withdrawals from their account. This demonstrated that IDA programs can be used successfully with survivors of domestic violence.

This discussion paper from the University of Kentucky Center for Poverty Research provides analysis of state statutes related to employment protection for survivors of domestic violence. Domestic violence is often not viewed as a workplace concern, but as this report highlights, it can be a huge barrier to employment, safety, and ultimately, self-sufficiency. Example policies are provided, as well as implications for employers, human service professionals, and policy makers.

This research brief from the Center for Financial Security at the University of Wisconsin-Madison provides a thorough overview of the impact of domestic violence on the economic well-being of women. Domestic violence negatively impacts women in a variety of ways, many of which have financial and employment-related implications. For TANF stakeholders wishing to understand how domestic violence directly impacts the employment and financial security of a victim, this brief provides a condensed review of published research on the topic.

This article provides a thorough overview of the existing research related to how poor economic situations contribute to intimate partner violence. The authors explain how low socio-economic status, unemployment, career stress, and poverty are associated with rates and severity of violence. Research is also provided that shows what mitigates these factors. This document would be helpful to TANF stakeholders interested in learning how participation in TANF can help survivors of violence and why poverty can exacerbate violence.

The Administration for Children and Families Family Violence Prevention and Services Program is pleased to announce the launch of Domestic Violence: Understanding the Basics, an online learning tool. This one-hour interactive eLearning module describes the dynamics and common tactics that characterize domestic violence, provides an overview of the scope and impact on individuals and society, explores the underlying factors that allow domestic violence to exist, offers insight into the various risks and choices that survivors face, and shares how to be part of the solution.

In light of the recent recession, this paper examines the effect that financial strain can have on the occurrence of domestic violence and in turn, how domestic violence impacts an individual or family's financial situation. Though being low income does not correlate directly to victimization, research shows a strong relationship between economic hardship and the risk for domestic violence. Financial status can also be affected by the type of abuse a victim suffers, economic abuse being a common tool employed by batterers. The article also addresses how social services, particularly TANF can play a part in helping survivors move towards safety and self-sufficiency. The report concludes by highlighting research which shows that victims feel that housing and financial assistance are the most helpful, over and above counseling and other non-tangible forms of help.

This National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC) hosted a Webinar that presented strategies and approaches you can use in your program to raise awareness and change behavior, and had an emphasis on working with men in a fatherhood context and empowering them to take these conversations to family, friends and community. Topics included: ways to raise fatherhood program participants' awareness of the realities of violent and controlling behavior and the negative impacts for children; emphasize communication, mutual understanding, and healing; and, ways to use fatherhood groups to reinforce the message and build mutual support systems to change behavior.

One in five women experience domestic violence at some time in their lives, and over 15 million children witness domestic violence each year. Given these statistics, fatherhood programs may be serving families where violence has been an issue. It is imperative that fatherhood programs establish protocols to address domestic violence and protect the safety of all family members, including children. Health and Human Services' funded State domestic violence coalitions are an important resource in building partnerships with domestic violence providers and developing protocols. The National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC) has resources, training webinars, and more tools to help fatherhood programs address and combat the issue of domestic violence.

The National Network to End Domestic Violence recently launched a new toolkit which provides comprehensive information about ensuring confidentiality and safety for victims of domestic and sexual violence. Included in the toolkit are templates, tip sheets, charts, sample policies and procedures and frequently asked questions relating to ensuring confidentiality. The toolkit can be a valuable resource for TANF programs who are seeking to enhance their services to domestic violence survivors. Additionally, the toolkit includes specific resources for programs that are co-located with domestic violence providers, a practice that has become increasingly more common among TANF agencies.