The Office of Family Assistance, Division of Tribal TANF has posted National Tribal TANF characteristics data for fiscal years 2016 to 2020 in a set of annual reports. Data in these reports cover: number of individuals participating in Tribal TANF work activities by activity; adults by work participation status; adults by relationship to head of household; types of families receiving assistance (e.g., one-parent, two-parent, child-only); families by the number of children in the family; and average age of recipient children. Data tables for the reports are available for download.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services added new peer support programs to the Title-IV Prevention Services Clearinghouse, for which all states can now claim federal reimbursement. The expansion advances the Trump Administration’s Great American Recovery and A Home for Every Child initiatives by equipping states with evidence-based resources to help parents overcome addiction, thereby strengthening families and reducing the number of children entering foster care. The services are designed to connect parents and caregivers with people who have lived experience navigating similar challenges, providing practical support, encouragement, and connections to community resources before families reach a crisis point. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners can use this resource to better understand how peer support can complement existing services, engage families in a more accessible and supportive way, and connect parents and caregivers to resources that can help promote family stability and well-being.

Starting a Tribal Child Support Program requires careful planning and a clear understanding of federal requirements. This Administration for Children and Families guide walks Tribes through the start-up application process, offering practical guidance on program planning, required documentation, and implementation considerations. Because child support and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) are closely connected in supporting family economic stability, this resource can also help Tribal TANF programs strengthen coordination with child support services. Tribal leaders and program staff can use this guide to prepare strong applications, build effective partnerships between TANF and child support programs, and ensure families receive more seamless, whole-family support that promotes the needs of Tribal children and caregivers.

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. 

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 first session, participants heard from Tribal TANF practitioners and engaged in discussion about how to support economic and family stability and resilience. Presenters were invited to share practical knowledge of how Tribal TANF programs can provide holistic services to strengthen and stabilize families.

The Administration for Native Americans (ANA) announces funds for a National Center for Native Training and Technical Assistance (the Center). The Center will be ANA's primary provider of training and technical assistance (TTA). The goal is to build the capacity of ANA applicants and recipients to implement successful strategies and facilitate sustainable and successful outcomes that strengthen Native American communities. The beneficiaries of TTA are tribes and Native American communities, including American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other Native Pacific Islander organizations and their partners. 

The Center will assist applicants and recipients to plan, develop, and implement community-driven projects aligned with ANA's goals. The Center will also train communities on leveraging additional resources, complying with federal requirements, and sustaining projects past ANA funding. ANA expects the Center to use innovative and user-friendly solutions for providing TTA in both virtual and in-person formats. The Center will also focus on collecting data to better understand how beneficiaries interact with ANA's TTA and how to improve the success of funded projects. Submissions are due August 27, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

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.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs has launched the Indigenous Growth in New and Innovative Trade Employment (IGNITE) Grant Pilot Program, a competitive funding opportunity that will support implementation-ready Tribal workforce development programs. The grants will prepare participants for careers in construction and infrastructure trades as well as emerging technology fields, including advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, drone and geospatial systems, digital fabrication, and other STEM-related occupations. Programs are designed to lead directly to employment, apprenticeships, and industry-recognized credentials while aligning with local workforce needs.

For Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, IGNITE offers an opportunity to expand employment pathways for participants by applying for funding or partnering with Tribal organizations that apply. This opportunity can help Tribal TANF programs connect families to high-demand careers, strengthen workforce partnerships, and increase access to training that supports long-term economic independence. Applications are due September 18, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET.

Accurate reporting is essential for understanding program performance and meeting federal reporting requirements. This Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Feedback Report from the TANF Data Portal Knowledge Center explains how to use three key feedback reports to review the completeness and accuracy of program data and better understand how a Tribe's Work Participation Rate is calculated. Tribal TANF staff can use these reports to identify missing or inconsistent data, pinpoint reporting trends throughout the year, and address issues that may affect participation rate calculations. By helping Tribal TANF programs strengthen data quality and make informed improvements, this guide supports more accurate reporting and stronger program management.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has proposed changes to the regulations governing federal financial assistance, including grants and cooperative agreements that support programs administered by states, tribes, local governments, and nonprofit organizations. If finalized, the proposed rule could affect how federal funding is awarded, managed, monitored, and reviewed across a wide range of human services and workforce programs.

The National Congress of American Indians will host a webinar on July 1, 2026 at 3:00 P.M. ET to provide an overview of the proposed changes and their potential implications for organizations that receive or administer federal funds. For Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, understanding these proposed revisions is important for anticipating how future changes to federal grant requirements could affect program operations, compliance responsibilities, partnerships, and funding administration. The session will offer an opportunity to learn about the rulemaking process, key provisions under consideration, and ways stakeholders can stay informed as the proposal moves forward.