This fact sheet illustrates how Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Ohio offered non-recurrent short-term TANF benefits as flexible responses to address the needs of TANF-eligible populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sheet also briefly notes how Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, and Florida have implemented flexible adaptions to TANF work requirements. SNAP approved waivers are also highlighted.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased unemployment rates in low-income populations, SNAP agencies must rapidly scale up and adapt their employment and training support systems amidst economic, public health, and regulatory uncertainties. On July 9, 2020 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, the American Public Human Services Association will host a webinar with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, American Enterprise Institute, and Center on Budget and Policy Priorities to discuss SNAP Employment and Training programs and the continued effects of unemployment on SNAP agency operations as well as their surrounding communities and local job sectors.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever for state, local, and tribal human services leaders serving children and families to provide a Whole Family response. To assist in this effort, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Regional Operations offers an updated list of resources, guidance, and tip sheets with information on ACF funding flexibilities and the whole family approach. This compendium includes:

• ACF Mandatory Program COVID-19 Program Flexibilities, Guidance and Resources (including information from the Office of Child Care, instructions on TANF allowable funds, letters and transmittal reports from the Children’s Bureau, and updates from the Office of Child Support Enforcement); and 

• Whole Family Approach to COVID-19 Response (including coverage about funding and flexibilities from Food and Nutrition Services programs, resources for working parents, and updates to funding resources for career and technical education programs and higher education institutions. There is also information about resources available from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to address mental health and substance use disorders and behavioral health challenges as well as funding available at the Health Resources and Services Administration to expand rural health center and telehealth capacity. Support for homeless housing and rental assistance, families living in public housing, and families in need under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program is also identified.)

This U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service webpage describes the changes that the USDA has made to allow states to continue providing meals for students during school closures. Useful resources on the webpage include an interactive map that helps families identify locations of nearby meal sites, as well as hours of operation and contact information. The webpage also features the USDA National Hunger Hotline, a helpful resource for people seeking food assistance.

This U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service webpage summarizes actions the USDA has taken to ease program operations and protect the health of USDA nutrition program participants in response to COVID-19. Guidance and waiver information granting states flexibility and contingencies to best serve participants are provided for the 15 USDA nutrition programs, including WIC and SNAP.

This U.S. Department of Labor policy brief reviews approaches to incorporate Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) services into career pathway programs at the state level. These approaches include selecting SNAP E&T partners already offering career pathway services to SNAP participants and helping the partners expand their reach, and collaborating with SNAP E&T partners in filling service delivery gaps. Integrating SNAP E&T services and participants into career pathways may strengthen SNAP E & T’s alignment with the workforce system, which is a priority under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

This Mathematica report identifies the characteristics of SNAP program households and participants at national and state levels during the federal Fiscal Year 2018. The report also includes SNAP eligibility requirements and benefit levels for all 50 states during the same time period.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) issued a policy memo to share resources and tools that can help state agencies improve and expand their respective Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) E&T programs. These resources include: SNAP E&T policy guidance and clarifications on ways to partner with the public workforce investment system and implement certain 2018 Farm Bill provisions; interactive directives on how to use career pathways across all Federal agencies to deliver services for able-bodied adults without dependents; resources on the SNAP to Skills Project including policy briefs; and a SNAP E&T Operations Handbook on how to grow programs with third-party providers. The memo also noted that FNS will convene a SNAP E&T conference (details upcoming).