The Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network hosted a webinar in May 2023 to cover strategies for tribal programs wishing to engage in collaborative services to support kinship and grandfamilies. The webinar addressed how government or private organizations can best prepare for collaboration with tribes. Additionally, the webinar helped participants be able to discuss why grandfamilies and relative care providers can benefit from collaborative approaches among tribes, or between tribes and non-Native government or private service providers; become familiar with principles that support successful cross-cultural and cross-jurisdiction collaboration; and be able to explore and weigh several issues when planning a collaboration. The recording and presentation are available for review.

The U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration hosted a webinar on May 8, 2023 and brought together experts from Native American organizations and tribal entities to discuss the prevalent use of opioids in Tribal communities and how the workforce system combats the impacts associated with the opioid crisis. Following a presentation of an overview on the opioid and substance misuse in Native American communities, representatives from the Cherokee Nation shared how the tribe leverages its workforce system and Department of Labor grants to promote recovery and reintegration.

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.

For Tribal communities working to strengthen child welfare services, understanding how to access and use federal funding can be an important part of building long-term capacity. This webinar PowerPoint from the National Tribal Child Welfare Center for Innovation and Advancement explains three pathways Tribes can use to access Title IV-E funding: operating a direct Title IV-E program, developing a Tribal-State agreement, or working through a Tribal-State contract. Title IV-E can help support costs related to foster care, adoption and guardianship assistance, training, administration, and prevention services.

For Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners, the resource is useful for understanding how child welfare and economic support systems can intersect for families. It also offers a practical way to think about which funding and partnership approach may best fit their community’s existing capacity and goals. The discussion of Tribal-State agreements is particularly helpful for TANF programs interested in building administrative systems, strengthening culturally responsive services, and moving toward greater control over child welfare programs. Rather than simply describing federal funding, the resource helps practitioners consider how different funding arrangements can support stronger systems and better align services with the needs and priorities of Tribal families.

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.

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.

This resource provides a peer example of transportation support designed to help participants transitioning off of Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) to access employment and related activities. It demonstrates how targeted transportation assistance can remove a major barrier to work participation. Tribal TANF practitioners can use the example to explore how transitional transportation services may help participants maintain employment, attend training, and successfully move toward greater self-sufficiency.

Families participating in Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) may face challenges that extend beyond financial hardship. This guide helps Tribal TANF staff recognize family strengths, connect caregivers with supportive services, and respond early to concerns before they become crises. Tribal TANF programs can use the guide to strengthen case management, improve collaboration with child welfare partners, and better support families working toward long-term stability. It offers practical strategies that help TANF caseworkers build trust, keep children safely connected to their families, and reduce the need for more intensive interventions.

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.