Research and Evaluation Conference on Self-Sufficiency (RECS)

Since 1998, the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has convened the Research and Evaluation Conference on Self-Sufficiency (RECS) to present the latest findings from evaluations of programs, policies, and services that support low-income and vulnerable families on the path to economic self-sufficiency. For nearly 20 years, the RECS been a leading forum for researchers, State and local administrators, practitioners, and Federal officials and policymakers to discuss cutting-edge research on family self-sufficiency and social welfare programs and policies. The next RECS, which will take place May 30-June 1, 2018, will provide an opportunity to gather in Washington D.C. and hear the latest findings from evaluations of social welfare programs and policies, discuss ways to incorporate findings into the design and implementation of programs, and develop strategies for future evaluations. The agenda for the three-day RECS includes six different session tracks (http://recsconference.net/2018agenda_detail.htm). The deadline for registration has been extended to May 17.
Record Type
Posting Date
Combined Date
Sponsor
Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation
Location
Washington, DC
Event Date
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ACF Blog: Welfare Reform 2.0

Record Description
This blog post from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF) describes how the President’s proposed FY2019 budget request for ACF aims to strengthen the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. High priorities of the Trump Administration are encouraging work, changing the culture of dependence on government assistance, and reducing poverty. The President’s budget hopes to focus on work and support integrated approaches to helping families reach self-sufficiency.
Record Type
Combined Date
2018-02-15T19:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2018-02-16
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)

TANF-ACF-PI-2017-04 (Renewed Form ACF-202, Caseload Reduction Report)

Record Description
The purpose of this OFA Program Instruction is to transmit the renewed form ACF-202 and instructions for completing that form, which states must use to report caseload reduction information for fiscal year 2018 and thereafter.
Record Type
Combined Date
2017-11-05T19:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2017-11-06
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)

TANF-ACF-IM-2014-03 (Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Opportunities and TANF Resources For Prevention and Action)

Record Description
In recognition of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Administration for Children & Families (ACF) program offices have released a series of Information Memoranda (IM) and other guidance discussing the importance of addressing domestic violence situations and providing resources and support for victims and their families.
Record Type
Combined Date
2014-10-19T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2014-10-20

Developing SIMPLER Solutions

Record Description
This infographic from MDRC describes the behavioral principles applied in the Behavioral Interventions to Advance Self-Sufficiency (BIAS) project. The goal of the BIAS project was to use insights from behavioral science to improve human services programs that serve low-income families. Each letter in the SIMPLER acronym corresponds to a behavioral concept, and the infographic provides a definition for each concept and an example of how one of the BIAS sites applied it.
Record Type
Combined Date
2017-09-30T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2017-10-01
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)

ACF Blog: The Dignity of Work and Welfare Reform

Record Description
This blog post from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families details the reasoning behind a recent decision to rescind waivers from TANF work requirements. Strengthening work requirements is not intended to be punitive, but rather to emphasize the importance of work as a crucial means of attaining self-sufficiency. The goal of this new policy is to help states engage TANF participants in work and work activities more consistently.
Record Type
Posting Date
Combined Date
2017-08-29T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2017-08-30
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)

OFA Guidance on 2017-18 State Family Assistance Grant Amounts

Record Description
The Office of Family Assistance has issued guidance that informs states of their revised State Family Assistance Grant (SFAG) amounts for fiscal years 2017 and 2018. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017 reduced the amount of funds available for states by 0.33 percent in fiscal year 2017 and fiscal year 2018 to set aside funds for research, technical assistance, and evaluation.
Record Type
Posting Date
Combined Date
2017-06-19T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2017-06-20

OFA PeerTA Website Demo

Record Description
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families' (ACF) Office of Family Assistance (OFA) hosted this webinar that highlights the redesigned OFA PeerTA (PeerTA) website. PeerTA facilitates information sharing between states, counties, localities, tribal organizations, and community-based organizations working with TANF participants and families. The PeerTA website functions as the communications vehicle for the PeerTA model by facilitating dialogue at the state, county, local, and tribal level. In this brief webinar, we provided a demo of the key features of the PeerTA website and how the website can support TANF stakeholders in their work with families.
Record Type
Posting Date
Combined Date
2015-04-28T11:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
Upload Files
Attachment Size
PowerPoint 1.23 MB
Transcript 284.45 KB

ACF Blog Spotlight

Record Description
The ACF blog - The Family Room - talks about new initiatives at the agency, success stories and policy announcements. The blog also provides links that help direct viewers to other parts of ACF's website.
Record Type
Posting Date
Combined Date
2015-02-03T19:00:00
Source
Region
City/County

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Policies and Practices to Prevent the EBT Transactions at Specified Locations

Record Description
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) proposed to amend the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) regulations to require states to maintain policies and practices that prevent TANF-funded assistance from being used in any electronic benefit transfer transaction in specified locations.
Record Type
Combined Date
2014-07-15T11:27:57
Source
Region
City/County