Building financial security starts with making sure families know about available opportunities. This Urban Institute resource explores early findings showing that many families who could benefit from new Trump Accounts are unaware the program exists. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners, the resource reinforces the importance of outreach and trusted communication when introducing new benefits or savings opportunities, like the Trump Accounts. The resource can help TANF programs think about how to share information more effectively, encourage participation, and connect eligible families with tools that may support their children's long-term financial well-being.

The Office of Human Services and Emergency Preparedness and Response, in partnership with The Council of State Governments, will host a webinar on July 16, 2026, from 2:00-3:00 P.M. ET to examine how the Social Work Licensure Compact enhances disaster preparedness, response, and recovery by increasing workforce mobility and strengthening human services delivery. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners and social workers can play a vital role in disaster relief and emergency preparedness, and multistate licensure can help ensure affected communities receive timely, coordinated support during emergencies. This webinar is open to the public and is free.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) non-assistance funds flow through workforce boards, employment program providers, and community partners—but data about service delivery often lives in separate systems. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has identified this as a core program integrity challenge: without cross-agency data infrastructure, TANF agencies struggle to assess provider performance, identify service gaps, and connect spending to participant outcomes.

As a result, the Office of Family Assistance’s State and Tribal Technical Assistance and Resources (STAR) team developed the TANF Program Integrity Office Hours as a series of topical peer learning sessions where TANF agencies can share what's working, explore real challenges, and walk away with practical strategies they can use to address the challenge identified by GAO.

This recording includes key takeaways from the June session, highlights from peer discussions, and an overview of how to use and navigate the companion resource, which can help TANF programs assess and strengthen their own provider contracts and accountability structures.

This report is part of the Congressional Research Services series that focuses on changes in programs affecting low-income children in light of the upcoming 30-year anniversary of the enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA).

Child support can play an important role in helping families achieve greater financial stability. This report reviews how the child support enforcement system has changed since PRWORA and explains its relationship with public assistance programs. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners can use this resource to better understand how child support policies affect the families they serve, strengthen collaboration with child support agencies, and help parents access resources that support their children's well-being while working toward greater economic independence.

This report is part of the Congressional Research Services series that focuses on changes in programs affecting low-income children in light of the upcoming 30-year anniversary of the enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA).

Reliable childcare is often essential for parents to participate in employment, education, and training activities. This report explores how childcare programs have changed over the past three decades and why those changes matter for families with low incomes. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners can use this resource to better understand the role of childcare in supporting family self-sufficiency, strengthen partnerships with childcare providers, and connect families to services that help remove barriers to work and long-term economic stability.

This report is part of the Congressional Research Services series that focuses on changes in programs affecting low-income children in light of the upcoming 30-year anniversary of the enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA).

This report looks at how Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) has evolved since its creation in 1996, highlighting key policy changes and trends over time. It is a useful resource for TANF administrators, managers, and frontline staff who want to better understand the program's history and how it has adapted to meet the changing needs of families. The report can help inform TANF program planning, staff training, and discussions about future improvements while providing important context for serving families more effectively.

This report is part of the Congressional Research Services series that focuses on changes in programs affecting low-income children in light of the upcoming 30-year anniversary of the enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA).

This report examines how Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for children with disabilities has changed over the past 30 years and what those changes mean for families with low incomes. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, it provides valuable context on how disability benefits can complement TANF services and support children with significant needs. TANF staff can use this resource to better understand how families may access multiple supports, strengthen referrals, and coordinate services that promote family stability and financial security.

Helping families achieve economic security requires more than employment services. This Child Trends brief examines Virginia's Comprehensive Health Investment Project, a comprehensive case management program that helps families with low incomes meet immediate needs, such as housing and other basic supports, while also working toward long-term education and employment goals. The findings show how a whole-family approach can improve employment outcomes over time. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners can use these insights to strengthen case management, build partnerships with community providers, and better connect families with the coordinated supports they need to achieve lasting economic stability.

With funding from the U.S. Department of Labor, Jobs for the Future (JFF) partnered with organizations across 24 states to expand pre-apprenticeship and Registered Apprenticeship programs that create career pathways for young people ages 16–24. This JFF resource explores what can help participants successfully transition from pre-apprenticeship into Registered Apprenticeships and where common barriers exist. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners can use these insights to strengthen career pathways for youth and young adults, build partnerships with apprenticeship programs, and connect participants to in-demand careers that lead to long-term employment and economic stability.

Approximately one in seven young people in New York City between the ages of 16 and 24 are not in school or not working. This MDRC brief examines the Advance & Earn program, which combines education, career coaching, and paid work experiences to help young adults build skills and prepare for employment. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs serving opportunity youth can use these findings to explore strategies for engaging young adults who face barriers to work, supporting them as they complete training and creating stronger pathways to long-term employment and economic independence.