As a newly emerging field, the definition of implementation science and the type of research it encompasses may vary according to setting and sponsor. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) provides resources and an FAQ to provide a basis of understanding around implementation science.

This issue brief discusses some of the fundamentals of quality program implementation that have been identified through research and practice and that may be useful for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers alike. Research on quality program implementation has identified a number of factors that can significantly improve implementation processes to increase the effectiveness of programs.

This brief from the National Implementation Research network suggests that human services infrastructure requires a significant investment for effective implementation so that proven effective programs and practices can be broadly adopted and used to increase socially noteworthy results.

This video from the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s KIDS COUNT Data Center shows how the data center provides critical information about children and families to stakeholders, including federal and state legislators, advocates, activists, journalists, and community members. The data can be sorted by state, county, city, congressional district, school district, and nationwide. The KIDS COUNT Data Center empowers its users to make a difference in the lives of families and children across the country.

This report from the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation describes the programmatic factors within the current TANF environment that may influence the numbers of work-eligible individuals or families with zero reported hours of participation. Additionally, the report highlights promising strategies used by state and local TANF agencies to encourage client engagement.

The Office of Family Assistance (OFA) has posted Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) caseload and application data for the fiscal year and current year of 2014. Also posted are the caseload and application data for the first quarter of fiscal year 2015.

On July 1, 2015, the National Skills Coalition (NSC) hosted this webinar focused on opportunities for integration between the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) systems. The Webinar featured national and local experts to address key principles for aligning human capital investments to produce better outcomes for individuals and local economies.

On Tuesday, March 24, 2015, the Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood (HMRF) Technical Assistance Team conducted a webinar entitled, “Keeping the Ship Afloat: Reducing Staff Turnover and Building Stability Systems.” The webinar provided context, challenges, and solutions associated with retaining staff and managing transitions. Featured speakers discussed promising practices and lessons learned from research and a veteran program with extensive experience. HMRF also released a factsheet that highlights effective strategies programs can use to retain staff and maintain services during staff transitions. Additionally, a supplemental checklist provides tools to manage and maintain staff commitment to the program.

This post from a TANF program specialist at the Office of Family Assistance (OFA) describes OFA’s efforts in improving TANF programs across the country. To share ideas about improving case management, integrating two-generation approaches, engaging workforce partners, and enhancing training, OFA has launched a national policy academy. The first groups to enter the academy are Connecticut, Colorado, Maryland, North Carolina, Ramsey County (Minnesota), Utah, Washington, and West Virginia.

As part of Policy Futures, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) examines what works in terms of federal and state policies and programs to reduce poverty and promote opportunity for low-income populations. This resource synthesizes the findings of poverty researchers around the country on program effectiveness. This effort seeks to inform discussions about new investments in poverty reduction programs, as well as reforms of existing programs.