In this guide about two-generation strategies, the authors offer state and local policymakers ideas as they begin to develop and implement these new approaches in their areas. The guide provides an overview of the recent innovative two-generation programs and several examples of the model that illustrate different approaches with strong workforce and/or educational components. Additionally, the authors present five facilitating factors that may be linked to the success of two-generation strategies, including supportive policy frameworks, leadership, program administration, integrated and flexible funding streams, and evidence-oriented culture. Finally, the guide concludes with detailed steps used to establish these strategies, as well as recommendations for policymakers interested in implementing a two-generation approach.

Children born into low-income families are at greater risk of experiencing persistent poverty during their childhood and long-term negative effects on their health, financial success, and general well-being. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) offers an opportunity to achieve two-generational goals for parents and their infant children. However, underfunded services and barriers to access can hold parents back and make it harder for them to lift their families out of poverty. This report from CLASP recommends a new framework for thinking about TANF in the context of the first year of a child’s life.

OFA published data on TANF recipients in Fiscal Year 2013. Seventy-three tables provide data for FY 2013 of TANF program recipients by characteristics and financial circumstances.

This blog post highlights the work of a Family and Youth Services Bureau grantee, the Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy (ACAP). ACAP partners with local teen pregnancy prevention groups and other stakeholders to provide more effective services to youth. In 2014, they found that most youth reported positive perceptions of their programs.

The Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance (OFA) hosted the OFA Peer Exchange Workshop: Strengthening Collaboration between TANF and WIOA, on September 21-22, 2015 in Bethesda, Maryland. Since TANF is included as a required partner with the workforce one-stop system under the new Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), this workshop brought together teams from states across the country to develop a plan for strong TANF and WIOA collaboration.

This resource, published by Nova Southeastern University, outlines strategies and provides examples of techniques used in Motivational Interviewing. For each technique, the authors include both a rationale for the technique and samples of the technique in use. In this brief, the authors cover the following topics: Asking Permission, Eliciting/Evoking Change Talk, Exploring Importance and Confidence, Open-Ended Questions, Reflective Listening, Normalizing, Decisional Balancing, Columbo Approach, Statements Supporting Self-Efficacy, Readiness to Change Ruler, Affirmations, Advice/Feedback, Summaries, and Therapeutic Paradox. The strategies and techniques sketched out in this resource provide practitioners with real world examples of how to implement Motivational Interviewing in day-to-day interactions with clients.

This 2-page resource from Nova Southeastern University provides tips for using the five general principles of Motivational Interviewing: 1) expressing empathy, 2) developing discrepancy, 3) avoiding argumentation, 4) rolling with resistance, 5) supporting self-efficacy. The resource describes what motivational interviewing is not, including how to avoid making assumptions about others, and provides tips about strategies for handling resistance and helping participants explore goals and hopes for the future.

The federal government provides assistance aimed at helping people with low-incomes who may earn too little to meet their basic needs, cannot support themselves through work, or who are disadvantaged in other ways. With fiscal pressures facing the federal government and the demands placed on aid programs, GAO was asked to examine federal low-income programs. This report: (1) describes federal programs (including tax expenditures) targeted to people with low incomes; (2) identifies the number and selected household characteristics of people in poverty; (3) identifies the number, poverty status, and household characteristics of selected programs' recipients; and (4) examines research on how selected programs may affect incentives to work. For a list of low-income programs that were $100 million in obligations or more in fiscal year 2013, GAO consulted with the Congressional Research Service; surveyed and interviewed officials at relevant federal agencies; and reviewed relevant federal laws, regulations, and agency guidance. GAO also conducted analyses on low-income individuals using Census data on the SPM and official poverty measure and microsimulation data from the Urban Institute that adjusts for under-reporting of benefit receipt in Census survey data. To examine labor force effects, GAO reviewed economic literature.

This resource from Generations United focuses on frequently asked questions and resources that may be useful to grandparent and relative caregivers. Oftentimes, TANF is the only financial support available for grandfamilies. The information from this fact sheet can help grandparent and relative caregivers access the supports they need by utilizing TANF and/or other federal programs.

OFA published data on state implementation of the five-year time limit on federally-funded TANF assistance. By law, a state may not use TANF funds to provide assistance to a family that has an adult head-of-household who has received federal assistance for a total of five years (i.e., 60 cumulative months, whether or not consecutive).