This report provides an executive summary of the Rapid Response Technical Assistance event in Chicago, Illinois, sponsored through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance. In response to a joint technical assistance request from Regions V (Chicago) and VII (Kansas City), the Rapid Response project team conducted secondary research and telephone discussions on a variety of TANF issues, identified as being of concern to the constituent States of these regions, to present at the event. This report includes an overview of the meeting as well as the descriptions of TANF promising practices from around the country that were discussed by participating States.

This publication is through the U.S. Department of Labor and includes a series of snapshots of partnerships between employers and faith-based and community organizations (FBCOs). Faith-based and community organizations can support populations with multiple barriers to work in promoting long-term job retention. This document highlights successful partnerships between FBCOs and employers, and shows how such partnerships can be beneficial for both FBCOs and employers.

This resource is from the U.S. Department of Labor on how workforce investment board (WIBs) and faith-based and community organization (FBCO) grantees have worked effectively together. Such partnerships can transform the performance and capacity of the workforce system, communities, and regional economies. The grantees have developed programs that can help local communities align resources, support families with multiple barriers in transitioning into the workforce, and sustaining and growing collaboration.

The U.S. Department of Labor, Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and the Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice, in conjunction with the Council of State Governments Justice Center published this resource for state government officials and representatives of faith-based and community organizations. This guide offers information on how to create and sustain collaborative efforts to reduce recidivism and to help people returning to the community from prisons or jails lead productive and law-abiding lives.

This Welfare Peer Technical Assistance Network site exchange was conducted to support the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families in exploring the WeCARE (Wellness, Comprehensive Assessment, Rehabilitation, Employment) program of the Human Resources Administration (HRA) in New York City. The site exchange took place on October 31, 2008, and the Welfare Peer Technical Assistance Network facilitated the visit and interaction between the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, staff from the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) and Arbor, the contractor who operates WeCARE in Brooklyn. The site exchange featured presentations by both HRA and Arbor staff responsible for the program, tours of the Brooklyn facility; a tour of a community partner’s office, a tour of the medical facility at a local hospital and dialogue among participants to discuss the details of operations and the implementation of the current program.

On November 13-14, 2008, the Welfare Peer Technical Assistance Network sponsored a two-day site exchange to New York City (NYC) Human Resources Administration (HRA). The purpose of the Technical Assistance (TA) was to provide the Hawaii Department of Human Services the opportunity to observe NYC’s use of JobStat, which allows the city to set goals, monitor, and measure outcomes of performance indicators established for NYC Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) participants, workers, job centers, and vendors. Hawaii was also able to learn about NYC HRA’s Wellness, Assessment, Rehabilitation, and Employment (WeCARE) program that serves NYC TANF and Safety Net participants who have clinical barriers to employment.

This Teleconference took place on November 18, 2008 as part of a follow-up to the Rural Communities Academy that occurred in September 2008. Many participants expressed some interest in learning more about how to utilize AmeriCorps volunteers in their program, as well as in their community. This teleconference includes five presentations on how to utilize AmeriCorps in rural programs as well as a question and answer session.

This presentation was given as part of the Eleventh Annual Welfare Research and Evaluation Conference, which is sponsored through the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation. Richard Fording, University of Kentucky, Sanford Schram, Bryn Mawr College, and Joe Soss, University of Wisconsin-Madison conducted this research to see how race influenced how a client was sanctioned in Florida. It was found that while TANF is a race-neutral policy, it can produce race-based disadvantage.

The interaction between child support and TANF is vital for the success of not only each program, but also, and more importantly, each client’s success. As a result, Welfare Peer TA sponsored a Focus Group in Anaheim, California called “TANF/Child Support Enforcement Collaboration.” The Focus Group emphasized the need for collaboration between the child support enforcement and TANF agencies, and the need for solutions to identify gaps in services for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) participants.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives just released this document, and the Center at The Department of Labor is pleased to pass it along to you. This document provides one more vital resource for the Faith-Based and Community Organization (FBCO) community. Previous works from both DOL as well as other federal agencies have highlighted working with the U.S. Government, local businesses and other community organizations. The publication provides one more tool for FBCOs to use. The guide provides practical information for State and local officials, as well as tribes and tribal-serving organizations, on developing and enhancing effective partnerships with FBCOs.