Research and Policy to Address Financial Instability Among Older Adults

Record Description

Financial instability among older adults is becoming an increasingly important issue for many families served by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), particularly in multigenerational and kinship households. The Institute for Research on Poverty will host a webinar on May 20, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. ET to examine challenges such as poverty, food insecurity, and housing instability among older adults while also discussing policy strategies that can improve their economic security. For TANF practitioners, the webinar will provide helpful context for understanding how financial hardship affects entire family systems, including grandparents and older caregivers raising children. This webinar can also support conversations around cross-system collaboration, benefit access, and service planning for households that may be balancing caregiving responsibilities with economic strain.

Record Type
Combined Date
2026-05-20T14:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2026-05-20

Navigating the Tide: Connecting Our Child, Youth and Family-Serving Systems for a Stronger Future

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs often depend on strong partnerships with child welfare, education, and other family-serving systems, but those connections can be difficult to build and sustain. UC Davis will host an event on June 10-12, 2026 in Garden Grove, California to offer a practical opportunity to strengthen coordination. This event will bring together professionals across sectors to focus on how services can work together more effectively.

The sessions are designed to share strategies for improving collaboration, engaging families more meaningfully, and aligning services so participants experience a more connected system. This can help reduce gaps that families often face when navigating multiple programs, making it easier for them to access consistent support. Whether you are working on program design, case management, or partnerships, this event will offer both ideas and relationships that can strengthen how TANF services are delivered.

There is a registration fee for participation.

Record Type
Posting Date
Combined Date
Sponsor
UC Davis
Location
Hyatt Regency Orange County
11999 Harbor Blvd
Garden Grove, CA
92840
Event Date
-

Strengthening Integrity in Child Care Subsidy Programs: Addressing Fraud Risk Through Design, Not Disruption

Record Description

Childcare support is a key piece of how Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs help parents work, attend training, and stay on track toward stability. But increased attention on fraud and improper payments can create pressure to tighten rules in ways that may unintentionally limit access. The American Public Human Services Association will host a webinar on June 4, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. ET that will focus on how better system design can prevent issues before they happen, rather than reacting after the fact.

The webinar will walk through where childcare subsidy breakdowns typically occur, such as in eligibility, attendance tracking, or payment processes, and shows how aligning these pieces can reduce errors without adding extra steps for staff or families. For TANF practitioners, this helps address a common challenge: maintaining program integrity while keeping services accessible and manageable. It points to practical ways to build safeguards directly into everyday workflows.

By understanding that many issues stem from system gaps rather than individual behavior, TANF staff can use this resource to strengthen oversight in a way that supports both accountability and access—helping ensure families continue receiving the childcare support they need to stay employed.

Record Type
Combined Date
2026-06-04T13:30:00
Source
OFA Initiatives
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2026-06-04

Rising to the Challenge: How State and Local Governments Use Technology and AI

Record Description

Technology is increasingly shaping how human services are delivered, and this resource highlights how states and localities are using tools like AI to improve outcomes. For TANF practitioners, the value lies in seeing what’s possible—especially when it comes to reducing administrative burden and improving how clients access services. It helps bridge the gap between innovation and day-to-day practice, offering examples that can inform program improvements and spark new approaches to service delivery.

Record Type
Combined Date
2026-04-01T00:00:00
Source
OFA Initiatives
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2026-04-01

Benefit Redeterminations Aren’t Going Away: How Consent-Based Automation Helps States Manage the New Normal

Record Description

Frequent eligibility checks can create administrative strain for both Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) staff and the families they serve. This American Public Human Services Association resource addresses that challenge directly by exploring how automation—when designed with client consent—can simplify the verification process through tools such as Argyle. Automation is an effective way to reduce workload while also minimizing disruptions for families who rely on benefits. TANF programs can use these ideas to rethink how redetermination is handled, making processes more efficient without losing sight of client trust and accessibility.

Record Type
Combined Date
2026-04-28T00:00:00
Source
OFA Initiatives
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2026-04-28

Cross Agency Data Sharing, Governance, and Practice

Record Description

For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, access to reliable data is essential: not just for eligibility verification through systems like the Income and Eligibility Verification System (IEVS), but for understanding how families interact with multiple government assistance programs over time. This on-demand webinar recording from the National Center for Education Statistics explores how State-Level Data Systems (SLDS) support that broader view by integrating data across partners.

The value for TANF practitioners is how this resource connects the dots between systems. For example, IEVS provides critical verification data, but SLDS creates the structure that allows agencies to manage, share, and use that data alongside other sources. This webinar highlights how governance, data-sharing agreements, and coordinated practices make that integration possible. TANF staff can use these insights to improve how their programs collaborate with partner agencies, strengthen data quality, and make more informed decisions. It supports more coordinated service delivery and a clearer understanding of outcomes for the families TANF serves.

Record Type
Combined Date
2026-01-01T00:00:00
Source
OFA Initiatives
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2023-03-21

Strategies for Creating Buy-In and Engaging Reluctant SLDS Partners

Record Description

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs rely on accurate, shared data to verify eligibility and coordinate services, but building those data-sharing relationships can be difficult. This on-demand webinar recording from the National Center for Education Statistics focuses on how to engage partners within State-Level Data Systems (SLDS)—the broader platforms that house and manage data across agencies, including systems like the Income and Eligibility Verification System (IEVS).

This recording helps practitioners navigate the human side of that infrastructure, including how to build trust, align priorities, and encourage participation from agencies and providers who may be hesitant to share data. It offers practical ways to strengthen collaboration so TANF programs can more effectively verify information, reduce duplication, and connect families to a broader set of supports.

Record Type
Combined Date
2026-01-01T00:00:00
Source
OFA Initiatives
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2024-11-04

Data Governance: How to Make Data Work for Your Agency

Record Description

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs collect large amounts of data, but often face challenges turning that data into useful insights. This on-demand webinar explains how strong data governance—clear roles, standards, and processes—can help agencies use their data more effectively. Without a clear approach, data can become fragmented or underutilized. TANF practitioners can apply knowledge gained to improve data quality, support decision-making, and strengthen reporting. Better data governance ultimately helps staff understand client needs more clearly and design services that are more responsive and effective.

Record Type
Combined Date
2026-05-04T00:00:00
Source
OFA Initiatives
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2026-05-04

Modernizing Government Budgeting

Record Description

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs operate within tight and often complex funding structures, making it critical to plan and allocate resources effectively. GovLoop will host a webinar on May 14, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. ET to explore practical approaches to modernizing budgeting processes so agencies can be more flexible and responsive. It will address traditional budgeting methods that don’t always keep pace with changing program needs. For TANF practitioners, the webinar will offer ideas for aligning funding decisions with real-time data and program priorities. Adopting these strategies could lead to better use of funds, improved service delivery, and stronger outcomes for families relying on TANF support.

Record Type
Combined Date
2026-05-14T14:00:00
Source
OFA Initiatives
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2026-05-14