Strengthening Families through Father Engagement in TANF: Part 2 - What Father-Focused Programs Do to Engage and Serve Dads

Record Description

This video provides an overview of three types of father-focused programs—Responsible Fatherhood, Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education, and Home Visiting— and their services. The video explains these programs so that Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs can identify opportunities for coordination and partnership to support TANF participants in forming and maintaining strong and stable families.

This video is the second in a three-part series designed to describe how Fatherhood Engagement programming and services can enhance TANF cash assistance programs to support the formation and stability of two-parent families and foster responsible parenting. The corresponding resource list allows viewers to access any links mentioned in this series.

Record Type
Combined Date
2026-04-09T00:00:00
Source
OFA Initiatives
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2026-04-09
Upload Files
Attachment Size
FatherhoodResourcesPT2_508.pdf 187.48 KB

Strengthening Families through Father Engagement in TANF: Part 1 - Why Fathers Matter

Record Description

This video explains the benefits of fatherhood engagement and how programs that serve fathers can support Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) participants in forming and maintaining strong and stable families.

This video is the first in a three-part series designed to describe how Fatherhood Engagement programming and services can enhance TANF cash assistance programs to support the formation and stability of two-parent families and foster responsible parenting. The corresponding resource list allows viewers to access any links mentioned in this series.

Record Type
Combined Date
2026-04-09T00:00:00
Source
OFA Initiatives
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2026-04-09
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)
Upload Files
Attachment Size
FatherhoodResourcesPT1_508.pdf 187.48 KB

30-Day Comment Period Open for Work Participation Rate Calculation Changes: Recalibration of the Caseload Reduction Credit and Prohibition of Small Checks in Work Participation Rate Calculation

Record Description

The Administration for Children and Families published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on April 6, 2026, outlining changes to TANF work participation rate calculations, including recalibration of the caseload reduction credit and updates to how certain benefit payments are counted. These proposed updates may significantly affect how states measure performance and structure work activities. During the public comment period, stakeholders should review the proposed rule to understand potential impacts on program operations, reporting, and participant engagement, and are encouraged to submit feedback by May 6, 2026, to help inform the final rulemaking.

Record Type
Combined Date
2026-05-06T00:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2026-05-06
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)

Human-Centered Income Verifications Improve Programs and Build Trust

Record Description

The American Public Human Services Association will host a webinar on April 29, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. ET to discuss consent-based income verification and highlight strategies that improve program efficiency while strengthening trust with participants. TANF programs can use these approaches to streamline eligibility processes, reduce administrative burden, and enhance the overall customer experience while maintaining program integrity.

Record Type
Combined Date
2026-04-29T13:00:00
Source
OFA Initiatives
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2026-04-29
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)

The Upward Mobility Act: A State Solutions Framework for Benefit Cliffs

Record Description

The Sutherland Institute offers this framework which outlines state policy options to address benefit cliffs that can discourage career advancement. For TANF programs, it provides actionable approaches to smooth transitions off assistance, ensuring participants can pursue higher earnings without risking sudden loss of critical supports.

Record Type
Combined Date
2026-03-26T00:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2026-03-26
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)
Question / Response(s)

A Question about 3rd Party Expenditures & MOE

Question Text

A representative from South Dakota’s Department of Social Services is seeking information from states that have experience applying third-party expenditures within employment services contracts toward their TANF MOE requirement. The representative would like to learn more about that process, including whether states have successfully counted third-party expenditures from contracted employment service providers toward MOE, how these arrangements were structured and documented, and any challenges encountered during implementation or federal review. They are also interested in whether partnering with external providers has contributed to improved employment outcomes for TANF participants. States are welcome to share any examples, guidance, best practices, or lessons learned to inform program planning and strengthen approaches to supporting participant employment.

Add new comment

Plain text

  • No HTML tags allowed.
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Date
April 2026
Source
OFA Peer TA
Agency/Organization
South Dakota Department of Social Services
State
South Dakota
Topics/Subtopics
Employment
TANF Program Administration
Program Integrity
TANF Policy and Legislation

A Home for Every Child: Aligning Policy, Practice, and Data

Record Description

New federal efforts like A Home for Every Child, updated CFSRs, and emerging performance dashboards signal a shift in direction that raises new questions about how systems can better support children, families, and the workforce. At the center of the conversation is a shared goal: helping every child grow up in a safe, stable home. The American Public Human Services Association will host a webinar on April 9, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. ET to discuss what this evolving landscape means in practice.

Record Type
Combined Date
2026-04-09T13:00:00
Source
OFA Initiatives
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2026-04-09
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)

SAVE Overview

Record Description

The U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services hosted a webinar on April 8, 2026 to provide an overview on Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE). In the webinar, they explained how SAVE works, explain how to register, and offer resources and support.

Record Type
Combined Date
2026-04-08T13:00:00
Source
OFA Initiatives
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2026-04-08
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)

Resilient Children, Struggling Parents: Mapping American Parenting

Record Description

This Institute for Family Studies report examines the challenges many parents face in balancing economic pressures, caregiving responsibilities, and overall well-being. Findings highlight how financial stress, limited supports, and caregiving demands can affect family stability and long-term outcomes. For TANF programs, the report reinforces the importance of two-generation strategies that address both parental needs and child well-being, ensuring that supports such as child care, employment services, and mental health resources are aligned to strengthen the entire family unit.

Record Type
Combined Date
2026-02-27T00:00:00
Source
OFA Initiatives
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2026-02-27
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)

Consent-Based Verification Is Essential for Modern Benefits Administration

Record Description

This American Public Human Services Association resource outlines how consent-based data verification can modernize benefits delivery by reducing administrative burden and improving the client experience. Traditional verification processes can create barriers that limit access to critical supports, particularly for low-income families. By adopting more streamlined, consent-driven approaches, TANF programs can enhance program integrity while making it easier for eligible families to enroll and maintain benefits, supporting both efficiency and access.

Record Type
Combined Date
2026-02-25T00:00:00
Source
OFA Initiatives
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2026-02-25
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)