Government agencies are exploring artificial intelligence (AI) as a way to streamline routine work, improve services, and make better use of information. But for programs such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), adopting AI is not simply a matter of finding a tool that can save time. Agencies also need to consider how new technology fits into existing processes, protects sensitive information, and affects the people who rely on public services.

GovLoop will host a webinar on September 16 at 2:00 P.M. ET to demonstrate how AI can be used in government operations while keeping practical outcomes in view. For TANF practitioners, this can help frame conversations about where AI may be useful—for example, reducing administrative burdens or helping staff manage information—while recognizing where human expertise and judgment remain essential.

The resource is valuable for TANF leaders and staff who are beginning to explore AI or are already considering how it could fit into their work. It encourages agencies to focus on the problems they are trying to solve rather than adopting technology simply because it is new. That approach can help TANF programs pursue innovation in ways that improve staff capacity and service delivery while keeping participant's needs, privacy, accountability, and trust at the center.

A digital service may look efficient from an agency’s perspective while being confusing or frustrating for the people expected to use it. This guide from GovLoop explains the importance of understanding people’s experiences before redesigning or upgrading digital services. It introduces customer journey mapping and human-centered design as tools agencies can use to identify where people encounter problems and create services that are easier to navigate.

For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners, this approach can be useful when thinking about online applications, eligibility processes, appointment systems, document submission, and other digital interactions with families. Instead of assuming that a difficult process is simply a user problem, practitioners can examine the process from the client’s perspective and identify where confusion, unnecessary steps, or unclear instructions create barriers. The guide can help TANF leaders and staff ask practical questions about what families experience at each stage of accessing services and use that information to make improvements. Its emphasis on listening to users makes it a useful resource for agencies working to make digital services more accessible.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly finding its way into government programs and everyday agency work, but many public agencies are still figuring out how to use these tools responsibly. Govloop will host a webinar on August 20 at 2:30 p.m. ET to discuss a key challenge for government leaders: how to benefit from AI while protecting sensitive information, maintaining security, and preserving public trust.

This webinar will focus on that challenge and will help leaders think through what responsible AI use looks like in practice. It will highlight concerns like “shadow AI,” where staff may use AI tools without clear guidance or oversight, and will emphasize the importance of simple, practical rules so agencies know how AI is being used across their systems.

For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners, this resource is especially important because TANF programs collect sensitive personal and financial information to make decisions that directly affect families’ stability. The webinar may help staff and leaders start conversations about when AI might be helpful, what safeguards need to be in place, and how to ensure decisions remain fair, transparent, and accountable. It can provide support for TANF agencies in exploring innovation in a thoughtful way—so new tools improve service delivery without putting client trust, privacy, or program integrity at risk.

As the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program marks nearly 30 years, conversations about the program’s original intent is gaining renewed attention. This opinion piece reflects on how families, the workforce, and state programs have changed since welfare reform was first enacted in 1996 and argues that today's policies should be reformed to meet current needs.

This article by the Assistant Secretary of Administration for Children and Families, Alex Adams, and the Office of Family Assistance Director, David Swegle, could serve as a useful discussion starter for TANF practitioners because it encourages thinking beyond day-to-day program operations and considering how policy changes could affect the families they serve. Whether you work directly with participants or help shape program decisions, the resource highlights questions about balancing work, family stability, and long-term economic mobility. It can also support conversations with colleagues about how TANF can continue helping families overcome barriers to employment while adapting to today's economic realities.

In April 2026, the Office of Family Assistance launched the TANF Program Integrity Office Hours: a series of topical peer learning sessions where state agencies can share what's working, explore real challenges, and walk away with practical strategies they can use. This webpage hosts session recordings with companion tools, lessons learned, and helpful resources.

Benefit cliffs can create difficult choices for families as earnings increase and public assistance begins to phase out. The American Public Human Services Association will host a webinar on June 22, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. ET to explore strategies for helping families navigate these transitions while continuing to build financial stability. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, the discussion will provide valuable perspectives on how policies, program design, and service delivery can support economic mobility without creating unintended barriers. TANF practitioners can use the information to better understand participant experiences and identify approaches that help families move forward with confidence.

The ACF Office of Family Assistance (OFA) hosted a webinar to summarize the open Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM): Strengthening TANF as a Safety Net and Work Program and instructed interested parties on how to submit a formal comment.

The NPRM is intended to strengthen TANF's role in supporting family well-being and work, as well as creating additional accountability for states to ensure TANF funds serve their intended purpose, while maintaining state flexibility. 

Review the recording here as you are preparing to submit formal comments on the NPRM for HHS consideration. Comments are due December 1, 2023. HHS welcomes comments from all affected parties and will closely review and consider every comment it receives. We refer you to the NPRM on information on how to submit comments if you wish to do so. 

If you have questions about the webinar, please email TANFquestions@acf.hhs.gov. 

Employment coaching involves trained staff working collaboratively with participants to help them set individualized goals related to employment and providing motivation, support, and feedback as participants work toward those goals. Recently, there has been growing interest among policymakers, practitioners, and researchers in using employment coaching to assist Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients and other adults with low incomes become economically mobile. This Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation report highlights the evaluation that was designed to assess the implementation and effectiveness of the four programs participating in the Employment Coaching for TANF and Related Populations study. The report answers the following research questions: In what contexts were programs implemented? How did the designs of the programs vary and differ? How was coaching implemented across programs? The programs highlighted in this evaluation are: • Family Development and Self-Sufficiency, which serves TANF recipients and their family members in Iowa. • Goal4 It!TM, which provides employment coaching to TANF recipients in Jefferson County, Colorado in lieu of traditional case management. • LIFT, which is a voluntary coaching program operated in four U.S. cities. • MyGoals for Employment Success, which serves recipients of housing assistance in Baltimore, Maryland, and Houston, Texas.

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