About TOTAL
The Office of Family Assistance (OFA) launched the TANF Outcomes Technical Assistance and Logistics (TOTAL) project to provide compliance support to state TANF programs responding to new statutory work outcomes reporting requirements and other administrative and reporting activities enacted by the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (FRA). P.L. 118-5. TOTAL provides design and implementation support to selected pilot states that will test innovative approaches aimed at promoting work and reducing government dependency.
TOTAL is led by OFA with contracted support by MEF Associates and its subcontractors, MDRC and Mathematica.
The Pilot Program aims to support states and build new evidence on whether being accountable for work and economic outcomes rather than the work participation rate (WPR) leads to stronger employment outcomes, lower dependency and increased family stability.
CLOSED: Request for Applications due August 15, 2025: State TANF Pilots
Effective October 1, 2024, the FRA requires that states report the data necessary to produce outcomes on work-eligible individuals who leave TANF, including employment, retention, earnings, and diploma attainment. MEF Associates, along with partners at MDRC will provide technical assistance to help states build their data capacity and identify and implement strategies for using data to identify the best opportunities for making program changes that may lead to better outcomes.
FRA Outcomes Working Group Flyer
Best Practices to Improve TANF Survey Response Rates for the FRA Secondary School Attainment Measure
TANF Work Outcomes Measures Technical Resource
TOTAL Office Hours: May 2025 (Post-Submission for Work Outcomes of TANF Exiters Report)
May 15, 2025: Submission Deadline for Q1 FY2025 Work Outcomes of TANF Exiters Data
May 12, 2025: FRA Submission Functionality Announcement: Jurisdictions without Designated Submitters
May 9, 2025: FRA Submission Functionality Available: Jurisdictions with Designated Submitters
Work Outcomes of TANF Exiters Report – Submission Timeline
TANF Work Outcomes Reporting Requirement – What You Need to Know
TOTAL Office Hours: April 2025