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 related activities enacted by the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (FRA). P.L. 118-5. 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.
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.
TOTAL Office Hours: April 2025