Research-To-Practice Brief

Adult Basic Education and Literacy Programming for TANF Recipients

Studies have shown that literacy levels are strongly positively correlated with earnings and socioeconomic status, with high literacy levels associated with higher earnings. The effect is not limited to only adults in the household. Research highlights the importance of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs investing in adult basic education (ABE) to not only improve the earnings and employment outcomes for adults but also improve future outcomes for children in the household. This Office of Family Assistance brief explains how these investments aligns with TANF purpose two as literacy programming have downstream effects on the entire family and can lead to higher-paying jobs that increase economic independence and reduce benefit churn, where families exit TANF (or other means-tested benefits) only to reapply shortly thereafter. The brief highlights programs that utilized federal or state TANF dollars to provide programming that focuses on increasing literacy levels and skills gain, along with providing supportive services, to lead to better outcomes.

Source
OFA Peer TA
State
Kentucky
Washington
Topics/Subtopics
Employment
Education and Training
Adult Basic Education
TANF Program Administration
Publication Date
2025-05-15
Section/Feed Type
PeerTA Resources (OFA Initiatives)
Upload Files
Attachment Size
Adult Basic Education TANF Brief_508.pdf 306.37 KB
TANF Regulatory Codes
45 CFR Part 260.20 – (b)