This National Responsible Fatherhood video explores the unique qualities and vibrant community spirit that define West Virginia. Known for its deep-rooted rural traditions and close-knit communities, West Virginia is a state where family and community bonds run deep. Topics covered in this video include: 

• The strong sense of unity and mutual support that characterizes West Virginia's towns and rural areas;
• The evolving demographic landscape;
• The stark differences between regions within the state, such as the resource-rich eastern side of Greenbrier County and the more challenged western side; and
• The remarkable resilience of West Virginians in the face of economic hardships and substance use challenges.

The Office of Family Assistance published this Dear Colleague Letter to address how states may use TANF funds to expand educational choice and support families who choose educational alternatives to governmental entities, including private and faith-based options. State agencies and other interested parties may find it helpful to review prior guidance, TANF-ACF-PI-2005-01, which provided information about when and how federal TANF and state maintenance-of-effort funds may be used for early childhood education, school readiness, kindergarten, and other public education programs. 

The Office of Family Assistance released these resources to aid grantees in data reporting for TANF, SSP-MOE, and Tribal TANF.

This Office of Family Assistance information memoranda provides guidance regarding the definition of federal public benefits. In 1998, the Department of Health and Human Services identified 31 programs that provide federal public benefits. Albeit a few exceptions, these programs, including TANF, are required to verify immigration and citizenship status of applicants in order to ensure that only qualified aliens receive the programs' benefits and services.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment and Training (E&T) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) have a shared goal of helping individuals/families achieve economic independence through employment. Coordinating SNAP E&T and TANF programs can enhance service delivery and improve employment outcomes for families with low incomes.

Generally, States cannot provide TANF cash assistance and SNAP E&T services to families simultaneously. However, four state agencies—Colorado, Utah, Vermont, and Wisconsin—are authorized under 7 CFR 273.7(d)(1)(ii)(H) to use SNAP E&T funds to support individuals who receive TANF cash assistance. This fact sheet highlights the work of Utah and Washington as well as explains how the integration of program administration, funding, and service delivery can enhance efficiency and may improve outcomes for participants.

As part of implementation of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) of 2023, state and territory TANF programs are required to submit the Work Outcomes of TANF Exiters Report by May 15, 2025. This report is mandatory for states and territories to submit on a quarterly basis.

The TANF Work Outcomes Reporting Requirement – What You Need to Know guide will walk you through the submission process for the report, including: 

• What needs to be included;
• How to create the report;
  • Includes formatting advice for Excel users;
• How and where to submit the report; and
• What happens after the report is submitted? 

The Office of Family Assistance’s TANF Outcomes Technical Assistance and Logistics (TOTAL) team delivers training and technical assistance to state TANF programs and partners responding to the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (FRA). The team hosted their April office hours, which provided clarity on work outcomes reporting requirements. 

For any questions or assistance on education outcome measures, contact the TANF Data Division at tanfdata@acf.hhs.gov. 

This National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse resource provides tips for fatherhood programs to:

1. Plan Strategically;
2. Develop and Maintain Solid Partnerships;
3. Document and Evaluate;
4. Tell Their Story;
5. Respond to Changing Social Contexts;
6. Develop Multiple Funding Sources; and
7. Lead Systems Change.

This National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse state profile examines the interaction between fathers and programs funded by the West Virginia Department of Human Services to support families, particularly the program services available through the TANF program.

The Office of Family Assistance published data tables which show TANF and Separate State Programs-Maintenance of Effort (SSP-MOE) caseloads separately, as well as combined by state and at the national level from October 2023 through September 2024. The tables are cross-tabbed to include total numbers of recipients, adult recipients, child recipients, families, one-parent families, two-parent families, no parent families, and monthly caseload data.