The Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance (OFA) hosted the OFA Peer Exchange Workshop: Strengthening Collaboration between TANF and WIOA, on September 21-22, 2015 in Bethesda, Maryland. Since TANF is included as a required partner with the workforce one-stop system under the new Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), this workshop brought together teams from states across the country to develop a plan for strong TANF and WIOA collaboration.

On June 22, 2015, the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance (OFA) convened the Strengthening Collaboration between TANF and WIOA National Experts Roundtable in Washington, DC. The roundtable brought together a select group of practice, policy, and research experts to discuss the opportunities and challenges that the new Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) system offers to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) participants, programs, and systems.

The Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Family Assistance through the OFA Peer Technical Assistance (PeerTA) Network held a webinar on “Providing Effective Employment and Supportive Services to Low-Income Women with Criminal Records,” on July 22, 2015 from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. EDT. This free webinar explored strategies utilized to overcome barriers to employment and to successful re-entry into mainstream society. The conversation was about understanding the effect incarceration has on the individual, her children, and the family, and centered on innovative uses of case management, education and training, and employment strategies. Speakers from the Office of Family Assistance, ICF International, College and Community Fellowship, Center for Employment Opportunities, and the STRIDE Program at Quinebaug Valley Community College in Connecticut discussed their experiences and strategies used to help low-income women overcome the barrier of a criminal record, find and maintain employment, and move their families out of poverty.

Gwen Porter, Tribal Council Secretary, Omaha Tribe of Nebraska (Omaha) submitted a technical assistance (TA) request to the OFA Peer Technical Assistance (OFA PeerTA) Network for assistance in supporting their new Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Because it is a new program and the majority of Tribal TANF staff has limited experience delivering this type of support, Omaha was specifically interested in developing their policies/procedures manual and receiving onsite training regarding case management and assessment practices. Omaha’s Tribal TANF program employs three caseworkers to serve a maximum of 224 TANF participants. OFA PeerTA conducted a Tribal TANF Case Management and Assessment Training in November 2014. The participants represented Tribal TANF (intake and case management staff), Child Welfare, Tribal Justice, Substance Abuse Prevention, Tribal Council, Tribal Health, and Domestic Violence Prevention departments.

 During the case management post-TA check-in call, Tribal leaders requested a strategic planning session to improve communication and coordination between these programs. The strategic planning session involving Tribal Council members and various program directors was designed to help the Tribe better identify the "big picture" on how low-income tribal members interact with public assistance programs, receive services, find and maintain employment, and become self-sufficient. The two-day strategic planning session was held in Macy, Nebraska from May 12-13, 2015.