To increase participant engagement, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs must create and offer programming that reflects community needs. This Chapin Hall resources describes how New Mexico strengthened their vital services across the state by drawing on local input. Researchers from Chapin Hall and the Anna, Age Eight Institute conducted town halls and focus groups in seven counties with providers and residents to gather firsthand accounts of barriers preventing families from accessing medical care, childcare, housing, food, transportation, and behavioral health services. Residents described systems that were fragmented, under-resourced, and difficult to navigate, and reported staff interactions that increased their feelings of shame and stigma while seeking help. For TANF practitioners, this report is both a mirror and a roadmap. It reflects what families across the country commonly experience, and it offers concrete, community-generated solutions. It is also a strong model for how to conduct meaningful community listening, a skill all TANF program staff can use as they work to improve client engagement and outcomes.

The core mission of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is helping families reach self-sufficiency, but that goal is much harder when a parent is trying to go to school, raise children, and hold a job at the same time, all without reliable childcare or transportation. A two-generation (2Gen) approach tries to solve for the whole family at once by supporting parents' education and careers while investing in children's development. This report from Jobs for the Future examines Rising Futures Maine, an initiative that invests in community-based organizations as local 2Gen leaders that connect student parents to education and career pathways. The work spans three counties and includes models focused on cohort-based coaching, barrier removal, industry credentials, and even a father-focused pilot addressing long-standing gaps in engaging noncustodial parents. For TANF practitioners, this resource looks at what it takes, operationally and relationally, to support parents as both caregivers and students. The recommendations the report offers on sustaining funding, protecting income supports, and using data on student parents are directly applicable to how TANF programs are designed and prioritized.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly influencing how people work, learn, and access information. WorkforceGPS is hosting a four-part webinar series to introduce foundational AI concepts and explore the skills needed to navigate a rapidly changing workplace. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners, the series can help build understanding of emerging technologies while identifying ways participants may benefit from AI-related knowledge and workforce skills. It will offer an accessible starting point for staff who want to stay informed about technology trends and prepare participants for future employment opportunities.

Benefit cliffs can create difficult choices for families as earnings increase and public assistance begins to phase out. The American Public Human Services Association will host a webinar on June 22, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. ET to explore strategies for helping families navigate these transitions while continuing to build financial stability. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, the discussion will provide valuable perspectives on how policies, program design, and service delivery can support economic mobility without creating unintended barriers. TANF practitioners can use the information to better understand participant experiences and identify approaches that help families move forward with confidence.

Families often need more than a single service to achieve lasting economic mobility. As a facilitation model for building long-term collaboration between communities, public systems, and nonprofit partners, the Blue Sky Possibilities Framework encourages organizations to think broadly about family well-being and identify opportunities to better support children, parents, and caregivers. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners, the framework can serve as a planning and discussion tool for exploring how programs can address both immediate needs and long-term goals. It helps TANF staff consider what conditions support family success and where partnerships, policies, or services may create stronger outcomes.

As workforce needs continue to change, career and technical education programs are adapting to prepare individuals for new opportunities. This MDRC podcast explores how education and training programs are responding to shifts in the labor market and what that means for workers seeking career advancement. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners, the discussion offers insights into emerging workforce trends and strategies that can help participants gain skills aligned with employer demand. It can also spark ideas for TANF programs to strengthen employment pathways and help families move toward long-term economic stability.

Families involved with both the child welfare and child support systems often face financial pressures that can affect reunification efforts. This Institute for Research on Poverty report examines how child support policies may influence a family's ability to reunify after foster care placement. While focused on system interactions, the findings provide valuable context for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners who support families working toward greater stability and self-sufficiency. Understanding these economic challenges can help TANF staff better coordinate services, identify barriers families may be facing, and connect parents with resources that support successful reunification.

Many children in rural communities are being raised by grandparents or other relatives, yet these caregivers often face unique challenges accessing services and support. This Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network guide highlights strategies for reaching and engaging kinship and grandfamilies, helping practitioners better understand the barriers these families may encounter. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, the resource offers practical ideas for connecting families to benefits, strengthening family stability, and ensuring caregivers know where to turn for assistance. It can help TANF staff identify gaps in outreach and develop approaches that better meet the needs of rural families.

Many fathers enter child welfare involvement feeling confused, sidelined, or even afraid. They may not know their rights, aren't sure who to talk to, or don't understand how their involvement, or lack of it, affects their child's case. This Child Welfare Information Gateway resource was written for fathers to help them find their footing. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners can share it as a first step in building trust with a father who is uncertain about his role. When fathers understand the social services (TANF, child welfare, etc.) system, they are better equipped to show up, and when they show up, families have a stronger foundation for lasting stability.

Saying "fathers are welcome" is not the same as actually engaging them. This toolkit from the University of California, Davis offers concrete activities and approaches that help social services organizations make fathers feel like genuine partners, not afterthoughts. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs can use it to audit their current practices, spot the gaps, and try new strategies for outreach and involvement. The toolkit is especially useful for TANF teams who want to be more father-inclusive but aren't sure where to start. It turns intentions into practical steps.