The Office of Family Assistance’s (OFA) Systems to Family Stability National Policy Academy (Policy Academy) was an 18-month intensive technical assistance (TA) initiative in 2015–2016 for seven states and one county interested in modernizing and improving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practice. During the initiative, sites received dedicated coaches, onsite strategic planning, access to expert consultants, and tailored written resources. Additionally, they participated in several in-person convenings, peer exchanges, and virtual training. These state profiles detail the journey and lessons learned of the 8 teams that participated in the Policy Academy.

When TANF became law in 1996, welfare recipients were required to engage in work participation activities, and states were required to have 50 percent of their TANF cases meet these participation requirements. The intention of requiring individuals to engage in these activities was to assist individuals in gaining employment and becoming economically self-sufficient. However, the rates at which TANF recipients meet the participation requirements and transition into employment consistent with economic self-sufficiency are disappointingly low. This chapter provides an overview that begins with a more detailed characterization of these issues to provide a context that highlights the importance of the questions this research seeks to answer. The data used in this research essentially constitutes a census of first-time TANF recipients in Utah, and some of the aspects of this data set are subsequently described. Finally, the TANF population is compared to the general population in Utah for the purpose of illustrating the significant differences between these populations.

Utah Department of Workforce Services commissioned the Public Consulting Group to develop two videos about executive functioning to be used in employment counselor trainings. The short videos can be used with employment counselors or case workers in any human services program that want to develop their capacity to recognize and respond to executive functioning challenges among their customers.

The first video, An Overview of Executive Functioning (10 minutes), provides a short primer on the brain science of executive functioning and explains how the concept pertains to the lives of adults in poverty. The video seeks to normalize executive functioning challenges, helping viewers recognize their own weaknesses and strengths, and encourages employment counselors to think about how they can help customers navigate rough situations.

The second video, How to Build Executive Functioning Skills (13 minutes), provides employment counselors with ideas about how to help customers. It explains how to build executive functioning through strategies that many employment counselors are already using, (e.g., coaching, Motivational Interviewing, and trauma-informed care). It offers advice on how to talk to customers about executive functioning challenges and motivate them to improve, and then natural exercises to build skills. It concludes with examples from human services agencies across the country that are implementing executive function-informed models.

The National Association of State Workforce Agencies released this report about State labor market information (LMI) shops. State LMI shops have varying roles and responsibilities in different State governments, and may be part of the State workforce agency or a separate agency, but all LMI shops can foster effective workforce development through the products they disseminate and the services they provide. The report uses Michigan, Utah, and Washington as examples to demonstrate the integral contributions of these States’ LMI shops to the workforce system.

The Utah Family Employment Program Agreement of Mutual Responsibility establishes terms of partnership between the TANF customer and Department of Workforce Services (DWS) employment counselor to ensure that the customer understands what is required to participate in the Family Employment Program. It is presented here in both English and Spanish.

In 2016, Utah Department of Workforce Services launched the “Family Employment Program (FEP) Refocus Academy” to train FEP case workers on Utah’s new family-focused case management model. The Academy consists of seven training modules plus follow-up activities. The Case Management I Training module addressed Motivational Interviewing, assessment, and engaging with TANF participants. The resources include: Motivational Interviewing I Skills, Sample Questions to Elicit Responses from Customers, Assessment in Action, Family Employment Program: Agreement of Mutual Responsibility (in English and Spanish), Talking Points on the Utah DWS Substance Abuse Determination Process, and a Coaching Guide on Identifying Case Management Skills and Strategies to Use When Working with Customers who Demonstrate Difficult Behavior.

In 2016, Utah Department of Workforce Services launched the “Family Employment Program (FEP) Refocus Academy” to train FEP case workers on Utah’s new family-focused case management model. The Academy consists of seven training modules plus follow up activities. These Academy Training Strategy materials illustrate how the Academy is delivered and include: a cohort training schedule; a timeline for training module rollout throughout the year; and a description of “Throughput Rounds,” which is a tool for supervisors to assess skill transfer and reinforce learning.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Family Assistance (OFA), Regions VI and VIII hosted the Bi-Regional TANF Technical Assistance Meeting on June 28-30, 2016 at the Region VI Program Office in Dallas, Texas. The meeting brought together TANF program directors and other stakeholders to discuss innovative strategies and collaborations to learn strategies, engage in strategic dialogue, and build linkages with peers to improve program outcomes and promote economic and social independence for individuals, children, and families. During the meeting, attendees engaged in listening sessions and discussions, shared best practices, and participated in workshops and action planning in order to more successfully serve the program participants in their communities.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Family Assistance (OFA), Regions IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII hosted the Tribal Technical Assistance Meeting on May 3‐5, 2016 at the Hilton Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport Mall of America Hotel in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The meeting brought together Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Native Employment Works (NEW) stakeholders to discuss innovative strategies and collaborations to promote economic and social well‐being for individuals, families, and tribal communities. During the meeting, tribal representatives engaged in talking circles and listening sessions, shared best practices, and participated in workshops and action planning in order to more successfully serve the program participants in their communities.

This annual report is mandated by Utah’s Intergenerational Poverty Mitigation Act, and requires the Utah Department of Workforce Services (DWS) to report on the status of individuals experiencing intergenerational poverty. Since 2012, DWS has met this requirement through coordination of data sharing across the five state agencies that comprise the Intergenerational Welfare Reform Commission, including the Department of Health, Department of Human Services, DWS, Juvenile Courts, and the Utah State Office of Education. This yearly report provides an update on state two-generation activities over the previous year, and includes evidence-based policy recommendations based on the data contained in each report.