TANF at 30
Landmark Dates for TANF
From the Director of the Office of Family Assistance:
- Thirty Years Later, Welfare Reform Needs Its Own Reform
- TANF and Work: The Gap Between Perception and Reality
- TANF and Work: The Caseload Reduction Credit and How States Exploit It
- The Prevalence of TANF Child-Only Cases Involving Immigration-Status-Ineligible Parents
- Safeguarding TANF Assistance: State Options for EBT Location and Purchase Restrictions
Families are Stronger Together
The Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network will co-host a webinar on October 27, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. to explore policies and programs that support relatives and other kin raising children, both inside and outside the foster care system.…
When children lose a parent, they may be eligible for Social Security survivor benefits based on their parent’s work history. However, some states have redirected these benefits to cover the costs of foster care rather than preserving the funds…
All 50 states have joined the Administration for Children and Families’ (ACF’s) A Home for Every Child (AH4EC) initiative, which aims to improve the availability of foster homes nationwide. ACF has now launched the A Home for Every Child…
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is accepting recommendations for domestic violence prevention and support programs to be reviewed for potential inclusion in the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse. The goal is to…
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has released six best practices to help states strengthen child welfare ombudsman offices and use feedback from children, youth, and families to improve services. The recommendations include…
Kinship caregivers, including grandparents, relatives, and other family members, play an important role in providing children with safe, stable homes while maintaining family connections. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has…
Work Innovations
Human services and post-secondary education systems often work with the same individuals but may operate separately, making it harder for people to connect their education goals with the supports they need to succeed. The American Public Human…
The National Youth Employment Coalition (NYEC) will host a webinar on October 22, 2026 at 2:30 p.m. ET to focus on how Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I can help youth and young adults with disabilities access employment.…
The Alabama Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education Initiative (AHMREI) offers free relationship education classes and online resources for adults, couples, and youth across Alabama. Its materials cover practical skills such as communication…
Helping people move into employment is a central goal for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, but participants may face barriers that make finding work difficult. This Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation report…
How do families teach children to manage money, and what can Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners do to help parents build these skills? This Child Trends resource explores how parents and caregivers talk with children…
WorkforceGPS will host a webinar on October 15, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. ET to discuss state strategies for expanding worker participation and advancement. The topic is relevant to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) agencies seeking to help…
Promoting Healthy Marriages and Two-Parent Families
How do families teach children to manage money, and what can Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners do to help parents build these skills? This Child Trends resource explores how parents and caregivers talk with children…
The Director’s Corner provides a regularly updated collection of resources selected or highlighted by the Director of the Office of Family Assistance, David Swegle. Recent resources address timely Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)…
The Competitive Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) is a federal funding opportunity that supports organizations working with adolescents and young adults to build skills for healthy relationships,…
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is seeking input on the use of research from a range of audiences working in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or related family self-sufficiency programs. TANF…
As the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program marks nearly 30 years, conversations about the program’s original intent is gaining renewed attention. This opinion piece reflects on how families, the workforce, and state programs…
This report is part of the Congressional Research Services series that focuses on changes in programs affecting low-income children in light of the upcoming 30-year anniversary of the enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity…