Goal4 It!™ is a participant-centered framework for working with TANF participants to set goals, break their goals down into manageable steps, develop specific plans to achieve the steps, and regularly review their goal progress. This report summarizes the design and implementation of Goal4 It!™ at the Jefferson County, Colorado, Department of Human Services. The agency implemented Goal4 It!™ as an alternative to the traditional case management provided by Colorado Works, its TANF program. 

This case study report is intended for staff at all levels of government who work within agencies that promote the well-being of children and families. It explains how Montgomery County, Maryland’s Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) enterprise integrated case management system (eICM) shares data across more than 70 DHHS programs, allowing staff to better understand their clients, more efficiently serve them, and improve their outcomes. The report discusses why the eICM was implemented, how the eICM works, how the eICM team overcame various data privacy and confidentiality challenges, and how the eICM benefits the residents served. It includes several lessons learned and recommendations from the people who developed and use the eICM.

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the way many human services agencies operated. The stress, trauma, and grief caused by the pandemic prompted agencies to rethink how they engaged with and supported their clients. It also forced agencies to experiment with new approaches to address persistent stress and trauma experienced by their own staff. This Mathematica podcast brings together research experts and leaders of human services programs to discuss trends that have emerged in human services agencies during the pandemic.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Family Assistance (OFA) conducted the 2021 National TANF Directors’ Meeting from September 20 - 24, 2021. This Innovation Station video highlighted Coaching for Success—a free 14-module eLearning Curriculum that OFA made available to all State and Tribal TANF agencies and Native Employment Works (NEW) programs. The purpose of the curriculum is to train employment case managers in how to leverage coaching techniques to improve their case management skills. The adapted video gives a brief overview of the first eight modules and features Module 4 which focuses on active listening and eliminating distractions.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Family Assistance (OFA) conducted the 2021 National TANF Directors’ Meeting from September 20 - 24, 2021. During this concurrent workshop, a presentation examined how Connecticut’s Welfare to Work program responded to COVID-19 by shifting to a virtual service delivery system while building staff capacity to deliver services remotely statewide. Discussion covered how Connecticut’s initiative kept participants connected and engaged with their Employment Services program during COVID. Lessons learned also included a review of how COVID will impact future program operations, including the implementation of virtual orientation sessions.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Family Assistance (OFA) conducted the 2021 National TANF Directors’ Meeting from September 20 - 24, 2021. During this concurrent workshop, panelists explored how Tribal TANF and NEW programs can consider expanding virtual services to motivate participants to pursue opportunities, especially those which may have been previously inaccessible. Speakers discussed a variety of strategies used in the past year to create virtual education and training opportunities and virtual case management services for clients, as well as how these offerings were developed, challenges along the way, witnessed successes, and recommendations for programs considering offering similar resources. This session concluded with a review of OFA’s Coaching for Success eLearning modules, which program staff can use to provide virtual coaching and mentorship to participants.

This case study profiles Kentucky’s Targeted Assessment Program (TAP), which provides comprehensive assessment and intensive case management for parents in the state’s child welfare and TANF systems. The program’s goals are to support participants in overcoming barriers to self-sufficiency and family safety with a focus on mental health, substance use, intimate partner violence, and learning disabilities or deficits in 35 counties statewide. The case study also notes services provided by TAP; how the program manages staffing, communication, and funding; and how program participation and outcomes are measured. The case study also highlights TAP’s promising approaches, challenges, and future plans.

(See also Resources on "domestic violence" in the Resource Library)

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs are exploring new ways to improve services while helping staff meet growing demands. This MDRC video examines how organizations can thoughtfully evaluate artificial intelligence (AI) tools before using them to support clients. Rather than focusing only on technology, the video offers practical guidance for selecting tools that improve service delivery, protect client information, and complement staff expertise. TANF leaders and practitioners can use these insights to make informed decisions about incorporating AI into programming and identify opportunities to enhance client engagement without compromising trust or program quality.

In July 2026, the Administration for Children and Families released notice of funding opportunities for two highly anticipated competitive kinship navigator funding opportunities. Applications are due August 7, 2026.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs frequently support grandparents and other relatives who step in to care for children during difficult times. This resource explains federal funding opportunities available to Kinship Navigator Programs, which help caregivers connect with services such as financial assistance, legal support, health care, and community resources. TANF practitioners may want to consider strengthening partnerships with kinship organizations in pursuit of these grants to improve referrals and ensure the caregivers they work with receive the support they need to create stable homes for children. Additional supporting information is provided, including a toolkit for developing kinship navigator programs, a list of kinship navigator programs across the country, and a webinar recording examining which federally approved kinship navigator program model is right for your state or Tribe.