GovLoop developed this webinar and companion product to examine how agencies can simplify and modernize forms and document processes to improve the customer experience. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, complicated paperwork and outdated systems can create barriers for both families and staff. Both resources outline practical ways agencies can reduce administrative burden, improve accessibility, and make it easier for clients to complete applications and submit information. TANF practitioners and program leaders can use these ideas to support more efficient service delivery, reduce delays, and create processes that are easier for families to navigate.

Work requirements are a central part of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), but the way they are defined and measured can be difficult to translate into everyday program decisions. This report breaks down how the federal work participation standard works in practice and how states meet it, helping TANF staff connect policy rules to real program operations.

A key detail is that child recipients are not considered work-eligible, meaning families where only children receive TANF assistance—or child-only cases—are excluded from work participation rate calculations. These cases can include situations where grandparents or other relatives are caring for children and receiving assistance on their behalf. Because of this distinction, programs are not evaluated on their engagement of these families in the same way as adult-recipient cases, which can significantly affect reported participation rates.

For TANF practitioners, this resource clarifies where compliance requirements apply and where they do not. It can help TANF programs design work activities that meet federal expectations while still reflecting the realities of the families being served. It can also support more informed program design decisions that balance accountability metrics with meaningful employment and family support strategies.

WorkforceGPS will host a free webinar on May 28, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. ET focused on how agencies can improve coordination through integrated systems and cross-program collaboration. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners, this is especially relevant because families often interact with multiple systems at the same time, including workforce, childcare, child welfare, education, and housing programs. When these systems are not aligned, families may encounter duplicated paperwork, service gaps, or confusion about where to access support.

The webinar will explore how integrated approaches can better align workforce, education, and human services, including TANF programs, by moving from strategy into implementation. It will highlight how data sharing can improve coordination, strengthen efficiency, and support better outcomes, as well as how labor market analysis can inform joint planning and decision-making across systems. Drawing on state examples, the session will share implementation approaches, lessons learned, and real-world impacts, along with practical considerations for putting integration into practice and emerging priorities for strengthening coordinated service delivery.

As part of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, all states are required to submit the Secondary School Diploma or its Recognized Equivalent Attainment Rate report annually, with the first report due on November 14, 2027. This outcome measure is intended to help federal and state policymakers to better understand the effectiveness of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families programs in promoting successful education credential attainment. States have some flexibility in determining the data sources used to create this report. For states planning to collect administrative records, this document is both a roadmap and a checklist that assists you with creating the report and includes additional resources. We suggest that you work through the steps in this document with your team.

The Office of Family Assistance’s TANF Outcomes Technical Assistance and Logistics (TOTAL) team delivers training and technical assistance to state TANF programs and partners responding to the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (FRA). The team hosted their April office hours on April 29th, 2026 to review the National Directory of New Hires (NDNH), which is a database of individual-level employment and earnings information maintained by the Office of Child Support Enforcement. This session included an introduction to the NDNH and provided an overview of the Administration of Children and Families’ (ACF) Updates on Work Outcomes Calculations. The updates include how ACF calculates the three FRA work outcome measures, how NDNH limitations show up in the data, how to interpret provisional results, and what Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs’ reports look like.

Technology is increasingly shaping how human services are delivered, and this resource highlights how states and localities are using tools like AI to improve outcomes. For TANF practitioners, the value lies in seeing what’s possible—especially when it comes to reducing administrative burden and improving how clients access services. It helps bridge the gap between innovation and day-to-day practice, offering examples that can inform program improvements and spark new approaches to service delivery.

For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, access to reliable data is essential: not just for eligibility verification through systems like the Income and Eligibility Verification System (IEVS), but for understanding how families interact with multiple government assistance programs over time. This on-demand webinar recording from the National Center for Education Statistics explores how State-Level Data Systems (SLDS) support that broader view by integrating data across partners.

The value for TANF practitioners is how this resource connects the dots between systems. For example, IEVS provides critical verification data, but SLDS creates the structure that allows agencies to manage, share, and use that data alongside other sources. This webinar highlights how governance, data-sharing agreements, and coordinated practices make that integration possible. TANF staff can use these insights to improve how their programs collaborate with partner agencies, strengthen data quality, and make more informed decisions. It supports more coordinated service delivery and a clearer understanding of outcomes for the families TANF serves.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs rely on accurate, shared data to verify eligibility and coordinate services, but building those data-sharing relationships can be difficult. This on-demand webinar recording from the National Center for Education Statistics focuses on how to engage partners within State-Level Data Systems (SLDS)—the broader platforms that house and manage data across agencies, including systems like the Income and Eligibility Verification System (IEVS).

This recording helps practitioners navigate the human side of that infrastructure, including how to build trust, align priorities, and encourage participation from agencies and providers who may be hesitant to share data. It offers practical ways to strengthen collaboration so TANF programs can more effectively verify information, reduce duplication, and connect families to a broader set of supports.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs collect large amounts of data, but often face challenges turning that data into useful insights. This on-demand webinar explains how strong data governance—clear roles, standards, and processes—can help agencies use their data more effectively. Without a clear approach, data can become fragmented or underutilized. TANF practitioners can apply knowledge gained to improve data quality, support decision-making, and strengthen reporting. Better data governance ultimately helps staff understand client needs more clearly and design services that are more responsive and effective.