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 Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA).

Child support can play an important role in helping families achieve greater financial stability. This report reviews how the child support enforcement system has changed since PRWORA and explains its relationship with public assistance programs. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners can use this resource to better understand how child support policies affect the families they serve, strengthen collaboration with child support agencies, and help parents access resources that support their children's well-being while working toward greater economic independence.

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 Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA).

Reliable childcare is often essential for parents to participate in employment, education, and training activities. This report explores how childcare programs have changed over the past three decades and why those changes matter for families with low incomes. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners can use this resource to better understand the role of childcare in supporting family self-sufficiency, strengthen partnerships with childcare providers, and connect families to services that help remove barriers to work and long-term economic stability.

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 Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA).

This report looks at how Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) has evolved since its creation in 1996, highlighting key policy changes and trends over time. It is a useful resource for TANF administrators, managers, and frontline staff who want to better understand the program's history and how it has adapted to meet the changing needs of families. The report can help inform TANF program planning, staff training, and discussions about future improvements while providing important context for serving families more effectively.

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 Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA).

This report examines how Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for children with disabilities has changed over the past 30 years and what those changes mean for families with low incomes. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, it provides valuable context on how disability benefits can complement TANF services and support children with significant needs. TANF staff can use this resource to better understand how families may access multiple supports, strengthen referrals, and coordinate services that promote family stability and financial security.

Families participating in Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) may face challenges that extend beyond financial hardship. This guide helps Tribal TANF staff recognize family strengths, connect caregivers with supportive services, and respond early to concerns before they become crises. Tribal TANF programs can use the guide to strengthen case management, improve collaboration with child welfare partners, and better support families working toward long-term stability. It offers practical strategies that help TANF caseworkers build trust, keep children safely connected to their families, and reduce the need for more intensive interventions.

Proposed changes to work requirements and time limits can have significant implications for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs and the families they serve. This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) outlines potential changes that would provide states with greater flexibility in how work requirements and term limits are implemented. While the proposal is not final policy, it offers insight into possible future directions and priorities that could affect program operations.

TANF administrators and policy staff can use this resource to better understand the proposed changes, assess potential impacts on their programs, and inform planning efforts. Reviewing proposed rules early can help programs prepare for future policy developments, engage in discussions about implementation considerations, and consider how increased flexibility could support families facing barriers to employment while maintaining progress toward self-sufficiency.

Families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) often rely on housing assistance as part of their overall support system. This Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) report examines work requirement policies in HUD-funded assisted housing programs and explores how those requirements are implemented across different housing settings.

For TANF practitioners, the report provides useful context for understanding the housing-related policies that may affect the families they serve. By learning how housing work requirements interact with employment expectations in other programs, TANF staff can better coordinate services, reduce participant confusion, and help families successfully navigate multiple systems while working toward economic stability.

Helping families achieve self-sufficiency often requires coordinated support across multiple programs and service systems. This Department of Housing and Urban Development guidebook provides practical strategies for designing, managing, and strengthening Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) programs, including participant engagement, case management, goal setting, and partnership development.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) administrators and frontline staff can use this resource to identify approaches that support long-term success for participants. This guidebook offers ideas for strengthening case management practices, improving participant retention, and building stronger connections between employment, education, housing, and other services. Programs looking to enhance family-centered approaches may find valuable lessons that can be adapted to their own work.

Many families receiving housing assistance are working toward the same goals that Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs support: stable employment, increased earnings, and long-term financial independence. The Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program helps participants build assets as their income grows, creating opportunities to save money while working toward personal and professional goals.

For TANF practitioners, this Department of Housing and Urban Development webpage highlights a valuable partner program that can help families move beyond immediate assistance and build lasting economic stability. TANF staff can use it to identify referral opportunities, strengthen partnerships with housing agencies, and connect participants to supports that encourage employment, savings, and self-sufficiency.

Keeping up with policy updates and guidance can be challenging for programs that work across multiple benefit systems. The Food and Nutrition Administration’s collection of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) work requirement policy resources brings together federal guidance, policy memoranda, and related materials that help explain how work requirements are implemented and administered.

For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) agencies, this collection can serve as a valuable reference when training staff, responding to participant questions, and coordinating services with SNAP partners. By staying informed about SNAP policies, TANF practitioners can better support families receiving multiple forms of assistance and help ensure participants have access to the information they need to successfully meet program requirements.