Want practical ways to boost your program’s employment outcomes and help advance core purposes of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)? The Office of Family Assistance is sponsoring The Family Routes Initiative (FRI) to assist TANF programs in achieving employment, two-parent family formation, and responsible fathering goals, and invites TANF program staff of all levels to join us for a special Office Hours session on July 30th, 2026, from 2:00-3:00 PM ET.

Why Attend? 

The Administration for Children and Families launched the FRI to facilitate the transfer of practical Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood (HMRF) tools to help human services programs improve practical skills of TANF program staff and enhance the experience of families and participants engaged in TANF services. Participation in the initiative is intended to strengthen key skills and program capacities. 

Drawing from proven HMRF research and practices, this interactive, open forum will provide peer-to-peer and expert facilitated training, ideation, and design support focused on improving practical relational and employment-related skills, while linking participating programs with tailored technical assistance for strengthening employment and social outcomes for TANF participants.

Key Takeaways for Your Program:

• Emotional Regulation: Model emotional self-regulation and co-regulation skills with participants to manage daily stressors.
• Healthy Communication: Integrate practical communication skill-building directly into your existing employment and family services to strengthen participant engagement and improve employment outcomes.
• Advance TANF Purposes: Gain actionable strategies to help your program build economically stable and intact families.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has proposed changes to the regulations governing federal financial assistance, including grants and cooperative agreements that support programs administered by states, tribes, local governments, and nonprofit organizations. If finalized, the proposed rule could affect how federal funding is awarded, managed, monitored, and reviewed across a wide range of human services and workforce programs.

The National Congress of American Indians will host a webinar on July 1, 2026 at 3:00 P.M. ET to provide an overview of the proposed changes and their potential implications for organizations that receive or administer federal funds. For Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, understanding these proposed revisions is important for anticipating how future changes to federal grant requirements could affect program operations, compliance responsibilities, partnerships, and funding administration. The session will offer an opportunity to learn about the rulemaking process, key provisions under consideration, and ways stakeholders can stay informed as the proposal moves forward.

The Workforce Pell initiative expands federal Pell Grant eligibility to certain short-term training programs, creating new opportunities for individuals seeking credentials that can lead to employment in high-demand industries. As states and training providers begin implementing the program, understanding how Workforce Pell will operate is essential for workforce and human services professionals.

This Jobs for the Future roadmap provides a practical overview of Workforce Pell, including eligibility requirements, the role states play in approving programs, and key implementation considerations. It also highlights the challenges states and institutions may face as they build the systems needed to support eligible nondegree credential programs.

For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners, the Workforce Pell has potential to increase access to financial aid for participants pursuing short-term training that aligns with employment goals. This resource can help TANF programs understand emerging opportunities, identify eligible training pathways, and prepare to connect participants with programs as they become available.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking public input on the modernization of CareerOneStop and O*NET, two key workforce information resources used by job seekers, workforce professionals, and employment service providers nationwide. The effort is intended to improve access to career exploration, training, labor market information, and employment resources through a more user-friendly, mobile-accessible platform with enhanced functionality.

DOL is specifically seeking feedback from workforce practitioners, state and local workforce agencies, and other stakeholders on how these tools can better support frontline service delivery, reflect regional labor market needs, and improve the user experience for job seekers. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners, this RFI is an opportunity to share insights on how clients with employment barriers interact with career and workforce information systems and identify enhancements that could strengthen case management and employment outcomes. Comments will be accepted through August 10, 2026.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) serves over 40 million Americans annually, and SNAP program integrity involves multiple federal and state responsibilities, including eligibility verification, payment accuracy oversight, fraud investigations, claims recovery, and efforts to address rising third-party EBT theft. Because many Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) families also receive SNAP, practitioners regularly encounter situations where these issues intersect: a client whose EBT card was skimmed, a case flagged for review, or a question about what "payment error" means. This American Public Human Services Association report walks through the full picture of common SNAP fraud: the different types of integrity risks, the critical difference between intentional fraud and honest mistakes, how the investigation and enforcement process works, and what states are doing to protect benefits from theft.

It is important to distinguish between intentional fraud, unintentional household or agency error, retailer trafficking, and third-party benefit theft, because different integrity risks require different prevention, investigation, oversight, and recovery approaches. For TANF practitioners, this resource is a practical reference for real situations — helping you speak accurately with clients, navigate conversations with partner agencies, and support families whose benefits have been compromised.

When a parent can't care for their child, a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or close family friend often steps in without a second thought, even when it stretches their own household thin. These kinship caregivers are doing something remarkable, and the research confirms it makes a real difference. Children raised by kin experience fewer school disruptions, fewer placement changes, and better mental health outcomes than their peers in traditional foster care. Yet despite this, fewer than 12% of eligible kinship caregivers ever receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits.

This Chapin Hall resource highlights the positive outcomes associated with kinship care and examines the barriers that can prevent caregivers from receiving needed assistance. For TANF practitioners, it offers practical insights into the unique needs of kinship families and strategies for improving outreach, coordination, and service delivery. Whether you're strengthening partnerships with community-based organizations, developing referral processes, or helping families connect to benefits, this research provides evidence-based approaches to better support kinship caregivers and the children in their care.

This Congressional Research Service issue brief explains the structure and intent of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) work requirements and how they function within the broader program design. For TANF staff, this resource helps connect policy intent with day-to-day practice by clarifying what federal expectations are trying to achieve and how states have flexibility in implementation. This resource can be useful in training new staff or supporting policy discussions where programs are considering adjustments to work participation strategies or engagement approaches.

As states continue to examine how public assistance programs support employment and self-sufficiency, understanding existing work requirement policies is critical. This Congressional Research Service report provides a detailed look at how work requirements are structured across Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), housing assistance programs, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), helping practitioners understand the broader policy landscape that affects the families they serve.

For TANF programs, this report can support policy planning, staff training, and collaboration with partner agencies. It helps TANF practitioners identify similarities and differences across programs, anticipate how policy changes may affect participants, and develop strategies to reduce administrative burden for families who are managing multiple benefit programs at once.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs often serve families who are participating in multiple public benefit programs at the same time. Understanding how work requirements differ across programs can help staff provide more accurate guidance and reduce confusion for participants. This Congressional Research Service issue brief offers a side-by-side overview of work requirements in TANF, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, and rental assistance programs, making it easier to see where rules align and where they differ.

TANF administrators, case managers, and workforce staff can use this brief to strengthen cross-program coordination, improve participant communication, and help families navigate multiple requirements. It is especially useful for identifying potential challenges that may arise when families are working toward employment while maintaining access to essential supports such as food, healthcare, and housing.

Financial stability can play an important role in helping fathers support their children and strengthen their families. Financial Foundations is a free, virtual curriculum designed to help participants build practical skills related to budgeting, saving, debt management, and other key financial topics. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families programs, particularly those offering responsible fatherhood services, can share this opportunity with the fathers they serve and encourage their interested participants to apply. The curriculum can help fathers build financial confidence, make informed financial decisions, and develop skills that support long-term economic stability for themselves and their families.