NGA Center for Best Practices

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program was reauthorized in early 2006 as part of the 2005 Deficit Reduction Act (DRA), followed by interim and final regulations. To better understand states’ responses to the amended law and regulations, the NGA Center for Best Practices, in conjunction with the American Public Human Services Association, conducted a national survey of state TANF administrators in summer 2007. Based on survey responses, states have adopted strategies that cluster around one of four main goals: engaging more clients in work activities, reducing periods when individuals are not engaged in work, making strategic decisions on caseload composition, and rewarding work and promoting economic self-sufficiency.

Issue Brief (pdf)

Overview

In February 2006, Congress reauthorized the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program with the passage of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA). The new provisions for TANF present both a challenge and an opportunity for state welfare programs. Since the creation of TANF in 1996, states have been highly successful at moving record numbers of welfare recipients into employment and off the welfare rolls. However, new provisions in the DRA challenge the states to do even more in the future.

Focus of Center Activities

The Center for Best Practices provides technical assistance to state policymakers and program administrators to help them respond to the emerging challenges and opportunities in welfare reform reauthorization. The Center conducts meetings for state officials on policy strategies and program options, prepares publications on a variety of topics such as improving employment outcomes of TANF recipients, and provides in-depth, customized assistance to individual states on issues relating to welfare and low-income families.

Related Links:

Welfare Reform Reauthorization Resources

Deficit Reduction Act of 2005
Interim Final Rule (Federal Register, June 29, 2006)
ACF presentation of TANF Interim Final Rule (June 2006)
ACF Fact Sheet: TANF Work Activities
CRS Report for Congress: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Block Grant: FY2007 Budget Proposals
Analysis of New Interim Final TANF Rules (CLASP and CBPP, July 2006)
Implementing the TANF Changes in the DRA: "Win-Win" Solutions for Families and States (CLASP and CBPP, May 2006)
Strategies for Increasing Participation in TANF Education and Training Activities (CLASP, April 2006)
Welfare Reauthorization Resources (The Finance Project, May 2006)

Welfare Data and Research

State TANF Spending (US Dept of HHS)
State TANF Work Participation Rate Information (US Dept of HHS)
Welfare Caseload Information (US Dept of HHS)
Database of Welfare and Income Security Research (Research Forum on Children, Families, and the New Federalism)
The Brookings Institution Center on Children and Families
The Finance Project Economic Success Clearinghouse
Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. Welfare Policy Research
MDRC Welfare & Barriers to Employment
The Urban Institute Welfare Reform: Ten Years Later
Welfare Peer Technical Assistance Network Provides peer-to-peer technical assistance to public agencies and private organizations implementing TANF.

State and Local Government Organizations

American Public Human Services Association (APHSA)
National Association of Counties (NACO)
National Conference of State Legislatures, Welfare Reform (NCSL)
National League of Cities (NLC)
U.S Conference of Mayors (USCM)

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