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Pandemic-Era Innovations for the Future of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Programs
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Pandemic-Era Innovations for the Future of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Programs

How Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs transformed traditional practice to meet new challenges, and where TANF programs can go from here
Published: Dec 15, 2021
Publisher: Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Human Services Family Support TANF and Employment Issues Analytics & Operations Technical Assistance LI2

Clients

OPRE Logo

Authors

Jonathan McCay

Ellen Bart

Key Findings

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, TANF programs:

  • Found creative ways to administer and deliver program services virtually
  • Worked to increase access to and use of technology among participants and staff
  • Revised approaches to promoting participant engagement and accountability

Public health restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic forced TANF and other human services agencies to significantly change their workforce and service delivery models. These changes ushered in a wave of adaptations and innovations in how TANF programs operate, many of which could be sustained beyond the pandemic. This brief highlights themes related to innovations in use of technology and participant engagement.

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