This report, which examines social service enrollment reforms in FL, PA, TX, and WA, informs the state of California and stakeholders as they consider changes in the enrollment process for public health and social services programs.

Assessment is often the first step in helping TANF recipients living with a disability find and maintain employment. This brief describes five different approaches to assessment: disability screening, psychosocial assessments, clinical and psychological assessments, functional needs assessments,...

Some TANF recipients may have disabilities that would qualify them for the specialized employment preparation services Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies provide. This brief explores the benefits and challenges of linking TANF and VR services, describes partnerships that have been formed in...

Highlights operational lessons from a Pennsylvania initiative that operated from 1998 through early 2001 and contributed to the state's current program of pre- and postemployment services for TANF recipients. Notes implementation challenges, including lower than expected enrollment, job...

Notes that case management, the program's central feature, was valued by participants, but more concrete services, such as help with child care, transportation, or work-related issues, may be helpful.

Provides an early, in-depth look at newly employed welfare recipients in Allegheny County, PA, who are taking part in a voluntary employment retention program, finding that most are keeping their jobs but may need help with job advancement.

To address challenges faced by hard-to-employ TANF clients, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, in partnership with the Nebraska Health and Human Services System, operated the Building Nebraska Families (BNF) program from 2002 to 2005. The initiative combined intensive home visitation...

The study, conducted by Mathematica Policy Research, the Urban Institute, and Don Winstead Consulting, included interviews with state and local respondents in 8 states and 11 localities from February 2012 to May 2013. The findings describe 12 strategies for TANF/WIA coordination that are in use...

This brief summarizes the other briefs in this series and includes some additional material. It describes four broad strategies: (1) new work opportunities for TANF recipients, (2) administrative strategies, (3) TANF policy changes, and (4) creation of new programs.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) agencies are operating in a challenging post-recession environment, with growing program demands and shrinking state and local budgets.