Office of Family Assistance (OFA)

TANF’s 25th Anniversary

August 22, 2021 marks the 25th Anniversary of TANF. While TANF has not always served families well, there are policies and programs that state and tribal TANF programs can adopt to improve outcomes for low-income families. See ACF Acting Assistant Secretary Chang’s Dear Colleague Letter marking the anniversary.

See ACF Acting Assistant Secretary Chang’s Dear Colleague Letter marking the anniversary.

Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 established a new $1 billion Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund to assist needy families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. States, the District of Columbia, tribes operating a tribal TANF program, and all five U.S. territories are eligible to receive funds. The Office of Family Assistance has published some initial resources on the Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund.

Further information and guidance on the Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund

Tribal TANF Programs and COVID-19 Questions and Answers

New Tribal TANF PI addresses common questions about how Tribal TANF can be used to alleviate the COVID-19 economic crisis for families, and what administrative flexibilities are available to programs.

View the PI

TANF and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Q&A

New PI outlines TANF flexibilities for states, territories, and tribes to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

View the PI

Find What Works to Help TANF Recipients Succeed

Check out the Pathways to Work Evidence Clearinghouse, a new resource from ACF.

View the Pathways to Work Evidence Clearinghouse

OFA administers several key federal grant programs, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Tribal programs, Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood, and Health Profession Opportunity Grants.

News

OFA Releases the TANF Work Participation Rates for FY 2020
July 29, 2021
OFA Releases FY 2019 Characteristics and Financial Circumstances of TANF Recipients Data
November 16, 2020
Just released! HPOG Participant Demographics Animation
October 29, 2020

View More News

Quick Fact

67%

67% of participants who earned a professional license or certification started a job or were promoted with an existing job in healthcare

View All Quick Facts

Featured Resource

TANF Federal Five-Year Time Limit
November 29, 2016
TANF and MOE Spending and Transfers by Activity, FY 2020 (Preliminary)
August 25, 2021
Recognition of the 25th Anniversary of the Enactment of TANF
August 23, 2021
TANF-ACF-IM-2021-01 (State Work Participation Rates for FY 2020)
July 29, 2021

Is Your Family Looking for Help?

Find state and tribal contact information here.

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