Resource Library

The Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Family Assistance (ACF/OFA) has issued a “Dear Colleague” letter to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program stakeholders, highlighting a Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) that our partners at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Employment and Training Administration released on March 26, 2015.

The Office of Family Assistance (OFA) invites nominations of state, territory, and local Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) agencies to participate in the Systems to Family Stability National Policy Academy (the Academy). State, territory, and local TANF agencies may nominate themselves. Nominations are due by March 17, 2015. See attached “Dear Colleague Letter and Academy Overview.”

The Office of Family Assistance (OFA) encourages its grantees and partners to make TANF and other employment and training programs more job-driven.  OFA has issued a Dear Colleague letter describing job-driven training resources, with a focus on steps that programs can take to engage employers and use labor market information to help improve employment outcomes for TANF recipients and other low-wage workers.

The Office of Family Assistance encourages states and tribes to explore the use of TANF funds to support programs, such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), that help struggling families and children  over the summer months.

On September 26, 2013, the President celebrated the success of his Youth Jobs + campaign and hosted mayors, business owners, youth, and non-profit leaders who led and participated in summer and year-round youth jobs initiatives at the local level.

Provide an update to you concerning the status of funding for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and the discretionary, mandatory, and federal share of matching portions of the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF).

A Dear Colleague Letter dated May 9, 2013.  This letter encourages human service agencies to partner with Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) to develop summer jobs programs that provide employment opportunities and valuable work experience for needy and at-risk youth.  Coordination with Community Action Agencies funded via the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) is urged as this can strengthen local summer jobs efforts.  In addition, coordinating with child welfare can ensure that the benefits of summer youth jobs are extended to young people in foster care.