2023 - 2028
Project Overview
The purpose of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Data Collaborative (TDC) 2.0 project is to support state and local TANF agencies to expand the routine use, integration, and analysis of TANF and other administrative data to strengthen evidence-informed decision making. TDC 2.0 builds on the TANF Data Innovation (TDI) project that began in 2017, with a specific focus on examining equity within the TANF program to improve program administration and outcomes for families.
The TDC 2.0 project will provide intensive training and technical assistance for six agencies over a 36-month project period. Participating agencies will engage in:
- One-on-one coaching support from technical and equity experts who will provide individualized support as each team conducts its data analytics project.
- Applied Data Analytics course that will guide staff in developing key data analytics skills as they conduct equity-related analyses.
- Peer-to-peer learning activities such as virtual meetings and in-person convenings to encourage collaboration and shared learning.
Using a “learning by doing” approach, TDC 2.0 will support state and local TANF agencies to conduct analyses of TANF and other administrative data to complete an equity-focused project relevant to their agency. TDC 2.0 will also provide universal technical assistance to any interested TANF agency through public-facing training materials and events related to TANF data use.
The following six agencies are recipients of the TANF Data Collaborative Equity Analysis Awards :
- Arizona Department of Economic Security
- Colorado Department of Human Services
- Santa Clara County Social Services Agency
- Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance
- Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families
- New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development
This project is relevant for policymakers, researchers, and organizations seeking to expand the use of data in state and local TANF agencies as well as for staff from other human service agencies looking for a model to support the use of administrative data for learning and improvement efforts.
TDC 2.0 is led by MDRC in partnership with Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy at the University of Pennsylvania, NORC at the University of Chicago, the Coleridge Initiative, and Blu Lewis.
Points of contact: Siri Warkentien, Megha Patel, Jennifer Daniels, and Hilary Bruck