Resource Library

This infographic distills key findings from a literature review conducted as part of the Understanding Poverty: TANF Office Culture study sponsored by the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation in the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The full literature review identifies key factors associated with a positive organizational culture as well as accompanying strategies TANF offices may employ to promote positive organizational culture.

Since 2006, the Office of Family Assistance (OFA), within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has awarded and overseen federal funding for three cohorts of healthy marriage (HM) and responsible fatherhood (RF) grant programs (2006—2011, 2011—2015, and 2015—2020). HM grantees promote HM and relationships through eight legislatively authorized activities, such as marriage and relationship education...

Healthy families help children thrive, but many families experience instability and parental absence. Since 2005, Congress has funded $150 million each year in healthy marriage (HM) and responsible fatherhood (RF) grants to support the long-term success of children and families. The Office of Family Assistance (OFA) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has awarded...

This report provides principles, practices, and helpful resources for addressing and preventing domestic violence (DV) in fatherhood programs. This report was created through the Preventing and Addressing Intimate Violence when Engaging Dads (PAIVED) study. The PAIVED study examined the strategies used by fatherhood programs to help prevent and address domestic violence among participating fathers...

Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education (HMRE) programs for low-income participants are funded by the Office of Family Assistance (OFA) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). Trained facilitators deliver curricula, typically in weekly interactive classes, using lectures and in-class practice with partners or small groups. According to the current literature, HMRE programs may improve participants’...

This is the second of four modules providing home visiting research findings to inform pay for outcomes (PFO) feasibility studies and project development, including outcome selection, projected cost savings, and outcome payment pricing for PFO financial agreements.

In the past few decades, research showing the advantages to children of being raised by both parents in healthy, stable relationships has led to an increase in couple-based programs designed to enhance relationship or co-parenting skills. The Strengthening Families Evidence Review (SFER) identified and reviewed studies of family strengthening programs. This catalog contains summaries of studies that describe and analyze marriage and relationship education or other programs for couples...

Home visiting services geared toward pregnant women and families with young children offer an opportunity to intervene and support mothers at risk for intimate partner violence (IPV). In theory, effective services might reduce the incidence of IPV and thereby reduce the likelihood that children witness family violence. However, we know very little about the effectiveness of home visiting in reducing IPV outcomes.

The data analyzed for this spotlight is from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being, Second Cohort (NSCAW II), a nationally representative sample of children involved with the child welfare system (CWS). It allows for the identification of children with developmental delays and compromised cognitive or academic functioning.

Several ACF programs interact with justice-involved parents and youth in an effort to promote economic self-sufficiency and social well-being for the individuals and their families. Across ACF, we are implementing rigorous research and evaluation projects to better understand how to serve this population.