OFA PeerTA for TANF

The PeerTA team is available to take your technical assistance requests! As a reminder, PeerTA sustains and broadens a peer-based network that builds upon promising employment, economic security, and family well-being strategies administered by TANF programs and partners. We support TANF programs in adopting innovative approaches that strengthen service delivery and improve outcomes for TANF families. We provide services to any local, state, county, and Tribal TANF social service agencies that operate a TANF program or provide services to TANF families. We're here to help in a variety of ways. Some of our offerings include: • Peer-to-peer roundtables • Site visits • Moderated teleconferences • Workshops We're open to lots of different requests that will ultimately help improve your agency's processes, programs, and capabilities to serve the families who come in for assistance. Here are some examples of requests we've received in the past: • Developing and implementing a family centered training program for TANF staff and supervisors • Developing an evaluative toolkit for agencies looking to become more trauma-informed • Holding discussions to learn about challenges that an agency faces • Facilitating a site visit to learn from the experiences of another state who overcame similar challenges If you're interested in requesting technical assistance from the PeerTA team, please submit a form at this link: https://buff.ly/3QhA4PF. We're looking forward to hearing from you and your team!

The demographics of the U.S. workforce are rapidly changing as baby boomers retire and many young adults enter the workforce. The new generation of workers is more racially and ethnically diverse than any other generation in American history. To hire and retain young workers of color, employers must set them up for success and provide opportunities for them to prepare for, access, and advance in the workforce. Workforce development organizations are essential in engaging employers in conversations about practices that support positive youth development and in helping foster environments that encourage development for young employees. Read this series (https://buff.ly/47OBcTl) of Child Trends case studies to learn more about specific supervision, professional development, and worker voice practices that employers currently implement that align with positive youth development practices.

Sign up today! The National Association for Welfare Research and Statistics (NAWRS) is launching their first affinity group: the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Data Huddle. The huddle brings together TANF data experts with the aims of (1) building a network of TANF data professionals across the country, (2) providing a forum for TANF data professionals to raise and discuss emergent issues in the TANF data space, and (3) exchanging findings, innovations, and approaches to analyzing and leveraging TANF data in policy making and practice. The TANF Data Huddle is open to researchers, practitioners, and data enthusiasts at the federal, state, county, and local levels. It will meet October 16, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. CT and November 20, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. CT. For interested parties, send your name, email, and professional affiliation to the NAWRS Secretary at secretary@nawrs.org.

In the United States, individuals with disabilities are more likely to be unemployed and have lower earnings than those without disabilities. In Vermont, individuals with disabilities are almost three times as likely to live in poverty than non-disabled Vermonters. To address this issue, the Vermont Career Advancement Project (VCAP) helps people with disabilities find high-quality career pathways by connecting participants with programs and educational opportunities that result in a credential, postsecondary degree, or higher-paid job. Read this Mathematica brief (https://buff.ly/3TOfKrG) to learn why Vermont needs VCAP and how it connects people with disabilities with opportunities for career training.

Do you have questions about the new Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) work outcome measure provisions in the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) of 2023? OFA has released Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for states seeking more information on implementing the new TANF provisions in the FRA of 2023. This resource responds to questions that OFA has not answered in existing resources and/or where language in the technical resource requires additional clarification. Click here to read more: https://buff.ly/47OB1HF. Do you still have questions? Please get in touch with tanfdata@acf.hhs.gov and copy your OFA Regional contact.

In the complex landscape of early childhood development in Native communities, data is crucial in shaping effective programs that deliver impactful outcomes for children. Join the Administration for Native Americans on Thursday, October 3rd at 3:00 PM ET for a webinar titled "The Power of Data in Native Early Childhood Development – Strategies for Effective Data Use and Impact." During the webinar, attendees will learn about the importance of collecting, analyzing, and utilizing data in the context of Native data sovereignty to enhance program effectiveness and drive informed decision-making in early childhood education and care. Register for the webinar here: https://buff.ly/4enP1uk. This webinar is part of the four-part series on Native Early Childhood Development.

The Administration for Children and Families’ Office on Trafficking in Persons established the Demonstration Grants to Strengthen the Response to Victims of Human Trafficking in Native Communities (VHTNC) Program to address the significant need for supports to respond to human trafficking in Native communities. In September 2020, six projects received 3-year awards to build, expand, and sustain organizational and community capacity to deliver services to AIAN individuals who have experienced human trafficking. Read this brief (https://buff.ly/4cK6qf3) to learn about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on VHT-NC program implementation between 2020-2023. #PeerTA #TANF #TA #TechnicalAssistance #OFA #ACF #HumanServices #SocialServices #TribalTANF #Indigenous #Trafficking #Visibility #AIAN #Native #COVID19

September 15th marked the start of National Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month. This is a month-long celebration and recognition of the contributions and impact that Hispanic and Latinx Americans have had on the United States. In many Latinx families, multigenerational caregiving is a valuable asset to the greater community. Read this tip sheet (https://buff.ly/3AO9Jo2) to tailor culturally sensitive TANF services to respond to needs within multigenerational Latinx families. #PeerTA #TANF #TA #TechnicalAssistance #OFA #ACF #HumanServices #SocialServices #Latinx #Hispanic #Heritage #Culture #Connection #Community #Celebration

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, commemorating those who have lost loved ones to suicide and acknowledging the millions who struggle with mental health issues. In April, the Biden-Harris Administration released the 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. Accompanied by the first-ever Federal Action Plan to address suicide prevention, the National Strategy details over 200 actions and recommendations for addressing and meeting the needs of at-risk populations. Read more about the National Strategy and learn about the critical role of local, state, and national partnerships in providing visibility to suicide prevention initiatives: https://buff.ly/3MncIqg #PeerTA #TANF #TA #TechnicalAssistance #OFA #ACF #HumanServices #SocialServices #SuicidePrevention #MentalHealth #Support #Visibility #Strategy #Action

Webinar alert! The National Association of Workforce Development Professionals will host a webinar on Wednesday, September 25th, at 1 PM CDT titled "Roadmap to Success: Building a Workforce with Returning Citizens." During this webinar, participants will learn how to build a resilient and dedicated workforce by hiring and upskilling returning citizens. Register here (https://buff.ly/4e2tOpf) to discover the benefits, challenges, incentives, and strategies for creating a supportive workplace culture that will help any business become an employer of choice. #PeerTA #TANF #TA #TechnicalAssistance #OFA #ACF #HumanServices #SocialServices #BehavioralScience #Workforce #Resilient #Employment #Education #Justice #IncarceratedIndividuals