Wage supplements—in the form of, for example, bonuses, stipends, or tax credits—are gaining traction as ways to improve compensation in the child care and early education field. This brief explains how they can enhance retention and reduce turnover. 

These fact sheets summarize elements of New Hampshire’s early childhood system–its workforce, family child care landscape, and play-based learning initiatives. 

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program plays a key role in promoting strength and stability for families experiencing poverty. By helping families to meet their basic needs, obtain employment, and nurture healthy family relationships, TANF programs can foster long-term family wellbeing and economic independence. Supported by the Office of Family Assistance’s Peer-Based Training and Technical Assistance (PeerTA) contract, this series of briefs highlights innovative and strategic ways that states are leveraging TANF funds to strengthen families and communities by building capacity for self-sufficiency and economic independence. 

As part of the Tennessee Opportunity Act, the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) launched the Tennessee Opportunity Pilot Initiative, awarding $25 million grants to seven community initiatives to support low-income families’ economic mobility and well-being. TDHS contracted MEF Associates along with their partners and subcontractors at the Urban Institute, and East Tennessee State University to research and evaluate various TANF Opportunity Act components. The evaluation aims to create a state-level learning laboratory to produce evidence on program effectiveness and implementation, enabling Tennessee to enhance human services delivery. In April 2024, MEF Associates published a report titled Evaluating Tennessee’s TANF Opportunity Act: Building a State Learning Laboratory which discusses the overall research design and presents each pilot’s program characteristics and impact evaluation design. This current report builds upon the information in the first report, details progress on the evaluation in 2024 and looks towards the upcoming evaluation work. 

Under TANF purpose three, states implement programs to prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies. States have taken various approaches to pregnancy prevention, from offering family planning services to sexual risk education, youth mentoring, and home visiting programs. Here, we spotlight some of these approaches in Georgia, Minnesota, and Oklahoma.

This brief explores how Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment and Training (E&T) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) have a shared goal of helping individuals/families achieve economic independence through employment. These programs have separate funding sources and eligibility requirements but often provide similar services to overlapping populations. Coordinating SNAP E&T and TANF programs can enhance service delivery and improve employment outcomes for families with low incomes. 

This brief explores how Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment and Training (E&T) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) have a shared goal of helping individuals/families achieve economic independence through employment. These programs have separate funding sources and eligibility requirements but often provide similar services to overlapping populations. Coordinating SNAP E&T and TANF programs can enhance service delivery and improve employment outcomes for families with low incomes.