NACo, partner organizations send letter urging Congress to extend the TANF program

-
BlogOn September 9, NACo joined with associations representing state and local governments sent a letter to Congress urging lawmakers to provide a one-year extension to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, effective through September 2023.NACo, partner organizations send letter urging Congress to extend the TANF program
-
Blog
NACo, partner organizations send letter urging Congress to extend the TANF program
On September 9, the National Association of Counties (NACo) joined with associations representing state and local governments to send a letter to Congress urging lawmakers to provide a one-year extension to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, effective through September 2023. TANF provides essential funding to help state and local governments deliver benefits and services that help families experiencing poverty achieve economic mobility .
Although TANF is a partnership between the federal government and states, nine states representing 55 percent of total participants delegate TANF administration to counties. TANF represents an important source of flexible funding for a variety of anti-poverty activities benefiting vulnerable county residents, including cash assistance, child care, education, job training and work support programs. Congress last reauthorized TANF in 2005 and has renewed the program through a series of short-term extensions that have largely left the federal design of TANF unchanged. Despite this, states and counties have been hard at work in recent years to implement reforms within their control to improve how TANF helps people attain family-sustaining wages and succeed for the long-term.
Reauthorization of TANF is essential to align the program with the broader workforce and human services systems that support economic well-being and mobility. NACo will continue to advocate for bipartisan solutions for a long-term TANF reauthorization. However, a full-year extension of TANF is essential in the short-term to give state and local governments the continuity that is needed to help people with barriers to employment meet their basic needs.
Read the full letter here.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- NACo Policy Brief: Reauthorize the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant
- NACo Toolkit: Tracking COVID-19 Relief for Human Services and Education Programs
- The County Human Services and Education Landscape
On September 9, NACo joined with associations representing state and local governments sent a letter to Congress urging lawmakers to provide a one-year extension to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, effective through September 2023.2022-09-12Blog2022-09-22
On September 9, the National Association of Counties (NACo) joined with associations representing state and local governments to send a letter to Congress urging lawmakers to provide a one-year extension to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, effective through September 2023. TANF provides essential funding to help state and local governments deliver benefits and services that help families experiencing poverty achieve economic mobility .
Although TANF is a partnership between the federal government and states, nine states representing 55 percent of total participants delegate TANF administration to counties. TANF represents an important source of flexible funding for a variety of anti-poverty activities benefiting vulnerable county residents, including cash assistance, child care, education, job training and work support programs. Congress last reauthorized TANF in 2005 and has renewed the program through a series of short-term extensions that have largely left the federal design of TANF unchanged. Despite this, states and counties have been hard at work in recent years to implement reforms within their control to improve how TANF helps people attain family-sustaining wages and succeed for the long-term.
Reauthorization of TANF is essential to align the program with the broader workforce and human services systems that support economic well-being and mobility. NACo will continue to advocate for bipartisan solutions for a long-term TANF reauthorization. However, a full-year extension of TANF is essential in the short-term to give state and local governments the continuity that is needed to help people with barriers to employment meet their basic needs.
Read the full letter here.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- NACo Policy Brief: Reauthorize the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant
- NACo Toolkit: Tracking COVID-19 Relief for Human Services and Education Programs
- The County Human Services and Education Landscape

About Rachel Mackey (Full Bio)
Legislative Director – Human Services & Education | Veterans & Military Services
Rachel serves as legislative director for human services and education.More from Rachel Mackey
-
County News
County reshapes justice system for women battling mental health issues
Problem: Too many women who needed mental health support were being incarcerated and left untreated. Solution: -
County News
Lack of mental health specialists limits treatment
NACo's Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing took counties' mental health findings and needs to the White House and Capitol Hill. -
County News
Counties invest opioid settlement funds to save lives
Opioid Solutions Leadership Network gathered for the first time in Granville and Vance counties, in North Carolina, to learn from experts, share their local strategies and observe the region’s opioid solutions in action. -
Blog
Changes enacted to federal immigration policies as Title 42 expires
On May 11, “Title 42”, a pandemic-era policy that allowed for the rapid expulsion of asylum seekers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, ended. In anticipation of the end of Title 42, several changes to federal immigration processes have been made, which impact county governments. -
Press Release
National Association of Counties Releases Data on Mental Health Crisis
Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing Advocates for Policy Solutions at White House, on Capitol Hill -
Webinar
Familiar Faces Initiative: Model Jurisdictions for Improving Outcomes through Coordinated Health and Justice Systems
May. 11, 2023 , 2:00 pm – 3:30 pmIn 2022, NACo relaunched the Familiar Faces Initiative during Mental Health Awareness Month to support counties and cities in better meeting the needs of their familiar faces—individuals with complex health and behavioral health conditions who frequently cycle through jails, homeless shelters, emergency departments and other crisis service
-
Webinar
Prenatal-to-Three Peer Learning Network: How the Social Determinants of Health Impact Families and Children
June 13, 2023 , 2:00 pm – 3:00 pmNote: This convening will focus on strategies for rural and smaller suburban counties. To learn more about strategies for urban counties, please join the June 15 session.06132:00 pm<p><strong>Note: This convening will focus on strategies for rural and smaller suburban counties.
-
Webinar
Prenatal-to-Three Peer Learning Network: How the Social Determinants of Health Impact Families and Children
June 15, 2023 , 2:00 pm – 3:00 pmNote: This convening will focus on strategies for urban and larger suburban counties. To learn more about strategies for rural counties, please join the June 13 session.06152:00 pm<p><strong>Note: This convening will focus on strategies for urban and larger suburban counties.
-
Basic page
Human Services & Education Steering Committee
All matters pertaining to children’s issues, foster care, public assistance and income support, services to senior citizens and individuals with disabilities, immigration policy, social services, and elementary, secondary and post-secondary education. Policy Platform & Resolutions 2022-2023 2022 NACo Legislative Prioritiespagepagepage<p>All matters pertaining to children’s issues, foster care, public assistance and income support, services to senior citizens and individuals with disabilities, immigration policy, social services, and elementary,
Contact
-
Legislative Director – Human Services & Education | Veterans & Military Services(202) 661-8843
-
Legislative Assistant(202) 942-4259
Related Posts
-
County NewsCounty reshapes justice system for women battling mental health issuesJun. 6, 2023
-
County NewsLack of mental health specialists limits treatmentJun. 5, 2023
-
County NewsCounties invest opioid settlement funds to save livesJun. 5, 2023
Related Resources
-
Press ReleaseNational Association of Counties Releases Data on Mental Health CrisisMay. 11, 2023
-
Reports & ToolkitsMental Health Awareness Month: County Participation ToolkitMar. 24, 2023
-
Reports & ToolkitsThe County Role In Long-Term CareFeb. 24, 2023
Related Events
-
13Jun2023Webinar
Prenatal-to-Three Peer Learning Network: How the Social Determinants of Health Impact Families and Children
Jun. 13, 2023 , 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm -
15Jun2023Webinar
Prenatal-to-Three Peer Learning Network: How the Social Determinants of Health Impact Families and Children
Jun. 15, 2023 , 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
More From
-
Legislative Analysis for Counties: The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023
This analysis includes funding highlights for key programs impacting counties.
Learn More