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
-
Blog
The County Countdown – September 26, 2023
Every other week, NACo’s County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership. Watch the video and explore NACo resources below on some of the top issues we're covering this week. -
Webinar
New Options to Combat Summer Hunger: What Counties Need to Know
Sep. 21, 2023 , 1:00 pmSummer hunger impacts too many children when they lose access to nutritious school meals. -
Reports & Toolkits
Legislative Toolkit for Counties: Priorities for Strengthening the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
This toolkit provides an overview of the county role in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), federal policy priorities for ensuring SNAP is effectively serving county residents and the current legislative and administrative outlook for program reforms. -
County News
‘Dr. Drew’ applauds progress in mental health care, but ‘still progress to be made’
“It’s not that hard to treat,” Pinsky said of the mental health crisis. “We just need the resources, we need the beds, we need the psychiatrists.” -
County News
Two-county solution offers urban Nevada kids a rural retreat
Clark County, Nevada youths now have access to a new 4-H camp in neighboring Lincoln County, which will retain jobs it would have lost when a corporate retreat center closed. -
County News
County’s mobile market closes the grocery desert gap
Gwinnett County, Ga. teamed up with a food bank to create a mobile community market to alleviate food insecurity, which had increased during the pandemic.
-
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
Related Posts
-
BlogThe County Countdown – September 26, 2023Sep. 25, 2023
-
County News‘Dr. Drew’ applauds progress in mental health care, but ‘still progress to be made’Aug. 24, 2023
-
County NewsTwo-county solution offers urban Nevada kids a rural retreatAug. 21, 2023
Related Resources
-
Reports & ToolkitsLegislative Toolkit for Counties: Priorities for Strengthening the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)Sep. 20, 2023
-
Reports & ToolkitsThe County Role in Food SystemsJul. 14, 2023
-
Reports & ToolkitsThe County Human Services and Education LandscapeJul. 7, 2023
More From
-
Legislative Analysis for Counties: The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023
This analysis includes funding highlights for key programs impacting counties.
Learn More