Skip ACF banner and navigation
Department of Health and Human Services logo
Questions?  
Privacy  
Site Index  
Contact Us  
   Home   |   Services   |   Working with ACF   |   Policy/Planning   |   About ACF   |   ACF News Search  
Administration for Children and Families US Department of Health and Human Services
Skip ACF banner and navigation

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

Welcome to the
Office of Family Assistance

What's New?

blue ball

2003 High Performance Bonus Awards

blue ball

Using TANF & MOE for Healthy Marriage Activities

blue ball

Program Instruction: Children Living in Foster Homes Supported by Public Funds and Children Receiving Payments under Title IV-A of the Social Security Act

blue ball

Disregard of Transitional Drug Subsidies under Medicare

blue ball

Effect of Carryover of Unobligated Balances on Native Employment Works (NEW) Grantees

blue ball

Use of TANF Funds to Recover Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) Overpayment


What's Available?

blue ball Welfare Peer Technical Assistance Network
blue ball Financial Documents
blue ball Welfare Reports
blue ball TANF Reports
blue ball Historical AFDC Caseload Data
1977-1997
blue ball Previous Releases

The Office of Family Assistance (OFA) is located in the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families and oversees the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program which was created by the Welfare Reform Law of 1996. TANF became effective July 1, 1997, and replaced what was then commonly known as welfare: Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training (JOBS) programs.

 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) provides assistance and work opportunities to needy families by granting states the federal funds and wide flexibility to develop and implement their own welfare programs.

 TANF Essentials: 

Welfare Indicators:
  • 2003 Indicators of Welfare Dependence, the sixth annual report, provides welfare dependence indicators through 2000, reflecting changes that have taken place since enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) in August 1996.

Tribal TANF Management:

Congressional Testimony:

Healthy Marriage:

Charitable Choice:

    Charitable Choice is a legislative provision designed to remove unnecessary barriers to the receipt of certain federal funds by faith-based organizations. The provision prohibits states from discriminating against religious organizations when choosing providers under certain federal grant programs, as long as the programs are implemented in a manner that is consistent with the First Amendment. While Charitable Choice is designed to improve access to federal funding for faith-based organizations, it does not establish a new funding stream dedicated to these groups.

  • HHS Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives

The Welfare Peer Technical Assistance Network provides guidance and instruction to states on promising practices for moving welfare and low-income families to self-sufficiency. In addition, the Network provides information to states about TANF program resources and increases communication among the states about promising practices. Visit the Network

Other Related Information:

Welfare Caseload Information

This document was last modified on Oct- 6-2004 .