The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA), enacted in 1996, created the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant, which overhauled public assistance for low-income families. TANF replaced Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), the Jobs Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS), and the Emergency Assistance (EA) Programs.

As Congress considers reauthorizing the TANF program in 2012, expanding education and training opportunities for low-income Americans should be a priority. Most TANF recipients are in the labor market already, though they often move in and out of employment and typically work for very low wages. Expanding access to education and training will provide the skills necessary to allow those leaving welfare to secure good jobs that help them support their families, while also meeting the needs of local employers.

This page contains overview materials on TANF, as well as analysis developed by National Skills Coalition.  

National Skills Coalition Platform and Overview

Overview of TANF | Training Policy in Brief, 2011

Current Law

Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 

Agency Materials

TANF Final Rule | Department of Health and Human Services, February 2008

Comments on TANF Interim Final Rules | National Skills Coalition, August 2006

Comments on Department of Health and Human Services TANF Labor Market Survey | National Skills Coalition, June 2006

Other Resources

Creating Subsidized Employment Opportunities for Low-Income Parents: The Legacy of the TANF Emergency Fund | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and CLASP, 2011

A New York State Career Pathways Fund: Advancing the Skills of Low-Income Workers and Meeting the Demands of Business | November 2007

Why Congress Should Allow 24 Months of Vocational Education in TANF | National Skills Coalition, February 2004