Detail: To prepare for this discussion, we ask that participants think of an attempt to translate research into practice that didn’t work. For example, have you brought research findings to leadership that were not used or were under-utilized? Then, think about answers to the following prompts, which we will ask volunteers to share to help start a discussion among the participants on this topic.

 Prompt Questions:

• What was the research/policy question?

• What did you learn?

• What did and didn’t happen and why?

In break-out rooms, an expression of interests and possible topics to share at a future TANF Data Huddle.

• Short introductions.

• Are there specific topics you are interested in hearing about? 

• Are there topics of interest you’d like to share more about (i.e., what you are working on)?

NAWRS recently launching its first affinity group! The TANF Data Huddle brings together TANF data experts with the aims of (1) Building a network of TANF data professionals across the country, (2) Providing a forum for TANF data professionals to raise and discuss emergent issues in the TANF data space, and (3) Exchanging findings, innovations, and approaches to analyzing and leveraging TANF data in policy making and practice. The TANF Data Huddle is open to researchers, practitioners, and data enthusiasts at the federal, state, county, and local levels in public, private, and nonprofit settings.

Interested in joining? Email secretary@nawrs.org to sign up for meeting invitations!

Improving alignment between human services and family needs and goals has been a key area of focus for many state and local human services programs. Family advisory councils offer a unique opportunity to facilitate meaningful engagement with families served by public programs; gain family input on policies and practices that affect them; and ultimately, to help develop programs and policies that serve families successfully and equitably. In this session, panelists discussed their experiences developing, launching, and sustaining family advisory councils in policy and research.

View event recording, slides, and resources.

The Research: Income in the First Year of Life Matters
Christal Hamilton, Assistant Professor, University of Connecticut, School of Public Policy will will present on this study: Experiences of Poverty Around the Time of a Birth: A Research Note — Columbia University Center on Poverty and Social Policy.

Rx Kids: “Prescribing Cash to Improve Outcomes in Pregnancy and the First Year of Life
Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha will talk about the vision and implementation of RxKids – a no strings attached program in Flint Michigan to provide cash to families during pregnancy and the first year of life. More than 700 families are currently enrolled in the program.

Evaluating, Funding and Expanding RxKids
Luke Shaefer, Professor, University of Michigan will talk about how RxKids is being evaluated, how TANF funds are being used (along with foundation funds) to provide cash to families and the plans for expanding a modified RxKids program across the state.

The first workshop in the 2024 NAWRS virtual workshop series highlighted strategies state and local SNAP agencies and their partners are employing to improve access to nutrition assistance among college students, an increasingly recognized gap in basic needs support. The workshop featured a discussion of state-level policy at the Colorado Department of Human Services along with their research partner, RAND. It also featured a discussion of a successful SNAP outreach partnership between the Yolo County, California Health and Human Services Agency and UC Davis’s Aggie Compass Basic Needs Center.

A recording of the virtual workshop and presentation slides are available here: Presentation Slides, Workshop Recording