Resources
Policy Analysis
Diversity, Equity + Inclusion

Re-Envisioning TANF: Toward an Anti-Racist Program That Meaningfully Serves Families

Re-Envisioning TANF: Toward an Anti-Racist Program That Meaningfully Serves Families
2022
Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality: Economic Security & Opportunity Initiative
Author(s): 
Areeba Haider, Ayan Goran, Cara Brumfield and Laura Tatum
Re-Envisioning TANF: Toward an Anti-Racist Program That Meaningfully Serves Families
Source Sector(s)
Academic
Benefits Program
TANF: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
Level of Government
Federal/National
State/Provincial
Location
United States
Format
Report

An America where no one experiences poverty is possible. Already, the U.S. has programs with the potential to make this vision a reality, including programs that provide cash assistance, like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). The current TANF program provides very little cash assistance and is marked by stark racial disparities, but it has the potential to reduce child poverty, increase economic security, and advance racial equity. This report offers a vision for an anti-racist approach to the TANF program, with new statutory goals and policy recommendations to advance racial justice.