Mission Statement

The Office of Family Assistance administers the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) programs. The TANF Bureau provides assistance and work opportunities to needy families by granting States, Territories and Tribes the federal funds and wide flexibility to develop and implement their own welfare programs. The Child Care Bureau (CCB) provides funds to States, Territories and Tribes to support low-income working families’ access to affordable, quality early care and afterschool programs. In February 2006, former President George W. Bush signed the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, which reauthorized the TANF program. The DRA reauthorization also included $150 million for discretionary grants to support programs designed to help couples form and sustain healthy marriages. Up to $50 million of this amount may be used for programs designed to encourage responsible fatherhood.

Goals

The four major purposes of TANF are: (1) assisting needy families so that children can be cared for in their own homes; (2) reducing the dependency of needy parents by promoting job preparation, work and marriage; (3) preventing out-of-wedlock pregnancies; and (4) encouraging the formation and maintenance of two-parent families.

The CCDF program enables low-income families to access child care, which in turn makes it possible for more parents to achieve economic self-sufficiency. The program also helps children succeed in school and life through affordable, quality early care and afterschool programs.

The Healthy Marriage Initiative is designed to strengthen families, foster safe and healthy relationships between men and women who choose marriage for themselves and promote the well-being of children.

The Responsible Fatherhood Program is designed to enable fathers to improve their relationships and reconnect with their children.