Innovations In Service Collaboration

The Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Child Welfare coordination program (hereafter referred to as TTCW) funds demonstration projects administered by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Family Assistance (OFA). These projects are designed to assess the effectiveness of tribal governments or tribal consortia in coordinating TANF, child welfare (CW), and related supportive services for tribal families at risk of child abuse or neglect. Families with low incomes that qualify for TANF are often at greater risk for child maltreatment than other families and are more often involved with both the income support (TANF) and child welfare systems. Coordinating those systems to better serve and support family safety and stability is the overarching goal of the projects.
 

As part of their TTCW projects, OFA encourages grantees to produce innovative collaborations among existing programs and services to more efficiently and effectively support at-risk families. The projects focus on one or more of the following service areas: 

• Improved case management for families eligible for assistance from a Tribal TANF program.
• Supportive services and assistance to tribal children in out-of-home placements and the tribal families caring for such children, including adoptive families.
• Prevention services and assistance to tribal families at risk of child maltreatment.

TTCW emphasizes strengthening the coordination of existing services to improve outcomes rather than creating new services. 

This case study introduces the eight TTCW grantees funded over the 2020—2025 grant cycle and summarizes their services, strategies, and innovations. It shares lessons learned across all programs while highlighting specific examples as success stories. This resource may also inspire other tribes and tribal consortia in their program implementation efforts.

Introduction to the 2020-2025 TTCW Grantees

The 2020—2025 TTCW grantees were: 

• Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes (Juneau, Alaska)
• Confederated Salish and Kootenai (Pablo, Montana)
• Cook Inlet Tribal Council (Anchorage, Alaska)
• Karuk Tribe (Happy Camp, California)
• Forest County Potawatomi (Crandon, Wisconsin)
• Pascua Yaqui Tribe (Tucson, Arizona)
• Tolowa Dee-Ni’ Nation (Smith River, California)
• Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska (Winnebago, Nebraska)

Methodology

This report draws on information gathered from grantee presentations, listening sessions, abstracts, and meeting transcripts. Grant programs have been de-identified and material is presented in aggregate form.

Case Management 

TTCW grantees focused on improved case management by working to strengthen the coordination and collaboration between TANF and CW programs, as well as with internal and external partners supporting the well-being of at-risk families. By building strong partnerships both within tribal programs and with tribal and non-tribal service providers grantees made significant progress in identifying and addressing gaps in available services. 

Grantees enhanced case management practices through several key strategies. Grantees cross-trained staff across departments, streamlined service access through a shared access point, revised referral processes in official tribal policy, adopted shared data systems with advanced referral tracking, implemented coordinated service teams or multidisciplinary team approaches, and standardized documentation and templates. 

The results were notable. Processes became more efficient, staff demonstrated improved sensitivity, and programs worked to reduce silos and strengthen coordination through systems of care and wraparound approaches. Collectively, these efforts contributed to fewer tribal children entering foster care and more families remaining together. Success stories shared by grantees indicated a 50% reduction in child removals at one site and the successful closure and reunification of 20 child welfare cases at another. 

“Our goal was to have an impact on our local families and consolidate the process of getting services, and…we've been able to do that through collaborative case management, providing a simplified and expedited application process.” — TTCW Grantee 

Despite these successes, grantees also faced challenges. Many experienced high staff turnover, which often resulted in a loss of institutional knowledge. Early in the cohort, the COVID-19 pandemic also interrupted grantees’ ability to provide services and resulted in shifts to virtual delivery. Overall, grantees underscored the importance of collaboration in providing high-quality case management; effective service delivery relied on open information sharing and a clear understanding of each partnering agency’s roles and processes. 

Supportive Services and Assistance to Tribal Children and Families 

TTCW grantees introduced innovative strategies to strengthen services for tribal children and families, including those in out-of-home placements and adoptive care. Human-centered design approaches and strategic partnerships increased participation and improved outcomes. 

Key innovations included:

• Culturally based school programs for youth
• Incentivized parenting classes
• Youth conferences on relevant tribal issues
• Equine therapy for youth and families
• Expanded, flexible childcare
• Peer support groups 

To address mental health awareness, one TTCW grantee hosted approximately 130 attendees of all ages to observe an equine therapy demonstration and gain insight on how horses can help humans in healing and recovery. The event generated overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants. 

For example, one grantee highlighted the expansion of its tribal childcare center, growing it from a 12-child facility to one serving up to 80 children, addressing the community’s need for drop-in care and offering financial assistance to relative caregivers supporting children of TTCW recipients. By providing childcare to parents enrolled in services or participating in work activities, the project significantly strengthened families’ abilities to fully engage in TTCW programs.

Grantees reported stronger family cohesion and higher youth engagement with tribal customs and language. Grantees addressed attendance challenges through incentives such as providing a shared meal, which eased scheduling burdens and also served as a connection point for families and individuals, resulting in increased participation and enhanced program visibility. Additionally, providing certificates of attendance and gifts for perfect attendance enhanced motivation over the course of the program. 

Prevention Services and Assistance to Tribal Families at Risk of Child Abuse and Neglect 

TTCW grantees implemented a variety of prevention services to support tribal families at risk of child abuse and neglect. Their efforts focused on creating tribally centered, community-based initiatives such as parenting education programs and child safety assessment tools and on building stronger community awareness of and trust in TTCW programs. One grantee shared that regular meetings with community service providers deepened their understanding of tribal community needs and strengthened prevention planning efforts. Another grantee offered parenting support groups for parents at all stages of life, creating meaningful connections and opportunities to share information. At a third site, collaborators reported fewer truancy cases after launching a comprehensive truancy prevention program. 

“We've really tried to shift our language around prevention to well-being. We really look at what well-being looks like for families and how can we utilize tribal values and strength-based practices to enrich that.” — TTCW Grantee 

As grantees built trust and established collaborative partnerships, they observed stronger program outcomes. To build trust and enhance relationships with their communities, grantees organized community gardening events, taught families minor home repair skills to promote self-sufficiency, expanded access to recovery and substance use support services, and sponsored tribal events. These activities created opportunities for youth to engage with traditional arts, history, and crafts, helping them build stronger connections to their heritage. One grantee reported an increase in youth speaking tribal languages. Another grantee shared that they reframed the language they used in their program’s branding and marketing from “prevention” to “family well-being” to better reflect its holistic, strengths-based approach rooted in tribal values. Collectively, these efforts contributed to what grantees described as “personal, family, and community success.” 

Recommendations for New Grantees 

TTCW stands out for its flexible design, allowing grantees to tailor their approaches to meet the specific needs of their communities. The program encourages grantees to address challenges by leveraging existing resources and services. Grantees offered several recommendations for future grantees and others working to enhance collaboration across the Tribal TANF and CW spaces: 

1. Utilize genuine partnership approaches.

• Revise policies and protocols to require information sharing across programs.
• Conduct frequent check-ins to ensure that team members, partners, and clients share a common understanding of goals and responsibilities.
• Create a multidisciplinary team approach that brings together professionals from key sectors to coordinate services, share information, and develop comprehensive support plans for families.
• Find and eliminate duplicative services to maximize efficiency and effectiveness.

2. Promote tribal responsiveness.

• Incorporate Indigenous values and traditions into curricula.
• Support the use of traditional arts, crafts, and customs in preventive services and as a potential avenue for income.
• Engage youth in tribal activities to foster a sense of belonging, pride, and accomplishment.

3. Incorporate robust management systems.

• Use shared referral tracking across agencies.
• Provide a single point of entry for clients seeking assistance.

4. Utilize federal resources.

• Work collaboratively with OFA from the beginning of the grant cycle to understand requirements and set your program up for success.
• Participate in technical assistance engagements to learn from peers and other experts.
• Request technical assistance when needed. 

“Through combined efforts provided by our tribes and through our state and federal partners, we…can help our people find better paths for a chance for a better future.” — TTCW Grantee 

Service Delivery Challenges  

During the grant cycle, several common challenges emerged among the eight grant programs. Grantees most frequently cited staff turnover, a challenge that was often intensified by scheduling conflicts and limited cross-department collaboration. Grantees also faced the unprecedented challenges of the global pandemic, and although COVID-19 protocols varied across tribes, all reported significant impacts on service accessibility and program implementation during this critical period of innovation. Additionally, barriers such as limited transportation and childcare, along with participants’ hesitancy to fully commit to services, reduced client engagement in program activities. 

Although these challenges were significant, they motivated grantees to design creative, tribally grounded strategies and strengthen their commitment to collaborative problem-solving. 

Key Factors Contributing to Program Success  

Grantees identified various resources that supported the implementation of strategies and innovations: 

1. Federal staff and contractors

• Grantees appreciated the accessibility of federal program staff and technical assistance providers, who supported their innovative efforts and provided guidance on maximizing grant funds.
• Technical assistance providers produced valuable resources and learning materials to support innovation.

2. Program talent

• Grantees attributed a significant portion of their successes to internal staff who shared
•  program knowledge and who were willing to engage in new methods of serving clients.
• Grantees who utilized the MDT approach increased their institutional knowledge by including additional partnering programs and staff.

3. Community support

• Grantees successfully engaged tribal elders, knowledge keepers, and youth to incorporate customs and traditions into their programs and to preserve traditional skills and language.
• Increased community awareness strengthened overall community support for and participation in the programs. 

Conclusion  

During the 2020—2025 funding period, grantees communicated as peers to share insights, address challenges, and celebrate successes. The programs worked to achieve their goal to serve and support family safety and stability through improved case management, supportive services to tribal families, and prevention services and assistance to tribal families at risk of child maltreatment. Ultimately, with federal-level support and strong community resources and support systems, TTCW grantees achieved remarkable outcomes that strengthened families, built community trust, and created lasting positive change.