Workforce Services

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)

The Arkansas Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program was created to help families stay together by empowering family leaders with job skills, resources and assistance. With that in mind, TANF serves four functions:

  • Provides assistance to needy families so that children may be cared for in their own homes or in homes of relatives.
  • Ends the dependence of needy parents on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work and marriage.
  • Reduces the incidences of out-of-wedlock pregnancies.
  • Encourages the formation and maintenance of two-parent families.

AVAILABLE PROGRAMS

TEA: The Transitional Employment Assistance program emphasizes work as the first step toward building a brighter future. Through training, education and work activities, individuals are guided to become self-sufficient. This federally funded program provides time-limited cash assistance to needy families with (or expecting) children. In addition, TEA furnishes parents with work training and other supportive services they need in order to attain permanent self-sufficiency. The TEA program also provides assistance to children being cared for by non-parental guardians. Financial assistance is based on family size, income, resources and the ages of the children. Time-limited support is provided with a variety of supportive services while moving individuals back into the labor market.

Work Pays: Arkansas Work Pays is a post-employment program that provides assistance to prior participants of the TEA program. Participating families are eligible for the same support services and assistance as families enrolled in the TEA program and will receive a monthly cash assistance payment. The extra income provided is designed to help families make an easier transition to self-sufficiency.

Career Pathways: Under the Career Pathways Initiative, Arkansas invests public funds to support the development and implementation of career pathway programs in the state’s two-year colleges and technical institutions for low income families. In addition, career pathway programs provide training in local, high-demand occupations and career fields, in addition to intensive counseling and supplemental services such as child care and transportation assistance.

Community Investment Initiative: The Arkansas Division of Workforce Services contracts with private or community organizations, including faith-based organizations, to offer services and supports to parents, children and youth in their communities. The Community Investment Initiative focuses on improving outcomes for youth; parenting and family functioning; marriage and relationship skills; employment skills; family connections of parents who leave state jails and prisons; and support devices to child-only cases in the TEA program.

Click on one of the following links for more information about TANF.

Resources for Victims of Sexual Harassment and Survivors of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, or Stalking

White DWS Logo

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

FROM THE ARKANSAS DIVISION OF WORKFORCE SERVICES​

Looking for a job?

Visit Arkansas JobLink and set up your job-seeker account to create and post resumes, search for jobs and training opportunities, receive notifications when certain jobs are posted, and learn about upcoming hiring events!

Whether you are unemployed and searching for work, or looking to increase your skillset to further your career, we can help. Visit an Arkansas Workforce Center to meet with a career counselor, get help with job search and applications, learn about training opportunities, get certified as "work-ready", and more. We can provide services and connect you to resources that will help you achieve your employment and career goals.

New FOIA Request Portal

Now Arkansas citizens can submit FOIA requests to ADWS through an easy-to-use online portal! Click the link below to submit a request.

Submit a FOIA Request

ADWS provides interpretation and translation services, at no cost, for clients who need assistance in accessing and participating in available services and programs. To request an interpreter or translator, please contact your nearest local office. 

ADWS ej lewaj jerbal in ukok ilo jeje im kennaan, ilo ejjelok wōnāān, ñan client ro am ak ro kimij jerbal ippair im rej aikuij jipañ ñan bok kunairilo jerbal ko iim pirokiraam ko. Ñan am kajjitōk juon ri-ukok, jouij im kepaake opij eo epaake ijo kwoj pād ie.

ADWS proporciona servicios de interpretación y traducción, sin costo alguno, para clientes que necesitan asistencia accediendo y participando en servicios y programas disponibles. Para solicitar un intérprete o traductor, por favor póngase en contacto con su oficina local más cercana.

ADWS cung cấp dịch vụ thông dịch và phiên dịch miễn phí cho khách hàng cần trợ giúp trong việc tiếp cận và tham gia các dịch vụ và chương trình hiện có. Để yêu cầu thông dịch viên hoặc phiên dịch viên, yêu cầu liên lạc với văn phòng địa phương gần nhất.

ພະແນກ ADWS ຈັດຫາບໍຣິການນາຍພາສາແລະການແປເອກະສານ ໂດຍບໍ່ຄິດຄ່າບໍຣິການ ສຳລັບຄົນງານທີ່ຕ້ອງການຄວາມຊ່ວຍເຫລືອເພື່ອເຂົ້າເຖິງ ແລະເຂົ້າຮ່ວມໃນ ການຮັບບໍຣິການແລະໂຄງການຕ່າງໆທີ່ມີຢູ່ສຳລັບທ່ານ. ຂໍໃຫ້ທ່ານຈົ່ງຕິດຕໍ່ຫ້ອງການທ້ອງຖິ່ນທີ່ໃກ້ທ່ານທີ່ສຸດ ເພື່ອຂໍຮັບບໍຣິການຈາກນາຍພາສາຫລືນັກແປເອກະສານ.