Classifying and Describing Exemplary Data Use in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tanf) Agencies

State human service agencies often collect a wealth of administrative data, but the extent to which those data are accessed and leveraged for evaluation or program improvement varies greatly across time, states, and agencies. The current study is focused on data use in state agencies administering the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, a federal cash assistance program for families with low incomes. Using data from a national needs assessment administered to state and territory TANF agencies ( n = 43), we identified three categories of data use: basic (describing 22 state TANF agencies; 51%), advanced (9; 21%), and exemplary (12; 28%). We examined the relationship between data use and agency characteristics and found that a culture of communication, collaboration, and transparency around data, as well as the development of quality external partnerships, are associated with higher quality agency data use. Factors like new data systems, data access tools, or increased financial resources were not consistently associated with higher quality agency data use; in particular, new data systems were inversely correlated with data use in the years immediately after implementation

Economics · Political science · Sociology · demographic modeling and climate adaptation · Financial Literacy, Pension, Retirement Analysis · Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes · Public Administration

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