Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is a federally-funded initiative that provides funding to states so that they may design and execute state-level programs that provide cash assistance to families. The target of these programs must be to achieve at least one of four goals: 

• To provide for the care of children in their own homes (or the homes of close relatives),
• To end recipients’ dependence on government assistance through the use of work, job preparation, or marriage programming,
• To prevent and reduce out-of-wedlock pregnancies
• To encourage family units with two parental figures.