This course is approved for 3 MSDE Continuing Professional Development/CPD credits as course #22-66-04R and fulfills the requirements of the Maryland State Department of Education for certification of school-based social workers. Because social workers provide related services that are part of the educational programming of students with special needs, they must understand the legal mandates, federal and state policies and standards, as well as the specific instructional methods and technologies used in the classrooms that serve those students, from the least restrictive settings of inclusion to the more clinical settings, including residential.

Title:  Programs Meant to Protect Series: Understanding TANF/Cash Assistance with Cultural Humility
Date: Monday, September 21, 2026; 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM 
Presenter: Imani Hutchinson, MSW, LGSW 
Synopsis: This session in the Social Safety Net Program Series provides social workers with a foundational understanding of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)/cash assistance, emphasizing the use of cultural humility in their analysis of the program. Participants will explore the historical development of TANF within the broader U.S. social safety net, including how policy decisions have shaped who is served, how services are delivered, and how need is defined. The training will outline core federal eligibility requirements for TANF; administrative burdens, stigma, systemic inequities; and key facilitators that can improve access and engagement. Grounded in cultural humility, this training will allow participants to critically reflect on how bias and stigma impact individuals and families receiving cash assistance. Through discussion and applied practice, participants will strengthen their ability to engage clients with respect, openness, and awareness of structural context, ultimately supporting more equitable and effective service delivery.

Register here!