U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services
TANF Data Reporting System
Research-driven improvements to a data system supporting 800,000 beneficiaries

Overview
Approximately 800,000 low-income American families receive cash assistance through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) every month. A $16.5 billion TANF federal block grant provides funding to states, tribes, and territories, who then administer benefits to their low-income residents.
Each quarter, 50 states, 75 tribes, 3 territories, and D.C. have to report the work activities and characteristics of families receiving cash assistance through the TANF Data Reporting System (TDRS).
18F partnered with OFA to prototype and procure a new data reporting system and replace their 20+ year old system. This new portal would upgrade the data reporting experience, improve data quality, and inform better policy and programs to support low-income families that receive TANF.
My research findings and approach directly informed the roadmap and team practices that delivered a more secure, user-centered system
I was the lead user researcher during the assisted acquisition, which means I:
- Led research to define core audiences and user stories for the Request for Proposals (RFP)
- Mapped existing processes for submitting data to OFA
- Directly supported the hiring and onboarding of an agile software vendor and design team
- Embedded derisking principles and establishing user-centered design practices on the team for long term project success.
- Provided post-award coaching to OFA partners to ensure design work was regularly tested and accessible
Within three years, OFA deployed a more secure, user-centered system that's actively used by over 85% of users.
I worked closely with a product manager, software engineer, acquisition specialists and our partners at OFA.

Key contributions
- Led research to assess the current data upload process and mapped "the last mile" for how data travels move from state, tribal, and territory systems to OFA systems.
- Set up collaborative research environments with OFA staff to increase comfort and awareness of user research practices ahead of the build.
- Identified preliminary user types and user stories for the RFP to communicate scope to prospective vendors and model user-centered, agile ways of working.
- Advised on vendor selection and provided expert review of research plans, design staffing proposals, and vendor responses in interviews.
- Onboarded vendor design team and collaborated on a vendor kickoff schedule that became a resource for future 18F projects.
- Presented on market research and iterative design practices for federal IT projects to 300+ federal contracting officers.