This video from the 2016 Research and Evaluation Conference on Self-Sufficiency (RECS) describes methods for building research capacity in social service agencies, including 1) rapid-cycle evaluation, 2) using administrative data for performance…

This kit, developed by IDEO, provides tools to help programs engage in human-centered design. Human-centered design is a creative approach to problem solving that starts by learning directly from the people you’re designing for in order to build…

This resource from the Duke Initiative on Survey Methodology at the Social Science Research Institute deals with two issues that come up for researchers when asking people sensitive questions: 1) social desirability bias (where respondents answer in…

This Ramsey County, Minnesota website provides resources in PDF format under the "Training" tab for the Diversionary Work and Minnesota Family Investment Programs. Multiple resources are included, such as service provider…

In addition to academic, technical, and professional skills, today’s workers also need a set of personal success skills. Personal success skills are skills that allow adults to deal with challenges, relationships, and transitions involved in the…

This report from the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University focuses on “core capabilities,” including executive function, and how they can be impacted by toxic stress, leading to challenges with life skills such as parenting and…

In 2016, Utah Department of Workforce Services launched the “Family Employment Program (FEP) Refocus Academy” to train FEP case workers on Utah’s new family-focused case management model. The trainings were reinforced with coaching from FEP…

On September 18 - 19, 2014, the Office of Family Assistance sponsored a Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) technical assistance (TA) site visit to the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) (Region X). This visit was in response to…

This 2-page resource from Nova Southeastern University provides tips for using the five general principles of Motivational Interviewing: 1) expressing empathy, 2) developing discrepancy, 3) avoiding argumentation, 4) rolling with resistance, 5)…

The National Crittenton Foundation, in partnership with Ascend at the Aspen Institute, developed this toolkit to guide use of the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) survey in direct service, education, and policy settings. The toolkit is designed…