Leveraging Intermediaries to Advance Work-Based Learning: Lessons From a Case Study of Indiana

This case study from the American Institutes for Research looks at how Indiana is using intermediaries – organizations that connect employers, schools, and other partners – to expand access to high-quality work-based learning. The study addresses a common challenge: schools and employers may both support work-based learning, but often lack the staff, time, relationships, or infrastructure needed to coordinate opportunities at scale.

For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, Indiana’s experience offers a practical model for thinking about who can play the “connector” role between participants and employers. Intermediaries can reduce the burden on individual organizations, coordinate employer relationships, provide shared tools and supports, and help translate policy into day-to-day practice. These lessons may be useful for TANF programs seeking stronger work-based learning, apprenticeship, or employer partnerships without having to build every piece of the system themselves.