IMPACT 5000 is the District of Columbia Housing Authority’s (DCHA) initiative to increase support for the 5,000 children living in its properties. These children face several challenges, including food insecurity, economic uncertainty, and health issues. This resource includes materials from an event at Urban Institute at which a panel presented findings from a community needs assessment of residents of DCHA family properties.

This post from the Chronicle of Evidence-Based Mentoring is part of a series on toxic stress. In this post, the authors highlight what professional staff need to know about toxic stress to best serve vulnerable youth and families.

This article from the Stanford Social Innovation Review argues the need for evidence-based decision-making. Although this practice has potential to improve outcomes for families, it should be better marketed and adapted to address specific issues, instead of a broad overall approach. The author suggests collecting better data, holding people accountable for program results, and promoting ongoing program improvements.

This post from the Annie E. Casey Foundation presents data at the state and national level regarding the well-being and economic status of families. The author notes that to achieve financial stability, all available parents will likely need to work. In addition, the post discusses the need for access to affordable child care and paid leave.

This toolkit from the Annie E. Casey Foundation outlines a five-step strategic finance planning process geared toward supporting programs that serve children and families. It aims to help stakeholders work together to examine what they want to finance, how their current investments align with their financing goals, and which strategies can help them achieve those goals.

This post from the Urban Institute examines a year’s worth of research on instability affecting children. The findings include: instability is widespread; stability depends on a complex system of supports; and instability is a costly problem for public institutions and employers, which may motivate them to act.

This searchable database of WIOA-related activities from the National Conference of State Legislatures includes legislation enacted in state legislatures during the 2015 session. Issues related to WIOA implementation include sector strategies, career pathways, adult education, career and job training, work-based learning, pay for performance initiatives, state plan issues, and general workforce legislation.

The Department of Health and Human Services published the annual update of the HHS poverty guidelines “to account for last calendar year’s increases in prices as measured by the Consumer Price Index.”

Newly released joint guidance provides direction for the implementation of operational requirements under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) pertaining to the one-stop delivery system. Under WIOA, workforce development, education, and human services partners are encouraged to provide streamlined and efficient career services for all customers through the American Job Center Network. This webinar was the first in a series of technical assistance resources being provided to the workforce system. Staff from the Departments of Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services provided a high level review of key components of the joint guidance to include: characteristics of the American Job Center Network and benefits of participating in the American Job Center Network. A review of upcoming one-stop technical assistance events was also provided during this event. The webinar was held on February 15, 2017, from 3:00-4:00 p.m. ET.

The December issue of the SNAP to Skills Newsletter focuses on Michigan’s SNAP Employment & Training (SNAP E&T) program. Its own program, called Food Assistance Employment & Training, or FAE&T, is administered jointly by its Department of Health and Human Services and the Workforce Development Agency. In the future, Michigan plans to bring on additional partners, deepen the collaboration between agencies, and develop a Partner Handbook.