This blog post from the Administration for Children and Families provides an overview of the Pathways to Advancing Careers and Education study, which focuses on nine career pathways programs and looks at risk factors that prevent low-income students from achieving college success. For example, having better grades in high school predicted enrolling in college, staying in college, and earning credentials; and being able to devote time to full-time education, rather than having to work a high number of hours while enrolled in school, has at least as much influence as money on the likelihood of enrolling and persisting in college.

This annual release from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) draws on national data from fiscal year (FY) 2015 and shows that less than half of the $31.3 billion in TANF and maintenance-of-effort (MOE) funds were spent on the combination of basic assistance; work, education, and training activities; and child care. FY 2015 was the first year that states used a revised financial reporting form (ACF-196R), which clarifies and expands the list of expenditure categories and also improves the accounting methodology. This new level of detail shows that states spent about 15 percent of TANF and MOE funds on the combination of child welfare services, pre-kindergarten and Head Start programs, and services for children and youth.

Survivors of domestic violence can face various legal issues, such as obtaining protection orders against abusers, filing for divorce, receiving child support, and determining custody and visitation rights for minor children. This collection, from the National Online Resource Center on Violence Against Women, provides resources to help survivors, advocates, and legal professionals who are dealing with these types of issues.

The Poverty and Inequality Report from the Stanford Center on Poverty & Inequality examines the “state of the union” on poverty, inequality, and labor market outcomes. This annual report provides an analysis of evidence around such issues as poverty, employment, income inequality, health inequality, economic mobility, and educational access to allow for a comprehensive assessment of where the country stands.

Untreated maternal depression can interfere with a parent’s capacity to help their child develop, place a child’s safety and cognitive development at risk, and impede a family’s effort to become self-sufficient. This report from the Center on Law and Social Policy offers ideas for federal and state stakeholders to help low-income mothers with depression.

This report from Jobs for the Future provides an overview of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) landscape, and examines academic and personal barriers that underprepared adult learners face and how adapted CBE programs can help students overcome them. The report reviews key issues in designing effective CBE programs and recommends potential CBE program design elements.

The Employment Strategies for Low-Income Adults Evidence Review examined studies of employment and training interventions for low-income adults. The study review intends to provide a systematic assessment of the research evidence for the effectiveness of programs designed to improve the employment-related outcomes of low-income adults. This brief from the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation presents an overview of the Employment Strategies for Low-Income Adults Evidence Review approach, describes the studies, and presents results from the review.

The National Skills Coalition and the Workforce Data Quality Campaign hosted this webinar on May 26, 2016. It provided an overview of apprenticeships in the United States and the current state of apprenticeship data. The webinar also showcased how North Carolina is using this information to advance its research, and empower its workers and employers.

The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) is the main source of federal funding providing child care subsidies for low-income, working families. This report from the Congressional Research Service reviews the legislative history behind the different CCDF funding streams. It also emphasizes the importance of federal- and state-level decisions in setting spending levels and establishing basic program rules.

On March 14, 2016, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a Dear Colleague letter to state and local courts to announce new resources. The purpose of the resources is to assist state and local efforts to reform practices for assessment of ability to pay as part of enforcement efforts to collect fees, fines, and child support. The resources can support the ongoing work of judges, courts, policymakers, program administrators, and other stakeholders in ensuring justice for all individuals, regardless of financial circumstances.