This brief by the Center for the Study of Social Policy and supported by The Annie E. Casey Foundation is based on more than 80 interviews with organizations, their workers, and the youth that they support. The intent of the brief is to generate and share knowledge that is useful in dealing with youth that face serious challenges. Findings include that when youth face serious adversity, the relationship they establish with a worker is often incremental. The report looks at these “transitional relationships,” what workers actually do to forge successful relationships with the youth, and what their organizations do to create a culture for the workers to succeed. Interviewees for this report are between 16-25 years old and have faced serious challenges including child welfare involvement, substance abuse, and homelessness. Workers interviewed are leaders of organizations noted for their exemplary work and who have repeatedly formed bonds and relationships with such youth.

This journal article from The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences outlines a plan for utilizing Head Start and career pathways services offered through a community college to create a two- generational human capital approach to serving low-income families. The article outlines policy and funding that would encourage this type of collaboration across anti-poverty programs. It highlights recent research that has shown that this model can work and produce positive outcomes as evidenced by a program in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Many TANF program recipients have been exposed to trauma in the form of violence and adversity in the family and community setting. TANF participants often have work-limiting health issues linked to expose to trauma, and those issues can provide physical barriers to employment by limiting work prospects and income. This research brief by Drexel University’s Center for Hunger-Free Communities outlines the Building Wealth and Health Network program that combines financial empowerment, trauma-informed peer support, and matched financial savings to support TANF participants and their families. The program recommends that public assistance programs incorporate trauma-informed approaches to public assistance and on-the-job training; investment in programs that support the caregivers’ physical, mental, and economic health to promote well-being of both the child and caregiver; and finally, focus on behavioral health services to support families, career readiness, and self-sufficiency before WorkFirst participation.

This blog post from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families describes a new report commissioned by the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities and the American Public Human Services Association entitled “Our North Star: Transforming Human Services through Strategic Partnerships with Communities.” The report shares ACF’s vision for strengthening human services by uniting with community-based organizations and other partners, aligning efforts, and crossing program boundaries to improve the lives of children and their families. Also featured are some “north star” initiatives and examples; these initiatives include committing to measuring long-term outcomes, investing in capacity for innovation, developing strategic partnerships, and reducing regulatory barriers.

On August 17, 2017, the Office of Family Assistance (OFA) sponsored a technical assistance site exchange for Ramsey County (Minnesota) Workforce Solutions to meet with staff from the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation’s (DLLR) Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning, and Maryland Department of Human Services’ Office of Workforce Development to discuss service delivery methods. During the site exchange, Ramsey County shared materials that reflect their approach to adopting and implementing a comprehensive, strengths-based, service delivery model, including how they built staff capacity through training on coaching, motivational interviewing, and executive functioning skills. (When using these materials, Mathematica, Goodwill Easter Seals of Minnesota, and Ramsey County Workforce Solutions should be credited.)

Toyota Family Trails is a web site that was developed by a partnership between Toyota and the National Center for Families Learning. It encourages families to learn together and parents to be their child’s first teacher. Families share their outdoor adventures and life lessons through pictures and blog style stories. The site also provides resources and activities designed to encourage parents and children to go outside to learn and explore together.

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is the first federal legislative reform of the public workforce system in over 16 years. It presents unique opportunities to increase the economic opportunities and stability of disadvantaged jobseekers. The state of Maryland became one of only 29 states and 2 territories that opted to develop a Combined State Plan which aligns its workforce and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs across the state, requiring its 12 Local Workforce Areas to design distinct implementation plans responsive to the population needs in each of Maryland’s 24 counties (and Baltimore City). This report, developed through the Office of Family Assistance, details Maryland’s TANF/WIOA Alignment Process.

ETA is excited to announce the launch of a national cohort of states focusing on partnership of WIOA Titles 1 & 3, TANF Employment & Training and SNAP Employment & Training agencies and programs. This is a prestigious opportunity to work with your peers from across the country in an organized setting to tackle the challenges faced by states in leveraging funding and resources and integrating services—and explore models to develop an action plan to help advance your goals. Both states that consider themselves “leaders” and “learners” are encouraged to apply! This will be a highly engaging, peer learning cohort.

For more information, to request and submit applications, please contact cohorts@mahernet.com. Applications due by January 22, 2018.

This report provides an overview of the implementation of a cross-agency federal initiative led by the White House Rural Council called Rural IMPACT. The demonstration initiative aimed to address rural child poverty and improve mobility of families in rural and tribal communities through increased service delivery coordination. Drawing from other place-based initiatives, the demonstration focused on providing intensive technical assistance to ten sites chosen through a competitive process. Each site was to develop a two-generation program model that would be driven by a “backbone” agency and a team of key partners. This report highlights key practice elements needed for site success, which included tailored technical assistance, numerous committed partner organizations including families themselves, strong leadership support, and plans to encourage wider implementation of two-generation efforts.

In this three-part video podcast series, Paul Rada from the Truman Medical Center Behavioral Health unit in Kansas City, Missouri presents information and strategies for TANF programs to better serve participants experiencing toxic stress. This resource is intended to aid TANF program administrators and staff in: 

• Understanding the concepts of toxic stress and trauma‐informed care (TIC)
• Distinguishing between toxic stress, trauma, PTSD, and specific related interventions
• Explaining and applying toxic stress and TIC principles within TANF serving systems—specifically as they relate to improving employment outcomes and achieving program goals
• Identifying administrative areas within TANF programs that can be assessed for TIC integration, as well as opportunities for cultural/organizational change which integrates TIC principles
• Understanding methods for TANF participants to assess levels of toxic stress and apply appropriate coping strategies.