Stakeholder Resource
This U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service webpage summarizes actions the USDA has taken to ease program operations and protect the health of USDA nutrition program participants in response to COVID-19. Guidance and waiver information granting states flexibility and contingencies to best serve participants are provided for the 15 USDA nutrition programs, including WIC and SNAP.
April, 2020
Research-To-Practice Brief
This strategy brief discusses how safety culture can assist child protection agencies in shifting their organizational culture to one characterized by open staff conversation; in this environment, staff feedback is valued and important in addressing their organizations’ concerns. One way to strengthen safety culture is through effective mindful organizing, described not only as staff’s understanding of their work, but also of their colleagues’ capabilities, which according to studies, results in reduced staff turnover and positive outcomes for children and their families.
April, 2020
Webinar / Webcast
Over the past few weeks, our society has undergone major changes to try to slow the spread of COVID-19. Accurate, accessible health information is essential to help people stay safe and healthy, understand federal safety guidelines, and prevent unnecessary fear. The American Institutes for Research (AIR) has created a plain-language FAQ that addresses a variety of topics related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The document was developed as a resource for schools, day cares, healthcare organizations, and other public centers to distribute.
April, 2020
Podcast
This podcast, part of the Skilled America Podcast weekly series, offers a field report on how the Center for Employment Opportunities in New York and JEVS Human Services in Philadelphia are addressing increased demand for re-entry services as the jail and prison populations reduce to slow the spread of COVID-19. The podcast includes an interview with a JEVS Looking Forward Philadelphia program participant who shares his experiences in re-entry and what supports returning citizens need now and beyond their current circumstances.
April, 2020
Toolkit
This toolkit offers steps and guidance on how to use virtual communications for client engagement and internal staff management. Information is provided for voice and conference calls using Google Voice, FreeConferenceCall.com, and Google Hangouts; video conferencing using Zoom and WebEx; creating and sharing documents with Google Drive and Microsoft Office 365; and internal messaging using Slack and Google Hangouts Chat.
April, 2020
Stakeholder Resource
This guide from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration includes topics and resources to serve women who are reentering communities after incarceration and intends to help them succeed.
April, 2020
Report
This report presents findings of 160 frontline staff and managers in the workforce systems of seven states and summarizes three virtual roundtable discussions with 31 participants who received workforce services. The report identifies where “second responders” or workforce development professionals in the field adapted to a virtual environment, as well as concerns for providing workforce services over the long haul when staff have limited knowledge or training in virtual technology.
April, 2020
Fact / Tip Sheet
This fact sheet shows how a non-recurrent short-term benefit program could operate in Georgia in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Examples of how non-recurrent benefits might address emergency situations are presented and include short-term benefits to make up for lost wages, short-term rental or mortgage assistance, utility and energy assistance, housing search and placement services, and family support services.
April, 2020
Policy Announcement / Memoranda
The U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance has announced a grant funding opportunity under the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA). Applications are sought for projects designed to prevent, detect, and respond to sexual abuse and sexual harassment in prisons, and to achieve and maintain compliance with PREA standards. Applications are due by April 14, 2020.
April, 2020
Policy Announcement / Memoranda
This letter from the Acting Commissioner of the Office of Child Support Enforcement provides guidance on how individual tax rebates made under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to eligible noncustodial parents are subject to intercept for past-due child support payments. It also notes that TANF or Title IV-E foster care cases must have at least $150 in past-due support for the offset requirement to apply; non-TANF and non-Title IV-E cases must have at least $500 of past-due support for the offset requirement to apply.
April, 2020