The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the HHS Task Force to Prevent Human Trafficking, released the National Human Trafficking Prevention Framework. Building on decades of work to prevent violence, this framework is a resource for organizations, communities and governments seeking to strengthen efforts to prevent human trafficking. It reflects research and best practices in violence prevention and health promotion, as well as the expertise of people who have experienced human trafficking and allied professionals.

A video announcing this framework is available, where co-chairs of the HHS Task Force to Prevent Human Trafficking, Acting Assistant Secretary Jeff Hild and Assistant Secretary Admiral Rachel Levine, discuss key elements of the Framework.

Interested in learning more about upcoming opportunities to #Partner2Prevent human trafficking? Sign up for updates from the Office on Trafficking in Persons.

The National Youth Employment Coalition is hosting a virtual workshop on April 11, 2024 at 2:30 ET to provide an innovative approach to mentoring that combines technical skills and emotional intelligence, focusing on adaptability and resilience. Attendees will receive a toolkit to engage youth effectively in mentorship programs, including critical thinking, problem-solving, effective communication, and resilience skills.

Financial strain, schedule overload, and psychological stress are just some of the struggles single parents can face when returning to school, but they can be exacerbated when the single-parent student is also a veteran. RAND partnered with the Student Veterans of America to conduct semi-structured interviews with ten veteran single parents who are enrolled in higher education and one nonveteran school administrator who is dedicated to supporting student veterans. The interviews were designed to help inform the research team investigate barriers and facilitators to veteran single parents' pursuit of higher education; the research team also examined how such policies as the G.I. Bill supported the educational goals of veteran single parents while they parented young children. This RAND resource presents the study’s findings and can help veteran and education policy decisionmakers develop or refine education and training programs in ways that attune with the unique circumstances of veteran single parents.

College and career pathways are a critical strategy for supporting economic development in rural communities and creating economic advancement opportunities for youth. However, implementing pathways requires recognizing rural communities’ unique needs and opportunities. This Jobs for the Future resource includes a report and a brief which outlines three promising strategies for implementing rural pathways: build on local strengths and context, prioritize economic development, and embed remote opportunities.

Government agencies collect administrative data in their day-to-day activities, primarily to support program operations. This information is used less often as a research tool or fully harnessed for its evidence-building potential. ACF’s TANF Data Innovation (TDI) project supported innovation and efficiency within the TANF program by expanding its use of its administrative data. This Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation brief describes TDI’s efforts to transform federal TANF and employment data into an integrated resource for program management and evidence building.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is working to strengthen the well-being of children, youth, and their families by integrating behavioral health services into the existing supports they rely on, such as social services and early childhood programs. This ACF announcement highlights the new behavioral health webpage that includes a tip sheet for parents and caregivers and a series of short videos about mental health.

The new behavioral health webpage includes audience-specific pages with resources about mental health and substance use for:

• Teens and young adults
• Parents and caregivers
• American Indian and Alaska Native Communities
• Service providers
• Grant recipients
• Early childhood professionals

In Massachusetts, when families with young children search for information about and connections to early childhood services, they face a complex maze rather than a coordinated early childhood system. This Urban Institute report highlights existing service coordination approaches in Massachusetts and is designed to inform the development of a comprehensive system of information about and connections to early childhood services for Massachusetts families with children from birth to age 5.

This Office of Planning, Research & Evaluation brief provides a graphical overview of some of the TANF policy differences across states and territories. It includes information about initial eligibility, benefit amounts, work and activity requirements, and ongoing eligibility and time limits. This brief is a companion to the 2022 Welfare Rules Databook.

While many of the United States’ peer countries have partnered effectively with employers to offer earn-and-learn options like apprenticeships on a grand scale, the U.S. continues to rely almost exclusively on traditional four-year college degrees as the primary path to a good job—leaving many workers and learners behind. Brookings and New America’s Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship are co-hosting a webinar on February 21, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. ET, where leaders in Alabama, Colorado, and Indiana will discuss how they are creating enabling policies to scale earn-and-learn opportunities.