The National Association of Workforce Boards will host its annual meeting as a hybrid event on June 24, 2021 to June 26, 2021. Sessions covering four primary topics—Thought Leaders; Demonstrating Results; the Future of Work; and Building Skills - Reaching the Learner Where They Are—support the Forum’s theme, “Pathways to Excellence” as the key areas in which workforce development boards need to focus their attention and resources to meet the individual and employer needs of their communities. There is a fee to register for this event.

The Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation has released a funding opportunity announcement to provide funding and technical support for evaluation-related activities to organizations implementing interventions to improve self-sufficiency among families with low incomes. These 24-month cooperative agreements are intended for organizations that seek to strengthen and evaluate coordinated, client-centered approaches to improving self-sufficiency. No prior experience in research and evaluation is required. Grantees will work with federally funded, third-party evaluation technical assistance providers that will offer customized support to recipients in designing, implementing, and evaluating their proposed interventions. A letter of intent is due by June 2, 2021 and a full application is due by July 2, 2021.

This brief is a case study that reviews the relational factors between two Cleveland-based employment training programs–Youth Opportunities Unlimited and Towards Employment–as they came together to develop a Youth Adult Resource Center (YRC). It discusses how YRC incorporated positive youth development approaches at the staff level, and presents how these approaches helped to improve YRC’s ability to meet the needs of Cleveland’s youth and young adults.

This blogpost summarizes a podcast, “Child Support – A Tool to Enable Families and Their Children to be Food Secure,” which included interviews with the National Child Support Enforcement Association, the Food Research & Action Center, and the Maine Department of Human Services. It highlights the positive impact of child support programs under the Office of Child Support Enforcement, and notes the ways that SNAP offers short- and long-term benefits for infant and child health and well-being. The blogpost also links to the full podcast.

This resource list covers general information and guidance to create new youth apprenticeship programs as well as approaches for employer engagement and participant recruitment. The resources also include industry-specific information on advanced manufacturing, agriculture and food systems, construction, energy, financial services, information technology (for cybersecurity), healthcare, hospitality, transportation, distribution, and logistics.

This report examines how organizational culture, office design, and office procedures contribute to the client experience with TANF, the services offered, and the potential outcomes. It highlights examples of productive client-oriented office settings, organizational processes and culture, and the day-to-day influence of organizational culture on clients and frontline staff. The report’s findings are drawn from field interviews and observations at six TANF offices: Fairfax County’s Department of Family Services (Virginia); Mesa County’s Workforce Center (Colorado); New York City’s Human Resources Administration (New York); Owens Valley Career Development Center’s Tribal TANF Program (California); Santa Cruz County’s Human Services Department (California); and the Utah Department of Workforce Services.

The third bi-annual Aspen Forum on Children and Families will be held on June 7, 2021 and June 8, 2021 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET on both days. This virtual forum includes panel discussions, keynote speakers, and breakout sessions covering two-generation (2Gen) approaches as well as resources and tools needed to strengthen families, communities, and the country. The Forum also features the release of The State of 2Gen, which synthesizes 10 years of the field's accomplishments and identifies policy recommendations to support families with improved health, education, and employment outcomes.

As grandfamily caregivers assume the role of caretaker for their grandchildren, these grandfamilies experience unique challenges and strengths. Challenges include legal issues, financial hardships, and housing concerns, while strengths include research that shows children placed with relatives often thrive compared to those placed in foster care.

The 2020 State of Grandfamilies in America annual report features information on connecting grandfamilies to critical supports during the COVID-19 crisis and creating systems to promote service continuity. The included infographic displays the percentage of grandparents responsible for grandchildren, racial overrepresentation in grandfamilies, and COVID-19 challenges facing grandfamilies. An accompanying webinar highlights factors that may contribute to the creation of grandfamilies and discusses their challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This organizations list from the Children’s Bureau’s Child Welfare Information Gateway provides contact information and website links to kinship care programs and services offered by State child welfare departments, subcontracted private nonprofit agencies, and some Tribes in applicable States and the District of Columbia.