When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020, researchers were already conducting a text message survey of service workers who had children. With the start of lockdowns and business closures, the researchers pivoted to start asking these workers about job and income loss, challenges that stemmed from school and childcare shifts, their mental health, and whether they were able to access government benefits. This podcast presents an overview of survey findings and discusses how what researchers learned fits within the larger context of low-wage work in the United States. The podcast is hosted by Anna Gassman Pines, Duke University, and reflects research that she and Elizabeth Ananat, Barnard College, conducted.

The Hartford, Connecticut Generation Work local partnership aims to elevate the importance of positive youth development as a strategy for employment and training organizations across sectors to better support young people’s employment readiness and success. This brief examines how the Hartford Generation Work partnership adapted its efforts to engage young adults more authentically by establishing a youth advisory council called the Young Legends to help shape its work. The brief also focuses on the benefits and challenges of the partnership’s efforts, offers examples of ways in which Young Legends has elevated young people’s voices, and describes how the Young Legends’ input has influenced action and change.

TANF programs adapted in many innovative ways to meet the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. These innovations included strategies to administer and deliver program services virtually, increase access to and use of technology among participants and staff, and promote meaningful participant engagement and accountability. This Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation brief discusses promising practices that were developed across the country in these three areas. As the pandemic evolves, some of the innovations could benefit from further testing, adaptation, and scaling. The brief describes several considerations for TANF programs as they continue to build on these changes.

The Child Support Enforcement program strengthens families by securing support from noncustodial parents for their children. For noncustodial parents with steady employment and financial resources, the program can work well, but the child support system works less well for noncustodial parents who cannot pay and face barriers to employment. This brief examines how policies impact families required to participate in child support and noncustodial parents who cannot afford to pay, and it highlights five innovations aiming to improve the way the child support system interacts with low-income noncustodial parents and their children.

The National Community Action Partnership will host a webinar on January 12, 2022 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET to help Community Action Agencies (CAAs) learn more about how to get involved with the Learning Communities Resource Center (LCRC) in the next cycle of sharing and learning opportunities for the Community Action CSBG Network. LCRC is an innovation hub that works with CAAs to identify effective, promising, and innovative practice models that combat the causes and conditions of poverty. Participating individuals and agencies will have the opportunity to develop innovative anti-poverty approaches, improve programs, and sharpen service delivery strategies specific to the needs of local communities. The webinar will also cover upcoming events, cohort topics, new resources, and application process questions.

The Aspen Institute will host a webinar fireside chat on January 10, 2022 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET on the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA’s) newly launched American Rescue Plan Program and how it, alongside other Federal investment opportunities, represents a once in a lifetime opportunity to directly benefit previously underserved communities affected by COVID-19. Participants will learn how cities are working together to take advantage of these investment opportunities; understand steps communities can take now to learn, prepare, and apply; and learn about ways the EDA is looking to invest in underserved communities. The conversation features Alejandra Y. Castillo, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. Bruce Katz, Co-Founder and Inaugural Executive Director for Nowak Metro Finance Lab, Drexel University, will moderate.

The MyGoals for Employment Success program provides a unique coaching model that concentrates on developing executive skills—like emotional control, stress tolerance, time management, and organization. These skills help participants successfully navigate the labor market, acquire occupational credentials, perform well at a job, and advance at work. This podcast includes interviews with two MyGoals coaches, Shirley McGee from the Houston Housing Authority and Ashley Coston from the Housing Authority of Baltimore, who speak about challenges that participants and coaches face and benefits the program offers to participants.

This brief highlights the importance of sector programs and what policymakers and practitioners can do to implement a sector program to help people obtain the skills needed to find jobs that are in demand during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The brief describes how sector programs train people for high-quality jobs in industries and occupational clusters that have strong local demand and offer career advancement opportunities. It also highlights that the most valuable component of sector programs is occupational skills training that, in most cases, leads to industry- or locally recognized credentials or certifications. Examples of the effectiveness of sector programs, such as Per Scholars, Year Up, Project QUEST, and Health Professionals Opportunity Grants Impact Study, are showcased.

This fact sheet provides a brief overview of findings from a study of challenges and strategies for young people (ages 14 to 24) seeking support from key safety net programs. The fact sheet draws findings based primarily on a series of conversations with young people and staff members of youth-serving organizations. Young people and staff members identified key challenges with safety net policies and practices that do not reflect the needs or developmental life stage of young people. The resource also provides context about how structural racism affects people’s experiences with the safety net. Strategies for simplifying access and supporting young people in navigating processes, empowering and supporting young people in decision making, replacing punitive approaches with support and minimized burden, and making structural changes are also presented.

On June 7 and 10, 2021, the Children’s Bureau and the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) brought experts together virtually to discuss findings from the Building Co-Regulation Capacity to Support Positive Development for Youth with Foster Care Experience report. Participants included child welfare program directors, researchers with expertise in self-regulation and child development, federal staff, foster parents, and therapists, with several attendees having lived experience in the child welfare system.