With over 95 percent of people in the nation's State prisons expected to be released at some point, officials at all levels of government recognize the need for initiatives to support the successful reentry of these individuals to their communities. The program snapshots released in this publication by the Council of State Governments illustrate the positive impact reentry initiatives can have by focusing on areas vital to successful reintegration back into the community, including employment, education, mentoring, and substance abuse and mental health treatment. Also highlighted are programs that address the needs of a particular population, such as women, youth and their families, and Tribal communities. Representing a wide range of populations served, these programs also demonstrate the diversity of approaches that can address recidivism and increase public safety.

The Center for Economic and Policy Research released the book, Getting Back to Full Employment, a follow-up to a book written in 2003 titled, The Benefits of Full Employment. This new book builds on the evidence presented in The Benefits of Full Employment, showing that real wage growth for workers in the bottom half of the income scale is highly dependent on the overall rate of unemployment. The book also presents a broad set of policies designed to boost growth and get the unemployment rate down to a level where far more workers have a fighting chance of getting ahead.

The Annie E. Casey Foundation released a working paper on the Federal child welfare financing system and its need to be supported by best practices in order to ensure that all children have the opportunity to grow up in strong families. This paper outlines a policy framework and recommendations to encourage best practices in four areas: permanence and well-being; quality family foster care; a capable, supported child welfare workforce; and better access to services.

The National Council on Disability (NCD) released their Annual Survey of Federal Disability Policy – "Strength in Our Differences." The NCD is an independent Federal agency that recommends disability policy to the President, Congress, and other Federal agencies. It released its yearly report on the nation's progress in achieving equality of opportunity, independent living, full participation, and economic self-sufficiency for an estimated 57 million Americans with disabilities.

The Assets for Independence (AFI) Resource Center released an article introducing and explaining the 529 plan. The State of Kansas is promoting savings for postsecondary education by offering this unique 529 plan for noncustodial parents. The 529 plans are investment accounts for postsecondary education expenses that may increase in value over time. Contributions to 529 plans may be deducted from income taxes. In the State of Kansas, under the Child Support Savings Incentive (CSSI) Program, eligible noncustodial parents can now open and contribute to 529 savings accounts for their children and receive a reduction in State child support arrears of double the amount deposited. For every one dollar saved towards their education, they receive a reduction in arrears of two dollars.

The Office of Financial Empowerment within the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recently released a white paper titled "Financial Empowerment Training for Social Service Programs: A Scan of Community-Based Initiatives." The paper presents the results of a field scan conducted by the CFPB to learn more about the tools and information social service providers across the country need to help their clients increase their financial capabilities. This information was fundamental to the design and development of "Your Money, Your Goals," the financial empowerment toolkit developed by CFPB and scheduled to be released in 2014.

This brief from the Youth Transition Funders Group highlights challenges in current policy related to youth education and employment and offers recommendations for change. The brief is targeted at policymakers and philanthropic organizations interested in funding youth employment and education initiatives. It emphasizes philanthropic collaboration as a means to shape the scope of future initiatives.

The Social Science Research Network released a paper discussing financial literacy, education, and downstream financial behaviors. A meta-analysis of the relationship of financial literacy and of financial education to financial behaviors was conducted in order to understand the increasing complexity of the financial decisions of individuals over the last generation. The paper discusses the importance of financial education and literacy, as well as suggestions to implement financial education programs. Financial literacy and education are extremely critical to improving the economic self-sufficiency of workers, and therefore, should be reinforced throughout an individual's life.

This report from Mathematica and the Social Security Administration provides the findings of a longitudinal study of when and if Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability recipients return to work and utilize the SSI work incentives such as Ticket to Work. Though the data varied widely across States, it was found that younger SSI recipients are more likely to return to work and forfeit benefits than older recipients. A brief history of the Ticket to Work program is provided.

The Department of Economics from Williams College released a paper in their working papers series discussing the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, a federally-funded income support program for disabled individuals. The paper uses State panel data to examine the relationships between welfare reform and SSI disabled caseloads for both adults and children. The paper also examines whether the relationship between SSI participation and other factors has been altered after welfare reform. Results are provided that suggest that welfare reform significantly increases SSI participation.