The Department of Education has issued a Dear Colleague letter and accompanying pamphlet on supporting the academic success of pregnant and parenting students until Title IX. This pamphlet updates and expands upon the pamphlet on this topic issued in 1991. The pamphlet also provides information on school retention problems associated with young mothers and fathers and the requirements related to these issues contained in the Department's regulation implemented in Title IX.

The Center for Law and Social Policy released a Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) Policy Brief discussing SNAP work requirements and time limits. Background information is provided on SNAP, along with recommendations to improve program operations.

Measure of America, a project of the Social Science Research Council, released the "Measure of America: American Human Development Report 2013-2014." This Index measures the well-being of America in three vital areas--health, education, and earnings--all of which shape the opportunities available to Americans to invest in their families and to live to their fullest potential. The report also contains the American Human Development Index ranking for the 50 U.S. States, the 25 largest metropolitan areas, and racial and ethnic groups within those States and metro areas. It also looks at changes in well-being in States since 2000 and in metro areas before and after the Great Recession.

MDRC released a policy brief that discusses the issue of low-income, college-ready students "undermatching" – enrolling in colleges for which they are academically overqualified or not going to college at all. Early results from the College Match Program in three Chicago high schools suggest that it's possible to help students navigate the college application process and make more informed decisions.

The National Poverty Center has released an in-progress study that documents the increase in the prevalence of extreme poverty among U.S. households with children between 1996 and 2001. It also assesses the response of major Federal means-tested transfer programs.

MDRC released a new policy brief that discusses a new skills-building model designed to help low-income adults prepare for, enter, and succeed in quality jobs in high-demand fields with opportunities for career growth. WorkAdvance uses strategies found in sector-based employment programs, combined with career coaching after participants are placed into jobs.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance, National Resource Center for Healthy Marriage and Families released a tool that provides information on free and low-cost healthy marriage and relationship education curricula that are research-based and suitable for integration into safety-net service delivery systems.

The Center for Poverty Research released a policy brief discussing the transitions in and out of poverty in the United States. This study also emphasizes that patterns of poverty transitions may reflect fairly complex interactions – in this case, a three-way interaction over time between aggregate labor market conditions, individual weeks worked in the year, and changes in family structure.

Child Trends released an article discussing recent research findings that support the notion that the presence of a nurturing and loving father can improve outcomes for children, families, and communities. In addition to this discussion, a list of key inferences and conclusions that emerged from the Young Unwed Fathers report is also included.

This report from the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, written by MDRC, provides early findings from the on-going TANF/SSI Disability Transition Project, which is sponsored by the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation. This particular report examines how TANF agencies serve those with disabilities and how these agencies work with Social Security Administration offices. Data is also included about the overlap between the two populations and the process and timeline for TANF participants receiving a disability determination after applying for benefits.