This National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse brief discusses some of the key issues facing American Indian/ Alaska Native (AI/AN) and Indigenous families in the United States, particularly fathers. The brief highlights three programs that are working with AI/AN fathers to strengthen their roles in Native families, includes an overview of each program, and provides a discussion of key takeaways to help other programs better serve AI/AN fathers and their families.

In 2016, Congress established the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children with the mandate to study the programs, funding, and supports of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children with the purpose of improving the lives of Native children and youth. The Commission is named after two remarkable advocates of Native children: Alyce Spotted Bear, a highly regarded Native American educator and enrolled member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation in North Dakota; and Walter Soboleff, a well-known Tlingit scholar, elder and religious leader. Over several years, the Commission held field hearings and received testimony directly from tribal leaders, youth, elders, and scholars who shared their life experiences and challenges lifting Native communities. This Administration for Native Americans resource highlights recommendations made by the Commission, reflecting the importance of listening to Native communities across the country describe their vision of what will support communities, children, and youth into the future.

This Department of Labor resource provides actionable strategies to boost employment outcomes by aligning and maximizing services and funding resources. Blending, braiding, and sequencing enables TANF front-line staff to partner with state and local workforce partners, creating a collaborative approach to employment support that leverages funding streams and services. The webpage and FAQ provide strategies designed to ensure participants in the workforce system have access to a broader range of coordinated resources and services, helping to create a more seamless and supportive pathway toward long-term employment success.

For more information, please contact Yvonne Wright at ywright@ndi-inc.org. 

This National Center on Leadership for the Employment and Economic Advancement of People with Disabilities (LEAD Center) resource helps TANF State administrators and front-line staff understand how the Good Jobs Principles empower employers to actively recruit, train, retain, and promote individuals with disabilities by utilizing inclusive practices that benefit all jobseekers. By understanding and utilizing these principles, TANF staff can better support participants in connecting with employers who are committed to building accessible and equitable workplaces and fostering sustainable employment opportunities.

For more information, please contact Yvonne Wright at ywright@ndi-inc.org. 

This National Center on Leadership for the Employment and Economic Advancement of People with Disabilities (LEAD Center) resource webpage provides TANF staff with an introduction to Customized Employment (CE), a universal design approach that supports people with disabilities in achieving employment success. Through these proven strategies, TANF front-line staff can learn methods to create career opportunities for participants facing multiple employment barriers. The webpage includes a link to “The Essential Elements of Customized Employment for Universal Application,” which outlines key strategies, techniques, and interventions to increase the capacity and sustainability of CE as a service to individuals in need of the service, and to ultimately increase the number of individuals with disabilities who obtain competitive integrated employment and long-term employment success.

For more information, please contact Yvonne Wright at ywright@ndi-inc.org. 

This National Center on Leadership for the Employment and Economic Advancement of People with Disabilities (LEAD Center) toolkit provides a blueprint to help build partnerships between workforce development boards/American Job Centers and banks. It provides practical guidance on creating linkages to financial literacy programming and career pathway opportunities for jobs within the banking sector, enhancing financial empowerment and career growth for participants. TANF front-line staff can utilize this resource to support participants in gaining financial empowerment and pursuing career pathways into bank jobs, that foster long-term personal growth and financial stability.

For more information, please contact Yvonne Wright at ywright@ndi-inc.org. 

This Department of Labor toolkit was developed in collaboration with the National Center on Leadership for the Employment and Economic Advancement of People with Disabilities (LEAD Center) provides TANF front-line staff with a range of tools and resources on topics like financial planning and goal setting, to support individuals with disabilities in building a secure financial future. Covering every stage of the employment journey, from preparing for a job to maintaining employment and planning for retirement, this resource empowers participants to achieve lasting financial stability and independence. 

For more information, please contact Yvonne Wright at ywright@ndi-inc.org.

This National Center on Leadership for the Employment and Economic Advancement of People with Disabilities (LEAD Center) tool provides TANF front-line staff with access to a directory of each state’s agencies for labor, health, vocational rehabilitation, mental and behavioral health, developmental disabilities, and other relevant agencies. With easy navigation, users can select any state to explore its executive orders, state legislation, policies, programs, initiatives and state plans that support workforce inclusion and equal opportunities for people with disabilities to achieve competitive integrated employment outcomes. 

For more information, please contact Yvonne Wright at ywright@ndi-inc.org.

WorkForce GPS is hosting a webinar on November 22, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. ET to discuss what works to connect the military community with great employment options with the Department of Labor and Hampton Roads Workforce Council. The conversation will include what strategies they use to build employer commitments and strong partnerships that lead to: good job offers, supportive services for military spouses, women veterans, veterans with disabilities, and others in the military community.

On November 8, 2024, the Administration for Children and Families announced grant awards totaling approximately $44 million across two ACF program offices, the Office of Community Services and the Office of Child Support Services, to improve the financial well-being of children and families. This announcement details the winning grants and programs amongst the two offices.