To boost the economy and create conditions for equitable economic advancement for all, employers must focus on the recruitment, retention, and advancement of Black working moms and other populations facing systemic barriers. This Jobs for the Future resource highlights challenges impacting Black working mothers in the workplace along with opportunities for support.

This American Institutes for Research infographic presents data that highlights how states are making an impact in growing and diversifying Registered Apprenticeship Programs. It presents an overview of current federal funding to states to support apprenticeship expansion, including a map of the number of active grants in each state and territory. It also identifies states that are leading the way in registering new apprentices, increasing the percentage of apprentices in the overall labor force, and expanding apprenticeship in new industries.

March is Women’s History Month and this Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE) resource highlights women’s roles in human services programs and shares OPRE’s projects that are helping to build evidence on the human services workforce. The resource includes early care and education, home visiting, head start, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.

Chapin Hall and the American Public Human Services Association co-hosted a webinar on March 21, 2024 where they presented findings from their national survey of child welfare leaders. Presenters included the team that created and conducted the survey as well as the Acting Commissioner / Executive Deputy Commissioner for the New York State Office of Children and Families, who discussed barriers in aligning across human service agencies to better support families.

The earlier families attain stability, the better overall outcomes are for communities and individual families, and that is why investing in parents under the age of 24 and their children is key to building thriving communities. This American Public Human Services Association paper highlights key takeaways from their work with young families, providing an overview of the young families work and its early years, key takeaways along with highlights, and ending with opportunities for future work in the young families’ space.

Skills are emerging as a valuable new currency in the labor market, challenging traditional degree-based hiring practices. This Jobs for the Future resource delves into catalytic opportunities to drive the adoption of skills-based models and unlock the full potential of workers, including:

1. Connecting data systems
2. Improving data tools
3. Addressing trust issues
4. Accelerating narrative change
5. Aligning siloed skill movements

Without adequate skills training, many individuals can get stuck in a “low pay, no pay” cycle. Research has shown that sector-based training programs — which train people for high-quality jobs that align with the labor force needs of employers in targeted industry sectors — can raise individuals’ employment rates and earnings. But sector-based training programs are small and expanding them to a level that meets the economic need of workers has been challenging. This MDRC brief presents results from interviews with stakeholders in the workforce development field as well as lessons learned from earlier studies of sector-based training programs.

The purpose of the Next Steps for Rigorous Research on Two-Generation Approaches (NS2G) project was to build the evidence base for two-generation approaches. Two-generation initiatives combine economic security services for parents with accessible, high quality early care and education for children, and hold promise for improving family well-being. In this recording, co-hosted by the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation and Ascend at the Aspen Institute, NS2G team members describe the work that two-generation initiatives conducted to strengthen approaches to intentionally coordinating services for caregivers and their children. Presenters shared tools and techniques that can be used by other two-generation initiatives to strengthen their approaches.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the HHS Task Force to Prevent Human Trafficking, released the National Human Trafficking Prevention Framework. Building on decades of work to prevent violence, this framework is a resource for organizations, communities and governments seeking to strengthen efforts to prevent human trafficking. It reflects research and best practices in violence prevention and health promotion, as well as the expertise of people who have experienced human trafficking and allied professionals.

A video announcing this framework is available, where co-chairs of the HHS Task Force to Prevent Human Trafficking, Acting Assistant Secretary Jeff Hild and Assistant Secretary Admiral Rachel Levine, discuss key elements of the Framework.

Interested in learning more about upcoming opportunities to #Partner2Prevent human trafficking? Sign up for updates from the Office on Trafficking in Persons.

The National Youth Employment Coalition is hosting a virtual workshop on April 11, 2024 at 2:30 ET to provide an innovative approach to mentoring that combines technical skills and emotional intelligence, focusing on adaptability and resilience. Attendees will receive a toolkit to engage youth effectively in mentorship programs, including critical thinking, problem-solving, effective communication, and resilience skills.