Second of a two-part series, this research-to-practice brief identifies the components and lessons learned from implementing the virtual coaching model within the Detroit Early Learning Coaching Initiative. Components include participant recruitment, program orientation to coaching, coaching strategies, program observations of early childhood educators, coaching topics offered to participants, and coaching supervision. Lessons learned include recruitment of teachers and providers; training for coaches, teachers, and providers specific to virtual activities using an online coaching platform; video observations of early childhood educators; and one-on-one goal setting with teachers and providers.

This report assesses the Families Forward Demonstration (FFD), which aimed to integrate employment and training within child support programs. The FFD program included free occupational skills training, employment services, and wraparound supports. FFD emphasized “responsive” child support services that helped parents understand their support obligations, and suspended some enforcement actions as parents participated in the program. FFD was implemented in five jurisdictions: Cuyahoga County, Ohio; Franklin County, Ohio; Calhoun and Jackson Counties, Michigan; Benton, Franklin, and Walla Walla Counties, Washington; and New York City.

First of a two-part series, this research-to-practice brief examines the shift from in-person to virtual coaching as part of the Detroit Early Learning Coaching Initiative (DELCI). The brief discusses the origins and goals of the DELCI model, which offers instructional coaching to early childhood education (ECE) center teachers and home-based child care providers as well as state-approved curriculum and assessment resources. The DELCI model states that coaching should be goal-focused, data-informed, and practice-based to support the needs of early childhood educators and children. Also, the brief reviews the preparation undertaken in response to COVID-19 and ECE program closures to ensure that relationships were maintained and initial supports offered to early childhood education teachers and providers virtually.

This Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation report, a summary of the Job Search Assistance (JSA) Strategies Evaluation, compares the effectiveness of different approaches for finding and keeping jobs among individuals applying for or receiving assistance under TANF. The report reviews findings from three sites: Genesee and Wayne Counties in Michigan; New York City; and Sacramento County, California. In each of these sites, TANF applicants or recipients were randomly assigned to one of two programs that provided employment-related services. The study measured outcome differences (in public benefit receipt, employment, and earnings) between people assigned to each of the two programs in each site. The report’s findings address three key questions regarding the frequency, mode, and content of the employment-related services for the TANF recipients in the two programs; the two programs’ impacts on employment and earnings; and the effects on receipt of TANF and SNAP due to participation in the two programs.

State and local workforce agencies worked to ensure that effective employer engagement, customer outreach, and service delivery occurred during the coronavirus pandemic. The U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration brought together experts from the U.S. Department of Labor, the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, the Utah Workforce Development Program, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment to cover challenges states addressed to help job seekers, and the strategies they executed to assist both businesses and job seekers in a changing workforce.

This research-to-practice brief identifies lessons learned from six child support agencies in Arizona, California, Michigan, Ohio, and Virginia as they implemented the Procedural Justice-Informed Alternatives to Contempt (PJAC) model of child support enforcement. The PJAC model incorporates fairness in dispute resolution over child support payments and suggests that if a non-custodial parent perceives the process to be fair, he or she is more likely to comply with the order, regardless if the outcome of the process is favorable to them.

This video recording from a virtual webinar explores the implementation of summer youth employment programs in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and what lessons can be drawn to support year-round, work-based learning and career opportunities for youth and young adults. Speakers include program staff, youth, and young adults associated with Philadelphia Youth Network, WorkReady Philadelphia, Connect Detroit, Grow Detroit Young Talent, the Boston Private Industry Council, the Mayor’s Summer Jobs Program in Boston, and the Los Angeles Opportunity Youth Collaborative, Alliance for Children’s Rights.

This Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation report assesses and compares the impact of two models offering cash assistance to Michigan’s TANF recipients to find and keep employment: the Michigan Goal Progress Success (MI-GPS) program (enhancement to Michigan’s TANF program) and the two-step program, the Application Eligibility Period (AEP) followed by the “Partnership. Accountability. Training. Hope.” (PATH) program (Michigan’s existing TANF program). The MI-GPS provides goal-oriented coaching as an enhancement, and AEP/PATH focuses on participation in required work activities. The report reviews the two programs’ implementation as well as the differences in the types of services and assistance delivered, and in employment and earnings outcomes.

This research-to-practice brief describes the Procedural Justice-Informed Alternatives to Contempt (PJAC) demonstration project and its integration of procedural justice principles into enforcement practices in six child support agencies in Arizona, California, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio, and Virginia. The premise of PJAC is that if defendants perceive the dispute resolution process to be fair, they will comply with the outcome of the process, regardless of whether the decision was favorable to the defendant. The target population of the PJAC demonstration project is noncustodial parents being referred for civil contempt of court-mandated child support even when these parents have been determined to be able to pay it. Implementation of PJAC addresses noncustodial parents’ perception of the court system proceedings and reasons for nonpayment, how to improve consistency of their payments, and ways to promote their positive engagement with the child support agency as well as the other parent.