Understanding “Benefits Cliffs”: Implications for Helping Washingtonians Advance to Self-Sufficiency through Workforce Strategies

Record Description
The goal of workforce development efforts serving individuals in poverty is to provide them with the skills and credentials they need to increase their earnings in the labor market and advance to self-sufficiency. It is important for workforce stakeholders to understand that low-income families’ household income is often partly comprised of public benefits (such as supports for housing, child care, and health care) that phase out as increases in earnings are made through higher wages and/or more hours on the job. Rapid phaseouts of benefits – what are known as “benefits cliffs” – can have the effect of canceling out large portions of a family’s earnings gains, or even make a family substantially worse off from a self-sufficiency standpoint that prior to its earnings gains. This latest research by the Seattle Jobs Initiative examines the impact of benefits cliffs on low-income Washington families. The goal is to support workforce and social service providers in their efforts to better help these families to navigate the potential loss of benefits as they assist them to make earnings gains.
Record Type
Posting Date
Combined Date
2015-03-23T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
http://www.seattlejobsinitiative.com/wp-content/uploads/SJI_BenefitsCliffs_Repo…
Publication Date
2015-03-24
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)

Well-being of Young Children after Experiencing Homelessness

Record Description
In this report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, data on young children who have stayed in emergency homeless shelters is examined to measure child well-being 20 months after a stay in a shelter. The report considers pre-reading skills, pre-math skills, developmental delays, and behavior challenges to see if homelessness has an impact on these indicators of child well-being, using national norms for young children as a comparison. Also considered are links between a lack of housing or child care stability and well-being.
Record Type
Posting Date
Combined Date
2017-03-13T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/resource/well-being-of-young-children-after-experi…
Publication Date
2017-03-14
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)

Annual NAPIPM Education Conference: Reinventing and Soaring to New Heights

Record Type
Event
Posting Date
Combined Date
Source
Partner Resources
Sponsor
American Public Human Services Association
Location
Cincinnati, OH
Web Url
http://www.napipmconference.com/
Topics/Subtopics
Supportive Services
Child Care
Health/Behavioral Health Referrals and Supports
SNAP/Food Assistance
TANF Program Administration
Event Date
-

NAWRS 2017: Moving Forward to Reduce Poverty, Increase Opportunity, and Improve Human Service Delivery

Record Type
Event
Posting Date
Combined Date
Source
Partner Resources
Sponsor
National Association for Welfare Research and Statistics (NAWRS)
Location
Pittsburgh, PA
Web Url
https://nawrs.org/
Topics/Subtopics
Employment
Education and Training
Supportive Services
Child Care
SNAP/Food Assistance
TANF Program Administration
Event Date
-

Investing in the Early Years: The Costs and Benefits of Investing in Early Childhood in New Hampshire

Record Description
Investments in early childhood programs are on the rise due to a growing emphasis on their benefits for supporting childhood development. In this report, the RAND Corporation analyzes the benefits and economic returns of three early childhood interventions in New Hampshire: early home visiting, high-quality child care, and high-quality preschool. The report found that many New Hampshire children are at risk for facing early adversity and future achievement gaps, but the intervention programs studied do offer benefits. Also included are recommendations to guide State investment in early childhood programs.
Record Type
Posting Date
Combined Date
2017-01-31T19:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1890.html
Publication Date
2017-02-01

Investing in Workforce Program Innovation: A Formative Evaluation of Five Workforce Organizations' Experiences during the Human Capital Innovation Fund Initiative

Record Description
Between 2012 and 2016, the Capital One Foundation’s Human Capital Innovation Fund supported five workforce organizations in an effort to develop new strategies for serving unemployed and underemployed individuals. This report from the Aspen Institute describes the experiences of the five organizations, located in Washington, D.C., New Orleans, Louisiana, and New York, New York, as they developed and implemented their new strategies. Topics discussed include partnerships with other organizations and building employer relationships.
Record Type
Combined Date
2017-03-08T19:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
https://www.aspeninstitute.org/publications/investing-in-workforce-program-inno…
Publication Date
2017-03-09
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)

Head Start health matters: Findings from the 2012-2013 Head Start Health Manager Descriptive Study for Regions I-XII

Record Description

Health services have been a priority for Head Start since its inception and remain a core need for the more than 1 million children enrolled in Head Start and Early Head Start programs each year.

Drawing on survey data from 73% of Head Start and Early Head Start program health managers, the 2012-2013 Head Start Health Manager Descriptive Study explores the context and delivery of health-related activities and programming for Head Start and Early Head Start programs. This is the first study to look at the role of the health manager in nearly 20 years.

The report also reveals the insights and needs of staff who implement health components. Health managers are well-credentialed, with two-thirds holding at least a bachelor's degree and 86% reporting a health-related educational background. They describe their work as demanding but fulfilling, requiring coordination with program staff and community stakeholders, as well as the trust of Head Start families. Most cite a need for ongoing training and professional development in evidence-based health services and more streamlined access to standards and resources. These and other insights should help inform program managers to better support these front-line professionals. (author abstract)

Record Type
Posting Date
Combined Date
2015-12-31T19:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/resource/head-start-health-matters-findings-2012-20…
Publication Date
2016-01-01

Improving the efficiency of delivering work supports for low-income families: Findings from the Work Support Strategies evaluation

Record Description

This video from the 2016 Research and Evaluation Conference on Self-Sufficiency (RECS) describes the Work Support Strategies (WSS) initiative and reviews outcomes and implementation experiences from the multistate evaluation. WSS is designed to streamline the delivery of work supports to eligible families.

Record Type
Posting Date
Combined Date
2016-06-02T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
http://www.recsconference.net/2016videos.htm
Publication Date
2016-06-03

The Family Options Study: Short-term impacts and special topics on the special service needs of homeless families

Record Description

This video from the 2016 Research and Evaluation Conference on Self-Sufficiency (RECS) describes the Family Options Study, which is a random assignment study examining the impact of housing and services for homeless families in twelve communities across the United States. Topics covered include the study design, findings from the first 18 months, and the services needs of the families involved in the study.

Record Type
Posting Date
Combined Date
2016-06-02T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
http://www.recsconference.net/2016videos.htm
Publication Date
2016-06-03

Behavioral Interventions to Advance Self-Sufficiency: What we learned and what's next

Record Description

This video from the 2016 Research and Evaluation Conference on Self-Sufficiency (RECS) reviews findings from the Behavioral Interventions to Advance Self-Sufficiency (BIAS) project as well as lessons learned and next steps for this work. The BIAS portfolio included initiatives in the domains of work supports, child support, and child care.

Record Type
Posting Date
Combined Date
2016-05-31T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
http://www.recsconference.net/2016videos.htm
Publication Date
2016-06-01