This Jobs for the Future report explains how and why education and workforce leaders should link public and private education and workforce data to promote economic mobility for all. It also offers guidance on how to forge partnerships that will facilitate that process. The report highlights the various types of data available and what might be accomplished by linking them. The report also provides examples of how public and private data could be combined to develop a deeper understanding of employer demand and the learn-to-earn pipeline.

This Annie E. Casey Foundation resource highlights the work of the Del Norte Work-Based Learning Ecosystem, which works to trans­form edu­ca­tion to bet­ter respond to stu­dents and help schools and dis­tricts in strength­en­ing or imple­ment­ing work-based learn­ing programs. Indi­vid­u­al­ized youth intern­ships are keep­ing stu­dents at Del Norte High School in Albu­querque, New Mex­i­co, on track to achieve aca­d­e­m­ic and career goals. By intern­ing at orga­ni­za­tions that address homelessness, these stu­dents are build­ing aca­d­e­m­ic and occu­pa­tion­al skills as they con­tribute to their communities.

Jobs for the Future will host a webinar on December 2, 2025 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET to show how to thoughtfully integrate artificial intelligence (AI) as a powerful partner in practice. Through real-world examples, guided exercises, and peer-to-peer practice, participants will learn practical strategies to boost their efficiency, tailor support to unique jobseeker needs, and free up more time for human-centric coaching. Whether new to AI or ready to deepen their skills, this session will equip participants with tools to create better outcomes for the people they serve.

Research indicates that mentoring increases employee job satisfaction and strengthens community engagement. As workplaces continue to shift, accessible and replicable strategies are essential.

The National Youth Employment Coalition will host a webinar on December 11, 2025 at 3:30 p.m. ET, where MENTOR National will present best practices for implementing relationship-centered approaches in the workplace and share the labor market insights that guided the creation of their free mentoring toolkits for career readiness, hospitality, and e-commerce. Participants will engage in a practical activity they can apply in their own programs and communities.

The Economic Mobility Lab at MDRC provides workforce training providers with a collaborative and supportive environment to examine their training services, make improvements, test new approaches, and scale operations to serve more individuals. In this video, participating program providers share their experiences and how they have applied what they learned to improve their services.

The next quarterly Work Outcomes Report is due on November 15, 2025. The following links may be helpful as you complete your report. 

• TANF Work Outcomes Reporting Requirement – What You Need to Know
• TANF Work Outcomes Measures Technical Resource
• TOTAL Office Hours: April 2025
• TOTAL Office Hours: May 2025
• TOTAL Office Hours: May 2025 (Post-Submission for Work Outcomes of TANF Exiters Report)

This op-ed written by Acting Assistant Secretary Andrew Gradison outlines that current welfare policies focused on unconditional cash transfers are failing to lift low-income families out of poverty. Instead, he advocates for a welfare model that emphasizes work incentives, family stability, personal responsibility, and reduced dependency on government aid.

The pilot is authorized under the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 and reflects the Administration’s commitment to reshaping welfare programs to encourage employment, personal responsibility, and strong, stable two-parent families. States were encouraged to propose alternative performance measures to the work participation rate that prioritize rapid employment outcomes, earnings progression, and reduced dependency on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, and other welfare. 

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services selected Arizona, Iowa, Nebraska, Ohio, and Virginia to participate in the redesigned TANF pilot. These states were chosen from a strong applicant pool to develop models and metrics other states can replicate to help families achieve self-sufficiency. In addition to concretely tracking employment and earnings, pilot states will pursue the following strategies to reduce dependency:

• Arizona will engage directly with employers that have vacancies for in-demand, well-paying positions to directly connect TANF participants with quality, sustainable employment.
• Iowa will improve referral coordination across services, enhance the quality of information available to TANF participants through financial literacy and decision-making tools, and build partnerships with employers to create employment and matched savings opportunities.
• Nebraska, in partnership with community organizations, colleges, and businesses, will develop personalized pathways for TANF participants to strengthen connections to local jobs. Pathways will include referrals to Nebraska’s TANF-funded Fatherhood and Healthy Marriage Initiative.
• Ohio will implement a personalized “well-being assessment” for TANF participants, which will include intensive case management services, financial literacy training, and support for counties to build community capacity.
• Virginia will establish Personalized Results Plans for TANF participants to build upon the success of the Career Pathway Pilot, which blends sector-based training, intensive case management, and employment engagement to support participants as they gain credentials in fields like health care and skilled trades.

The TANF pilot program officially launches on October 1, 2025.

This webpage highlights the announcement of the new vision, mission, values, priorities, and guiding principles for the Administration of Children and Families. The webpage outlines the values and offers resources that highlight exemplary practices for each.