Colleges across the United States have invested to develop credential-stacking programs. Their target students are often working adults who don't have the time or the money to get a college degree. These programs allow them to earn a series of credentials over time that can get them to the same place. If used effectively, stackable programs can provide low-income students with a path to the middle class. This RAND resource explains stackable credentials and provides data as well as lessons learned from high-value programs

The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta published a case study that analyzes a workforce development program in Washington, D.C., which was created to help families navigate the loss of government benefits when their employment income increases. The paper frames the discussion around a hypothetical family receiving support from all major federal public assistance programs, including those managed by the Administration for Children and Families that help families with income assistance, child care, and utility payments.

While some secondary schools incorporate lessons on budgeting, saving, and investing into their curricula, often there is no formal venue to learn about money that is accessible to all communities. For those who experience economic victimization, including individuals who have experienced human trafficking, education and resources may also be needed to address the financial trauma to improve their relationship with money. Economic empowerment programming demystifies financial wellbeing by providing education, tools, and resources for people to attain financial literacy, stability, and professional growth. This Office of Planning, Research and Planning resource addresses strategies for survivor economic empowerment and provides additional resources, including a guide for anti-trafficking service providers.

For people with disabilities, the decision to disclose information about a disability can be nuanced and complex. Creating an apprenticeship environment that is welcoming and inclusive for people with disabilities requires an understanding of an array of legal and ethical issues that are at play. This Jobs for the Future brief shares the various topics related to disability disclosure and self-identification, including the legal parameters regarding disclosure and other important matters that must be taken into consideration by apprenticeship sponsors, employers, providers of related technical instruction, and workforce partners, as well as program applicants and apprentices themselves.

Benefit cliffs describe incremental increases in income that result in major, destabilizing losses to critical benefits. The cliffs are a major impediment to families successfully participating in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment and Training (E&T) services and transitioning from assistance into family-sustaining wages. Depending on the state and wage, the new job may come with the loss of other benefits like Medicaid or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families as well. This American Public Human Services Assocation brief explores the challenges SNAP E&T participants face during the critical first months after they have obtained unsubsidized employment.

Read part one here.

Economic empowerment is a critical need for many individuals who have experienced human trafficking, from their moment of exit through their long-term recovery. An increasing number of service providers are beginning to address this need, offering programs focused on financial literacy, job training, cash assistance, and more. However, there is little guidance for practitioners as they support the economic well-being of clients. The Administration for Children and Families will be hosting this webinar on January 17th, 2024, from 2:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. ET. Attendees will hear guiding principles for the development and implementation of economic empowerment programs as well as key findings and recommendations for programming.

Even in areas with strong public transit, many low-income families face transportation barriers that limit their access to good jobs. Vehicles for Change (VFC) is tackling this head-on, not just by providing cars, but by equipping individuals with the skills to maintain them and create a career path for themselves through their groundbreaking Virtual Reality (VR) Auto Technician Training Program. This National Association of Workforce Development Professionals is hosting a webinar on February 28, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. CT where attendees will hear about:

• The impact of reliable transportation and VR-powered skills training on breaking the cycle of generational poverty;
• A new training approach with VR; and
• National expansion plans.

WorkforceGPS is hosting a virtual event on December 14, 2023 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m ET where participants will discuss current evidence on strategies that support equitable job training. Discussions will include how practitioners leverage the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to improve access to training and entry into good-quality jobs for job seekers, particularly those from underrepresented and underserved groups. This event builds upon guidance issued by the Department of Labor in TEGL 21-22 on increasing equitable service access and outcomes for job seekers in WIOA Adult and Dislocated Worker programs.