This Annie E. Casey Foundation annual publication provides data on child well-being among states and in multiyear comparisons from 2010 to 2019. Data in this review covers economic well-being, education, health, and family and community, including state rankings for these categories. There is also a separate section on how families fared during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

This U.S. Department of Labor tipsheet identifies resources for workforce programs that provide educational, occupational, and other skills training and services to prepare homeless and runaway youth for current and future job opportunities. The tipsheet includes strategies for serving homeless and runaway youth, models of collaboration, and Federal and non-Federal resources.

The National Association of Workforce Development Professionals will host a webinar on July 27, 2021 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET to discuss how to create, implement, or improve workforce development programs for job seekers with prior criminal justice involvement. Key objectives include learning about best practices for service delivery of holistic evidence-based workforce development programs for this population; the process of networking with community partners, researchers, employers, agencies, and individuals for collaboration; and the importance of establishing trust from these job seekers at the design stage for buy-in and retention. A registration fee is required.

This collection of resources includes research, promising programs, tools, and guides that can be used to support returning citizens and those with a criminal record to enter registered apprenticeships. The compendium features programs targeting returning citizens: the Next Chapter IT Apprenticeships; the Flintridge Center Apprenticeship Preparation Program; Greyston Bakery; the VICE Media Group Media, Production, and Technology Apprenticeships; Jails to Jobs (California); and the Iowa Department of Corrections Apprenticeship.

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 supports recovery from the economic and health impacts created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Conference of State Legislatures will host a webinar on June 24, 2021 at 1:30 p.m. ET which will review the intersection of the Recovery Plan Act, youth and young adult homelessness, and education. Additionally, speakers will discuss opportunities to support the education and basic needs of youth and young adults and to increase their economic security.

The post-COVID-19 economic recovery presents challenges for governors and state leaders seeking to identify and address barriers that keep the workforce from returning to work and filling job vacancies. This National Governors Association report examines state actions to address these barriers, increase labor force participation among low-income populations, and engage employers to address hiring challenges. The report highlights initiatives that provide monetary incentives to return to work, ensure access to affordable child care, reinstitute job search requirements, utilize TANF waivers, and address hesitancy to return to workplaces due to health and safety concerns.

This Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation research-to-practice brief assesses how Tribal HPOG 2.0 grantees incorporated tribal culture and practices into their healthcare training programs. The Tribal HPOG 2.0 Program includes projects that connect eligible individuals with education and training in a healthcare-related field or occupation. Integrating tribal values into the curricula helped students to deliver culturally sensitive healthcare services. Attention is paid to how these grantees offered events and supportive services to connect students with their respective culture to build community and provide culturally specific gathering spaces for trainees of similar backgrounds.

The U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration will host a webinar on June 22, 2021 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET which will examine the assessment and development of soft skills for job seekers. Presenters will share how they selected and implemented soft skills assessment tools in their organizations, and discuss tips and advice for improving the soft skills of job seekers. Speakers include representatives of GPS Education Partners, the Alamo Colleges District, the State of Arizona, and the Washington Greene County Job Training Agency, Inc.

The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Youth Solutions project will host a three-day virtual conference from June 9, 2021 to June 11, 2021, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET each day to share program and policy proposals that provide innovative, evidence-based strategies to raise employment among youth and young adults who apply for or receive SSI. The proposals are funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy.

This report reviews the use of technology-based learning (TBL), covering employability or soft skills, basic literacy and numeracy, technological literacy, job search skills, and occupational training and certification. It also examines approaches used to increase remote access for TBL, perceived barriers in implementing TBL at American Job Centers, and the American Job Center staff perceptions of the effectiveness of existing TBL services. The report is based on site visits at five state workforce agencies (in Massachusetts, Kentucky, Utah, Minnesota, and California) and nine American Job Centers in these states as they were developing policies for expanding the use of TBL.