Employment retention services interventions offer a combination of services intended to help maintain employment and promote career advancement among people, often those with low incomes, who already have a job. This Pathways to Work Evidence Clearinghouse Evidence Snapshot summarizes what rigorous research tells us about nine interventions that used employment retention services as their primary service and the interventions’ impacts on earnings, employment, the receipt of public benefits, and education and training. The Evidence Snapshot helps TANF administrators, policymakers, researchers, and the general public apply this evidence to contexts and questions that matter to them.

The Office of Family Assistance has awarded and overseen federal funding for four cohorts of healthy marriage (HM) and responsible fatherhood (RF) grant programs (2006-2011, 2011-2015, 2015-2020, and 2020-2025). The HM grantees promote healthy marriage and relationships through eight legislatively authorized activities, such as marriage and relationship education and development of skills for job and career advancement. RF grantees’ legislatively authorized activities promote responsible parenting, healthy marriage, and economic stability. This Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation brief shares what was learned after visits with grantees about factors that have helped or hindered successful implementation of the 2015-2020 cohort of grantees, focusing on approaches to staffing programs and working with partners.

This brief highlights the importance of sector programs and what policymakers and practitioners can do to implement a sector program to help people obtain the skills needed to find jobs that are in demand during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The brief describes how sector programs train people for high-quality jobs in industries and occupational clusters that have strong local demand and offer career advancement opportunities. It also highlights that the most valuable component of sector programs is occupational skills training that, in most cases, leads to industry- or locally recognized credentials or certifications. Examples of the effectiveness of sector programs, such as Per Scholars, Year Up, Project QUEST, and Health Professionals Opportunity Grants Impact Study, are showcased.

TANF participants in Utah are moving from poverty to earning incomes at or above 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL) through a social capital-building strategy. Implemented by the Utah Department of Workforce Services through partnerships with community action agencies, the Circles program matches TANF participants with community volunteers in a long-term weekly support group. With this circle of support and resources, participants are empowered to move toward employment and self-sufficiency.

This brief is part of the Emerging Practice Series of the Office of Family Assistance’s Integrating Innovative Employment and Economic Stability Strategies (IIEESS) initiative, which highlights the strategies of TANF agencies and their partners to help low-income individuals gain and sustain meaningful employment. Each brief describes an emerging practice that has been implemented in one site, an overview of the program model, and the results that have been achieved. Compelling stories of participants’ success and suggestions from TANF agency staff to their peers provide actionable insights and on-the-ground perspectives.

This Annie E. Casey Foundation podcast highlights CareerReady ATL, a youth apprenticeship program, and shows how targeted workforce strategies can connect young people to education and employment pathways. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, it highlights approaches that can be adapted for youth and young adults in TANF households. It addresses a key gap: how to move beyond short-term job placement toward longer-term career development. Practitioners can draw on these ideas to design programs that engage younger participants early, helping them build employment skills and avoid long-term reliance on government assistance.

This National Apprenticeship Week webpage identifies live sessions, webinars, and local activities focused on apprenticeships across different industries and workforce systems. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), this is a practical entry point for understanding how apprenticeships can strengthen program outcomes. TANF practitioners can use this calendar to select sessions that align with their local labor market or participant needs—such as healthcare, construction, or emerging tech—and learn how other programs are building apprenticeship pathways.

The National Youth Employment Coalition will host a webinar on April 30, 2026 at 2:30 p.m. ET to provide an overview of the current apprenticeship landscape and where opportunities are expanding across industries. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners, this is a practical way to understand where to focus efforts when connecting participants to work. It can help staff identify high-demand sectors, partnership opportunities, and strategies that can lead to quicker employment outcomes. By offering a clearer picture of how apprenticeships are evolving, this resource can support TANF programs in building stronger pathways to employment—helping participants gain skills, earn income, and move toward greater financial independence.

TAG-Ed will host a webinar on April 29, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET to explore how apprenticeships are being used to prepare workers for jobs that involve artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, this will highlight how “earn while you learn” models can extend beyond traditional industries into growing, higher-wage fields. Practitioners can use this resource to identify new apprenticeship opportunities that incorporate digital skills, helping participants stay competitive in a changing job market.

Vertical Leap Learning Center and New Chapel Christian Academy will host a webinar on April 28, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. ET in celebration of National Apprenticeship Week, highlighting how Registered Apprenticeships drive growth and innovation across critical industries. The webinar will showcase how education and workforce partners can work together to introduce apprenticeships earlier and build clear pathways into employment. Many Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program participants need structured, supportive entry points into the workforce. TANF practitioners can use examples from this webinar to think about how partnerships with training providers or community organizations can create smoother transitions into apprenticeships. It can help fill a gap around early engagement and preparation, making it easier for participants to step into work-based learning opportunities that support long-term employment.

This online community offers a space for workforce professionals to share ideas, tools, and real-world experiences related to apprenticeships. For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners, this is a practical way to learn from peers who are working through similar challenges. It can help staff stay current on apprenticeship strategies, discover partnership opportunities, and troubleshoot implementation issues. This resource is valuable because it supports ongoing learning and connection, which can lead to stronger programs over time. By tapping into shared knowledge, TANF programs can more effectively engage participants in apprenticeship opportunities that lead to employment and long-term stability.