The Center for Advancing Policy on Employment for Youth (CAPE-Youth) is hosting a webinar on April 8, 2024 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET to provide an overview of CAPE-Youth's new mental health policy brief. Speakers from the White House Domestic Policy Council and state governments will highlight ways that policymakers can:

• Expand culturally responsive mental health care;
• Increase access to mental health supports; and
• Embed mental health programs and supports into workforce systems.

To boost the economy and create conditions for equitable economic advancement for all, employers must focus on the recruitment, retention, and advancement of Black working moms and other populations facing systemic barriers. This Jobs for the Future resource highlights challenges impacting Black working mothers in the workplace along with opportunities for support.

This American Institutes for Research infographic presents data that highlights how states are making an impact in growing and diversifying Registered Apprenticeship Programs. It presents an overview of current federal funding to states to support apprenticeship expansion, including a map of the number of active grants in each state and territory. It also identifies states that are leading the way in registering new apprentices, increasing the percentage of apprentices in the overall labor force, and expanding apprenticeship in new industries.

Skills are emerging as a valuable new currency in the labor market, challenging traditional degree-based hiring practices. This Jobs for the Future resource delves into catalytic opportunities to drive the adoption of skills-based models and unlock the full potential of workers, including:

1. Connecting data systems
2. Improving data tools
3. Addressing trust issues
4. Accelerating narrative change
5. Aligning siloed skill movements

Without adequate skills training, many individuals can get stuck in a “low pay, no pay” cycle. Research has shown that sector-based training programs — which train people for high-quality jobs that align with the labor force needs of employers in targeted industry sectors — can raise individuals’ employment rates and earnings. But sector-based training programs are small and expanding them to a level that meets the economic need of workers has been challenging. This MDRC brief presents results from interviews with stakeholders in the workforce development field as well as lessons learned from earlier studies of sector-based training programs.

The National Youth Employment Coalition is hosting a virtual workshop on April 11, 2024 at 2:30 ET to provide an innovative approach to mentoring that combines technical skills and emotional intelligence, focusing on adaptability and resilience. Attendees will receive a toolkit to engage youth effectively in mentorship programs, including critical thinking, problem-solving, effective communication, and resilience skills.

Government agencies collect administrative data in their day-to-day activities, primarily to support program operations. This information is used less often as a research tool or fully harnessed for its evidence-building potential. ACF’s TANF Data Innovation (TDI) project supported innovation and efficiency within the TANF program by expanding its use of its administrative data. This Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation brief describes TDI’s efforts to transform federal TANF and employment data into an integrated resource for program management and evidence building.

Financial burdens for childcare expenses are not evenly distributed across states and regions of the United States. While some funds are allotted to states by the federal government, there is significant state-level discretion in how states administer this small pool of funds. For parents the expense, stress, and uncertainty of finding quality early care and education (ECE) varies from place to place as both the availability and affordability of ECE services are inconsistent. This brief by the Institute for Research on Poverty summarizes how rates of maternal employment decline when childcare is expensive and difficult to find.

As youth and young adults with disabilities (Y&YADs) transition into adulthood, they face a complex series of milestones and hurdles in achieving economic self-sufficiency. Y&YADs struggle to navigate access to community services, support, and programs that meet their basic needs. This Cape Youth brief provides policy considerations that help Y&YADs foster economic self-sufficiency through financial literacy and independence. These strategies can reduce financial pressures for Y&YADs as they transition to employment and adulthood.