Employment coaching is increasingly considered an alternative to traditional case management in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and other employment programs. In employment coaching, coaches work collaboratively with participants to set individualized goals. These goals could be directly related to finding, keeping, or advancing in a job, or could be indirectly related to employment, such as completing education or training programs. This Office of Planning, Research & Evaluation brief describes the lessons learned about the coach–participant relationship from talking with coaching program staff and participants as part of the Evaluation of Employment Coaching for TANF and Related Populations. It discusses the benefits of strong coach–participant relationships, approaches to building them, program features that can affect them, and how program leaders can promote them.

The Administration for Children and Families is hosting a webinar on November 14th, 2023 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET to highlight their new website, Promising Occupations, and how it can be used to enhance TANF case management or other employment services. The website is a career exploration tool that features more than 600 occupations that are expected to grow over the next 10 years and pay $15 per hour or more. The website will aid employment service providers to increase their usage of labor market information. The website allows users to identify promising occupations that are attainable through short-term education or training and are projected to grow with family-sustaining wages. During this webinar, attendees will learn:

• What is a "promising" occupation?; 
• The purpose of the website and how it was developed; and
• How to use the website and how it can help with your work with clients. 

The America’s Promise Job-Driven Grant Program was designed to develop and expand regional partnerships among employers, economic development agencies, workforce investment systems, and education and training providers to build a pipeline of skilled American workers in high-demand industries experiencing domestic labor shortages. Grantees, through the support of their established partnerships, offered tuition-free education and job training to workers that addressed the immediate needs of the regional labor market. Education and job training were offered in the form of classroom training and work-based learning opportunities, in addition to supports such as case management, job placement services, and necessary wraparound supportive services. This Department of Labor research brief evaluates the impact of America’s Promise programs on the earnings and employment of participants.

An apprenticeship is a proven strategy to develop a talent pipeline for a skilled workforce. Apprenticeship programs can help businesses mitigate workforce shortages and provide workers with paid work experience, classroom instruction, progressive wage increases, and a nationally recognized credential. However, apprenticeship completion rates are a concern for employers, labor organizations, and other organizations that sponsor and operate these programs. As apprenticeship expansion efforts continue to gain traction, it is imperative to consider the factors that may prevent apprentices from being successful. This AIR brief summarizes the findings of studies on apprentice retention and provides recommended strategies to mitigate factors negatively affecting attrition.

The ACF Office of Family Assistance (OFA) hosted a webinar to summarize the open Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM): Strengthening TANF as a Safety Net and Work Program and instructed interested parties on how to submit a formal comment.

The NPRM is intended to strengthen TANF's role in supporting family well-being and work, as well as creating additional accountability for states to ensure TANF funds serve their intended purpose, while maintaining state flexibility. 

Review the recording here as you are preparing to submit formal comments on the NPRM for HHS consideration. Comments are due December 1, 2023. HHS welcomes comments from all affected parties and will closely review and consider every comment it receives. We refer you to the NPRM on information on how to submit comments if you wish to do so. 

If you have questions about the webinar, please email TANFquestions@acf.hhs.gov. 

Young people need both cross-cutting skills and specialized knowledge to thrive in the rapidly changing economy, and business and industry leaders require fresh talent to innovate and grow. Pathways are a strategy to connect education with careers to meet the needs of youth, educators, and employers and create a more thriving and equitable economy. College and career pathways expand economic opportunity for all young people and meet regional talent needs. This Jobs for the Future framework outlines key considerations and promising strategies for pathways leaders who seek to achieve outcomes for youth while strengthening rural communities.

One goal of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) employment services is to improve equitable and stable employment outcomes for job seekers. However, employment services driven by biased service delivery approaches might exacerbate and reinforce existing disparities within the labor market. This Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation brief provides strategies that staff members can use while working with TANF participants to increase equitable access to employment opportunities. It also describes strategies that TANF program leaders can use to combat biases at an organizational level.

Military spouses and Transitioning Service Members are often an overlooked part of the military community and need workforce support. Alongside Veterans, these populations face higher than average unemployment rates and have unique barriers to employment that need to be addressed including gaining civilian certifications, accessing a network of local businesses, and translating military experience into a resume. The National Association of Workforce Development Professionals will host a webinar on November 15, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. CT, where participants will learn how Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation (AAWDC), the Title 1 service provider in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, launched Military Career Connection using Dislocated Worker funding to address the growing need of the military community. Participants will also learn how AAWDC developed relationships with the installations, what partners to connect with to serve this population, and the best practices learned through developing this program.

As of 2021, up to 17.5% of working age American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians reported they have a disability. However, only 2.2% of Division of Indian and Native American Programs grantee participants reported they have a disability. Low reporting may indicate that participants do not know that they can receive accommodations to help them be more successful during a training program and at their workplace if they disclose that they have a disability. Also, workforce development staff may not realize that they can leverage partners to provide more comprehensive services for participants with disabilities to ensure their success and/or may not know how to broach the topic with customers.

The National Center on Leadership for the Employment and Economic Advancement of People with Disabilities hosted part-two of a two-part series on December 10, 2021 where attendees learned best practices and strategies in building partnerships and leveraging resources across federal, state, and local systems.