In this KIDS COUNT policy report, the Casey Foundation finds that nearly 6.5 million U.S. teens and young adults are neither in school nor in the workforce. With employment among young people at its lowest levels since the 1950s, these youth are veering toward chronic unemployment as adults and failing to gain the skills employers need in the 21st century. In addition to new national and state data on the issue, the report offers recommendations to support youth in gaining a stronger foothold in the economy.

Nearly 6.5 million U.S. teens and young adults are neither in school nor in the workforce, veering toward chronic underemployment as adults and failing to gain the skills employers need in the 21st century, according to a new KIDS COUNT® report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The number of working youth dropped by almost half since 2000, while employment among young people is at its lowest level since the 1950s. This article highlights the "Youth and Work: Restoring Teen and Young Adult Connections to Opportunity" report that presents State-by-State data and highlights how issues of teen unemployment are exacerbated among youth from low-income families and among minority populations. It also emphasizes the need to provide multiple, flexible pathways to success for disconnected young people and to find ways to reengage high school dropouts.

In 2011, the United States Department of Labor (DOL) joined the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), DirectEmployers Association, the National Association of State Workforce Agencies and Facebook to create the Social Jobs Partnership, an initiative to help job-seekers leverage their online networks to support their job searches. In November 2012, the partners released a Facebook app that will help users share more than 1.7 million job opportunities from five recruiting organizations. The Social Jobs Partnership is about connections: connecting the public and private sectors, connecting employers and workers, and connecting existing skills with business needs. This app will help job-seekers take advantage of those connections to find good jobs.

The United States Department of Labor's career Web site for Veterans allows the user to enter their military classification and see what civilian careers best match their skills. A new feature of the site allows the user to find available national certifications that are accredited, industry endorsed, related to military occupational specialties, and more. Veteran customers can also use the "Check Out My State" feature to discover which States have an "above average" or "below average" share of a career within their workforce.

This report highlights outcomes from San Francisco's Jobs Now program, a subsidized employment program that began under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). It explains the program's design, how the city engaged with employers to secure jobs for participants and outcomes related to job attainment, job retention and wages. The Jobs Now program has continued even after ARRA funds were no longer available (though on a smaller scale) and the city is currently operating its fourth iteration of the program.

This report provides a synthesis of research and existing ACF resources for serving at-risk youth. It describes what we know from research about at-risk youth. It then describes how at-risk youth are currently being served by ACF programs and by programs outside of ACF that have been shown to put youth on a path toward self-sufficiency. Based on the review of research and resources, it identifies issues to consider in creating conceptual frameworks for developing and enhancing ACF programs that can or do serve at-risk youth. In the remainder of this chapter, we state the key questions that guide the synthesis, define some key concepts, and describe a number of at-risk youth populations served by ACF programs. (author abstract)

The Social Security Administration's Disability Blog has introduced The Ticket to Work "Find Help" Tool. The Ticket to Work Program can be utilized by Social Security disability beneficiaries aged 18 through 64. Those individuals that fall within this requisite and are looking to work can use this service to help prepare for, find, and maintain work. The Ticket to Work "Find Help" Tool helps find service providers unique to participants' locations, and connects participants to organizations that can help them achieve their work goals. The web page provides further information on EN Report Cards, eligibility criteria, and services provided.

The U.S. Department of Labor awarded $12 million in grants to nine organizations to provide employment services to previously incarcerated female adults and youth. The funds will be used by grantees to provide job training to lead to credentials in high-demand industries; employment preparation; mentoring; supportive services such as housing, and substance abuse and mental health treatment; family counseling; and assistance with parenting and child reunification. Helping this population gain employment is critical to providing the stability required for improving their educational and employment outcomes. This news release provides an overview of each grantee, including their location and award amount.

In April 2012, the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse hosted a Technical Assistance Webinar, "Achieving Economic Stability: Strategies for Successfully Connecting Dads to Jobs." This Webinar presented information and strategies to help participants improve their knowledge and understanding of: Federal Department of Labor priorities and programs; employment partnering opportunities for Responsible Fatherhood programs; practical ideas from research to help fathers find and keep jobs; and, promising practices and lessons learned from programs that have successfully helped fathers achieve economic stability. Presenters included:

• Ben Seigel: Deputy Director of the Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships in the Office of the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Labor;
• Dr. Ronald Mincy: Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, New York; and
• Bob and Kathy Lambert: Co-Founders and Co-Executive Directors, Connections to Success, St. Louis, Missouri.