On-the-job (OJT) training has been proven to be the most effective way to have dislocated workers seek reemployment in today's workforce. WorkforceGPS will host a virtual session on August 16, 2023 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET that will highlight best practices and testimonials on OJT effectiveness from Minnesota’s workforce development system staff, employers, and past participants.

The National Association of Workforce Development Professionals will host a virtual academy from August 28 to 30, 2023, offering a series of eight 1-hour sessions that will cover actionable strategies that attendees can leverage throughout the entire customer relationship, from initial intake through the job interview. Each session includes concrete techniques and actionable exercises that attendees can immediately put into practice with their customers. There is a registration fee for participation.

The prevalence of non-degree credentials (NDCs) in the U.S. workforce is growing, as more businesses look to skills-based hiring and more education and training programs emerge to meet those needs. NDCs increase the number of skilled workers and allow them to demonstrate learned competencies and skills. This National Skills Coalition report encourages state policymakers to invest in quality NDCs; shares work with states to define, measure, and track quality; and offers takeaways for how to advance quality assurance so that policymakers feel confident in investing in non-degree credentials, students have confidence in their training programs, and employers know which programs effectively prepare people for careers.

The Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation Pathways to Work Evidence Clearinghouse case studies highlight innovative interventions that aim to improve employment outcomes for TANF participants and other individuals with low incomes, especially public assistance recipients. The purpose of each case study is to feature an innovative but untested intervention that a state, county, community-based organization, or other entity is undertaking. These 21 case studies are intended to help practitioners learn from the experiences of other organizations or agencies implementing innovative employment interventions.

The Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance, in partnership with the Children’s Bureau, announces a new TANF-Child Welfare Learning Community. The “Families Are Stronger Together: TANF & Child Welfare Partnering for Prevention Learning Community (FAST-LC)” will center on innovative prevention strategies to mitigate and reduce families’ involvement with the child welfare system. The FAST-LC is a one-year initiative slated to launch in September 2023 and conclude in September 2024 and will involve up to 10 state and tribal TANF programs.

A self-nomination package to participate in the FAST-LC can be requested and questions can be submitted at any time by contacting TANF-CWLearningCommunity@blhtech.com. An interest webinar was held on August 10, 2023 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET to provide additional information about the FAST-LC and the self-nomination process as well as answer live questions. All steps needed to complete self-nomination submissions must be completed by September 7, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. ET.

This fact sheet provides information about the assignment, pass-through, and distribution of child support for parents who receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). It outlines pass-through payments for families currently receiving TANF and families no longer receiving TANF. It also covers child support distribution for current and former TANF recipients.

Under federal law, families receiving TANF must cooperate with child support establishment and enforcement efforts. In addition, TANF recipients must assign their rights to child support payments to the state. When a state collects child support on behalf of a TANF recipient, the state is permitted to keep the money to reimburse itself and the federal government for TANF assistance. States, however, have the option of allowing some of the child support payment to be passed through to the parent and child and disregarded when determining TANF assistance, meaning the amount would not be considered income for purposes of determining TANF eligibility. This brief includes a chart of 52 states and territories and whether they have a pass-through and disregard policy, the amount of the pass-through and the statutory or code citation.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and its federal agency partners invite stakeholders to participate in the "Our Future Matters: Informing the Federal Interagency Strategy" national online dialogue. This important virtual conversation aims to enhance policies and practices to facilitate a smooth transition to adulthood for youth with disabilities.

Through the dialogue, federal staff will seek input on ways to enhance services for youth and young adults with disabilities in the following areas:

• Education
• Employment
• Health and Human Services
• Social Security

Please join this important conversation by visiting the dialogue now through August 14, 2023. Simply log on, register, submit ideas, or comment and vote on ideas submitted by others.

Sector programs train people for high-quality jobs in industries that have strong local demand and offer the opportunity for career advancement. Most programs offer similar services: job-readiness training (including professional skills development), occupational skills training, and support services. These programs can improve both the educational and the economic outcomes of low-income adults trying to enter and advance in the labor market. This MDRC paper presents recommendations that can help policymakers and practitioners develop high-quality programs to assist unemployed people in obtaining the skills and support they need to work in high-wage, high-growth sectors of the labor market in their regions.

Wisconsin’s Youth Apprenticeship program is the oldest and largest ongoing youth apprenticeship (YA) program in the U.S. As youth apprenticeship has reemerged as an attractive option for preparing young people for careers, Wisconsin’s YA program offers interesting insights to policymakers and practitioners. The state funds the program in a way that emphasizes local control, administration, and outreach to high school students and employers. This Urban Institute brief highlights the program’s history, recent growth, and structure and draws on perspectives from state officials, local program directors, and employers.