This issue brief illustrates the administrative burdens that people encounter when attempting to access safety net programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The brief outlines learning costs (the time spent to figure out what programs are available and the steps on how to apply), compliance costs (the need for documentation and time/expertise needed to file for benefits), and psychological costs (stress or loss of autonomy). The brief notes how these administrative burdens can be consequential to those seeking assistance by reducing participation or complicating service delivery. To address and reduce these burdens, the brief offers strategies such as technology, automation for enrollment processing, and personal assistance at time of application.

This issue brief profiles the design and implementation of the 2Gen approach undertaken by the District of Columbia TANF program. The brief covers how staff were trained in 2Gen approaches, and the reorganization of TANF intake and eligibility processes. The report also features the District’s redesign of the TANF Employment and Education program, integration of 2Gen approaches for homeless families, and institution of a “whole family” model in universal pre-K and early childhood programs.

This Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE) report examines the impact of the Health Careers for All program that supported TANF recipients in accessing and completing healthcare occupational training. The report reviews the three-year impact on employment and earnings as well as the credentials earned by participants. Health Careers for All included four key components: navigation and case management services; access to healthcare occupational training at the foundational (career discovery), entry-level and advanced levels along a healthcare career pathway; employment services (to include resume development and interviewing skills); and financial support to address barriers in completing training or entering employment. Health Careers for All is one of nine programs evaluated by OPRE under the Pathways for Advancing Careers and Education (PACE) project.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Hunger Clearinghouse provides information about food resources available near an address or zip code, including meal sites, food banks, and other social services. Information from the Clearinghouse is accessible by contacting the USDA National Hunger Hotline by phone (with English and Spanish phone numbers provided) or by text.

This research-to-practice brief identifies lessons learned from six child support agencies in Arizona, California, Michigan, Ohio, and Virginia as they implemented the Procedural Justice-Informed Alternatives to Contempt (PJAC) model of child support enforcement. The PJAC model incorporates fairness in dispute resolution over child support payments and suggests that if a non-custodial parent perceives the process to be fair, he or she is more likely to comply with the order, regardless if the outcome of the process is favorable to them.

To develop an understanding of interventions to prevent homelessness among youth in or formerly in foster care, The Children’s Bureau at the Administration for Children and Families created the Building Capacity to Evaluate Interventions for Youth/Young Adults with Child Welfare Involvement At-Risk of Homelessness (YARH) grant program. This Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation report includes assessment findings of the YAHR grant program. It examines the characteristics of six organizations that formed partnerships with local child welfare agencies to define a comprehensive service model of interventions designed to prevent homelessness in youth who have experienced foster care. The report provides an initial review of how youth participants benefitted from these comprehensive models and how the models changed the services that youth participants received. The report also highlights how these grantees prepared to implement their service models and what factors hindered implementation.

The Aspen Institute’s ASCEND initiative will host a webinar on October 28, 2020 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. ET to discuss the role of social capital as part of the 2Gen approach. Social capital, the “secret sauce” of the 2Gen approach, is demonstrated by increased peer support, greater sense of community belonging, and connections with family, friends, and neighbors. Social capital is also manifested in participation in community- and faith-based organizations, outreach by schools and the workplace, and engagement with case managers or career coaches. This webinar will include presentations from leadership and staff at the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, who will cover the identification and dissemination of emerging practices for measuring and using social capital. There will also be discussion of how practitioners can use a 2Gen approach to help their clients build relationships to attain their identified goals.

This webpage from the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence contains online training, webinar videos, and radio podcasts discussing different issues and prevention strategies related to domestic violence. The webinars and radio podcasts focus on policy and advocacy, transformation stories, services for survivors, and youth engagement in violence prevention and social change.

(See also Resources on "intimate partner violence" in the Resource Library)

This webpage from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is comprised of fast facts, risk and protective factors, prevention strategies, and resources related to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and Teen Dating Violence. There is also a technical package that contains evidence-based programs, policies, practices, and strategies focused on preventing IPV and its consequences on individuals across the lifespan. The strategies include teaching healthy relationship skills, engaging influential adults and peers, disrupting the pathway for IPV, creating protective environments, strengthening families’ economic support, and supporting survivors to lessen harm and increase safety.

(See also Resources on "domestic violence" in the Resource Library)

This web conference was hosted by PreventConnect, a national project of the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CALCASA) in collaboration with the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence. The web conference discussed strengthening economic supports and security for women and families to prevent sexual and intimate partner violence, as well as adverse effects resulting from this violence. The presenters explained the connection between strengthening economic supports and preventing multiple forms of violence and highlighted the importance of explaining this connection to stakeholders.