Building Evidence Culture and Capacity in Federal Agencies
Record Description
This brief from the Urban Institute explores building evidence capacity within federal agencies, which has been identified as a priority within the 2017 report from the bipartisan Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking created by Congress. The brief explains how federal agencies can position themselves to establish, strengthen, and sustain evidence-building activities such as program evaluations. Current efforts of existing agencies are given.
ACF Family Room Blog: Co-Location – Kenosha County’s Strategy to Move Parents to Work
Record Description
This blog post from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is the fourth installment of the “Self-Sufficiency Series: Solutions from the Field” and highlights Children First SHARP (Supporting Parents, Holistic Case Management, Access to Employment, Reaching Goals, Positive Parenting), an evidence-based model for serving noncustodial parents; this is a collective, one-stop approach between Goodwill Industries, the Kenosha County Child Support Agency, and several other community partners. Services provided include assistance with job searches and resume building, work supports, and a weekly Children First Job Club that facilitates peer support and networking.
Record Type
Combined Date
2018-05-02T20:00:00
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Region
City/County
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Publication Date
2018-05-03
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AIR’s Framework for Building Trauma-Informed Organizations and Systems
Record Description
This document by the American Institute for Research offers a process and curriculum for adopting organizational trauma-informed care to support organizations serving vulnerable children, adults, and families to become trauma-informed. The framework outlined includes a four-phased approach that can be applied to organizations and systems of various size and structure. Phases cover: the exploration of organizational needs; installation of the infrastructure needed to communicate, monitor, and evaluate progress; implementation of customized training and coaching to support trauma-informed care; and full adoption and sustainability of practices.
Portfolio of Research in Welfare and Family Self-Sufficiency: Fiscal Year 2017
Record Description
This report from the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE) describes major welfare and family self-sufficiency research that was sponsored by OPRE in Fiscal Year 2017. The five areas of research explored by OPRE projects are: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), employment and the labor market, education and training, behavioral science, and cross-cutting and other safety net research. The report provides project summaries and highlights key findings.
Since 1998, the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has convened the Research and Evaluation Conference on Self-Sufficiency (RECS) to present the latest findings from evaluations of programs, policies, and services that support low-income and vulnerable families on the path to economic self-sufficiency. For nearly 20 years, the RECS been a leading forum for researchers, State and local administrators, practitioners, and Federal officials and policymakers to discuss cutting-edge research on family self-sufficiency and social welfare programs and policies. The next RECS, which will take place May 30-June 1, 2018, will provide an opportunity to gather in Washington D.C. and hear the latest findings from evaluations of social welfare programs and policies, discuss ways to incorporate findings into the design and implementation of programs, and develop strategies for future evaluations. The agenda for the three-day RECS includes six different session tracks (http://recsconference.net/2018agenda_detail.htm). The deadline for registration has been extended to May 17.
Systems to Family Stability (SFS) Video: Innovative Practices in TANF
Record Description
The Systems to Family Stability (SFS) National Academy was an OFA initiative that consisted of eight teams (comprised of state TANF agencies, OFA representatives, and subject matter experts) that were organized to design and build collaborative systems within and across agencies to improve family economic security. In this one of three videos that were produced as a result of this initiative, SFS National Policy Academy participants provide guidance and tips to engage staff in change management processes as agencies prepare and implement new practices.
This brief by the Center for the Study of Social Policy and supported by The Annie E. Casey Foundation is based on more than 80 interviews with organizations, their workers, and the youth that they support. The intent of the brief is to generate and share knowledge that is useful in dealing with youth that face serious challenges. Findings include that when youth face serious adversity, the relationship they establish with a worker is often incremental. The report looks at these “transitional relationships,” what workers actually do to forge successful relationships with the youth, and what their organizations do to create a culture for the workers to succeed. Interviewees for this report are between 16-25 years old and have faced serious challenges including child welfare involvement, substance abuse, and homelessness. Workers interviewed are leaders of organizations noted for their exemplary work and who have repeatedly formed bonds and relationships with such youth.
A National Imperative: Joining Forces to Strengthen Human Services in America
Record Description
This report from the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities and the American Public Human Services Association was commissioned to assess the financial health of community-based human services organizations and make these organizations stronger. The project was supported by a diverse advisory council, and the report details important findings as well as the challenges community-based organizations face as they operate. Finally, five initiatives are outlined that, when implemented, will greatly support the work of community-based organizations while enabling sustainability within the field.
This blog post from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF) describes how the President’s proposed FY2019 budget request for ACF aims to strengthen the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. High priorities of the Trump Administration are encouraging work, changing the culture of dependence on government assistance, and reducing poverty. The President’s budget hopes to focus on work and support integrated approaches to helping families reach self-sufficiency.