The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is working to strengthen the well-being of children, youth, and their families by integrating behavioral health services into the existing supports they rely on, such as social services and early childhood programs. ACF released these Dear Colleague Letters and compilations of resources to highlight the critical importance of timely, high-quality behavioral health crisis care and ensure that you are aware of how these resources can be accessed in your communities.

These resources accompany ACF’s webpage released earlier in 2024, which included a tip sheet for parents and caregivers and a series of short videos about mental health.

The National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse released this Driver’s Guide for Young Dads to engage teenage fathers and young adult fathers and support them as they strive to be good dads, adopt healthy lifestyles, and establish effective parenting practices. Young fathers often face more and different challenges than older or experienced fathers in preparing for their new role as fathers. Not only are they still growing emotionally and intellectually as they transition into adulthood, but they also need to learn the ropes of parenting while weighing educational and employment options.

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014 amended the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and significantly shifted how state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies offered services to youths with disabilities, particularly to students. WIOA requires state VR agencies to offer preemployment transition services (pre-ETS) to students with disabilities and to reserve at least 15 percent of their federal program funds for that purpose. This Social Security Administration resource describes the extent to which WIOA and pre-ETS access affected employment-related outcomes for youths with disabilities who receive Supplemental Security Income payments.

The Resilient Families Hub is a new initiative of the Office of Family Assistance (OFA) and exists to understand the role of direct cash transfers in advancing economic stability and mobility in the United States. This initiative works with federal, state, and local governments and community-based organizations to provide subject matter expertise, research findings and evidence-based policies and practices around the targeted use of direct cash. Resilient Families’ publications and learning series will be published on this OFA webpage as they become available.

The Native Wellness Institute is hosting a virtual training on February 5 and 6, 2025 to highlight lessons learned over the decades of best practices in working with Native youth and there will be opportunities to learn from peers. Topics include: 

• Building Trust and Relationship; 
• Living in Balance; 
• Healing and Harmony; 
• Healthy Relationships; 
• Engaging with Youth; 
• Social Media; 
• Culture and Belonging; and 
• Vision. 

This training is intended for anyone who works with Native youth in any capacity. There is a fee for participation.

As part of the 2024 National Fatherhood Summit, this engaging and insightful plenary session was specifically designed for young fathers. This session provided a dynamic platform for young dads to share their experiences, challenges, and triumphs as they navigated the journey of fatherhood. Drawing inspiration from the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse’s new “Driver’s Guide for Young Fathers,” this session aimed to equip young fathers and fatherhood practitioners with practical tools, advice, and support to drive their fatherhood journey with confidence and purpose.

This Office of Research, Planning and Evaluation report describes the design of the NextGen Project, which is evaluating the effectiveness of four programs that provide services for people with physical, mental, or emotional health challenges. Many of the people are potential applicants for Supplemental Security Income. The four programs highlighted are:
• Bridges from School to Work;
• Individual Placement and Support for Adults with Justice Involvement;
• Philadelphia Workforce Inclusion Networks; and
• Western Mass Mental Health Outreach for MotherS PartnershipSM.

The National Association of Counties will host a webinar on November 12, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. ET to discuss the latest guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) services for youth detained in public institutions. Effective January 1, 2025, changes that stem from the Consolidated Appropriations Act (2023) will require states to amend their Medicaid and CHIP plans to provide essential medical, dental and case management services for eligible youth, before and after release. Presenters will discuss how these changes will impact county jails and how counties can collaborate with state health officials to ensure compliance and secure federal support.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, an annual recognition of the contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. In honor of this year’s theme, “Access to Good Jobs for All,” this resource by the Office of Disability Employment Policy’s Center for Advancing Policy on Employment for Youth highlights an innovative Massachusetts Commission for the Blind program that provides youth and young adults with disabilities access to high-quality employment experiences.