Major Change in Who is Owed Child Support Arrears

Record Description
This fact sheet from the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) examines the changing relationship of whether the government or the custodial family is owed child support arrears, and how this influences the financial stability of TANF participants. Child support arrears accrued during periods of TANF received have declined from 51% of total arrears in 2002 to 26% of total arrears in 2013; possible reasons for this decline include increased TANF arrears collection, or decreased number of cases on TANF, or the amount of TANF arrears owed per case. OCSE data collected since 1999 is used to analyze these potential reasons and a possible relationship with the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. Policies that continue to shift the distribution of TANF arrears from the government to families are shown to have a powerful effect on TANF participants’ financial success as well as state revenue.
Record Type
Posting Date
Combined Date
2014-02-28T19:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2014-03-01

Welfare Recidivism in Maryland: The Importance of Child Support

Record Description
Previous research has shown that receiving child support not only reduces the chance of families returning to welfare, but that it also reduces child poverty and, on average, accounts for 40% of a low-income family’s income. This study examines the relationship between child support receipt in Maryland and returns to the TANF program. Results show that women who do not receive child support after leaving the program are far more likely to return to welfare; that larger and more consistent child support payments reduce the chances of a family returning to welfare; and that receiving any child support reduces recidivism, though this is less likely for women with lower incomes.
Record Type
Posting Date
Combined Date
2015-05-31T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2015-06-01

Higher education and workforce development in tribal communities and the role of tribal HPOG

Record Description

This practice brief is part of a series being developed by the Tribal HPOG evaluation team, comprised of NORC at the University of Chicago, Red Star Innovations and the National Indian Health Board (NIHB). The briefs will be used to disseminate important lessons learned and findings from the Evaluation of the Tribal Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG) program, which is sponsored by the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). The HPOG program was established by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to support 32 demonstration projects, including 5 Tribal Organizations and Colleges, to train Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients and other low-income individuals as healthcare professionals. The Tribal HPOG program aims to meet local healthcare demands by increasing the number of well-trained health professionals in tribal communities. The program uses a career pathways approach where students advance through related trainings that build on each other to deepen students’ healthcare knowledge and skills. This practice brief presents an overview of post-secondary education in tribal communities, including background about Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs); describes the economic status and employment rates of American Indians/Alaska Natives; provides data on American Indian/Alaska Native representation in healthcare professions, and discusses the benefits of greater diversity in the healthcare workforce; describes tribal educational opportunities and pipeline programs; and illustrates how the Tribal HPOG program is helping to bridge gaps by providing opportunities for native education, training, and employment. (author abstract) 

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Posting Date
Combined Date
2015-08-13T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2015-08-14

The 2015 KIDS COUNT Data Book

Record Description
This dataset from the Annie E. Casey Foundation is part of an annual series that assesses child well-being across the United States. It uses an index of 16 indicators to rank states on overall child well-being, economic well-being, education, health, family, and community. In the midst of the country’s economic recovery, in 2015, more families are struggling with economic instability and more children are living in high-poverty neighborhoods. The report and data also review the impact of parents’ education and health on their children’s outcomes.
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Posting Date
Combined Date
2015-07-20T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2015-07-21

Executive Function and Scaffolding

Record Description
“Scaffolding” is a practice that is often used in executive function-informed practices, especially in education settings for students with learning disabilities. It is equally relevant, but rarely used, in employment and related human services programs. Scaffolding refers to the practice of facilitating an individual's ability to solve a problem, complete a task, or achieve a goal that they cannot complete without assistance. It involves breaking tasks into smaller steps and providing tools and supports to help an individual achieve each step. Scaffolding may also involve providing environmental modifications to compensate for weak executive functioning skills or allow a person to practice her skills in an environment that facilitates success.
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Posting Date
Combined Date
2015-08-17T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County

Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Individuals: Ongoing Research and Program Evaluation Efforts

Record Description
Many programs within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) work with incarcerated individuals and individuals with a criminal history to promote economic self-sufficiency and social well-being for them, their families, and communities. ACF programs also implement research and evaluation programs designed to improve the understanding of how to serve those individuals most effectively. This brief highlights some of those projects and programs.
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Posting Date
Combined Date
2015-06-16T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2015-06-17

Final Report on Significant Accomplishments by State Advisory Councils on Early Childhood Education and Care

Record Description
This blog post highlights the recently released final report on the accomplishments of State Advisory Councils (SAC) on early childhood education and care. SACs were authorized in the Head Start Act of 2007, with a goal of promoting partnerships between Head Start agencies, state and local governments, and the private sector.
Parent Record
Record Type
Posting Date
Combined Date
2015-06-01T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2015-06-02

Systems to Family Stability National Policy Academy Meeting Materials

Record Description
From June 29 to July 1, 2015, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Family Assistance (OFA), hosted the Systems to Family Stability National Policy Academy meeting in Washington, D.C. at the Loews Madison Hotel. Eight teams (seven states and one county) participated in this kick-off meeting for the dynamic, 18-month policy academy that is designed to build collaborative systems within and across agencies to improve family economic security. The Academy has three primary objectives:
1) Build career pathways through job-driven training and alignment of TANF and workforce systems;
2) Improve business processes and systems coordination; and
3) Enhance case management by understanding brain science and applying two-generation approaches.
Over the course of the three-day meeting, experts presented the research evidence base, and sites had the opportunity to learn from peer programs’ development and implementation across these three objectives. In addition to plenary and breakout sessions, the agenda included eight hours of dedicated team time for sites to receive individualized coaching and facilitation from technical assistance coaches and expert content faculty.
Record Type
Posting Date
Combined Date
2015-08-17T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County

Willing, Able, Ready: Basics and Policy Implications of Readiness as a Key Component for Implementation of Evidence-Based Interventions

Record Description
This brief establishes the basics of readiness using the R=MC2 (Readiness = Motivation × General Capacity and Intervention-Specific Capacity) heuristic, examines some of the policy implications of readiness, and identifies directions for future research. Although a scientific body of knowledge about readiness already exists, there is a need to develop more concrete recommendations for federal agencies and practitioners to use when implementing evidence-based interventions.
Record Type
Posting Date
Combined Date
2014-08-31T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2014-09-01

Moving into Adulthood: Implementation Findings from the Youth Villages Transitional Living Evaluation

Record Description
The Youth Villages Transitional Living program is intended to help youth who were formerly in foster care or juvenile justice custody, or who are otherwise unprepared for adult life, to make the transition to independent living. This report presents key findings of participation levels, staff interviews, and implementation variation across different sites.
Record Type
Posting Date
Combined Date
2014-02-28T19:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
Publication Date
2014-03-01