The National Association of Workforce Boards will host its annual meeting as a hybrid event on June 24, 2021 to June 26, 2021. Sessions covering four primary topics—Thought Leaders; Demonstrating Results; the Future of Work; and Building Skills - Reaching the Learner Where They Are—support the Forum’s theme, “Pathways to Excellence” as the key areas in which workforce development boards need to focus their attention and resources to meet the individual and employer needs of their communities. There is a fee to register for this event.

The Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation has released a funding opportunity announcement to provide funding and technical support for evaluation-related activities to organizations implementing interventions to improve self-sufficiency among families with low incomes. These 24-month cooperative agreements are intended for organizations that seek to strengthen and evaluate coordinated, client-centered approaches to improving self-sufficiency. No prior experience in research and evaluation is required. Grantees will work with federally funded, third-party evaluation technical assistance providers that will offer customized support to recipients in designing, implementing, and evaluating their proposed interventions. A letter of intent is due by June 2, 2021 and a full application is due by July 2, 2021.

This brief is a case study that reviews the relational factors between two Cleveland-based employment training programs–Youth Opportunities Unlimited and Towards Employment–as they came together to develop a Youth Adult Resource Center (YRC). It discusses how YRC incorporated positive youth development approaches at the staff level, and presents how these approaches helped to improve YRC’s ability to meet the needs of Cleveland’s youth and young adults.

This resource list covers general information and guidance to create new youth apprenticeship programs as well as approaches for employer engagement and participant recruitment. The resources also include industry-specific information on advanced manufacturing, agriculture and food systems, construction, energy, financial services, information technology (for cybersecurity), healthcare, hospitality, transportation, distribution, and logistics.

The Performance Partnership Pilot (P3) in New York City targeted fathers and mothers between 17 and 24 years old who did not have a high school credential, lacked other basic skills or had other risk factors, and resided in the city. P3 supported participants’ efforts to complete high school equivalency and earn occupational credentials. This report examines how P3 augmented Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act services for out-of-school youth by allowing participants to receive these services for up to two years. The report also includes a program impact assessment of the use of child support navigators for P3 participants and the incorporation of waivers for funding and performance measures in data reporting.

State and local governments can use public sector apprenticeships as a workforce and economic development tool. The Urban Institute will host a webinar on May 11, 2021 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET, which will cover the advantages of public sector apprenticeships, how states can apply and receive support to launch or expand apprenticeships, and the benefits from apprenticeship consortium participation. Speakers include representatives of the Denver Public Schools, The Council of State Governments, and the Urban Institute (including a former Kentucky Secretary of Education and Workforce Development).

The National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) will host its 37th Annual Conference as a virtual event from May 17 to May 19, 2021. Conference workshops are categorized in five tracks: Excelling in a Virtual Environment; Strategies for Workforce Professional Self-Care; Fiscal Responsibility and Oversight; Diversity and Inclusion; and Educating and Training Our Future Workforce. The conference will offer opportunities for networking and enhancing professional development. There is a registration fee for participation.

These 2020 National Indian and Native American Employment and Training Conference Western Regional Peer-to-Peer Training Conference presentations cover several areas which are relevant to tribal workforce development programs and operations. Topics included: DOL ETA 9130 Reports; Enhancing Participant Outcome under WIOA Performance Indicators; Stackable Credentials; SMART Training; Tribal Workforce Development, Self-Determination, Innovation, Policy Recommendations; and Your Money, Your Goals: New Financial Empowerment Tools for Workforce Development. The presentations also include profiles of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Indian and Native American Programs and the Cook Inlet Tribal Council.

Hosted by the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance, this webinar portion of a Tribal Case Management Series focused on strategies for improving employment outcomes for Tribal TANF recipients. During the webinar, participants learned strategies on providing one-on-one coaching to job seekers on effective job search techniques, three categories of interview questions they can use to screen applicants, and four strategies for keeping clients active during the job search activity.

This session from the December 2020 OFA Regions IX and X Virtual Tribal TANF Technical Assistance Meeting examined strategies and tools for assessing employment trends and included presentations on designing employment partnerships adapted to economic realities in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Speakers included: Theresa Lujan, the Indian and Native American Employment Rights Program (INAERP); Evette Cullen, Nevada Department of Health and Human Services; Mike Yoder, Nevada Department of Health and Human Services; and Isla Young, Governor’s Office of Workforce Innovation (OWINN), State of Nevada.