This report reviews how the COVID-19 pandemic recession has had a disproportionately negative economic impact on women and persons of color in the workforce, particularly those working previously in the service industry. This impact points to a need for a workforce development approach that supports workers who must switch industries and occupations due to the potential for long-term unemployment and lower labor demand.

This Dear Colleague Letter, addressed to ACF Grantees and interested parties, requests that ACF grantees raise awareness of the child tax credit for working families which takes effect on July 15, 2021. The letter identifies that families can learn about the credit at www.childtaxcredit.gov and that non-tax filer parents can also qualify for the tax credit by using the IRS’s Child Tax Credit Non-filer Sign Up Tool to apply for benefits. The letter also highlights different ways to engage with working families and raise awareness of this significant benefit.

This one-pager lists locations and addresses of IRS Tax Assistance Centers (TAC) nationwide where the IRS will host AdvCTC (Child Tax Credit) Free Tax Prep Days in July 2021 to help families file 2020 tax returns so they are eligible to receive advance payments of the 2021 Child Tax Credit. Most families are eligible to receive monthly payments of up to $250 per child ages 6-17 and $300 per child under age 6.

This Annie E. Casey Foundation annual publication provides data on child well-being among states and in multiyear comparisons from 2010 to 2019. Data in this review covers economic well-being, education, health, and family and community, including state rankings for these categories. There is also a separate section on how families fared during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

This U.S. Department of Labor tipsheet identifies resources for workforce programs that provide educational, occupational, and other skills training and services to prepare homeless and runaway youth for current and future job opportunities. The tipsheet includes strategies for serving homeless and runaway youth, models of collaboration, and Federal and non-Federal resources.

The National Association of Workforce Development Professionals will host a webinar on July 27, 2021 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET to discuss how to create, implement, or improve workforce development programs for job seekers with prior criminal justice involvement. Key objectives include learning about best practices for service delivery of holistic evidence-based workforce development programs for this population; the process of networking with community partners, researchers, employers, agencies, and individuals for collaboration; and the importance of establishing trust from these job seekers at the design stage for buy-in and retention. A registration fee is required.

The Office of Family Assistance hosted a webinar on Wednesday, July 14, 2021 to explore the role Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs play in supporting mothers as they reenter their community after a period of incarceration. Reentering mothers must overcome unique and difficult barriers to ensure their well-being and reduce their chances of recidivism. In this discussion, a panel of researchers and practitioners provided an overview of the impact of incarceration on children, the needs mothers face upon their release, and various approaches that state TANF programs, Department of Corrections reentry programs, and local non-profit organizations take to support reentering mothers in addressing these needs. Presenters also highlighted success stories and lessons learned from their experience helping reentering mothers and discussed how TANF can partner with community reentry programs to help mothers succeed.

This collection of resources includes research, promising programs, tools, and guides that can be used to support returning citizens and those with a criminal record to enter registered apprenticeships. The compendium features programs targeting returning citizens: the Next Chapter IT Apprenticeships; the Flintridge Center Apprenticeship Preparation Program; Greyston Bakery; the VICE Media Group Media, Production, and Technology Apprenticeships; Jails to Jobs (California); and the Iowa Department of Corrections Apprenticeship.

This research report is a systematic assessment of how Allegheny County, Pennsylvania has responded to intimate partner violence (IPV) by improving interagency coordination and responding more effectively and efficiently. Drawing on data and interviews conducted from June 2018 to December 2020, the report identifies three priority areas: promote the prioritization of IPV among county leaders for a set time period to support agency mobilization; shift policy to focus on victim experiences, rather than solely center on case outcomes; and reestablish IPV-focused fatality reviews.

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

The National Association of Workforce Development Professionals will host an e-learning event on July 6, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. ET to cover approaches for managing teams in a remote environment. Key objectives include identifying the common struggles with leading remote teams, the four principles to help lead remote teams more effectively, and tools to build trust and influence while working remotely. A registration fee is required for participation.