This report assesses the Families Forward Demonstration (FFD), which aimed to integrate employment and training within child support programs. The FFD program included free occupational skills training, employment services, and wraparound supports. FFD emphasized “responsive” child support services that helped parents understand their support obligations, and suspended some enforcement actions as parents participated in the program. FFD was implemented in five jurisdictions: Cuyahoga County, Ohio; Franklin County, Ohio; Calhoun and Jackson Counties, Michigan; Benton, Franklin, and Walla Walla Counties, Washington; and New York City.

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 blogpost summarizes a podcast, “Child Support – A Tool to Enable Families and Their Children to be Food Secure,” which included interviews with the National Child Support Enforcement Association, the Food Research & Action Center, and the Maine Department of Human Services. It highlights the positive impact of child support programs under the Office of Child Support Enforcement, and notes the ways that SNAP offers short- and long-term benefits for infant and child health and well-being. The blogpost also links to the full podcast.

The third bi-annual Aspen Forum on Children and Families will be held on June 7, 2021 and June 8, 2021 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET on both days. This virtual forum includes panel discussions, keynote speakers, and breakout sessions covering two-generation (2Gen) approaches as well as resources and tools needed to strengthen families, communities, and the country. The Forum also features the release of The State of 2Gen, which synthesizes 10 years of the field's accomplishments and identifies policy recommendations to support families with improved health, education, and employment outcomes.

In February and March of 2021, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Family Assistance (OFA), held three virtual meetings with state Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) agencies and stakeholders. The series, Navigating New Pathways towards Building Thriving Communities, invited state TANF administrators and other staff to participate in cohorts by ACF Region (Regions I-IV, V-VIII, and IX and X). The Interrupting the Impact of Traumatic Stress virtual meetings focused on how programs can best identify and address trauma among staff. The meetings provided state TANF programs with tools to better understand the impact of trauma on staff, identify how it shows up at work, and learn actionable ideas for building buffer zones of partnership, safety, and support in the workplace.

As grandfamily caregivers assume the role of caretaker for their grandchildren, these grandfamilies experience unique challenges and strengths. Challenges include legal issues, financial hardships, and housing concerns, while strengths include research that shows children placed with relatives often thrive compared to those placed in foster care.

The 2020 State of Grandfamilies in America annual report features information on connecting grandfamilies to critical supports during the COVID-19 crisis and creating systems to promote service continuity. The included infographic displays the percentage of grandparents responsible for grandchildren, racial overrepresentation in grandfamilies, and COVID-19 challenges facing grandfamilies. An accompanying webinar highlights factors that may contribute to the creation of grandfamilies and discusses their challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This organizations list from the Children’s Bureau’s Child Welfare Information Gateway provides contact information and website links to kinship care programs and services offered by State child welfare departments, subcontracted private nonprofit agencies, and some Tribes in applicable States and the District of Columbia.

This webinar discusses new federal investments in kinship navigator programs, grandfamilies housing, and relevant child welfare programs that can help grandfamilies. It highlights how funds can be utilized to assist families in critical areas during the pandemic, such as housing, lawyer fees, transportation, technology, food, and emergency support for older youth aging out of foster care.

This bulletin from the Children’s Bureau’s Child Welfare Information Gateway highlights supports and services for kinship caregivers, training for caregivers and case workers, and examples of successful State and local kinship programs. It discusses kinship navigator programs and features support services that caseworkers should share with kinship caregivers, including TANF, respite care, and the Guardianship Assistance Program.