The Department of Labor announced up to $40 million in grants available for national out-of-school time organizations to expand local work-based learning opportunities, job training and career pathways for underserved youth during non-school hours. The Workforce Pathways for Youth demonstration grants will help these organizations partner with state or locally operated affiliate organizations that serve historically marginalized and underserved youth, ages 14 to 21. Priority will be given to organizations serving Native American youth.

Through the partnerships, out-of-school time organizations will introduce youth to career-related services, and provide work-based learning experiences and occupational skills training. They will also offer unsubsidized employment placements to increase opportunities for youth to gain the skills they need to be successful in post-secondary education and employment. The program also encourages partners across the workforce system to provide supportive services to address the mental health needs of participating youth.

The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center at Virginia Commonwealth University is hosting a webinar on May 22, 2024 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET where Federal, State, and Tribal representatives will discuss effective models in service provision to Indigenous youth and young adults, including individuals with disabilities. There will be discussions on the challenges faced and the actions taken to form Indigenous Service Models. Examples of culturally-focused youth camps, WIOA-funded workforce programs, federal and state initiatives, and vocational rehabilitation best practices will be showcased.

This webpage presents the priorities of the Tribal Behavioral Health Agenda (TBHA), which were identified through discussions with Tribal leaders, Tribal administrators, and Tribal members. It is organized around five foundational elements: historical and intergenerational trauma, a socio-cultural-ecological approach, prevention and recovery support, behavioral health systems and support, and national awareness and visibility. It also includes cross-cutting considerations and additional considerations for collaboration. The TBHA is not an exact map but an initial step toward driving action in the same direction and along a common path.

This Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation toolbox highlights selected resources and tools that are particularly relevant for current and future Tribal TANF-Child Welfare Coordination (TTCW) grantees, and that may also be relevant for other human services programs. Resources included address the following topic areas: developing and using logic models for systems change; planning for data collection and collecting data; collecting and using stories in program research and dissemination; collaborative approaches to screening and assessment; data sharing and protecting sensitive information; performance measurement; data-driven decision making and continuous quality improvement; measuring collaboration; measuring program outcomes; dissemination; and sustainability.

The National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center (NIWRC) is offering On-Site Technical Assistance (TA) to strengthen, develop, and/or expand the capacity of tribal and native advocacy programs and communities' responses to intimate partner violence, sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, and sex trafficking. The NIWRC staff will collaborate with each selected On-Site TA recipient to create an agenda specific to their program and tribal community. The NIWRC TA application is due April 22, 2024.

While the financial security of U.S. households is frequently studied, comparatively little research focuses on the economics of American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) households specifically. The Center for Indian Country Development is helping to fill this gap with new analysis of a key annual survey of American households: the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Household Economics and Decision-making (SHED). This Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis resource highlights:

• Statistical techniques that enable an AIAN-focus;
• Results detailing AIAN respondents’ financial security; and
• Persistent barriers to economic opportunity for AIAN households.

The Administration for Native Americans Western Region is hosting five pre-application trainings, a combination of in-person and virtual events:

• Training 1 is in-person from April 2 to 3, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada;
• Training 2 is in-person from April 16 to 17, 2024 (location announcement coming soon);
• Training 3 is virtual from April 8 to 11, 2024 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET;
• Training 4 is virtual from April 22 to 25, 2024 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET; and
• Training 5 is virtual from April 29 to May 2, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET.

Registration for each training is open. While topics for both in-person and virtual training will be dependent on time constraints, each training will assist the application process for the NEW Notice of Funding Opportunities. Each training will also cover the new review criteria and how to address each in the application.

The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center at Virginia Commonwealth University is launching a Native Outreach webinar series entitled “Voicing Resiliency: State Vocational Rehabilitation Best Practices with Indigenous Communities.” The first webinar will take place on April 3, 2024 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET and will feature Jim Warne and Treva Roanhorse. The speakers will provide insight into the culture surrounding Indigenous Disability and discuss the history of Indigenous Disability services in Indian Country throughout the past and into the present.

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. This ACF announcement highlights the new behavioral health webpage that includes a tip sheet for parents and caregivers and a series of short videos about mental health.

The new behavioral health webpage includes audience-specific pages with resources about mental health and substance use for:

• Teens and young adults
• Parents and caregivers
• American Indian and Alaska Native Communities
• Service providers
• Grant recipients
• Early childhood professionals