In this guide about two-generation strategies, the authors offer state and local policymakers ideas as they begin to develop and implement these new approaches in their areas. The guide provides an overview of the recent innovative two-generation programs and several examples of the model that illustrate different approaches with strong workforce and/or educational components. Additionally, the authors present five facilitating factors that may be linked to the success of two-generation strategies, including supportive policy frameworks, leadership, program administration, integrated and flexible funding streams, and evidence-oriented culture. Finally, the guide concludes with detailed steps used to establish these strategies, as well as recommendations for policymakers interested in implementing a two-generation approach.

Children born into low-income families are at greater risk of experiencing persistent poverty during their childhood and long-term negative effects on their health, financial success, and general well-being. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) offers an opportunity to achieve two-generational goals for parents and their infant children. However, underfunded services and barriers to access can hold parents back and make it harder for them to lift their families out of poverty. This report from CLASP recommends a new framework for thinking about TANF in the context of the first year of a child’s life.

This issue of Future of Children focuses on two-generation approaches to improving children’s development. A child’s home environment can impact stress, education, health, income, employment, and more throughout his or her life. Two-generation programs serve parents and children simultaneously to improve family wellbeing. The articles within this journal emphasize current programs and identify the many benefits of using a two-generation approach.

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.

This post from a TANF program specialist at the Office of Family Assistance (OFA) describes OFA’s efforts in improving TANF programs across the country. To share ideas about improving case management, integrating two-generation approaches, engaging workforce partners, and enhancing training, OFA has launched a national policy academy. The first groups to enter the academy are Connecticut, Colorado, Maryland, North Carolina, Ramsey County (Minnesota), Utah, Washington, and West Virginia.

In the May 2015 issue of the Office of Child Support Enforcement’s Child Support Report, practitioners can learn about different strategies for best serving their clients. Topics include an introduction to two-generation approaches, modifying child support orders for incarcerated parents, and grantee success stories.

In this report from Ascend at the Aspen Institute, the authors outline the emerging case for two-generation approaches to moving parents and families toward economic security. The report outlines key trends and data that are prompting the need for this approach. Data suggests that more than one in five U.S. children live in poverty, a connection exists between maternal education and child outcomes, and women and children in single-mother families have disproportionately high rates of poverty. Ascend identified three components in its equation for two-generation approaches: education + economic supports + social capital; a combination of these three components can lead to successful two-generation policies.

This article from the Future of Children Collaboration examines programs with an explicitly two-generation approach. The authors look at these past and current programs’ efficacy, and although the more recent two-generation programs are too young to have clear evidence, they found that the justification for these programs is strong and their early results are promising. Now is the time to innovate, experiment, and further study this two-generation approach.

Produced by the National Head Start Association with support from the Ascend project at The Aspen Institute, this report highlights six case studies from Head Start and Early Head Start programs that have implemented two-generation approaches within their programs. Each case study includes information on the project design, funding, partnerships, research, and future plans. Finally, an analysis of funding, partnerships, and research across all the programs is provided for a broad perspective.