Connect for Kids / Child Advocacy 360 / Youth Policy Action Center - Job Training

Skills to Live by: Participant Reflections on the Value of their Sectoral Training Experience

Mon, 31 Jul 2006 15:14:58 -0500

Here�s something you don�t see every day: a recent Aspen Institute report looks at the impact of job training programs on low-skilled and low-income workers � but this time, it�s from their own perspectives.

World of Opportunity Welcomes All Comers

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:55:01 -0500

Low-income students who drop out—or are pushed out—of school without a high school diploma face long odds in their search for a path to a successful and stable adult life. In Birmingham, Ala., a former public school teacher is waging a fierce campaign to give such students a second chance. Gin Phillips reports on the World of Opportunity School.

By the Numbers: State Goals for Increasing Postsecondary Attainment

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:34:10 -0500

Are state officials putting their money—and their measurements—where their mouths are when it comes to boosting postsecondary education among residents? This 50-state survey from Jobs for the Future finds that fewer than half of states specify measurable goals for increasing the proportion of their population with a postsecondary degree. Even those that do may not be doing enough to reach out to the public, and in particular under-represented populations, to promote an agenda of increased education, and to connect people to programs to make it possible to enroll and finish. The report concludes with concrete policy goals for states.

Ways to Work site

Tue, 14 Feb 2006 13:37:23 -0600

Ways to Work provides small, low-interest loans to working poor families (sponsored by the Alliance for Children and Families). Find out more about how they�re serving low-income families.

Promoting Work in Public Housing

Wed, 23 Nov 2005 10:00:29 -0600

The research on Jobs-Plus found that this employment program substantially increased earnings of residents in some of the nation�s poorest urban public housing developments. Now you can see what these results look like in a short video by Jim Riccio. director of the research.

Education and Skills for the 21st Century: An Agenda for Action

Mon, 07 Nov 2005 18:23:57 -0600

Based on a September 2005 forum sponsored by Jobs for the Future that brought together business, government, and education leaders, this agenda defines specific steps to connect more young people and adults to better education and better careers.

When Work Disappears

Tue, 09 Aug 2005 13:56:58 -0500

In this sequel to his well-known book, The Truly Disadvantaged, William Julius Wilson continues his examination of urban poverty. Based on extensive research and surveys, he concludes that structural social problems, especially joblessness, and the legacies of racial segregation, have worsened the plight of inner-city residents. Wilson closes with short- and long-term policy recommendatio

Teen Employment Down

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:20:55 -0500

Some 274,000 jobs were created in April 2005, substantially more than experts had predicted. Still, younger workers are struggling amidst less-than-encouraging employment rates. A March 2005 report from the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University found that the teenage employment rate in the first 11 months of 2004—just 36.3 percent—was the lowest it has ever been since the federal government began tracking teenage employment in 1948. Young people ages 20-24 didn't fare a whole lot better, either.

Work, Achievement, Values & Education (WAVE)

Wed, 04 May 2005 08:47:00 -0500

WAVE's mission is to motivate youth to complete school, lead productive lives, and make a valuable contribution to their communities. WAVE provides teachers and youth development professionals in schools and community organizations with adaptable teaching strategies and tools that ensure both youth professionals and young people succeed. Our programs use comprehensive methods that include training, experiential curriculum, community service initiatives, and on-site support.

A.B.L.E. Families

Thu, 03 Mar 2005 13:36:15 -0600

The mission of A.B.L.E. Families is to confront the systemic causes of poverty by supporting families as they make positive changes in their lives.

Building Pathways from School to Work

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:33:05 -0500

It's a complaint of high school students everywhere: "What good is all this stuff I'm studying going to do me when I'm done with school?" In the New Orleans area, educators and business people are working together to create a clearer connection between the worlds of school and work. Cecilia Garcia spoke with Susan Burge, a leader in the effort.

Encouraging Job Advancement Among Low-Wage Workers: A New Approach

Fri, 03 Dec 2004 07:27:23 -0600

With pay for low-wage jobs stagnating, Georgetown University Professor Harry Holzer recommends helping low-wage workers find higher-wage employers who provide on-the-job training and/or career ladders. He also urges public policies -- raising the minimum wage, emphasizing better job placement instead of "work first," investing in job placement agencies, and providing tax credits to businesses that offer on-the-job training -- to improve these conditions.

The Higher Education Act: An Engine of Economic Productivity and Worker Prosperity

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:13:22 -0500

By 2020, it's estimated that 15 million new jobs will require college preparation. The Center for Law and Social Policy, the National Consumer Law Center, and the Workforce Alliance suggest ways to us

Opportunities in Tough Times: Promoting Advancement for Low-Wage Workers

Wed, 08 Dec 2004 07:11:50 -0600

The idea of helping low-wage workers attain self-sufficiency gained ground in the 1990s, but the slow recovery presents a new challenge. This Jobs for the Future report provides examples of effective strategies to link workforce and economic development, develop skills of unemployed people, upgrade workers' skills, and improve collaboration among service providers, industry and workforce intermediaries to strengthen workforce development.

Urban Institute TANF Fact Sheet

Mon, 06 Dec 2004 21:06:38 -0600

Urban Institute has a summary of research on work and work activities among welfare recipients, use of transitional work supports, state work-participation rates, and the impact of work-related time limits.