Welfare Policy and the AECF Jobs Initiative

Summary

This policy brief summarizes key results and lessons learned from Casey's Jobs Initiative as well as implications for federal welfare policy. Highlighting the efforts of six workforce development intermediaries, the brief summarizes a range of programs and strategies that help low-skilled, low-income workers in urban areas to improve their employment potential over time. 

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• The Jobs Initiative Experience
• Results
• Lessons of the Jobs Initiative
• Policy Implications for TANF

Key Takeaway

A custom approach works best

The positive results of the Jobs Initiative can largely be attributed to a willingness of sites to experiment with a mix of workforce development programs and strategies. Sites that emphasized an individually-tailored approach--including a combination of job readiness training, soft skills training, occupational training, and job placement and workplace support–had the best retention rates.