http://www.clasp.org/experts/highlights.xml?id=0014 Resources & Publications from the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) en-us Sat, 25 May 2013 13:49:38 -0500 info@clasp.org webmaster@clasp.org 40 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500 /postsecondary/publication?id=0762&list=publications This toolkit is designed to help interagency state teams identify and facilitate "braiding" of federal resources to design and develop career pathways and bridges into them for adults and out-of-school youth. The toolkit also will help state teams identify state policy barriers to using federal resources for career pathways and bridges and, ideally, address them. http://www.clasp.org/postsecondary/publication?id=0762&list=publications Tue, 19 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500 /resources_and_publications/publication?id=1239&list=publications A new paper from the National Transitional Jobs Network and CLASP provides strategies and makes recommendations on leveraging and blending multiple sources of funding to support subsidized employment programs. In addition to highlighting the opportunities to use block grant funding, from both TANF and Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), the paper identifies efforts to fund these jobs by averting future expenses associated with prisons and other corrections measures and by leveraging public contracting and bidding opportunities. The webinar is also available. http://www.clasp.org/resources_and_publications/publication?id=1239&list=publications Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500 /admin/site/publications/files/A-Guide-for-HPOG-Programs-March-2013-Final.pdf Healthcare is one of the fastest growing sectors in our economy, and there are many jobs in this sector that require fewer than 4 years of college education, have high demand, and offer good pay. However, low-income workers often face barriers to accessing the education and training they need to enter these jobs, including lack of information, poor basic skills, confusing and poorly aligned training programs, cost of training, and need for supportive services, such as child care and transportation. The Heath Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG), authorized by section 5507 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA; Public Law 111-148), address this issue by supporting models for providing education, training, and support services to enable recipients of cash assistance under Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and other low-income individuals to obtain well-paying jobs in high-demand healthcare occupations. The HPOG program is one of several provisions of ACA aimed at supporting training for the healthcare workforce of the future. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/A-Guide-for-HPOG-Programs-March-2013-Final.pdf Thu, 20 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0600 /admin/site/publications/files/Seizing-Moment-Work-Sharing-State-Legislation-Guide.pdf This report from CLASP and the National Employment Law Project is a guide for state leaders and advocates seeking to implement work sharing programs, which provide employers with an alternative to layoffs. The Middle Class Relief and Job Creation Act -- signed by President Obama in February 2012 -- included provisions designed to encourage states to adopt or revitalize work sharing programs. The Act presents a rare opportunity for states to put in place another counter-cyclical tool that will help workers, employers and communities during economic downturns in the future. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Seizing-Moment-Work-Sharing-State-Legislation-Guide.pdf Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0500 /admin/site/publications/files/Wrong-Direction-for-WIA.pdf On March 29, 2012, Rep. Virginia Foxx, Rep. Joseph J. Heck and Rep. Howard P. McKeon introduced a Workforce Investment Act (WIA) reauthorization bill (H.R. 4297). To help advocates and stakeholders, CLASP has developed a set of criteria for evaluating this bill and other proposals that consolidate programs offering workforce services to low-income families and individuals. In applying these criteria to H.R. 4297, CLASP finds that the bill fails on most counts. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Wrong-Direction-for-WIA.pdf Mon, 09 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0500 /admin/site/publications/files/Litmus-for-Legislation.pdf During the past year, a number of bills have been introduced in the House and Senate to reduce the number of federal workforce programs, consolidate programs in some cases and to improve the efficiency of the workforce system. CLASP recognizes the need for a more coherent and effective workforce development system. However, it is wrong to assume that the federal government's support of multiple workforce programs necessarily amounts to or results in duplicative services. To help advocates and other stakeholders, CLASP has developed a set of criteria with which to evaluate proposals that consolidate or restructure programs offering workforce services to low-income families and individuals. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Litmus-for-Legislation.pdf Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0500 /admin/site/publications/files/A-Breakthrough-for-Work-Sharing.pdf On February 22, 2012, President Obama signed H.R. 3630, extending the payroll tax cut and federal unemployment assistance through the end of 2012. Included in the $143 billion measure are provisions designed to expand a creative layoff aversion strategy called work sharing. This summary of the Layoff Prevention Act of 2012 is produced by CLASP and the National Employment Law Project (NELP). http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/A-Breakthrough-for-Work-Sharing.pdf Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0600 /resources_and_publications/publication?id=1084&list=publications In his FY 2013 budget proposal released Monday, the president called for an $8 billion Community College to Career Fund to train 2 million workers for jobs in high-demand and high-growth fields. The president announced the initiative in late January during his State of the Union address and provided more details in his budget proposal. http://www.clasp.org/resources_and_publications/publication?id=1084&list=publications Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0600 /postsecondary/publication?id=1066&list=publications House and Senate conferees are currently considering an extension of federally funded unemployment assistance through the end of 2012. The House-passed bill (H.R. 3630) that conferees are considering includes a new minimum educational requirement for Unemployment Insurance (UI) claimants. The bill would change federal law to require individuals who receive UI benefits to have a high school diploma, GED or other state-recognized equivalent or be enrolled in classes leading to a secondary credential. If this requirement is deemed "unduly burdensome," state agencies may waive it for individuals. CLASP urges conferees to reject the proposed minimum educational requirement for UI recipients and any alternative formulations of this provision. http://www.clasp.org/postsecondary/publication?id=1066&list=publications Fri, 07 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500 /resources_and_publications/publication?id=1038&list=publications Economic hard times and continuing high unemployment have spurred interest in a provision in federal unemployment insurance (UI) law that allows states to enact work sharing programs. As the nation's economic recovery remains weak, a growing number of businesses are searching for ways to weather the economic downturn and retain their workforce. Work sharing has become a viable alternative to layoffs in states that have these programs in place. This fact sheet provides answers to frequently asked questions about state work sharing programs. http://www.clasp.org/resources_and_publications/publication?id=1038&list=publications Thu, 11 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0500 /admin/site/publications/files/NationalLeadersRecognizeValueofWorkforce-Development-Programs.pdf Federally funded workforce development programs, the largest of which are funded by the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), assist individuals in building skills, preparing for work, and finding jobs. Many government officials, academics, and business leaders agree that workforce and training programs are essential for our economy to succeed, especially in this period of slow economic growth. Further, most scholars who have examined the evidence find that these programs are valuable for disadvantaged individuals, businesses, and the economy. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/NationalLeadersRecognizeValueofWorkforce-Development-Programs.pdf Fri, 06 May 2011 00:00:00 -0500 /admin/site/publications/files/workforce-effectiveness.pdf In this paper, CLASP provides a fresh look at the evidence showing the effectiveness of workforce programs. It finds that federal investments in workforce development help low-income adults and youth find jobs, improve their earnings and contribute to their communities. The national studies also tend to average out results from a wide range of local approaches and consequently mask the success of promising workforce strategies. A growing body of research suggests that workforce investments are likely to pay off for the next generation. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/workforce-effectiveness.pdf Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0600 /admin/site/publications/files/Responding-to-the-Great-Recession-ARRA-and-WIA-2011.pdf Two years after the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act or ARRA) became law, Congress is preparing to take up reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). With its one-time infusion of resources, the Recovery Act nearly doubled federal funding for adult, dislocated worker and youth programs under WIA during 2009-2010 and set national priorities for the public workforce system's response to what is now being described as the Great Recession. The lessons from Recovery Act implementation should inform WIA reauthorization as it proceeds. This report examines the response of three states and local areas to the urgency of the recession, additional funding and the opportunities and challenges afforded by the Recovery Act. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/Responding-to-the-Great-Recession-ARRA-and-WIA-2011.pdf Mon, 13 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0500 /postsecondary/publication?id=0810&list=publications Postsecondary education and credentials are key to economic mobility for individuals and economic competitiveness for our nation. Yet too many low-income adults and disadvantaged youth are locked out of the opportunity to earn credentials and are falling further and further behind. To combat this national challenge, CLASP has launched a new project, the Center for Postsecondary and Economic Success (C-PES) and kicked off the initiative with a policy discussion featuring thought leaders from the Ford Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Joyce Foundation. Each of these foundations has made improving postsecondary access and success a top priority. During this webinar, they discuss their specific policy priorities for helping lower-income adults and disadvantaged youth attain postsecondary credentials and achieve economic mobility. http://www.clasp.org/postsecondary/publication?id=0810&list=publications Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500 /postsecondary/publication?id=0784&list=publications http://www.clasp.org/postsecondary/publication?id=0784&list=publications Fri, 11 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0500 /admin/site/publications/files/WIAServices.pdf A key feature of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) is a tiered service delivery structure that provides core, intensive and training services to adults and dislocated workers. WIA requires states and local areas to implement a priority of service for public assistance recipients and other low-income adults when local adult funds are determined to be limited. Although federal regulations suggest that funds are "generally limited" and that a priority of service is likely to be needed, states and local areas have considerable flexibility to define the policy and determine whether and how to implement it. An early evaluation of WIA revealed that implementation of priority of service varied widely in states and localities. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/WIAServices.pdf Fri, 21 May 2010 00:00:00 -0500 /postsecondary/publication?id=0764&list=publications On May 20, CLASP Executive Director Alan Houseman sent this urgent letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, urging support for the Promoting American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010. http://www.clasp.org/postsecondary/publication?id=0764&list=publications Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0600 /postsecondary/publication?id=0716&list=publications Our nation faces many domestic challenges, including improving access to affordable health care, improving access to education as well as education outcomes, and providing debt and foreclosure relief. CLASP's 2010 federal policy recommendations are equally essential to achieving healthy and thriving families and improving the nation's prosperity. http://www.clasp.org/postsecondary/publication?id=0716&list=publications Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500 /admin/site/publications/files/safetynettestimony.pdf This written testimony to the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support discusses how American Recovery and Reinvestment Act spending has helped safety net programs such as TANF, child care subsidies, unemployment insurance, workforce development programs, and Medicaid, respond to the recession. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/safetynettestimony.pdf Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0500 /admin/site/publications/files/federalpolicyrecommendations.pdf The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) has developed an extensive federal policy agenda for President Obama and the 111th Congress directed at improving the lives of low income people. That agenda is outlined in this document. http://www.clasp.org/admin/site/publications/files/federalpolicyrecommendations.pdf