• by S. Shainwald
• June 1, 2020

As we enter our third month of pandemic precautions and remote working by e-mail and video-conference, Third Sector remains committed to supporting our valued partners in creating positive outcomes for their communities. Please take a look at a variety of resources our team has been working on that may help your community continue to consider long-term outcomes as we all enter the endurance phase of serving our communities during the pandemic.

• by Y. Danziger, T. Cornell-Roberts & M. Scaglione
• May 26, 2020

The U.S. economy today paints a picture of polarization. Despite the longest economic expansion in U.S. history, the decade preceding the COVID-19 crisis saw tremendous growth and innovation that did not benefit all Americans equally. While the GDP soared, millions of people worked jobs that didn’t pay family-sustaining wages or offer the opportunities for upskilling that have traditionally been pipelines for upward mobility. For certain marginalized populations, such as Non-Traditional Career Starters (NTCSs), people of color, or justice-involved individuals, the barriers are even greater.

• by D. Solomon
• May 26, 2020

"In 2018, Congress passed one of the most substantial changes in U.S. child welfare policy in decades. The Family First Prevention Services Act provides states with the opportunity to access federal dollars to prevent children from coming into foster care. States can draw down these unlimited federal funds to support a specific set of evidence-based policies, including home visiting services, services to help parents address substance abuse and mental illness, and kinship navigation services designed to support placement of children with extended families."

The Chronicle of Social Change recently published a piece by Third Sector Director, Debra Solomon, which discusses how child welfare agencies across the U.S. can best utilize this funding source "to translate this substantial investment of funding into better outcomes for children and communities." In this piece, Debra gives an introduction to how agencies should approach their strategy to accessing and implementing this funding, including compliance with federal law, engaging with their communities, and understanding what works through evidence.

• by A. Amram
• May 5, 2020

At Third Sector, we work with government, nonprofit organizations, and communities to design and implement social services contracts that promote long-term outcomes like meaningful employment, healthcare access, and stable housing for people in need. Over the last decade, we’ve found that a sustained focus on outcomes like these can help government and communities work together to improve social services -- and use resources in innovative ways -- to deliver better results for individuals and families.

In the face of the COVID-19 crisis, our partners in state and local government are working around the clock to protect the most vulnerable people in our communities, care for the sick, and provide immediate support to tens of millions of Americans who suddenly find themselves out of work. These efforts will soon receive a boost from the CARES Act and other federal legislation, which provide much-needed support to states and counties.

• by O. Benitez, H. Goetz, & E. Rentschler
• April 27, 2020

With the recent spike in unemployment and economic precarity, we are reminded of lessons learned from prior economic hardships to support job seekers. During the Great Recession, families in tight labor markets were in immediate need of support services and paths for economic opportunity became steeper for people with life barriers such as prior incarceration and foster care. Faced with limited resources and high need, government, philanthropy, and employers found themselves asking: Which initiatives lead to employment in my community? What are the social and economic outcomes of the most effective programs? How can we braid or pool funding for those programs?

• by D. Solomon
• April 13, 2020

"Since Family First was first enacted by Congress in February 2018, states have begun the important work to remake their systems and make a real, positive difference in the lives of children surviving abuse and neglect. Now with the added tools and funding available through FFTA, if developed well, these new systems will help thousands of children stay with birth parents and siblings through interventions and supports that address the root issues that families face."

In a recent piece in Youth Today, Third Sector Director, Debra Solomon, spoke about three possible ways states could further develop their childcare systems and extend their impact with the added funding and tools made available through FFTA:

• by C. Whistler, D. Hunt, K. Kurtz, & T. Pennell
• March 17, 2020

Given the rapidly evolving understanding of COVID-19 and how we can assist in population health and safety, Third Sector has put in place the following business continuity measures to ensure the health and safety of our clients, partners, employees, and all of their families.