Third Sector is delighted to announce an expansion of our work advancing the adoption of Lifelong Learning Accounts (LiLAs) through a renewed $1 million grant from the Sijbrandij Foundation. This investment deepens the work of our Postsecondary Opportunity Practice Area, positioning LiLAs as a core strategy to support adult learners in accessing flexible, career-connected funding for education, upskilling, and credential attainment.

LiLAs are learner-centered savings vehicles that help individuals fund postsecondary education and workforce training, especially outside of traditional degree paths. In this next phase, Third Sector will continue to partner

Previously, we explored how Connecticut has engaged parents to co-create a stronger statewide ECE system. Now, we’ll look at the other side of the equation—ECE providers—and see how Third Sector and Connecticut are designing new systems to support family child care providers.

For the last decade, Connecticut, like most of the United States, has had to address a child care shortage. Connecticut has chosen in recent years to address this shortage by fostering the growth and development of family child care (FCC) providers. Between 2020 and 2022, the number of FCC

Third Sector, in partnership with the Families and Workers Fund, announced that it will support over the next 11 months a cohort of four states – Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, and New Mexico – in designing workforce initiatives to build a pipeline of quality jobs in the climate and infrastructure sectors. Third Sector’s support is part of the Fund’s Powering Climate and Infrastructure Careers Challenge, which will support 14 awardees in total.

We need our government to take action to simplify and streamline the structures and tools that help individuals fund lifelong learning. That’s why Third Sector is proposing a SIMPLE framework to help create a more streamlined approach to saving and paying for postsecondary education and job training that can provide clarity and ease for learners, workers, employers, and all those who care about ensuring these opportunities are accessible to everyone.

This month, Third Sector and The National Governors Association (NGA) have selected cross-sector teams from Idaho, Indiana, Minnesota, and North Carolina to participate in a project focused on helping governors expand employment and training opportunities in their states. Specifically, these four states will receive expert support and technical assistance to help them identify and address barriers to successfully and equitably implementing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) programs in their states.

Third Sector will launch a year-long project next month to co-design with Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) a county-wide continuum of care for youth (age 12-17) and their families involved with or at-risk of involvement with the Cuyahoga County juvenile justice system.

The project builds on previous work that Third Sector, CWRU, and the County have done to improve family wellness and safety through county-wide system improvements and provide college access and success coaching services to National Guard service members in the region. It is a cornerstone of the County’s work