This publication, presented by the Ray Marshall Center for the Study of Human Resources, the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin and the Foundation for Child Development, is meant to help local and state policymakers begin the process of implementing two-generation strategies in their communities.
A two generation strategy’s goal is to disrupt the intergenerational cycle of poverty with coordinated delivery of education, workforce training and support services. Quality early childhood education, sectoral job training via postsecondary education or workforce intermediaries, and family support services that include adult education, ESL, career coaching, peer community-building, financial education and transportation assistance are critical components of this strategy.
The guide includes examples of two-generation programs, as well as highlights five facilitating factors that aid in the success of implementing a two-generation strategy: supportive policy frameworks, leadership, program administration, integrated and flexible funding streams and an evidence-oriented culture. The guide also suggests some common steps for initiating this strategy.
The publication includes information about the following two-generation programs for reference: CareerAdvance (at the Community Action Project of Tulsa County, Oklahoma), Atlanta Civic Site (Atlanta, GA), the Jeremiah Program (Minneapolis, MN), and The Keys to Degrees Program at Endicott College (Beverly, MA).
Promoting Two-Generation Strategies: A Getting-Started Guide for State and Local Policy Makers