Partnering With Employers to Promote Job Advancement for Low-Skill Individuals

Outlines the need for employer involvement in skills development programs that benefit both workers and businesses, barriers to the development of partnerships, promising approaches, and policy considerations for creating and sustaining partnerships

Supporting Work for Low-Income People With Significant Challenges Summary

Welfare programs require people to work, but some low-income adults struggle with major personal challenges that make it hard to find or hold down a job. In this summary, Loprest and Martinson recommend both short-term changes to current programs and longer-term efforts through a program for competitive federal matching block grants to states. These grants would support efforts to integrate programs that alleviate barriers to work with employment services and to evaluate these initiatives so policymakers can better understand what works

Supporting Work For Low-Income People With Significant Challenges

Welfare programs require people to work, but some low-income adults struggle with major personal challenges that make it hard to find or hold down a job. In this essay, Loprest and Martinson recommend both short term changes to current programs and longer term efforts through a program for competitive federal matching block grants to states. These grants would support efforts to integrate programs that alleviate barriers to work with employment services and to evaluate these initiatives so policymakers can better understand what works

Helping Poor Working Parents Get Ahead: Federal Funds for New State Strategies and Systems

Examines the cost-effectiveness of state job advancement systems and outlines a proposal for federally funding programs that provide more education and training, greater access to better-paying jobs, and more robust financial incentives and supports

Ten Key Findings From Responsible Fatherhood Initiatives

Fatherhood is crucial to child development and presents challenges to poor unmarried men. Yet services addressing these problems are not highly developed or widespread, and program results so far have been mixed. This paper analyzes five programs that support low-income noncustodial fathers and presents takeaway lessons

Low-Skill Workers' Access to Quality Green Jobs

Explores the potential for the green jobs market to help low-skill workers gain needed skills and higher wages. Offers recommendations for improving training efforts, including curricular reforms and financial support, and examples of innovative programs

Employers' Perspectives on San Francisco's Paid Sick Leave Policy

Based on a survey, examines how employers implemented San Francisco's 2007 ordinance mandating paid sick leave and how the businesses were affected. Discusses the costs and benefits of paid sick leave, employers' concerns, and long-term implications

TANF Policies for the Hard to Employ: Understanding State Approaches and Future Directions

This study examines states' approaches to serving TANF recipients facing multiple barriers to work in fall 2006. It also describes changes states anticipate (partly in response to TANF reauthorization) in the near future to help these recipients move into work and off the caseload. Study results are based primarily on structured interviews with state TANF program officials in 17 states including the states with the largest TANF caseloads. The findings highlight the different approaches taken by state TANF programs on how to best help recipients with serious barriers and provide early information on states' thinking on how their approach may change for this group in the future

Differential CD4+ cell count increase and CD4+ : CD8+ ratio normalization with maraviroc compared with tenofovir

Studies exploring the immunologic effects of maraviroc (MVC) have produced mixed results; hence it remains unclear whether MVC has unique immunologic effects in comparison to other antiretroviral drugs. We sought to determine whether MVC has differential effects compared to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) during initial antiretroviral therapy

Relax "Vitality in Practice" (VIP) project and design of an RCT to reduce the need for recovery in office employees

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is strong evidence to suggest that multiple work-related health problems are preceded by a higher need for recovery. Physical activity and relaxation are helpful in decreasing the need for recovery. This article aims to describe (1) the development and (2) the design of the evaluation of a daily physical activity and relaxation intervention to reduce the need for recovery in office employees.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>The study population will consist of employees of a Dutch financial service provider. The intervention was systematically developed, based on parts of the Intervention Mapping (IM) protocol. Assessment of employees needs was done by combining results of face-to-face interviews, a questionnaire and focus group interviews. A set of theoretical methods and practical strategies were selected which resulted in an intervention program consisting of Group Motivational Interviewing (GMI) supported by a social media platform, and environmental modifications. The Be Active & Relax program will be evaluated in a modified 2 X 2 factorial design. The environmental modifications will be pre-stratified and GMI will be randomised on department level. The program will be evaluated, using 4 arms: (1) GMI and environmental modifications; (2) environmental modifications; (3) GMI; (4) no intervention (control group). Questionnaire data on the primary outcome (need for recovery) and secondary outcomes (daily physical activity, sedentary behaviour, relaxation/detachment, work- and health-related factors) will be gathered at baseline (T0), at 6 months (T1), and at 12 months (T2) follow-up. In addition, an economic and a process evaluation will be performed.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Reducing the need for recovery is hypothesized to be beneficial for employees, employers and society. It is assumed that there will be a reduction in need for recovery after 6 months and 12 months in the intervention group, compared to the control group. Results are expected in 2013.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Netherlands Trial Register (NTR): NTR2553</p