The Family-Centered Employment initiative by NAWB focuses on integrating workforce development with comprehensive support for families. It emphasizes a holistic approach to employment, addressing not only job seekers’ needs but also the well-being of their entire family. This approach seeks to enhance career success and economic mobility by building stronger, more resilient family units.
NAWB’s Family-Centered Employment initiative recognizes that sustainable workforce outcomes require attention to the broader context of a worker’s life.
This initiative provides services that go beyond traditional employment programs by addressing challenges such as childcare, housing, healthcare, and education for the worker’s family. The goal is to reduce barriers to employment, helping families achieve stability and thrive economically. NAWB partners with local workforce boards, employers, and community organizations to deliver these services in a way that is tailored to each family’s unique needs. This integrated model fosters long-term job retention and career growth while improving the quality of life for all family members.
By collaborating with community partners, they ensure that families have access to comprehensive support systems that can assist with transportation, childcare, education, and health services. NAWB’s role is to provide guidance, best practices, and support to workforce boards, helping them implement the family-centered approach effectively. This results in more families achieving sustained employment, higher earnings, and a better quality of life.
NAWB supports local workforce boards by offering access to the Family-Centered Employment (FCE) Community of Practice, a platform for collaboration, learning, and sharing best practices. Through this community, workforce professionals can connect with peers, discuss challenges, and explore solutions to implement family-centered approaches effectively. NAWB also develops and curates resources, such as toolkits, guides, and case studies, to assist in the adoption of these models. Additionally, NAWB hosts webinars that focus on specific aspects of Family-Centered Employment, providing insights from experts and practitioners. These resources help workforce boards and their partners deliver holistic services that meet the needs of families, resulting in sustained employment and improved outcomes.
Visit the FCE Toolkit and download resources on how to implement family-centered approaches in workforce programs
The Family-Centered Employment approach integrates workforce development with family support services, addressing the broader needs of job seekers and their families.
Both job seekers and their families benefit from this initiative, particularly those facing multiple barriers to employment.
Workforce boards can adopt the Family-Centered Employment model by partnering with community organizations to provide comprehensive family services alongside traditional employment programs.
Earlier this year, NAWB hosted a series of listening sessions with hundreds of workforce leaders to understand how the system is adapting to rapid technological, economic, and labor market changes. The insights gathered highlight emerging strategies and innovations aimed at increasing impact, efficiency, and personalization across the workforce ecosystem. We’re proud to share Forging What’s Next: […]
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