Conference 5/30-6/1: Research and Evaluation Conference on Self-Sufficiency (RECS)

Abt experts will speak at the Research and Evaluation Conference on Self-Sufficiency (RECS), hosted by the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE) in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The conference brings together researchers, State and local administrators, practictioners, Federal officials and policymakers to discuss the latest findings from evaluations of social welfare programs and policies.

Abt staff will present the following:

Wednesday, May 30, 2018
 
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
 
Building the Evidence on Community College–Led Training Strategies: Findings from the TAACCCT Evaluation

• Moderator: Janet Javar (U.S. Department of Labor)
• Lauren Eyster (Urban Institute)
• Judy Alamprese (Abt Associates)
• Ann Person (Mathematica Policy Research)
• Robin Fernkas (U.S. Department of Labor)

 1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
 
Plenary: ACF Career Pathways Evaluation Findings: What Have We Learned and Future Directions for the Field*

• Moderator: Mark Fucello (Administration for Children and Families)
• David Fein (Abt Associates)
• Laura Peck (Abt Associates)
• Molly Irwin (U.S. Department of Labor)

4:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. 
 
ACF’s Career Pathways Portfolio: A Closer Look at Early Impact Findings & Interpretation

• Moderator: Hilary Forster (Administration for Children and Families)
• Eleanor Harvill (Abt Associates)
• Karen Gardiner (Abt Associates)
• Jacob Klerman (Abt Associates)

Thursday, May 31, 2018
 
10:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. 
 
The Impact of Different Approaches to Providing Job Search Services to Low-Income Job Seekers*

• Moderator: Molly Irwin (U.S. Department of Labor)
• Karin Martinson (Abt Associates)
• Kinsey Dinan (NYC Department of Social Services)
• Jacob Klerman (Abt Associates)

Pathways for Advancing Careers and Education: Evaluator and Program Leaders Discuss How Evaluation Informed Programs

• Moderator: Nicole Constance (Administration for Children and Families)
• Karen Gardiner (Abt Associates)
• Amanda Abens (Pima Community College)
• Seanna Melchior Ruvkun (Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County)
• Kim Stupica Dobbs (Administration for Children and Families)

Child Care as a Critical Work Support: How Family Experiences, State Policies, and Local Contexts Shape Access to Child Care Assistance

• Moderator: Michael Lopez (Abt Associates)
• Peter Hepburn (University of California at Berkeley)
• Heather Sandstrom (Urban Institute)
• Dionne Dobbins (Child Care Aware® of America)
• Katharine Stevens (American Enterprise Institute)

1:00 – 2:15 p.m. 

Proven Strategies to Accelerate Educational Achievement and/or Labor Market Success

• Moderator: Amelia Popham (Administration for Children and Families)
• Mark Elliott (Economic Mobility Corporation)
• Howard Rolston (Abt Associates Consultant)
• Michael Weiss (MDRC)
• Harry Holzer (Georgetown University)

Friday, June 1, 2018
 
11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
 
Job Characteristics and the Well-being of Low Income Adults and Families

• Moderator: Michelle Blocklin (Abt Associates)
• Elizabeth Wildsmith (Child Trends)
• Rebecca Kleinman (Mathematica Policy Research)
• Richard Hendra (MDRC)

Using Research to Better Understand and Close the Opportunity Gap for Low-Income Youth*

• Moderator: Marsha Silverberg (U.S. Department of Education)
• Stephen Provasnik (U.S. Department of Education)
• David Fein (Abt Associates)
• Rebecca Maynard (University of Pennsylvania)
• Raphi Rosenblatt (Year Up) 

Homeless Families’ Experiences with Public Benefit Programs, Employment, and Family Transitions

• Moderator: Amanda Benton (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
• Jill Khadduri (Abt Associates)
• Lauren Dunton (Abt Associates)
• Douglas Walton (Abt Associates)

* indicates that the session is available for live stream on the RECS website.

When: May 30 - June 1, 2018

Where: Renaissance Hotel, Washington, DC

For more information, visit the conference website.