Pathways for Policy Experts and Stakeholders: Using Evidence to Make Decisions about Employment Programs

Launched in July, the new Pathways to Work Evidence Clearinghouse offers practitioners and policymakers quick and easy access to evidence about the effectiveness of employment programs and interventions. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to create new and unpredictable challenges for individuals and families with low incomes, policymakers are looking for resources to help them navigate these challenges. Pathways can be a critical resource for this, providing reliable evidence about what can help people find and keep jobs. Pathways is sponsored by the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) in the Administration for Children and Families in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

OPRE and Mathematica held a webinar on Monday, October 26 from 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. ET specifically tailored for policy experts and stakeholders who provide guidance on research evidence to state, local, and federal officials. The webinar describes the Pathways Clearinghouse and reviews key features of the website. During this event, we discovered:

• Ways to address challenges in finding evidence-based solutions for increasing employment and earnings;
• Quick resources, tools, and tips for finding interventions that work; and
• How policymakers can use Pathways as they navigate the unique employment challenges caused by COVID-19.

During the event, panelists walked through the Pathways Clearinghouse, provided a deeper dive into its resources, and discussed how they use evidence to make decisions about employment programs. This expert panel included:

• Kim Clum, Project Officer for the Pathways Clearinghouse, OPRE
• Nick Hart, Chief Executive Officer, The Data Coalition
• Rachael Stephens, Program Director, National Governors Association (NGA), Center for Best Practices
• Diana McCallum, Project Director for the Pathways Clearinghouse, Mathematica