Blog

Every month, America Forward highlights examples of the vital work our Coalition members do to support students, families, educators, workers, elected leaders, advocates, and communities across the country. If your organization has resources, an announcement, or a story you would like to see included, please send it to america_forward@newprofit.org.

CASEL

CASEL is a nationwide nonprofit working to advance evidence-based, holistic learning opportunities for students in preschool through grade 12. Recently, they published a new report – Social and Emotional Learning in U.S. Schools: Findings from CASEL’s Nationwide Policy Scan and the American Teacher Panel and American School Leader Panel Surveys – that adds to the growing body of data showing that high-quality, holistic learning opportunities improve outcomes for students’ academic accomplishment, social engagement, and emotional growth. The report highlights that 83% of school principals report already using an SEL program, and educators who use SEL programming in their classrooms report higher student interest in learning, as well as more positive learning environments. You can learn more about their advocacy for policies that support student success and uplift student emotional and mental health needs by visiting their website today.

Colorado Equitable Economic Mobility Initiative

The Colorado Equitable Economic Mobility Initiative works to advance comprehensive workforce development across the state by investing in proven programming and increasing access to necessary data. Now, they’ve partnered with the Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab at the University of Denver to launch the Colorado Wage Outcomes Results Coalition, a new data-sharing platform to report meaningful employment and earnings data in order to advance stakeholder knowledge on what works and how participants can get the best return on their investment. It will also help expand access to data creation and increase the amount of programs that can report verified, measurable outcomes for their participants. Learn more about this important evidence initiative today.

Coalition for Supportive Housing

The Coalition for Supportive Housing (CSH) promotes housing solutions that support our most vulnerable communities across the country. Ensuring high-quality, supportive housing also includes developing intensive supportive services that are accessible to the community – including access to healthcare and social services. Over the summer, CSH shared an updated policy brief on what states are doing to utilize medicaid for services related to supportive housing, including how to scale supportive housing, addressing structural racism in housing, reducing Medicaid spending, and more ways for states to support and advance affordable housing and community wellness. CSH also provides a map that can help you track your state’s progress in Medicaid waivers open for supportive housing services benefits. 

Peer Health Exchange

Throughout their work to create healthier communities and lives for the next generation, Peer Health Exchange has been focused on getting young people involved in the election. On Wednesday, October 2nd, America Forward Education Policy Manager D’mari Creque will participate in their next CEO Coffee Chat – Power to the People – for a conversation on youth civic engagement, education, and how young people can shape their futures. The election is a critical time for young people to get civically engaged, and an important opportunity for lawmakers to support policy initiatives critical to the lives of young people’s education, mental health, and community engagement. Hosted by Peer Health Exchange CEO Dr. Angela Glymph and joined by Allyson Cook of Generation Citizen, don’t miss this exciting conversation hosted on Instagram Live at 1:30 pm EST.

Project Evident

Project Evident is working to build a new wave of tools and systems that support practitioners across multiple sectors in gathering the quality, actionable evidence they need to improve outcomes for the people and communities they serve. Earlier this month, Project Evident launched their latest program – Outcomes AI! This new program will help the range of local leaders in need of assistance – from nonprofit organizations, to school districts, to public agencies — bridge the knowledge gap around artificial intelligence by offering consulting, technical assistance, and field-building initiatives tailored to their needs, and help them use AI for greater impact and more equitable outcomes. You can learn more about their work and new AI initiative on their website today.