Federal Resources

Formerly a stand-alone technical assistance website, the Knowledge Network, which offers resources on many CNCS focus areas, is now housed directly on the CNCS website. Additionally, eCourses available through the Knowledge Network Online Learning Center no longer require a log in for access. 

Mark Lipsey discusses using research synthesis to develop evidence informed interventions at the emphasizing evidence based programs for children and youth forum held in Washington, D.C. on April 27-28, 2011.

First released in 2000, the School Health Index (SHI) is a self-assessment and planning tool that schools can use to improve their health and safety policies and programs. The updated edition includes an expanded focus on sexual health, revised cross-cutting modules, and updated nutrition content.

Susan Maciolek discusses using evidence to improve the child welfare system at the Emphasizing Evidence Based Programs for Children and Youth Forum held in Washington, D.C. on April 27-28, 2011.

Serve.gov is an online resource for not only finding volunteer opportunities in your community, but also creating your own.

The Department of Veteran's Affairs Student Volunteer Program connects young people with opportunities to honor veterans through volunteer service at local VA medical centers. Volunteers have the opportunity to learn new skills and explore careers in the medical field. Students may qualify for college scholarships. 

This two-hour online course explores the value and effective means of using community volunteers to support the prevention and enforcement of underage drinking. Participants will understand how to create, implement, supervise, and assess an effective community volunteer program with a focus on prevention and enforcement of underage drinking. 

These reports from the Federal Bureau of Investigation summarize arrest data from police agencies across the country, from 1995 to the present day. Topics covered include crime in the U.S., hate crime, and law enforcement officers killed and assaulted

The mission of the Violent Crimes Against Children program is threefold: to decrease the vulnerability of children to sexual exploitation; to develop a nationwide capacity to provide a rapid, effective, and measured investigative response to crimes against children; and to enhance the capabilities of state and local law enforcement investigators through programs, investigative assistance, and task force operations. 

Describes how a parent’s PTSD affects their children.

“Volunteering and Civic Life in America, 2014” shows that 62.6 million Americans volunteered 7.7 billion hours in 2014 — holding an estimated value of $173 billion. Seventeen percent of respondents reported mentoring youth, and 19% reported tutoring or teaching young people. 

A series of blog entries from the National Institute of Corrections focus on women and girls in the corrections system, including information about the ways the justice system responds to gender and how aftercare can help female offenders readjust and avoid recidivism.

Featured by Kids.gov, this article provides parents with a general overview of concussions, including information about symptoms, treatments, when to seek help, and when it is okay for children to return to normal activities following a concussion. Follow the hashtag #CDCHeadsUp on Twitter or like the CDC's Heads Up Facebook page to receive updates and join the conversation about concussions. 

Want to know what will happen when you call the National Runaway Safeline? Call center staff walk you through what you can expect when you call to the Safeline for help. 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929). 

The report Volunteering and Civic Life in America, released by CNCS and the National Conference on Citizenship, found that 64.5 million Americans volunteered nearly 7.9 billion hours last year, illustrating the stable and strong state of volunteering among Americans of all generations. The report also found that volunteering among youth ages 16–19 has increased, up nearly 3 percent since 2007. 

The Department of Labor released a Workplace Flexibility Toolkit, which provides information on workplace flexibility, specifically around job tasks and what work is done, to employees, job seekers, employers, policymakers, and researchers. The toolkit facilitates access to over 170 resources especially for workers and job seekers with complex employment situations, such as at-risk youth, ex-offenders, and individuals with disabilities.

This report contains up–to-date information on volunteer participation and civic involvement in America. Key findings indicate that the volunteer rate for parents is higher than the national average, and that schools and youth service organizations are the most popular places for parents to volunteer.

As a young worker, you have certain rights and responsibilities. This website can help you learn about your rights, the types of discrimination that young workers face, and what you can do to help prevent it.

This blog entry describes the experience, transformation, and success of the young people who participate in YouthBuild AmeriCorps. This program for youth born into low-income families provides them with the opportunity to work toward their high school equivalency diploma while learning job skills by building affordable housing.

USICH released an amended version of Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness (PDF, 80 pages), which reflects what USICH has learned since its initial launch in 2010 and includes new strategies for progress. 

This article describes a study funded by the National Science Foundation's Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences directorate, which is trying to understand the factors that put children at risk when crossing the street on a bike and on foot. The ultimate goal of the study is to provide information to parents that could help them when discussing safety with young children.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month, and with school just around the corner, it is a good time to ensure children and teens are up-to-date on their vaccines. This resource provides links to information about immunization and where parents can take children to receive vaccines

Kids.gov developed 10 tips that can help parents make the transition back to school easier for students. Tips address topics like time management, back to school shopping, and talking with teachers.

FDIC created resources, organized by age group, that parents and caregivers can use to teach young people of all ages about financial concepts and being responsible with money. 

This blog post outlines how AmeriCorps members, Senior Corps volunteers, and Social Innovation Fund grantees have helped students succeed, and introduces a new program called Operation AmeriCorps. Through this program, AmeriCorps member are working in select communities to boost attendance, hone students’ study skills, and organize college and career planning workshops.