Youth and Young Adult Policy Update 3-27-26

News at NYEC:  

• See You in Houston! The National Youth Employment Coalition will head to Houston, TX from March 30 – April 1. Attend sessions from our policy track such as Partnering for State Impact presented by Bert Quintanilla, Director of Development at Education to Employment, Caroline Roberts, General Counsel and Senior Director of Policy at Children At Risk, Fedora Galasso, Director of Practice at Texas Network of Youth Services, and Hannah Gourgey, Director of the Texas Opportunity Youth Network. 

• Sign on to the Bipartisan Opportunity Youth Caucus Coalition 2025/2026 WIOA Reauthorization Support Letter: As a partner in the Bipartisan Opportunity Youth Caucus Coalition & National Opportunity Youth Coalition, please join NYEC in calling for passage of a bipartisan WIOA reauthorization bill this Congress that supports Opportunity Youth! You can read the full text of the letter here. Please sign your organization using this link by today, March 27. 

Legislative Branch:   

• Representatives Bice and Jacobs Introduce the Workforce Education and Partnership Act: Representatives Stephanie Bice (OK-05) and Sara Jacobs (CA-51) re-introduced the bipartisan “Workforce Education and Partnership Act”. This legislation would authorize the expansion of three existing “Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act” grant programs to create new partnerships between employers and educational institutions. The full bill text can be found here. 

• Representative Bell Introduces BRIDGE Act to Expand Pathways to Economic Mobility and Employment for Justice-Impacted Individuals and Opportunity Youth: Rep. Wesley Bell (MO-01) introduced the Building Reentry and Inclusive Development for Greater Employment (BRIDGE) Act, to strengthen the workforce by expanding pathways to economic mobility and employment for justice-impacted individuals and opportunity youth. The BRIDGE Act will extend eligibility under the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) to previously excluded groups, including out of school youth ages 16-24, homeless individuals ages 16-24, individuals who were incarcerated, and individuals in foster care or who have aged out of the foster care system. Read NYEC Executive Director Dr. Mary Ann (Mimi) Haley’s endorsement of the legislation here. The full bill text can be found here. 

Executive Branch: 

• US Department of Labor Launches ‘Make America AI-Ready’ Initiative: The U.S. Department of Labor announced the launch of “Make America AI-Ready,” a free artificial intelligence literacy course that aims to assist American workers learn the basics of AI by texting “READY” to 20202. The course engages participants with daily content that directly aligns with the five foundational areas outlined in the Labor Department’s recently released AI Literacy Framework. 

Federal Funding Opportunities with upcoming deadlines: 

• OJJDP Grant: FY25 Second Chance Act Youth Reentry Program: This funding opportunity will provide funding to support states, units of local government, and federally recognized Native American Tribal governments in partnership with interested persons (including federal corrections and supervision agencies), service providers, and community-based organizations to provide (1) comprehensive reentry services for moderate- to high-risk youth before, during, and after release from confinement, and (2) support transitional services to assist youth to successfully reenter the community. Applications are due March 30, 2026. 

• DOL Grant: Pay-for-Performance Incentive Payments Program (PfP IPP): The Pay-for-Performance Incentive Payments Program will focus on incentivizing the expansion and growth of the National Apprenticeship System, specifically in industries with a firmly established program infrastructure that will make a significant contribution to the Administration’s goal of exceeding 1 million active apprentices. Applications are estimated to be due April 3, 2026.

• HHS Grant: SAMHSA: Children’s Mental Health Initiative: The purpose of the Children’s Mental Health Initiative program is to provide comprehensive community mental health services to children, youth, and young adults, birth through age 21 with a serious emotional disturbance, which may include efforts to identify and serve children at risk, and their families. Applications are due April 20, 2026. 

• DOL/ED Grant: ETA Talent Search Program: The purpose of the Talent Search Program is to identify qualified individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds with potential for education at the postsecondary level and encourage them to complete secondary school and undertake postsecondary education. Applications are due May 1, 2026. 

• DOJ Grant: FY25 Second Chance Act Improving Reentry Education and Employment Outcomes: This funding opportunity supports state, local, and tribal governments and community-based organizations to provide education and employment programs for people leaving jail and prison. The goal of the program is to improve academic and vocational/trade programs available to people in prisons and jails and expand workforce development and career pathways that result in improved job readiness, employment attainment, and retention thereby improving employment prospects and reducing recidivism. Applications are due May 4, 2026. 

• DOJ Grant: FY25 Second Chance Act Community-based Reentry Program: This funding opportunity will support community-based organizations and tribal governments to provide mentoring and transitional services for adults returning to communities after a period of incarceration in a prison or a jail and who are assessed as moderate to high risk for recidivism. Applications are due May 4, 2026. 

• DOJ Grant: FY25 Expanding Youth Access to Community-Based Treatment: This funding opportunity supports community-based treatment programs serving justice-involved youth under the age of 18 with substance use disorder (SUD) and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorder (MHSUD) needs. Applications are due May 4, 2026. 

• DOL Grant: Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants (Round 6): Round 6 of the Strengthening Community Colleges (SCC or SCC6) grants will fund community colleges, with a singular focus on building program and system capacity for implementing and scaling access to short-term training opportunities through Workforce Pell Grants—i.e., promoting industry-driven strategies, worker mobility, and integration with the larger state workforce system (e.g., Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) partners) for statewide impact. Applications are due May 20, 2026. 

From the States: 

• California: Organizations are invited to complete a short form to join a joint budget support letter for the COYA program. Your participation will help demonstrate broad statewide backing for investments that expand opportunity and strengthen California’s future workforce. 

• Nebraska: A proposed overhaul of Nebraska’s youth correctional system has been put on hold as legislators call for additional study. The Legislature delayed plans to reorganize system oversight and will instead study governance and operations before making changes. 

Resources: 

• Grants to Support Youth and Workforce Initiatives: The Eske Barrett Foundation is offering grant opportunities to support organizations working to improve outcomes for young people and communities. Applicants can access funding to advance programs focused on education, workforce, and youth development. 

• A New Vision of Opportunity for Youth: The 2026 report from the Young People’s Alliance argues that current systems are not meeting the needs of young people and calls for a new vision of opportunity. The post emphasizes shifting policies and supports to better align with how young people navigate education, work, and stability.