Overview

2Gen approaches support both children and their parents or caregivers at the same time, as opposed to focusing on only children or adults.  2Gen programs work with the whole family to:

• Connect services like education, job training, childcare, health, and financial support to meet the needs of both generations, bringing together different programs and organizations to work as a team for families.
• Involve families in designing programs that affect them.
• Build on families’ strengths and work to remove barriers they face.

Policies at both the federal and state levels can play a role in supporting 2Gen approaches. While there is no single federal 2Gen policy, multiple federal programs provide funding and flexibility to support 2Gen strategies:

• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) - gives states flexibility to design programs that can incorporate 2Gen models, supporting both workforce development for adults and early education or child care for children. Some states have used TANF funds to pilot 2Gen demonstration projects (e.g., Colorado and Connecticut).
• Head Start and Early Head Start - While focused on child development, these programs also support parental involvement, family goal setting, and access to job training, which aligns with 2Gen principles.
• Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) - Supports career pathways and wraparound services that can be adapted to support parents while coordinating with services for their children. Some local workforce boards have also adopted 2Gen-informed planning and service delivery.
• Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (MIECHV) - Uses a family-centered model that provides services to both parents and young children, aligning closely with 2Gen goals.

A growing number of states are adopting formal 2Gen frameworks, passing legislation, and running pilot projects. These efforts often include cross-agency coordination, shared family goals, and a focus on equity and systems change:

• Colorado – In 2015, the Colorado Office of Economic Security adopted a formal 2Gen framework across its human services agencies. The state issued a 2Gen Policy Framework to guide state and local implementation.
• Connecticut - Created a Two-Generational Interagency Working Group and pilot programs in several communities with legislative support. Also passed Public Act 15-142, which established the state’s 2Gen initiative focused on integrating education, workforce, and family services.
• Utah - The Intergenerational Poverty Initiative, launched in 2012, applies a 2Gen lens to reduce poverty through cross-agency collaboration. This requires annual reporting to track outcomes for both children and parents.

Examples of Programs

• CAP Tulsa (Oklahoma)
  • A Head Start program that serves children from low-income families while also supporting parents.
  • Recognized for implementing a model that combines high-quality early childhood education with career advancement, job training, and wraparound support for parents.
  • Parents are offered GED classes, job training, career coaching, and parenting support.
  • Services are coordinated so that while children are in school, parents can pursue education or employment goals.
• Jeremiah Program (Multiple U.S. Cities)
  • A national nonprofit that operates in several cities, offering housing, college support, and early education to single mothers and their children.
  • Mothers receive support for college education, career readiness, life skills, and housing.
  • Children receive early childhood education in the same building where moms attend classes.
  • The program builds social capital through peer support and mentorship.
• Garrett County Community Action Committee (Maryland)
  • A rural community action agency that uses a 2Gen model to deliver services across family needs.
  • Uses a family-centered planning and coaching model to align services like housing, childcare, transportation, financial education, and employment training around shared family goals.
  • Families work with a navigator to develop a whole-family success plan.
  • Parents and children have shared goals and milestones that guide their support journey.

Resources

Ascend at the Aspen Institute. (n.d.). CAP Tulsa: An Ascend Network Partner. Retrieved from https://ascend.aspeninstitute.org/network/cap-tulsa/

Ascend at the Aspen Institute. (n.d.). Jeremiah Program: An Ascend Network Partner. Retrieved from https://ascend.aspeninstitute.org/network/jeremiah-program/

Colorado Department of Human Services. (2015). Two-Generation Approach Framework. https://cdhs.colorado.gov/about-cdhs/featured-initiatives/two-generation-approach-in-colorado

Connecticut Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity & Opportunity. (n.d.). Two-Generational Initiative. https://wp.cga.ct.gov/cwcseo/sub_commissions/two-generational/

Urban Institute (2016). Integrating Two-Generation Approaches into TANF Programs.
https://www.urban.org/policy-centers/metropolitan-housing-and-communities-policy-center/projects/host-initiative-action/designing-housing-platform-services/two-generation-approach

Utah Department of Workforce Services. (n.d.). Intergenerational Poverty.
https://jobs.utah.gov/edo/intergenerational