BUILDING STATE CAREER PATHWAYS SYSTEMS - A Toolkit for State Policymakers, Human Service Agency Leaders, Community Colleges, and Partners

Oct 15, 2026

The toolkit guides states in building career pathways systems that integrate postsecondary education and training with support services, strengthening equitable access for working adults—especially people of color and low-income workers—seeking credentials tied to quality careers. It presents actionable steps for policymakers, human service agencies, community colleges, and partners, and highlights Arkansas’s Career Pathways Initiative (CPI) and Oregon’s Community College SNAP Training and Employment Program (STEP) as state models. The toolkit also outlines how SNAP E&T and TANF block grants can support system development and partnerships, complementing existing technical assistance resources.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages27

Reading Time1 h 8 min

AccessFree to download

Purpose of the Toolkit

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

WHY CAREER PATHWAYS?

Career Pathways Systems Can Support an Inclusive Economic Recovery

BUILDING STATE CAREER PATHWAYS SYSTEMS A Toolkit for State Policymakers, Human Service Agency Leaders, Community Colleges, and Partners By Kate Kinder, Brooke DeRenzis and Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield Contributors: Marc Goldberg PURPOSE OF THE TOOLKIT This toolkit is intended to help states create career pathways systems that integrate and expand partnerships between state human service agencies and postsecondary systems and institutions so that more people who want to train for a quality career can do so. Career pathways partnerships can help community colleges and human services work better and more equitably for working people by mitigating structural barriers that too often keep adults of color and those from low-income families from accessing credentials that lead to quality careers. The toolkit includes action that state policymakers, agency leaders, community colleges, and partner organizations can take to build career pathways partnerships that pair quality postsecondary education and training with support services. This toolkit highlights Arkansas’ Career Pathways Initiative (CPI) and Oregon’s Community College SNAP Training and Employment Program (STEP) as examples of leading-edge state career pathways models that other states can learn from as they rebuild their economies and support workers — particularly workers of color and low-wage workers disproportionately impacted by COVID — in their return to the workforce. Included in this toolkit are recommendations for how Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grants can support career pathways system development and partnerships, as Oregon and Arkansas have done. The toolkit is not intended to provide exhaustive guidance on all programmatic and fiscal components of these federal funding streams, given existing toolkits and technical assistance. Rather, it is designed to complement these resources and guidance available, offering strategies for how states, community colleges, and human service partners can use these funding streams to build, scale, and improve career pathways systems that increase equity and economic mobility for students and workers. TABLE OF CONTENTS Why career pathways? ............................................................................................................................................................................ 5 Career pathways systems that center the student and worker................................................................................................... 9 Federal funding sources that states can use to support career pathways partnerships ...................................................... 13 Identifying SNAP E&T match and expansion funding..................................................................................................................... 14 Career pathways in Arkansas and Oregon — outcomes from two states................................................................................... 17 Recommendations for states ................................................................................................................................................................ 19 GLOSSARY OF TERMS SNAP: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly Food Stamps) is the nation’s largest anti-hunger program, providing food benefits to eligible individuals and families with low incomes. SNAP E & T: SNAP Employment and Training is the broad umbrella of employment, education, training, and support services available to recipients of SNAP to boost their skills and employment opportunities. Programs include ABAWD (Able Bodied Adult Without Dependents), SNAP 50/50, and 100%(administration) funds. For purposes of this toolkit, SNAP 50/50 is the largest program utilized to build out career pathways partnerships. SNAP 50/50: SNAP 50/50 provides eligible recipients of SNAP (

FAQs

What is the purpose of this toolkit?

It helps states create career pathways systems that expand partnerships between state human service agencies and postsecondary institutions. It aims to increase access to credentials that lead to quality careers, especially for adults of color and low-income families.

Which state examples does the toolkit highlight?

It highlights Arkansas’s Career Pathways Initiative (CPI) and Oregon’s Community College SNAP Training and Employment Program (STEP) as leading-edge models for other states to learn from.

How can SNAP E&T and TANF support career pathways partnerships?

The toolkit recommends how Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) and TANF block grant funding can support career pathways system development and partnerships, as demonstrated by Oregon and Arkansas.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Alex Sinclair