When you go to the Pathways to Work website, our goal is to get you to the information you need as quickly as possible. Web designers traditionally live by the "3-click rule" which dictates that users should find what they need in three clicks or fewer. It's even better if we can get you there in one click or two.
That goal isn't easy when we're building knowledge on a complex topic. The Pathways to Work Evidence Clearinghouse was authorized by Congress in 2017 to share "proven and promising approaches to move welfare recipients into work." Each user comes to the website with slightly different needs, and operates in different settings and even different systems. Whether you're a program provider, policy maker, or researcher – and whether you work in a TANF agency, workforce agency, community college, or nonprofit – we worked to improve your website experience.
We are really excited to share our new website with you. These website updates are the product of extensive input from our users. We found out how you search for material, the language you use, and how you process information – and we put that all together in this redesign.
We have improved the functionality of our website's existing tools, added new features, and developed customized paths to help program providers, policymakers, and researchers, easily find information that is the most helpful for their needs. Here's what you'll find:
Streamlined navigation
New homepage: The homepage now features a rotating Program Spotlight feature and this What's New feature to share important updates.
Clearer menu structure: Study-specific content, including evidence gap maps, is now organized under the Explore Studies menu heading, while content that provides a summary of evidence across studies like reports and briefs are available in the Browse Research Summaries section.
- Interactive guidance: Look for the new blue circles with an "i" throughout the site—these tooltips provide you with instant access to definitions of technical terms.
Enhanced search capabilities
Improved program search: Our renamed Find Programs That Work tool (previously called Find Interventions That Work) now includes dynamic filtering that shows you how each search term affects your results—helping you find relevant programs more efficiently.
- Tailored user paths: The How to Use Our Evidence menu now offers separate pathways for program providers/policymakers and researchers, directing you straight to resources most relevant to your needs (in fewer clicks).
Better decision-making tools
New cost standards: We developed rigorous standards to evaluate the credibility of cost estimates included in studies, giving you more confidence in the figures.
- Transparent cost information: Each program description will include easy-to-find cost data (when available) to support your planning and resource allocation decisions. Please be on the lookout for this new information when we update our website again later this summer.
Do you have feedback on the new website? Email us to let us know what you think.