New APHSA Report on the Post-Pandemic Landscape of Child Care
In 2023, APHSA asked child care administrators about the impact of ending pandemic-era funding on their subsidy systems and whether this would lead to reduced affordability, access, quality, or operational support. We recently published the findings of that survey in a new report, Navigating the Post-Pandemic Landscape: Insights from Child Care Administrators. It includes responses from Lead Agencies in 36 states and one territory, highlighting diverse perspectives. However, common themes emerged regarding fund allocation and concerns for the future.
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APHSA Releases House Farm Bill Response
APHSA released its response to H.R. 8467, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, which is the House of Representatives' Farm Bill text. Our response includes areas of support and opposition within the bill. While this bill did advance out of the House Agriculture Committee, there is still not a clear path forward for bipartisan bill passage. Look through additional Farm Bill related resources on our website.
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APHSA Submits Comments on the Summer EBT Interim Final Rule
APHSA submitted comments to the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Interim Final Rule, which was released in late December 2023. Our comments reflect feedback from our members throughout the country and make recommendations on eligibility determination and data collection, benefits delivery, timelines, as well as administration and funding.
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New Courses on THRIVE
Check out the two new courses on our THRIVE Learning Management System (LMS). The Place-Based Opportunity Ecosystems course is recommended for human services professionals seeking to bring community voice and an equity lens to their work in system transformation. Best Practices in Project Management is designed to help you dive deep into proven strategies, methodologies, and tools that ensure successful project delivery. Follow the links above and start learning today!
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APHSA Meets with SNAP E&T Administrators
In June, APHSA kicked off a quarterly peer sharing meeting to facilitate discussions among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) county-administered states. These quarterly meetings will share insights and burgeoning best practices about how state-level leaders can empower county-led programs to drive programmatic impact in their jurisdictions. The group met for the second time this month.
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Economic Mobility and Well-Being Conference | |
APHSA hosted the Economic Mobility and Well-Being (EMWB) Conference last month in Portland, Oregon. During the conference, we had the opportunity to showcase the exciting work being done with our members and partners. Below are some of the highlights. | |
EMWB Awards
We honored individuals and organizations that have proven their commitment to providing and improving human services programs. To learn more about the awards given during EMWB, and their well-deserved recipients, a compilation of the press releases is available.
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Summer EBT Agency Convening
As a pre-conference event, APHSA partnered with Share Our Strength to host almost 90 attendees from state SNAP and Child Nutrition Program agencies, Tribal Nations, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), and other national partners. The convening was held to help attendees collectively reflect on Summer EBT and plan for what is needed to support a program that can be both sustainable and nationwide. These conversations and connections continued to build throughout the conference
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Farm Bill Breakout Session
The Farm Bill took center stage at one of the many conference breakout sessions. During the discussion, updates on the current progress of the Farm Bill were shared and there was a deep dive into APHSA’s response to the bill's text. To review our previous analysis of the Farm Bill, you can read through our multi-part blog, "Making the Sauce," that looked at the potential impacts of the Farm Bill. You can also view our recommendations from our "Influencing the Farm Bill" series.
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CSNS Initiative
APHSA, in partnership with Share Our Strength, elevated lessons learned from the
Coordinating SNAP and Nutrition Supports (CSNS) initiative. JaShena Massey, the first CSNS Community Navigator, moderated a main stage session which sparked dialogue about community-driven innovations in economic supports. APHSA's Morgan McKinney hosted a breakout session on how agencies can collaborate with the people they serve to streamline access and improve customer experience. At the end of the conference, the team held the CSNS Impact Forum, which brought together CSNS cohorts, people with lived expertise in SNAP, philanthropy, national partners, and FNS with the goal to co-design a plan to scale the program's impact.
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Child Welfare Belongs to All of Us
A breakout session during EMWB focused on our Child Welfare Belongs to All of Us brief, created in partnership with ideas42. The session centered on the goals of prioritizing family preservation and well-being in child welfare. The brief leveraged behavioral design insights to advance primary prevention efforts and includes actionable recommendations based on comprehensive research and best practices.
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Site Visit to Bridge Meadows
Thirty attendees of the conference attended a site visit to Bridge Meadows, a multi-generational housing community. Bridge Meadows replicates affordable intergenerational communities by providing housing that is trauma-informed and fosters healing, permanency, and community well-being for children and youth impacted by foster care—along with their elders and adoptive families. A Give Back fundraiser raised over $3,000 from EMWB participants for school supplies for youth who live at Bridge Meadows.
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September 25, 2:00 to 3:00 PM EST: Explore the power of civility in the workplace in an NSDTA Showcase webinar with Dr. Stephanie N. Perry. In this presentation, we will explore the need to address workplace incivility in the human services space while gaining insight on the subject through an overview, open dialogue, and group exercise. Attendees will leave this webinar with tools to develop a deeper understanding of the effects of incivility and learn strategies to protect yourself in unhealthy work environments. Register today! | |
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October 20, 9:45 AM to 4:00 PM PST: Enhance your facilitation skills and drive your organization’s projects forward at “Bring on the Change: An Organizational Effectiveness Training and Handbook for Change Management Facilitators.” This intensive workshop, held on the first day of the NSDTA Annual Education Conference, will utilize the revised APHSA Organizational Effectiveness (OE) Handbook. Participants will learn by doing in an experiential setting designed to equip them with the tools necessary to successfully facilitate their organization’s continuous improvement or change management projects. You’ll explore APHSA’s DAPIM™ model along with many other resources and tools within the OE Handbook that will boost your confidence in project facilitation.
*This is an optional add-on event with an additional fee. Seats are limited so be sure to reserve your spot while registering for the NSDTA Conference.
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