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We’re excited to welcome Jeffrey Cartmell, Director of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, as Chair of our Leadership Council. He joins Kim Johnson, Secretary of the California Health & Human Services Agency, who continues to serve as Vice Chair. In his role as Chair, Director Cartmell will also represent the Leadership Council on APHSA’s Executive Governing Board, helping to guide our work and strengthen our collective impact. We’re deeply grateful to all our dedicated volunteer leaders who continue to provide us with their time, expertise, and leadership!
| | As this year comes to a close, we at APHSA want to let all of our incredible members, partners, and friends know how grateful for each of you and your commitment to the work of supporting individuals, families, and communities. We wish you a joyful holiday season filled with warmth and laughter, and we look forward to reconnecting with you in the new year. Happy Holidays! | | |
APHSA Policy Recommendations as Congress Considers an Anticipated CR
With the guidance of our Leadership Council, APHSA has produced new policy recommendations and accompanying talking points to support state and local leaders as Congress considers an anticipated Continuing Resolution (CR). The document highlights our two key SNAP-related recommendations, which in summary are:
- Delay the new SNAP benefit and enhanced administrative cost shares for all states until FY30, using FY27 Payment Error Rate data; and
- Exclude October and November 2025 from the FY26 Quality Control sample and extend Hold Harmless for H.R. 1-related changes through January 31, 2026.
Members are encouraged to use these talking points to engage with Congressional delegations and coordinate outreach efforts.
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APHSA Comment Letter to USDA on SNAP QC
APHSA shared insights on the impact the government shutdown had on the distribution of SNAP benefits in October and November. Our recent comment letter urges the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to remove all October and November 2025 cases from the Fiscal Year 2026 quality control sample and reduce the overall quality control sample size accordingly. APHSA will keep our members informed of any developments related to the letter.
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Winter Issue of Policy & Practice Now Available
Our final issue of Policy & Practice magazine for 2025 is now available. Focused on community-led solutions and partnerships that drive systems change, this issue features insights from APHSA members and partners, including our federal partners at the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), highlighted through an in-depth conversation with Assistant Secretary Alex Adams. Interested in contributing to Policy & Practice in 2026? Please reach out to Jessica Garon, Director of Communications at APHSA, to learn more.
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Simplifying SNAP Through ESAP
We recently analyzed survey responses from 32 SNAP agency staff and 53 community-based staff to understand their perspectives on the Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP). This is a policy approach intended to improve SNAP participation among eligible older adults and streamline administrative processes. Read the report today for critical insight and practical lessons on how ESAP can better serve older adults while improving customer experience and easing administrative burden.
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Improving Outcomes for Young Adults and the Systems That Serve Them: A Playbook of Best Practices
The National Collaborative for Transition-Age Youth, a partnership between APHSA, Youth Villages, and FosterClub, published their first project, “Improving Outcomes for Young Adults and the Systems That Serve Them: A Playbook of Best Practices.” The playbook was co-designed with young people who have lived experience in foster care and offers a clear road map for child welfare agencies, policymakers, and advocates who are committed to improving outcomes for youth who turn 18 in foster care. Read the full playbook to learn how these guidelines can help improve outcomes for young people transitioning out of foster care.
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Launching Our CSI Resource Page
APHSA has been championing the Community and Social Impact (CSI) Framework to advance an approach that co-creates sustainable solutions rooted in the voices and strengths of local communities. By centering data-informed, community-led strategies, the framework supports improved outcomes, stronger partnerships, and greater economic and social mobility for families and communities nationwide. We’ve recently launched a section of our website dedicated to CSI in order to provide resources and news that will not only foster this work but strengthen leadership and deepen collaboration.
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The Catalyst Blog
Discover the latest innovations shaping human services on The Catalyst. Written by APHSA staff, members, and partners, each post delivers practical insights for today’s human services leaders. Check out three new posts from December, each one focused on the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) tools with a customer-centered approach. Read and share today!
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New Courses on THRIVE
Discover how empathy transforms connection and collaboration in our THRIVE course Empathy Essentials: What it is, Why it Matters, How it Works. One of the newest courses on APHSA's Learning Management System (LMS), this 10-minute microlearning explores the science and practice of empathy. It covers the core components and practical ways to apply empathy to everyday interactions. Ideal for human services professionals and educators, the course helps participants build trust, enhance understanding, and strengthen allyship in their work and communities.
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APHSA, Nava Labs, and Maryland State Launch AI Pilot
APHSA is partnering with Nava Labs and the State of Maryland to pilot the use of AI-powered tools that will modernize work requirement verification for SNAP and Medicaid. The pilot is supported by $1.2 million in grant funding from the Center for Civic Futures’ (CCF’s) Public Benefit Innovation Fund (PBIF) and aims to use open-source technology to reduce administrative burden, prevent erroneous benefit terminations, and improve data accuracy for both caseworkers and beneficiaries.
Jess Maneely, APHSA’s Assistant Director of Process Innovation, joined Nava’s Open-Source Community Engagement Reporting (OSCER) Demo Day to highlight the project and the impressive accomplishment of being one of only seven proposals selected from more than 400 applications. This collaboration marks an important step toward modernizing public benefit delivery nationwide while demonstrating responsible, effective uses of AI in human services.
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Reggie Bicha Joins Bipartisan Policy Center Working Group to Produce Child Welfare Reform Recommendations
A new bipartisan report, “Charting the Course: A Blueprint for Child Welfare Financing and Accountability Reform,” outlines six core reform areas aimed at modernizing federal child welfare financing, strengthening accountability, and better aligning investments with improved outcomes for children and families. APHSA President and CEO Reggie Bicha contributed to the report as a member of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s working group, ensuring state and local perspectives were reflected in the recommendations. The report was formally introduced during a webinar hosted by Bipartisan Policy Center. The event, “A Bipartisan Blueprint for Modernizing Federal Child Welfare Financing,” featured national partners discussing the findings and their implications for child welfare systems.
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PWLE Professional Development Series
To strengthen the leadership of People with Lived Experience (PWLE) consultants in systems transformation, the APHSA Process Innovation Team recently delivered a hybrid professional development series. The sessions—offered both in-person and online—focused on enhancing participants’ skills, confidence, and pathways for continued professional growth across innovation initiatives.
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APHSA Discuss Benefits Cliffs at NYCETC
Stacey Nodelman, APHSA member and Temporary Assistance Specialist at the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), joined Rebekah Sides, APHSA’s Senior Project Associate for Employment and Training, at the Leap Fund session “Cliff Notes: Navigating Benefits Without Falling Behind.” Hosted by the New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC), the discussion highlighted the Leap Fund’s Benefits Cliff Coaching Program. The national model helps workers and employers navigate the complex trade-offs between increasing earnings and maintaining access to critical public benefits, supporting both economic mobility and workforce retention.
To learn more about benefit cliffs while accessing resources and an interactive dashboard tool that illustrates the results of policy changes, visit the APHSA Benefit Cliff Resource Hub today.
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APHSA Presents at SPARC
Meg Dygert, APHSA’s Senior Associate for Child & Family Well-Being, recently spoke at the State Policy Advocacy + Reform Center (SPARC). Her presentation shared timely updates and emerging themes from the front lines of child welfare policy and practice. The session highlighted current priorities for state and local agencies along with opportunities to advance more effective, family-centered approaches across systems.
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CCWIS special joint meeting with ISM and NAPCWA
APHSA affinity groups, the IT Solutions Management for Human Services (ISM) and the National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrators (NAPCWA), recently came together to co-host a special session meant to advance dialogue on modernizing the Comprehensive Child Welfare Information System (CCWIS). The conversation highlighted the importance of cross-agency integration and effective federal–state coordination.
| | January 14, 2026, 3:30-4:30 pm ET: APHSA, in partnership with our Strategic Industry Partner Augintel, is hosting a webinar designed to help agencies better understand and use unstructured data. Titled “Using Unstructured Data to Assess Adherence to Practice,” the event features the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and Chapin Hall, who will share their work in analyzing case notes to fill data gaps. The discussion will highlight how these insights provide leadership with a clearer, more complete picture of their agency’s implementation and compliance. Register today! | | January 21, 2026, 2-3:30 pm ET: The next webinar in the National Staff Development and Training Association (NSDTA) Showcase series “How Do I Engage Virtual Learners? Engagement is More Than Just Connecting Online,” will examine virtual engagement concepts and available tools to help support learner engagement. Trainers with virtual training experience can share insights, while those newer to this training modality will gain actionable strategies that they can use moving forward in their virtual training journey. Register today! | | January 30, 2026, Application Deadline: The APHSA National Leadership Academy is a space for human services leaders to reflect on, grow, and strengthen their leadership skills for the challenges and opportunities ahead. Now accepting applications, we invite you to take part in a program designed to reshape how you lead, while also exploring leadership competencies that drive change centered in people and community. Learn more and apply today. | | February 13, 2026, Application Deadline: We're excited to share that the APHSA National Human Services Summit returns June 14–17, 2026, in Arlington, VA. Join the nation’s brightest leaders, innovators, and changemakers as we come together to shape the future of human services. Guided by the theme, Leadership for a Stronger Tomorrow, we invite you to submit a proposal by February 13, 2026. Learn more about our Call for Proposals—now open—and be part of the conversation driving impact nationwide.. | | MOVING HUMAN SERVICES FORWARD | | Blake Turpin Blake Turpin has stepped into the role of Senior Process Innovation Associate, with a focus on community collaboration. In this position, Blake serves as APHSA’s lead for community-driven innovation initiatives aimed at improving the design and delivery of human services, including efforts like our Coordinating SNAP & Nutrition Supports Program (CSNS)program. To learn more about APHSA’s process innovation portfolio and community collaboration work, reach out to Blake today! | | |
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Interested in getting involved at APHSA? Click here to learn more about our affinity groups and peer communities, or reach out to our membership team at memberservice@aphsa.org.
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