Welcome to the latest issue of The Connection, APHSA’s newsletter offering updates and resources pertaining to employment and economic well-being, child and family well-being, and H/HS integration.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Take some time this month to learn how protective factors and adverse childhood experiences impact families and communities. Find resources here.

We’re growing! APHSA has openings for a Human Resources Coordinator, and a Project Director for Advancing Family Economic Mobility. Both positions are located in Arlington, VA but currently available for 100% virtual work.

Applications are open for The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) Evaluating Social Programs Course. This four-day training will equip participants with the resources and knowledge to engage with impact evaluations of social programs. The interactive course will take place June 14-17, from 10:00 AM-2:00 PM EDT. Deadline for submissions is May 10.

APHSA has released a quick reference guide on maximizing the impact of the American Rescue Plan on young families. APHSA has highlighted key provisions of the law relevant to young parents with children that will allow public sector leaders to maximize their capacity in serving these young families.

USDA Increasing SNAP Benefits with Pandemic Relief Funds – The Hill, 03/29/21

US Hunger Crisis Persists, Especially for Kids, Older Adults – Associated Press, 04/01/21

COVID-19: Sustained Federal Action is Crucial as Pandemic Enters Its Second Year, March 2021 – This report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) includes 28 new recommendations that federal agencies could implement to improve their responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Broadly, GAO found that the pandemic continues to result in catastrophic loss of life and substantial damage to the global economy, stability, and security.

Aligning in Crisis: A Framework for Opportunities, March 2021 – This policy brief from the Georgia Health Policy Center proposes a framework for advancing equity in response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The model includes innovative examples of work being done by federal, state, and local governments.

Take Action to Avoid Eviction Using the CDC Order, March 2021 – Following a declaration from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) produced a video detailing steps that can be taken to avoid eviction. CFPB also included step-by-step directions that can be used to determine eligibility for protection under the CDC’s policy.

Transgender Inclusive Communication, March 2021 – Developed by Mathematica’s Pride Employee Resource Group and Transgender Inclusion Committee, these tips and resources are meant to provide employees with tools for using language that is inclusive of transgender and nonbinary people. When used consistently, these guidelines aim to help make workplaces more comfortable and inclusive spaces for everyone.

Analysis for States: The Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund- This fact sheet from The Council of State Governments analyzes uses and restrictions for the American Rescue Plan Act and compiles total allocations for each state, territory, and tribal government.

Federal Low-Income Programs: Use of Data to Verify Eligibility Varies Among Selected Programs and Opportunities Exist to Promote Additional Use, April 2021 – Published by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), this report analyzes federal, state, and local agencies’ use of various data sources to verify recipients’ income and assets. Utilizing electronic data can improve program integrity and reduce burdens on recipients.

Adapting to Remote Processes: Tips for Improving Digitized Workflows - National Community Action Partnership.

SNAP to Skills Webinar: Finding Solutions to Get E&T Participants to the Next Step - USDA FNS.

The Kempe Center is hosting their 2nd annual virtual conference, A Global Call to Action to Change Child Welfare on October 4-7. They are seeking proposals from bold, innovative, cutting-edge, and out-of-the-box thinking professionals in the child welfare field who are committed to connecting communities that lift up child and family well-being and social and community justice. Deadline for proposal submissions is Thursday, May 20.  

Court Backlogs During The Pandemic Meant Kids Stayed Longer in Foster Care - NPR, 04/05/21

Los Angeles Teachers Will Get Child Care Stipend for Young Kids - Politico, 04/05/21

House Leadership Calling for Expansion of Child Care Support -The Hill, 04/06/21

New Policy Outlines How Pediatricians Can Improve Care of AI/AN Youths, March 2021 - This new policy statement and recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) details how pediatricians can improve care for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) children and adolescents.

Measuring Program Effects in Home Visiting Evaluation: Improving Estimates with Propensity Score Matching, April 2021 - This report from the Office of Planning and Research Evaluation (OPRE) advances home visiting evaluation through matching, and propensity score matching techniques, and applies these approaches in evaluating the impact of home visiting on school readiness. This report also suggests how policymakers can use primary and administrative data in identifying key variables in achieving unbiased estimates of program impact.

Human Services Resilience in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Responsible Fatherhood Program in New York City, April 2021 - This report from the Urban Institute evaluates through a Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) approach the Seedco's Strong Fathers Stronger Families (SFSF) fatherhood program in New York City. Also, this report shares lessons learned from their interviews and workshops with SFSF staff, fathers served, and service delivery partners. 

39th Annual Virtual Protecting Our Children National American Indian Conference - National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA).

2021 Black Maternal Health Virtual Conference - Black Mamas Matter Alliance.

ABA National Conference on Parent Representation - National Alliance for Parent Representation Steering Committee, and ABA Center on Children and the Law.

Virtual Workshop - Data, Designed - Urban Institute.

Results for America Conversations - Why Data-Driven Government Matters: A Conversation with Michael Lewis - Results for America.

Multi-Dimensional COVID-19 Control in US: Identifying Counties with High and Low Levels of Success - Systems for Action.

Research-in-Progress Webinar Series - Systems for Action.

Artificial Intelligence Shark Tank Event- Human Services IT Advisory Group (HSITAG).

Changing the Culture of Data Management and Sharing: A Workshop - The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.