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.

We are excited to announce the launch of a new resource: Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit Information and Resource Hub for Health and Human Services Professionals, created in partnership with the National Association of Counties (NACo). APHSA and NACo worked in collaboration with states, counties, and field partners to compile resources directed towards state and local health and human services agencies and frontline staff to assist with efforts raising awareness about these important tax credits.

Additionally, the White House and U.S. Treasury are holding a workshop on Monday, March 28^th at noon, on how state and local governments and agencies can help families with low income connect to thousands of dollars of federal tax benefits. Simple outreach from state and local agencies are among the most effective at getting families enrolled. The event is focused on helping state and local governments take action, but other individuals/organizations are welcome to join. Please direct any questions to [email protected].

Flipping the Script: Narratives about Poverty, Race and Mobility in the U.S., March 22, 2022 - To change the narrative, we have to change the narrator. Learn more about why narratives matter, what the current narratives about poverty, race and economic mobility are, and how you can flip the script by watching a new webinar and case study series produced by the Kresge Foundation, in partnership with APHSA, Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity, Protagonist, Ascend at the Aspen Institute, and First 5 Alameda County.

Kaiser Family Foundation Releases Report on State Medicaid Plans During Unwinding Period – A new report from the Kaiser Family Foundation shares survey results on state strategies for processing Medicaid renewals once the continuous enrollment requirement – enacted during the public health emergency – expires as expected later this year. The findings show a range of timelines and methods for managing the significant increase in case reviews that will occur and raises policy and practice considerations in preparation for this effort.

The National Association of Workforce Board’s (NAWB) 2022 Workforce + SNAP E&T Cohort - The cohort program consists of one-on-one coaching and monthly webinars to support workforce development boards in becoming SNAP E&T third party providers or intermediaries. Applications are due March 25.

Support for Afghan Financial Empowerment (SAFE) – The International Rescue Committee (IRC) and IRC's Center for Economic Opportunity (CEO) newly released online financial resource portal for Afghan families. This resource includes multi-lingual financial education, coaching and supports, including access to no-fee, 0% interest loans to eligible Afghan households.

The State of Apprenticeship Among Workforce Boards – This report shares results from a national survey on the current strategies and existing needs of workforce boards working to expand apprenticeship programs. The report recommends eight investments to help workforce boards support and advance apprenticeship activities in their local region.

Applied Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation Course – The University of Maryland is offering a summer course in Paris from June 13 - 24 for mid-career professionals interested in continuing education opportunities focused on the tools of policy analysis and evaluation. Applications will be accepted through June 1.

The County Human Services and Education Landscape, March 2022 – The National Association of Counties (NACo) has updated a resource summarizing the many ways counties play a pivotal role in providing human services and education supports in communities.

Digital Transformation Masterclass Series: Setting The Stage For Transformation - NASWA, Workforce ITSC.

National Convening: Multi-state Data Collaboratives: From Projects to Products to Practice - National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA), State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO), and the Coleridge Initiative.

The Rewards of Work: Lessons from the Fair Labor Standards Act - Aspen Institute.

To mark World Social Work Day on March 15, the European Social Network (ESN) and APHSA joined forces to highlight the global importance of the social services workforce. Our latest blog post, by APHSA CEO Tracy Wareing Evans and ESN CEO Alfonso Lara Montero, highlights our common belief that a strong, healthy, and resilient workforce is key to delivering quality social services and advancing the well-being of all people.

Children's Bureau Advancing Equity and Inclusion Through the Child and Family Services Review, March 2022 - This brief from the Children Bureau examines the Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSRS), designed to determine states' compliance with title IV-B and IV-E of the Social Security Act. This reporting guide states to embed a race equity lens into each of the phases of the CFSRs processes, and explores the usage of data and evidence to identify disparities in services and outcomes in child welfare programs.

Supporting Families Through Coordinated Services Partnerships, March 2022 - This brief discusses the Assessing Models of Coordinated Services (AMCSs) study designed to identify coordinates services to serve children and families. Through semi-structured interviews with 18 community-based nonprofit coordinated services approaches, this brief assesses the coordination of services between early care and education and other health and human services.

The Potential of Motivational Interviewing - This guide from Chapin Hall created in partnership with the Public Consulting Group (PCG) details the evidence-based practice of Motivational Interviewing (MI). The guide provides a roadmap, helping to boost impact at each step of the planning and implementation process.

Envisioning Your Home Visiting Expansion - Zero to Three’s home visiting expansion infographic and companion resources are designed to help you engage in a collaborative and inclusive planning effort to envision home visiting expansion at the state and community level, ensure your home visiting expansion centers equity and community voice and determine next steps toward expansion.

Child Care Difficulties on the Rise for Parents of Young Children, March 15, 2022 - This fact sheet from the RAPID Survey highlights recent trends in child care challenges and disruptions from both parents’ and child care providers’ perspectives. The fact sheet takes a close look at the difficulties families experience in finding child care, disruptions in care that both families with young children and child care providers experienced in January 2022, and the impact of these challenges on parent and provider emotional well-being.

40th Annual Virtual Protecting Our Children National American Indian Conference - National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA).

Healing Together Conference - Native Dad’s Network.

NDACAN Office Hours Spring 2022 - National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect (NDACAN).

Friday, April 22, 11:00 AM-12:00 PM EDT

Interviewing Children with Disabilities Webinar Series: "Adapted Protocol For Interviewing Children Who do Not Speak" - The American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children.

Tuesday, April 26, 10:00-11:30 AM EDT

CWLA 2022 National Conference: The Fierce Urgency of Now: Collective Action to Ensure Children and Families Flourish - Child Welfare League of America (CWLA).

New Report: The Voices We Trust: Building Equity-Centered Community Data Ecosystems that Work for Everyone - The RECoDE (Rising Equitable Community Data Ecosystems) project team set out to better understand how to undo antiquated and dangerous data systems and build in their place an ecosystem that provides all communities power over where, when, and how their data is used to improve individual and community outcomes. Informed by the insights of nearly 500 people and representing communities across the country, this report shares key findings, amplifies community voices, and provides actionable insights for creating equitable community data ecosystems. 

Want Landlords to Lease to Families With Housing Vouchers? Try Asking in New Ways - Route Fifty, 03/10/22

Collaboration Provides Effective Approach to State's Human Services - Route Fifty, 03/15/22

New Data Show a Major Gender Gap in Local Government Leadership - Route Fifty, 03/17/22

Changing a Life: Exploring How Barriers and Social Interventions Influence Mobility and Inequality, March 22, 2022 - Using the Social Genome Model, a microsimulation tool that can project how changes in adolescence and early adulthood can influence well-being later in life, Urban Institute and Child Trends experts explored multiple scenarios to see how different early experiences and circumstances might affect lifetime earnings and disparities between Black, Hispanic, and White people. To learn more about how barriers and social interventions influence mobility and inequality, you can also see their research report.

Conversation on Assessing Meaningful Community Engagement - National Academy of Medicine (NAM) Leadership Consortium, the ACE-CoM Organizing Committee.

SIREN 2022 National Research Meeting: Racial Health Equity in Social Care - Social Interventions Research and Evaluation Network (SIREN). The Call for Proposals is now open for this meeting.

2022-2024 Training & Technical Assistance Program to Center Racial Equity in Data Integration Efforts - Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy (AISP). Application deadline is March 25.

Driving Digital Equity – New Funding Opportunities, New Strategies - Governing, Cisco. On-Demand Webinar designed to help build a strategy for increasing digital equity within your community, provide solutions for addressing accessibility and affordability, and share available funding sources.