October 6, 2021
Greetings!

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.

Check out our latest Catalyst blog post, States Can Use SNAP E&T As a Strategy to Approach Skills Training, written by India Heckstall of the National Skills Coalition. This blog is the first in a series that the National Skills Coalition is producing to dive deeper into policies that states are using to create an inclusive and equitable economic recovery for all workers.

We have a new job opportunity for an Associate Director to manage the day-to-day work of the National Electronic Interstate Compact Enterprise (NEICE) project, a data exchange system used across state lines for adoption, foster care & child placements. We welcome your applications to join our team, or please share with your network!
APHSA Updates
Join us virtually at the AAHHSA Annual Education Conference, a comprehensive learning and networking experience for attorneys representing state and local government agencies that administer health and human services programs. Enjoy content focusing on the policies and practices that enhance human services programs’ delivery and quality – all while earning continuing legal education credits! Register here.
The Association of Administrators of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (AAICPC) is holding their Virtual ICPC 2021 Training, with Beginner and Intermediate/Advanced tracks, on October 19. Register here. On October 20, join virtually for their AAICPC 2021 Annual Business and Health and Human Services Update, a forum on emerging issues concerning the ICPC and AAICPC during the 2020-2021 term. A national update from select federal partners is included. Register here.
Participate in some friendly competition, get healthy and win prizes by joining the APHSA Wellness Challenge! This year’s Challenge will be run in 3 Sessions spanning our upcoming APHSA Conferences, yet attendance is not required. Compete with your peers & colleagues in 1, 2, or all 3 sessions. Earn Bonus Steps by scanning the sponsor CGI QR code on the CGI website. Competition ends on Thursday, November 18. Learn more here.

Headlines
Resources
The Office of Performance, Research and Evaluation’s (OPRE’s) report includes case studies of nine innovative state and local TANF programs. The case studies can inform TANF practitioners and staff of other programs about innovative practices to support employment.
 
WIC Coordination With Medicaid and SNAP, October 1, 201 - The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP’s) report highlights key findings from the first state-by-state compilation of cross-program collaboration efforts involving Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Medicaid, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). These findings are based on information CBPP collected from states during the summer of 2021.
Events
Tuesday, October 12, 1:00-2:30 PM EDT

Tuesday, October 12, 4:00-5:00 PM EDT
Spotlight on Alabama - APHSA, Alabama Network of Family Resource Centers (ANFRC), and the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR).

Friday, October 15, 11:00 AM EDT

Resources
State Strategies to Strengthen Infant-Toddler Care as Public Pre-k Expands, August 9, 2021 - ZERO TO THREE’s brief outlines strategies to protect and even expand access to a full continuum of high quality care and education in the context of pre-k expansion.

Findings from the Transitional Living Program Youth Outcomes Study, September 2021 - This study from the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation assesses the Transitional Living Program (TLP) Youth Outcomes Study (YOS) - Family and Youth Services Bureau grant funded program that provides transitional housing, wraparound services, and intensive case management for runaway and homeless youth ages 16 through 21. This report evaluates housing, employment, earnings, and education outcomes before, during, and after TLP participation. Also, this study explores the effect of COVID 19 on the above outcomes of interest.

Initial Parent Perspectives on the Child Tax Credit Advance Payments, September 2021 - This study from the Urban Institute assesses the experiences of families with young children regarding the Child Tax Credit (CTC) enacted in the American Rescue Plan Act. This study conducted telephone interviews with 20 low- and middle-income Hispanic/Latinx parents who have faced financial challenges and collected information regarding CTC delivery models, the primary use for payments. Also, this study assesses how CTC influences family employment, earnings, and tax liability at the end of the year, if half of the credit is paid in advance.

Better Data and Guidance Could Help States Reinvest Adoption Savings and Improve Federal Oversight, October 4, 2021 - The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on Monday that details states' reinvestment of adoption savings, acquired by a 2008 increase in federal reimbursement of state assistance payments to adoptive families. Savings from the increased reimbursements must be reinvested in the child welfare system. The report also makes recommendations on federal action to support states in spending the adoption savings.
Events
Wednesday, October 13, 1:00 PM EDT
Webinar - From Conversations to Relationships: Engaging Teens in Permanency Planning - Welfare Information Gateway and Children's Bureau.  

Tuesday, October 26, 1:00-3:00 PM EDT
Webinar - Dear Black Male - Child Welfare League of America (CWLA).

Wednesday, November 3, 1:00-3:00 PM EDT

Wednesday, November 17, 11:00 AM-12:00 PM MT 

Thursday, November 18, 1:00-2:30 PM EST

Announcements
Data Across Sectors for Health (DASH), in partnership with the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS), is awarding $80,000 to five awardees over 7 months as part of its Learning and Action in Policy and Partnerships (LAPP) program. The purpose of this second round of funding for the LAPP grant is to accelerate investments into shared data systems and data-integration efforts that support communities to address health equity. Applications are due November 12 at 3:30 PM EST.
Headlines
Resources
Health Affairs’ brief outlines research findings on the downstream effects of exclusionary, low-density residential zoning on health and health equity. The brief highlights the impact that zoning and land use regulations have on housing affordability, segregation, and disparities in the neighborhood environment.
Events
Thursday, October 7, 12:00-4:30 PM EDT

October 12-14, 2021
SPARK 2021 Virtual Learning Experience - Convening leaders from across the human services ecosystem to create a unified, intrepid, just, and purposeful network - Alliance for Strong Families and Communities.