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January 10, 2025

Hello Jessica,

APHSA recently released two new papers in our Courageous Imperatives for Human Services series, which provides recommendations to the incoming administration and Congress to help develop strategies that unlock the potential of human services. Realizing the American Dream: Increasing Economic Security and Mobility Through Career and Family Supports focuses on enhancing prosperity through career and family support systems. Driving Human Services Technology and Process Innovation: Opportunities for Modernizing and Aligning Service Delivery for America’s Communities emphasizes modernizing human services technologies and improving service delivery. Visit our Election Transition Recommendations page to catch up on the full series and stay tuned for future publications!

We recently published a letter in response to the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Request for Information (RFI), Development of Interoperability Standards for Human Service Programs. It recommends several key approaches for advancing interoperability in human services programs that include increasing collaboration across federal agencies to develop cohesive data-sharing frameworks and expanding funding for pilot projects and IT modernization.

Legislative Updates

Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act

Last December, Congress passed the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act. The act became law on December 23 and focuses on oversight and accountability of youth residential programs. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to collaborate with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) to conduct a comprehensive study on the state of youth in these programs. The study will examine the prevalence and severity of abuse, identify funding sources, assess existing regulations, and recommend improvements for oversight and care standards.

Supporting America's Children and Families Act, H.R. 9076

As result of a bipartisan response in both the House and the Senate, the Supporting America's Children and Families Act, H.R. 9076 became law on January 4, 2025. This new law reauthorizes Title IV-B funding and enhances state and tribal child support enforcement under Part D of the Social Security Act. It provides $5 million in grants to evaluate programs to support the IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse. It also will allow funding to be spent on concrete supports for children and families. Beginning in 2026, the law increases Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF) funding by $75 million and increases funding of Court Improvement Programs by $10 million.

Bipartisan Bill to Protect Native American Children Signed into Law

The outgoing administration recently signed the Native American Child Protection Act (NACPA) into law, a bipartisan effort led by Senators Susan Collins and Ben Ray Luján. This legislation reauthorizes and reforms three critical programs to help tribes address child abuse and neglect through prevention, treatment, investigation, and prosecution. Originally authorized in 1990 under the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act, these programs faced funding challenges and had not been reauthorized until now.

Moving Human Services Upstream

USDA AI Strategy: Vision for FY 2025–2026

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has unveiled its Artificial intelligence (AI) strategy for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-2026, focusing on workforce readiness, governance, and the building of technological infrastructure to safely integrate AI for the purposes of more effectively distributing benefits and services internally and across the nation.

Advancing Social and Economic Mobility

FNS Withdraws Proposed Rule on SNAP Quality Control System

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is withdrawing the proposed rule, "Provisions to Improve SNAP's Quality Control System," published on September 19, 2023, and amended on December 19, 2023. FNS will work with stakeholders to explore improvements, enhance oversight, and assist state agencies in addressing payment accuracy, system issues, and application timeliness.

Approved FY 2025-2027 for CCDF

The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) supports affordable child care for families living with low-income while improving care quality for all children. To access CCDF, states and territories submit three-year plans outlining program implementation and compliance with federal standards. CCDF Plans for FYs 2025-2027 have been approved by the Office of Child Care (OCC) and is available to review.

Updates to ACF Child Welfare Policy Manual

ACF recently added two updates to the Child Welfare Policy Manual (CWPM), focusing on access to services under Title IV-B of the Social Security Act and the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act.

Strengthening the Human Services Sector

Explore SNAP E&T: FNS Shares All State Plans Online

State agencies delivering SNAP Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) programs help participants build skills and gain experience for stable employment while addressing workforce demands. To view your state's approved SNAP E&T plan, visit the FNS hosted page where they provide state-specific information.

Partnering to Prevent Human Trafficking

In recognition of National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, the Children's Bureau is providing publications and resources on how to implement trauma-informed and healing-centered practices that acknowledge and address the impact of trauma on children to create safer outcomes for families. They are emphasizing the value of cross-sector and tribal nation collaboration to develop effective human trafficking prevention initiatives.

ACF Releases Guidance for Title IV-E Program

ACF recently published guidance for state Title IV-E agencies on the requirements of the Title IV-E prevention program. The document also highlights the flexibility available to tribes with agreements under section 472(a)(2)(B)(ii) of the Social Security Act.

APHSA Events

WEBINAR: A Holistic Approach to Workplace Wellness in 2025

As we start the new year, it is time to consider individual and workplace wellness. Join this National Staff Development and Training Association (NSDTA) Learning Exchange webinar to engage in a collaborative discussion on holistic workplace wellness in evolving work environments. Together, we will share insights, strategies, and innovations to support personal and corporate wellness, focusing on the eight dimensions of wellness—emotional, environmental, intellectual, physical, financial, social, spiritual, and occupational.

January 28, 3:00 to 4:00 PM ET

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APHSA Career Center - Post Your Open Positions Today

APHSA serves as a clearinghouse for job opportunities throughout the Human Services sector. Employers reach a wide audience of candidates searching for careers and job seekers will find a number of opportunities throughout the country.