There have been many significant developments this week in Washington. We will continue to monitor for updates and official announcements and keep you apprised accordingly. | | |
At the end of March, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced plans to significantly restructure the Department. HHS will be consolidating their 28 divisions into 15 and eliminating half of their Regional Offices.
On Tuesday, April 1, it was announced that five of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Regional Offices—those in Regions 1, 2, 5, 9, and 10—have been closed effective immediately.
HHS also began to reduce its workforce by 10,000 employees as part of a major restructuring effort. Reportedly, this has so far included all staff working on the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), most staff responsible for the Federal administration of the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG), and many staff in the Office of Family Assistance (OFA), including all Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) policy staff.
Notably, on Thursday Secretary Kennedy said that he expects about 20 percent of fired employees to be reinstated.
APHSA will continue to monitor these developments and partner with our members to address the state and local impacts of the changes.
| | Ahead of the upcoming two-week recess, the Senate is moving forward with a new 2025 Congressional budget blueprint. The resolution sets out instructions that both the House and Senate will eventually use to draft a bill that includes significant funding reductions to many programs through the budget reconciliation process. The Senate may begin voting as soon as tonight. The House is likely to vote on their own resolution next week. We anticipate that Congress will then begin identifying the specific changes to programs including Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, and SSBG after the recess. | | On Thursday, our Manager of Food and Nutrition Services, Chloe Green, presented to the Majority Members of the House Agriculture Committee about SNAP policy basics. She discussed the history of SNAP; SNAP administration, participation, and eligibility; programs like SNAP Employment & Training (SNAP E&T) and SNAP Nutrition Education (SNAP-Ed); and current state agency priorities such as EBT modernization. Learn more about APHSA's SNAP work and related programs. |
| Moving Human Services Upstream | |
Report: MACPAC examines Medicaid Policies
The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission released a report titled "School-based Health Centers and Behavioral Health Care for Students Enrolled in Medicaid," which is an in-depth exploration of the role and impact of school-based health centers (SBHCs) on student health. The brief highlights how SBHCs provide essential primary and behavioral health services, particularly for students covered by Medicaid. It discusses the growth of SBHCs, the types of services offered, and the challenges these centers face, such as coverage limitations and data gaps. Additionally, the publication examines how Medicaid policies influence access to these services and includes case studies from five states.
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| Advancing Social and Economic Mobility | |
USDA Letter to State Agencies on SNAP Accountability
Earlier this week, the USDA's Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services (FNCS) issued a letter to governors to address delays in processing applications and recertifications. Acting Deputy Under Secretary John Walk emphasized that states must comply with federal requirements or face accountability for mismanaging taxpayer funds. Currently, 33 states are not processing applications on time, and 20 are failing in recertifications. To tackle this, USDA will implement a five-step escalation process, enforce corrective action plans, deploy oversight teams, and partner with states to improve program integrity and accountability.
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Upcoming House Committee Hearings
The Power of Work: Expanding Opportunity Through SNAP
Full Committee on Agriculture
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
10:00 AM ET
Watch here
Government Watchdog Findings: TANF Program In Need of Reform, Better State Accountability, and Fraud Protection
Work & Welfare Subcommittee
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
2:00 PM ET
Watch here
| | Strengthening the Human Services Sector | |
FNS: Keys to SNAP Payment Accuracy and Application Processing Timeliness
The USDA Food and Nutrition Services recently shared documents to help guide agencies on the timeliness and accuracy in the delivery of SNAP Benefits. Read more about the strategies in the documents linked below.
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Children's Bureau Revised Technical Bulletin #1
The Children's Bureau recently shared that their training and technical assistance department has updated Technical Bulletin #1, which revises the original bulletin published on August 19, 2019, and includes additional details about the file structure for data elements that IV-E agencies must submit for each child receiving IV-E prevention services, as mandated by the FFPSA.
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WEBINAR: Staff Safety - Accommodating Invisible Disabilities
Policies and norms that recognize neurodivergence and other “invisible disabilities” can remove stigma as well as increase safety and productivity. This month's National Staff Development and Training Association (NSDTA) Showcase will be a discussion around stopping systemic ableism so that all can be the best version of themselves. Objectives include coming away with designed actions that can be put in place within the next three months, enhancing a sense of belonging (decreasing exhaustion, compassion fatigue, and resentment), and learning simple steps for organizations and agencies to implement.
April 22, 3:00-4:00 PM ET
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APHSA National Human Services Summit - Registration Open
Registration is currently open for the APHSA National Human Services Summit! This year's Summit will bring together the nation’s brightest leaders, innovators, and changemakers in human services. The event will be held in downtown Philadelphia from June 1-4 and offers an opportunity to listen, learn, and inspire. Connect with other participants to build strategies for improving the lives of children, families, and communities across the nation. Lock in early registration rates now!
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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.
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