APHSA’s conference season is officially underway! This year’s conferences will bring together human services professionals from across the country to connect, learn, and lead our sector into the future. From child welfare and economic mobility to IT solutions, workforce development, and legal leadership, this year’s conferences offer something for every area of human services. Check out our conference calendar to see when and where APHSA will be convening in 2026 and start planning your professional development today!

Congress Hoping to Finalize Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriations Amid Potential Shutdown

While Congress has passed six appropriations bills, six more still need to be resolved before the expiration of the Continuing Resolution (CR) at the end of the day today, January 30, in order to avoid a partial government shutdown. The House of Representatives passed all six remaining bills, including Labor-HHS-Ed, but passage of the package of bills in the Senate has hit a roadblock following concerns related to the content of the appropriations bill specific to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). While it seems like the Senate has come to an agreement to pass five of these bills, including Labor-HHS, with a short term CR on DHS, as of the publication of This Week In Washington, questions remain about the procedural hurdles Congress must overcome to get the bills to the White House before the impact of a shutdown would be felt. As a reminder, the Agriculture Appropriations bill has already passed, meaning that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) would not be affected by a shutdown this fiscal year.

If the Senate can pass the five bills and DHS CR today, it looks as though the House may be able to hold a final vote on Monday, resulting in a shutdown of only a few days. Of course, many steps need to be taken before this deal reaches the finish line. APHSA will provide important updates as the process unfolds.

As we reported last week, the Labor, Health & Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2026 includes relatively stable funding for human services programs, apart from a reduction in refugee assistance. It also extends Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding through December 31, 2026. Additionally, the bill directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support staffing levels necessary to fulfill its statutory responsibilities.

The report language included some notable items, such as the following:

• Briefing Committees: Directs the Administration for Children & Families (ACF) to brief the Committees within 30 days of enactment of this Act on the staffing levels of the Office of Community Services (OCS), including information on the workforce in the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) office, and how ACF will be addressing any vacancies to support state heating and cooling assistance programs, distribute LIHEAP funding in a timely and accurate manner, and complete the LIHEAP Formula Report as requested.
• Grant Management: Grant terminations can significantly and negatively impact the implementation of programs funded in this Act, as they are intended to be implemented by this agreement. HHS is directed to consult with the Committees prior to terminating grants. The agreement includes a provision requiring notification to the Committees no less than three days prior to announcing or providing notice of a grant termination.
• Payment Management System (PMS): In addition to the directives included under this heading in Senate Report 119-55, the agreement directs HHS to provide advance notification to the Committees prior to implementing any restrictions that would delay disbursement of funds to grantees through PMS. The agreement further directs HHS to ensure that disbursements through PMS are processed within five business days, except under extraordinary circumstances. For any delays of more than five business days, HHS is directed to brief the Committees on the circumstances justifying such delays.

Congressional Research Service Releases New Publication on TANF Work Requirements

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) has published a report which details how the federal TANF work requirements operate and how states have typically met those standards.

Executive Order Announces Initiative to Address Substance Use Disorder

The White House has issued an Executive Order establishing the new Great American Recovery Initiative. This program is aimed at improving coordination across federal agencies that address substance use disorder. Co-chaired by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the initiative plans to emphasize prevention, treatment, and recovery supports and encourages alignment across health, housing, workforce, education, and justice systems. For human services programs, the initiative highlights the role of cross-system collaboration in supporting individuals and families affected by addiction.

Child Welfare Data Now Publicly Available

ACF has launched a new public dashboard displaying Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) statewide data indicators. Previously available only to states and federal partners, the dashboard includes seven measures of key child welfare outcomes—two safety indicators and five permanency indicators, such as maltreatment in foster care, recurrence of maltreatment, placement stability, permanency outcomes, and reentry to care. The dashboard will be updated regularly and is designed to support data-informed decision-making, cross-state learning, and continuous quality improvement across child welfare systems.

New ASPE Brief Highlights Engagement in the Title IV-E Prevention Program

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) has published a brief which explores how states, territories, and Tribes have been engaging in the Title IV-E Prevention Program. One of many key findings in the brief is that although use of Title IV-E prevention services has grown rapidly since fiscal year 2020, prevention spending and the number of children served remain a very small share—less than two percent—of overall Title IV-E program activity.

Technology Companies Pledge $600 Million to Support States Implementing H.R.1 Changes

Yesterday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that several health technology vendors have pledged more than $600 million in no-cost and discounted products and services to states to support implementation of the Medicaid Community Engagement requirements under H.R.1. CMS and the General Services Administration (GSA) are actively working to expand this list of participating vendors.