April 28, 2023

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Hello Donna,

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2023 APHSA Emerging Leaders Program. Please consider nominating an up-and-coming leader within your organization for this opportunity! Nominations will close on Wednesday, June 7. For complete details on the Emerging Leaders program and application, click here.

We encourage you to check out two recent podcasts featuring the APHSA team! Jen Kerr, Director of Organizational Effectiveness (OE), joined Berry Dunn recently to talk about organizational change and how we can build effective organizations one person at a time. Listen here! In addition, Meg Dygert, Senior Policy Associate of Child and Family Well-Being, joined Mathematica to discuss the Family First Prevention Services Act and the long-term implications of the law’s provisions around prevention services and evidence of effectiveness. Check it out here

Look through the newest release in our Farm Bill 2023 recommendations series, “The Path Forward: State and Local Policy Priorities for the 2023 Farm Bill.” Titled, “Customer Experience Demonstration Project: What Works for Individuals and Families,” the brief dives deeper into our first recommendation to establish a Customer Experience Demonstration Project that would allow state agencies to test flexibilities in SNAP application and certification processes. 

Legislative Updates

Child Care for Working Families Act Introduced to Senate


Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, introduced the Child Care for Working Families Act, comprehensive legislation to address the child care crisis and ensure that working families can find and afford high-quality child care.

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Administration Signs Executive Order to Advance Environmental Justice


A new executive order lays out the administration's strategy to advance environmental justice. It establishes an Office of Environmental Justice within the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and directs agencies to develop environmental justice strategic plans to move towards a whole-of-government approach.

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Today is the last chance to take our 15-minute survey about your relationship to environmental justice, helping us gauge current work and interest.

New Debt Ceiling Legislation Proposed by The House


This week, the House passed legislation to raise the debt ceiling, with costs offset in part through stricter work requirements in SNAP, TANF, and new work requirements in Medicaid. The final bill included minor changes to the original drafted work provisions, including moving up the effective date of certain work provisions. The bill is not expected to pass the Senate due to opposition from the Democratic majority.

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Advancing Social and Economic Mobility

USDA FNS Posts SNAP FY23 Allocations of Discretionary Exemptions for ABAWDS


Currently, able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDS) are limited in their participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) unless they meet work requirements or are otherwise exempt. A new USDA Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) memorandum provides crucial adjustments to the number of monthly discretionary exemptions which each state is allocated.

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FNS SNAP Longitudinal Data Project Webinar


USDA FNS have posted the recording of a webinar that provides a general overview of the SNAP Longitudinal Data Project (LDP). Created in the 2018 Farm Bill, this project facilitates longitudinal research on SNAP participation.

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Child Care and Development Fund Payment Rates


The Office of Child Care (OCC) recently issued letters to Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) state and territory lead agencies. They explain that agencies are considered out of compliance with the equal access provision of the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Act if their child care subsidy payment rates are set below the 50th percentile of their most recent market rate survey. OCC continues to recommend that states and territories aim to set their payment rates higher than the 50th percentile threshold to at least at the 75th percentile of their recent market rate survey. 

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Strengthening the Human Services Sector

USDA FNS Seeks Comments on SNAP Information-Collection Requirements


USDA FNS is required to develop standards for identifying major changes in the operations of state agencies that administer SNAP. FNS is currently requesting comments through May 22 on proposed information collection standards and processes.

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APHSA Events

Early Summit Registration Rates Extended!


Early registration rates for APHSA National Human Services Summit 2023 have been extended! You now have four more days to take advantage of these early reduced rates, so be sure to register before Tuesday, May 2!


Event Dates: May 21 to 24

Register Today!

The ISM + PHSA Fellowship application is open. State, county, and city government human services agencies can apply for travel assistance to attend the ISM + PHSA Education Conference & Expo. These fellowships are intended for agencies with very limited travel budgets.

Submit Application

The call for ISM award nominations are now open! Categories include The ISM Awards of Excellence and The ISM 2023 Recognition Awards. Be sure to download the criteria and awards FAQ. Then share your success stories and nominate your agency today!

Submit Nominations
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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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