This week, APHSA hosted an educational briefing on Capitol Hill about SNAP Employment and Training (SNAP E&T). The event began with opening remarks from Reggie Bicha, APHSA President and CEO, followed by panels featuring perspectives from 10 SNAP E&T state agency leaders, two organizations that serve as SNAP E&T providers, and two individuals who successfully participated in SNAP E&T and have now moved into full-time employment because of the program. The bipartisan group of registered attendees included representatives from 14 member offices and professional committee staff from both the House and Senate. We received positive feedback on the briefing, particularly for our focus on the lived experiences of the former program participants. | | We are closely monitoring the vote in the Senate on the Continuing Resolution this afternoon. We will provide updates as they become available. | | This Week in Washington will take a hiatus next week in line with the congressional calendar. Keep a look out for us in your inbox on March 28. In the meantime, we’ll keep you apprised of any important updates through special updates. |
| Advancing Social and Economic Mobility | |
Notice of 2025 Benefit Levels for Summer EBT
Earlier this week, the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a notice on the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children (Summer EBT) program and the 2025 benefit levels. It addresses the annual adjustments to the monthly benefit levels in the program, which are made to reflect changes in the Thrifty Food Plan.
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APHSA Responds to Proposed Changes to SNAP, TANF, and SSBG
In January, APHSA, along with a coalition of bipartisan membership organizations, submitted an open letter addressing proposed changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and Social Services Block Grant (SSBG). Directed to leaders within the House and Senate, the letter outlines the critical role of these programs in providing crucial services to Americans, especially those in rural areas. It makes clear our opposition to any benefit reductions that would increase the burden on state and local service providers and urges Congress to protect funding for complementary nutrition programs such as school and summer meals.
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OFA Ending TANF Pilot Program
The Office of Family Assistance (OFA) is ending the TANF pilot program, authorized by the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. The move was made to align with the priorities of the new administration. In the upcoming weeks, OFA will issue a new solicitation for proposals from all interested state programs for a fall 2025 cohort.
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| Strengthening the Human Services Sector | |
ACF Letter to State, Local, Tribal Partners
Acting Assistant Secretary at the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Andrew Gradison, recently sent a letter to state, local, and tribal partners regarding executive order (EO) 14218. In this letter, Secretary Gradison states that he intends to align with the EO titled “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders." He highlights action items that ACF will be working with state, local, and tribal partners on, including review of public benefit programs, eligibility verification, ensuring accurate information, and addressing the possible revocation of grants.
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WEBINAR: APHSA Peer Learning - Building Connection in the Workplace in Times of Change
Join us for a 90-minute webinar where expert panelists will share strategies for creating safe spaces and fostering meaningful discussions during times of change. This session will provide practical tools for enhancing team dynamics and building effective communication skills within family-serving systems.
March 26, 1:00-2:30 PM ET
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WEBINAR: NSDTA Learning Exchange - Evaluating Skill Demonstration Using a Competency Model Lens
The upcoming National Staff Development and Training Association (NSDTA) webinar will cover strategies for evaluating skill demonstration in training and practice. Participants will discover how competency models can enhance workforce recruitment, training, performance, and retention. There will also be a focus on learning techniques to evaluate learner competencies in training and practice, discussing best practices, and identifying common pitfalls in developing and measuring workforce competency.
March 28, 1:00-2:00 PM ET
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2025 State Healthcare IT Connect Summit
Reggie Bicha, President and CEO of APHSA, will present at the opening session of the 2025 State Healthcare IT Connect Summit in New Orleans. This event is expected to attract over 1,000 attendees and aims to provide participants with an enhanced understanding of new administration priorities and their impacts on current and planned modernization initiatives. Key topics will include adaptive thinking in budget-constrained environments, the integration of AI and automation in human services, and innovative digital health policy ideas. This event is free to government employees.
April 30-May 2
New Orleans
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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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