Click to view this email in your browser.

January 24, 2025

Hello Jessica,

As we close out the first week with a new administration, we are excited to share four new papers that conclude our Courageous Imperatives for Human Services series. In these final transition recommendations, we highlight the impacts of affordable, safe, and high-quality child care on families across the nation and our economy; reducing the need for child welfare system involvement by advancing proven, whole family solutions; creating a comprehensive support system for youth with complex behavioral health needs; and enhancing human services benefit program integrity, administrative efficiency, and customer experience. Read the latest releases and catch up on the full series here.

We're also excited to share the first of four case studies from the second cohort of the Coordinating SNAP & Nutrition Supports (CSNS) program! This case study is focused on the CSNS pilot project from Illinois, highlighting their journey to align the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) with other nutrition supports. These CSNS pilots aim to generate replicable lessons learned, paving the way for improved benefits access and streamlined, customer-centric service delivery models at a national scale. Read the case study to explore the innovative pilots that government agencies and their community partners are deploying to combat hunger!

Advancing Social and Economic Mobility

SNAP Benefit Issuance and the American Relief Act, 2025

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published an article discussing the American Relief Act, 2025 and its impact on SNAP—a piece of legislation aimed at strengthening food security and supporting economic recovery.

Strengthening the Human Services Sector

ACF Guidance for Improving Services and Outcomes for Intersex Children

Meg Sullivan, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), recently announced a new Information Memorandum to improve services and outcomes for intersex children and their families. It highlights ACF programs that can help providers welcome and accept intersex individuals, provide accurate information, and refer them to supportive services.

VA Announces Expansion of Conditions Considered for Service Connection

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently announced that several cancers are now considered presumptive for service connection. This means that veterans diagnosed with these cancers do not need to prove that their military service caused their condition to receive benefits. Effective this year, Veterans with cancers listed in this expansion will have access to no-cost healthcare and other earned benefits without needing to prove the service connection.

HHS Artificial Intelligence Strategic Plan

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has shared its Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategic Plan. The plan addresses several domains, including medical research, healthcare delivery, public health, and human services. It also provides a detailed framework and roadmap for implementing AI in these domains.

Case Studies on Using Data to Promote Equity in Child Welfare

The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) within ACF has uploaded a brief that discusses the Child Welfare Study to Enhance Equity with Data (CW-SEED) project. This project conducted case studies to explore how child welfare agencies and their partners use data to promote equity in service delivery and improve outcomes for children and families. The brief highlights various data practices used by child welfare agencies, such as collecting data on sexual orientation and gender identity, improving race and ethnicity data collection, and using dashboards to monitor equity data.

Guidance on Web and Mobile Application Accessibility

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division published guidance on ADA.gov for state and local governments. This guidance explains how to comply with the new web and mobile application accessibility rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Key updates include steps for governments to start planning for compliance, such as identifying web content and apps, training staff, and understanding the rule's exceptions.

APHSA Events

WEBINAR: A Holistic Approach to Workplace Wellness in 2025

It’s time to consider individual and workplace wellness as we kick off the new year. Join us next Tuesday for a National Staff Development and Training Association (NSDTA) learning event 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 through the lens of the eight dimensions of wellness.

January 28, 2025 3:00-4:00 pm ET

If you were forwarded this email, sign up here to get the next This Week in Washington newsletter sent directly to your inbox!

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.