This week, the House Ways and Means, Agriculture, and Energy and Commerce Committees released legislative text and held markup hearings as part of the federal budget reconciliation process. The proposed legislation includes substantial changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid in terms of financing, participation, and eligibility. Just today, however, the House Budget Committee failed to pass the bill out of Committee. Several Republican members voted no, citing a desire to make more significant changes to Medicaid than what was passed out of the Energy and Commerce Committee. APHSA has prepared a summary of the current bill’s health and human services-related provisions to help our members understand its potential impact on their work. | | On Tuesday, APHSA sent a letter to House and Senate Agriculture Committees expressing concerns with proposed changes to SNAP, including a cost shift to states in both administrative funding and funding of SNAP benefits, as well as the removal of the Quality Control (QC) payment error tolerance threshold. The provisions outlined will weaken states’ ability to operate SNAP in a way that supports families, protects taxpayer resources, and advances program improvements already underway. We will continue to monitor developments closely and provide timely updates and analysis as it advances toward a potential final passage. | | We’re hiring! APHSA’s new Vice President of Professional Services role is designed to lead and grow APHSA’s fee-for-service business lines, including consulting, conferences, events, and training. Reporting directly to the President and CEO, this leadership position will collaborate with cross-functional teams and external partners to develop innovative services that meet member needs and boost APHSA’s market presence. Apply today or share with your network. |
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New EO Aimed at Enhancing Workforce Development Programs
A new Executive Order (EO) directs several federal agencies to conduct a “Comprehensive Worker Investment and Development Strategy” and to submit a plan aimed at exceeding 1 million new active apprentices by mid-August. The EO underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in workforce development programs with the overall goal of consolidating and streamlining federal programs.
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ACF Releases Guidance on TANF Alignment
The Office of Family Assistance (OFA) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) published guidance outlining how states can use Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds to support educational choices for families living with low-income, emphasizing private and faith-based options. It also makes clear that TANF funds can be used for early childhood education and wrap-around services, but not for general costs associated with public education systems. This guidance is meant to better align TANF with EO 14191.
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New Interactive Dashboard for Foster Care Data
ACF has announced the upcoming launch of a new interactive dashboard designed to make foster care data more accessible to the public. The dashboard will also include the release of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Adoption and Foster Care Analysis Reporting System (AFCARS) data. This data shows:
- The number of children entering foster care in FY 2023 totaled 175,283, a decrease of 6.1 percent from FY 2022;
- The number of children in foster care on the last day of FY 2023 totaled 343,077, a decrease of 6.9 percent from FY 2022.
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HUD Provides $1.8 million to Support Youth Aging Out of Foster Care
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a $1.8 million dollar investment in HUD’s Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) program to assist more than 100 youth aging out of the foster care system with temporary, supportive funding to prevent homelessness for a duration of 36 months.
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FNS Proposed Rescinding SNAP Final Rule on Revision of Civil Rights Data Collection Methods
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a proposed rule to rescind a December 2023 final rule that prohibited visual observation as a means of collecting and reporting race and ethnicity data in SNAP. Comments are due within 30 days.
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APHSA Summit Award Nominations are Open
Each year at the APHSA National Human Services Summit, we honor individuals and organizations for their exceptional contributions to the human services sector. This year, we are excited to accept nominations in three award categories. Be sure to review the award criteria below and submit your nominations by May 20!
Deadline: May 20
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Early Bird Registration for APHSA Summit
We look forward to seeing you at this year’s APHSA National Human Services Summit, June 1-4 in Philadelphia! The deadline for early bird registration rates is right around the corner. Register today and join leaders, innovators, and changemakers in the human services sector as we come together to build strategies for improving the lives of children and families!
Early Bird Registration Deadline: May 22
| Never been to an APHSA Summit before? Hear firsthand from our members about the undeniable power of this event and the connections and networking that come along with it! | |
WEBINAR: Moving Beyond the Classroom to Strengthen Training
Join us for June’s National Staff Development and Training Association (NSDTA) Showcase where we will help participants move beyond the classroom to strengthen training programs, ensuring that trainees can effectively transfer knowledge and skills to on-the-job performance. This webinar will delve into the fundamentals of “transfer of learning,” focusing on methods that have been proven to strengthen training, engage learners, and improve overall training outcomes.
June 9, 2:00-3:00PM ET
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