Spring has arrived in Washington DC—Congress will be on break until April 12 and TWIW will also take a brief recess. For those who celebrate, enjoy Passover and Easter and some relaxing time with friends and family. |
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Don't miss our next Third Thursday on April 15, with speakers this month from the University of Illinois at Springfield, CITI’s Creative Information Technology Inc., the County of San Diego Health & Human Services Agency, and the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. It's never too late to join in as your registration allows full access to the entire series—past and present! Register here.
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We’re growing! APHSA has several new job listings including Organization Effectiveness Consultants, HR Coordinator, Manager of Membership Engagement & Operations, and Project Director for Advancing Family Economic Mobility.
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Child and Family Well-Being |
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OCC Releases State Reports for Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act Funding (CRRSA)
The Office of Child Care (OCC) has released the state-by-state 60-day reports on uses of the $10 billion invested into the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) though CRRSA. The reports detail state uses of the funding, though they have until September 30, 2022 to obligate the funds and may choose to revise how they actually spend their allocations.
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Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Timely Mental Health for Foster Youth Act
This week, U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO), John Boozman (R-AR), Bob Casey (D-PA), and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), along with U.S. Representative Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to improve access to mental health services for children in the foster care system. The Act would require states to provide an initial mental health screening to foster children within 30 days of their entry into care. If a mental health issue is identified in the initial screening, states would be required to provide a comprehensive health assessment within 60 days.
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House Reauthorizes Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
The House has reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The new bill will build upon the original act by providing grants and supports toward prevention efforts aiming to create safer communities for women.
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Employment and Economic Well-Being |
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FNS Announces Non-Competitive SNAP Grants for States Using Third-Party Income Databases for Verification
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) announced a non-competitive grant opportunity for state SNAP agencies that use third party income databases to verify earned income as part of their household eligibility determination process. Approximately $20 million is available for Fiscal Year 2021 for these grants, which will gather information and data about how, when, and to what effect states use third party income databases to verify earned income, and the cost for these services. Deadline for submissions is May 21.
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ACF Published State Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund Allotments
The Administration for Children and Families has posted allotments for each state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program’s Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund. The fund may be used for non-recurrent short-term benefits as dictated in ACF 196R. Funds must be expended by September 30, 2022.
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Human Services Programs in Rural Contexts Study Proposal
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is proposing a study to capture the challenges and unique opportunities of administering human services programs in rural contexts. Comments on the proposed study may be made through April 17.
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USDA Requests Comments on SNAP E&T Case Management
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has requested comment on a proposed study of SNAP E&T case management. This data will be used to identify lessons learned and best practices that FNS can share with States to help build stronger SNAP E&T programs and fulfill the new case management requirement.
Comments are due by April 22.
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FNS Publishes Memo on Plans for WIC Outreach and Modernization Funds in American Rescue Plan Act
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) published a memo on a new initiative within the American Rescue Plan Act that will seek to improve both the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and the WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (WIC FMNP). The Act provides $390 million for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021, to remain available through FY 2024, to carry out outreach, innovation, and program modernization efforts, including appropriate waivers and flexibility, to increase participation and redemption of benefits.
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Student Aid Data to be Available for Use in SNAP Eligibility Determinations
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced that USDA may now use data from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to communicate with students who may be eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Specifically, the expected family contribution and Federal Work-Study Program eligibility will help USDA identify students who may be able to receive a temporary expansion of SNAP benefits.
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Seeking Strategies to Recruit, Advance, and Retain Early Care and Education Workforce
The Building and Sustaining the Early Care and Education Workforce (BASE) project aims to increase understanding of what drives workforce turnover in the early care and education (ECE) field and to inform efforts to improve the recruitment, advancement, and retention of the ECE workforce. The project is funded by the Office of Research, Planning, and Evaluation within the Administration for Children and Families in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Deadline for submissions is April 15.
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APHSA - Information Technology Solutions Management for Human Services (ISM) Call For Proposals
ISM’s purpose is to promote IT solutions and best practices that enhance the delivery of health and human services. ISM shares innovative solutions, provides peer-to-peer learning opportunities, and members collaborate with private sector partners to create a modern, responsive health and human services system.
At this time, ISM is only accepting proposals from state and local agencies and community-based organizations who deliver important programs and services through innovative solutions.
Deadline for submission is Friday, April 9.
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APHSA Third Thursday 360: Virtual Mini-Series of Health and Human Services Collective Learning
Join us on the Third Thursday of each month through June - building on our January-March sessions, we're continuing with topics on Child Welfare, SNAP, TANF, IT, Performance Management, Child Care, & more. It's never too late to join in as your registration allows full access to the entire series!
Thursday, April 15, 12:30-5:15 PM EST.
Certificates of attendance will be provided for the pursuit of continuing education (CE) credits. Pay once for entire series! Group discount available for five or more registrants. Learn more!
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APHSA - National Staff Development and Training Association (NSDTA) Call For Proposals
APHSA is now accepting proposals for the National Staff Development and Training Association (NSDTA) hybrid 2021 Education Conference scheduled for October 3-6 in Spokane, WA. All sessions are being designed to fit the hybrid event model with both in-person and virtual options. NSDTA members represent the full range of functions in organizational development and training including broader leadership roles in human services. Workshop proposals are encouraged in the following categories:
- Evaluation/Research
- Curriculum Design and Instructional Technology
- Training/Facilitation
- Human Services Leadership
- Organizational Development and Effectiveness
- Workforce Development and Planning
Deadline for submission is Friday, April 16.
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APHSA - Economic Mobility and Well-Being Conference (EMWB) Call For Proposals
APHSA, in partnership with the National Association of Welfare Research and Statistics (NAWRS) and three APHSA affinity groups including the American Association of SNAP Directors (AASD), the National Association for Program Information and Performance Measurement (NAPIPM), and the National Association of State TANF Administrators (NASTA) is now accepting proposals for the hybrid 2021 Economic Mobility and Well-Being Conference (EMWB), scheduled for August 22-25 in Milwaukee, WI. Workshop proposals are encouraged in the following categories:
- Translating Research into Action
- Preparing for an Equitable and Resilient Recovery
- Innovations in Policy and Practice
- Operational Excellence, Workforce and Organizational Well-being
- Dismantling Structural Inequities in Human Services
Deadline for submission is Tuesday, April 20.
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Upcoming Webinars & Virtual Events |
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2021 Virtual State Healthcare IT Connect Summit
Reimagining Health, and Human Service Delivery for 2021 & Beyond! Early registration is now open for the Healthcare IT Connect Summit. COVID-19 has highlighted, as never before, the need to address healthcare disparities for the nation's highest-risk patients often residing in some of the most underserved communities. The pace of change and innovation is set to continue, with the CMS, and ONC Interoperability rules laying the foundation, for a more citizen-centric data ecosystem, and the ability to deliver care in a variety of settings, across the health and human services continuum.
May 17-21, 2021
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APHSA Career Center - Post Your Open Positions Today
APHSA serves as a clearinghouse for job opportunities throughout the health and human services (H/HS) field. Employers reach a wide audience of candidates looking for careers in H/HS and job seekers will find a bevy of opportunities throughout the country.
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