This week, we released our 2022 Action Plan that ensures our association-wide efforts are focused on what is ripe and essential as we work together to overcome both longstanding and new challenges. You can check out some of the highlights from the plan in our recent blog post, 2022 Action Plan: A Commitment to Outcomes.

ISM Call for Proposals is now open for state and local government agencies. The 2022 ISM Annual Conference and Expo will be held October 23-26 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, MD—save the date and learn more about the focus areas and session types in our proposal guide. Be sure to submit proposals by March 18.

Join our team! APHSA has several job openings including an Organizational Effectiveness Consultant and an Instructional Designer. The full list of open positions can be found here. Apply now or share with interested parties in your network.

The Administration for Children & Families (ACF) is seeking comment on a new study that would examine the extent to which states link administrative data on child maltreatment to other data sets, and challenges states face in linking data. Comments due by April 12.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) recently posted two Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) reports. The WIC Participant and Program Characteristics 2020 report summarizes demographic, income and health-related characteristics and behaviors of participants certified to receive WIC benefits in April 2020. Additionally, FNS posted 2019 national and state estimates on the number of people eligible for WIC benefits and the percent of the eligible population covered by the program.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has published a brief discussing the potential for the Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund (PEAF) to support needy families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and by unusually high heating costs this winter.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the members of the new Equity Commission and its Subcommittee on Agriculture. This independent commission was authorized and funded by the American Rescue Plan Act to address historical discrimination at USDA.

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) published a final report entitled, “Best Practices in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) Employment and Training (E&T) Programs: 2016–2020" in accordance with Section 4022 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (PL 113-79). The report summarizes the research review and provides key findings on work-based learning strategies, the importance of case management and supportive services, and supporting long-term connections to stable employment.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seeks comment on proposals for increasing awareness of and participation in the Affordable Connectivity Program and for an enhanced affordable connectivity benefit for consumers in certain high-cost areas. Comments are due by March 16.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted final rules for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), a program established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to subsidize broadband access for households with low incomes.

Join us along with the National Association of Workforce Boards for a two-part webinar series sponsored by the Coalition on Adult Basic Education. The first webinar will use a national perspective to introduce Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education & Training (SNAP E&T) as part of a broader workforce development ecosystem. Panelists will discuss how providers can integrate SNAP E&T as part of an overall workforce development strategy supported by multiple federal programs and funding streams.

Join us along with speakers from the National Community Action Partnership, Virginia Department of Social Services, Virginia Community Action Partnership, and Hampton Roads Community Action Program to learn about our new partnership Playbook with the Community Action Partnership: Aligning Systems to Advance Family and Community Well-Being: A Partnership Playbook for Community Action and Human Services Agencies. This Playbook is a shared exploration of the ways our two systems have partnered together in response to the recent public health and economic crisis, and continue to move forward promising collaborative work focused on thriving families.

Save the Date! We are excited to announce the return of our in-person National Health and Human Services Summit. Learn more about the focus areas and session types in our Call for Proposals Guide and be sure to submit your proposals by March 4. Registration opening soon!

Join the Williams Institute under the UCLA School of Law for a discussion on food insufficiency among transgender people. Panelists will examine contributing factors and strategies to improve access to food, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), charitable good resources, and Medicaid.

Join USDA and the Seattle Jobs Initiative for an overview of workforce develop-ment best practices that, when integrated into States’ SNAP Employment & Training (E&T) programs, can improve outcomes for both work-ready and higher-barrier Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants. Hear from States and providers on how they are taking steps to improve their E&T program quality and what has worked well for them in helping SNAP E&T participants secure skills and employment.