April 10, 2020
Greetings!
With stay-at-home orders in effect across the country, we have cancelled our 2020 National Health and Human Services Summit scheduled for June. Please note we continue to monitor COVID-19 updates and guidance closely, while planning for additional events that are still on the schedule for the Fall.  We are also exploring virtual avenues to bring our members and partners together in the coming months—stay tuned!

Many of our members continue to connect through our online communities portal to share information and resources (note a sign in is required). And we also invite you to check out our blog, The Catalyst , with a new post sharing stories of resilience and a new section specifically for COVID-19 related topics .

On another note, this week is the 25th anniversary of National Public Health Week. We are grateful to all our public health partners who are working tirelessly to keep our communities healthy and safe during the pandemic—thank you!

As a reminder, we are here to support you and your organization during these challenging times—please reach out to us if we can provide a helping hand. You can continue to access our COVID-19 related updates and resources here . Finally, we encourage you to maintain meaningful connections in your life, recharge when you can, and take care of yourself this weekend!

Latest COVID-19 Updates
The Department of Labor Announces New Guidance on CARES Act
The Department of Labor (DOL) released the first of several anticipated Unemployment Insurance Program Letters (UIPL) late last week issuing guidance on unemployment insurance provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. UIPL No. 14-20 provides States with a summary of UI programs established under the CARES Act, and guidance on coordination of programs, funding for states and emergency flexibility for state staffing. UIPL No. 15-20 and 16-20 provide guidance on operating, financial and reporting instructions for Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) respectively.

Read Letters:
$250 Billion Relief Bill for Small Businesses Stalled in Senate
A bill for additional $250 billion in relief for small businesses stalled in the Senate on Thursday. The Administration requested the bill be quickly approved. Democrats countered with a proposal for an additional $250 billion in relief for hospitals and local governments. Republicans rejected the counter, and the Senate adjourned.

Child and Family Well-Being
ACF Releases FAQs On Use Of FVPSA Funds During COVID-19
Considering the effects of COVID-19 on those experiencing family violence in homes that are unsafe, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has released a FAQ sheet for grantees of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) programs. The FAQ sheet goes into detail on some flexibilities and creative uses in funding under the public health emergency.

ASPE Releases Guide To Facilitating Emergency Paid Family Leave For Low Income Families
The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) has released a brief sharing best practices for facilitating the use of emergency paid family leave, particularly for lower-income families, and drawing on research by ASPE on families’ participation in state paid family leave programs. The brief offers considerations for human services organizations, early childhood education programs, schools, and others who work with lower income children and families and their employers. It helps explain how to best use the new emergency family leave program efficiently and support families in immediate need.

Employment and Economic Well-Being
Michigan Becomes First State with an Approved P-EBT Plan
Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) was enacted through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. It refers to an additional Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) supplement for both SNAP and non-SNAP households who have one or more child that receives free or reduced-priced meals from their schools. Through P-EBT, households receive a benefit amount priced at the federal reimbursement rate of free meals (approximately $6.64/day for each child) for each day that the child’s school is closed beyond five days. To begin implementing P-EBT, the state must submit a plan and be approved by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). Several states have already submitted plans, and many more are working hard to strategize for the implementation of this new program as soon as they are able.

USDA Opens Online SNAP Purchasing Pilot
The 2014 Farm Bill included the introduction of an online Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) pilot program for SNAP clients to order groceries and have them delivered. Six states are currently active in the pilot, with Nebraska beginning only last week. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has announced they will allow other states to submit waivers and apply to be a part of this pilot. Just this week, both California and Arizona were approved.

State Waiver Approvals
States are continuing to receive approvals for waivers that they submitted to the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), the most recent being for interview flexibilities, telephonic signatures, and emergency allotments waivers. The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) has launched a website that categorizes each of these waiver approvals by state, including for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), SNAP for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and Child Nutrition.

From Our APHSA Partners
NASCIO COVID-19 Response Resources for State IT
The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) shares COVID-19 planning and response guidance for state CIOs. Included are resources for cybersecurity, remote work, business continuity and disaster recovery, and IT infrastructure.

U.S. Digital Response
The U.S. Digital Response (USDR) is an all-volunteer team of government technologists — over 3,500 people — that was formed to help governments respond to the impacts of COVID-19. USDR works with federal, state, and local governments to provide both pro bono consulting services (they assign a suitable team of volunteers to a government agency to help them with a unique problem) and pro bono cross-government projects (building tools and infrastructure that will be useful to many agencies). Governments that need help with COVID-caused problems that have technological solutions can go to the USDR site for their intake form.

Upcoming Webinars
APHSA Webinar: Riding the Wave: Strategies to Successfully Navigate Service Delivery
Leveraging a statewide workforce and adopting remote/telework strategies, including using real-time data to ensure work keeps moving, will be critical for agencies to serve the wave of new applicants in coming weeks. Join APHSA along with Change & Innovation Agency, Washington State Department of Social and Health Services and Texas Health and Human Services to hear how states across the country have successfully implemented these proven strategies to reshape their service delivery to support more people – faster – with existing staff. 

Thursday, April 16, 2:00-3:15 PM EST
Webinar Series: Integrating Social Services and Health
Join Health Affairs for a three-part webinar series to highlight key papers and authors examining the integration of social services and health. There is growing attention in the health sector to understanding and addressing the social factors that play a role in people’s health. Yet, most programs designed to meet social needs are completely separate from those designed to meet health care needs. Hear about studies published in this month's issue, particularly relevant now that COVID-19 highlights the need for an integrated response.

Thursday, April 16, 3:00-4:30 PM EST Equity Improvements
Thursday, April 23, 2:00-3:30 PM EST Evidence-Based Practices
Thursday, April 30, 2:00-3:30 PM EST Infrastructure
Upcoming Events
Reminder: All APHSA-sponsored and co-hosted events that were scheduled between now and the end of June have been postponed. While we continue to plan for our events scheduled to take place in the fall, we are simultaneously making contingency plans should we not be able to convene. In the same spirit, we will remain flexible regarding event deadlines as we move forward.
APHSA 2020 American Association of SNAP Directors (AASD) & National Association of State TANF Administrators (NASTA) Call For Proposals & Distinguished Service Award Nominations
APHSA is now accepting proposals for our 2020 American Association of SNAP Directors (AASD) & National Association of State TANF Administrators (NASTA) Education Conference, August 23-26, Milwaukee, WI. Deadline for submission is April 24.
Distinguished Service Award Nominations: AASD and NASTA are pleased to offer the opportunity to recognize outstanding performance in the design, delivery, management and administration of the SNAP and TANF Programs by human services employees and programs.  Deadline for award submission is May 1.
APHSA 2020 National Association for Program Information and Performance Measurement (NAPIPM) Call For Proposals
APHSA is now accepting proposals for our 2020 National Association for Program Information and Performance Measurement (NAPIPM) Education Conference, August 3-6, Portland, OR. Deadline for submission is May 1.
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.