July 19, 2019
Greetings!
Congress is in session - a heat wave is in town - and here is what we are following around Washington. Cool off while getting the latest updates and don't forget that a ward opportunities for the NSDTA and AASD/NASTA conferences are closing soon - details in the conference section below .
APHSA Special Statement
APHSA Family Border Statement
APHSA has released an official statement by President and CEO Tracy Wareing Evans on the conditions and care of migrant children in federal government custody. "As leaders in the field of health and human services, and with responsibility for administering child protection systems in the US, we are struck by the stark contrast in what we espouse for children and youth and what is actually happening to migrant children in federal government custody..."
Legislative Update
Two Year Deal For Debt Limit Package Still In Negotiation
Congressional and White House officials continue to negotiate a two-year deal on spending caps which will stave off $126 billion in automatic spending cuts. Congress and the Administration are currently negotiating the “pay-fors”, including budget cuts and increased revenue.  The Trump administration has laid out a wide array of spending cuts and tweaks to mandatory programs for Democratic leaders to consider for inclusion in a two-year discretionary caps and debt limit package. The White House offsets proposal includes $574 billion in items identified in President Trump’s fiscal 2020 budget request. In addition, there’s $516 billion in “structural reforms” obtained by extending current discretionary spending limits by another two years, through fiscal 2023. Democrats have demanded dollar-for-dollar increases in military and non-military spending, in addition to $22 billion in funding for veterans health care over the next two fiscal years.
Child and Family Well-Being
Momentum Towards Ending Benefit Caps Is Growing
Benefit caps for social services are losing favor nationwide, with at least eight states repealing the policy since 2002. About half of states had put limits on benefits in the past 25 years, meaning women who have a certain number of children receive no additional benefits when they have additional children. California and New Jersey have both lifted their caps in the past two years, joining several other states including Oklahoma, Nebraska and Wyoming. Fifteen states still have benefit caps but the trend is losing popularity as numerous studies have found that the cap has not led to any decrease in fertility or family size.
Employment and Economic Well-Being
Senate Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Economic Mobility
On July 17 the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Policy held a hearing entitled, “Economic Mobility: Is the American Dream in Crisis?” Witnesses from the Manhattan Institute, the American Enterprise Institute, the Economic Policy Institute, and Franchisee Advocacy Consulting testified before the Subcommittee.
Healthcare
Blueprint For Leveraging Medicaid and CHIP to Finance Change
A report by The Center for the Study of Social Policy, "Fostering Social and Emotional Health through Pediatric Primary Care: A Blueprint for Leveraging Medicaid and CHIP to Finance Change," describes a set of strategies and tools that state Medicaid and CHIP agencies, managed care plans, pediatric care providers, and others can use to optimize the social and emotional development of young children through pediatric practice.
More States Halt Work Requirements For Medicaid Amid Technical and Legal Challenges
New Hampshire is the latest state to delay its plan to incorporate work requirements into Medicaid, after estimating that 17,000 people would lose their insurance coverage next month. It's the third state to halt such requirements, which have been struck down by courts in Arkansas and Kentucky. Other states such as Indiana are moving forward at a slower pace, already putting rules into effect yet not enforcing them until 2020 or later and using the extended ramp-up period to educate and engage members.
Opioid Warning Label Requirement First In Nation
On Monday, New Jersey governor Phil Murphy signed a law requiring a warning label on all opioid prescriptions. More than 3,100 people died of drug overdoses in New Jersey in 2018, largely because of opioid addiction. New Jersey is the first state to require mandatory labels with a permanent law. The warning labels will state that opioid use runs the risk of addiction and overdose and will be required for the following prescriptions: codeine, hydrocodone (Vicodin), hydromorphone (Dilaudid), meperidine (Demerol) and oxycodone (OxyContin). The new law will take effect in February 2020.
Upcoming APHSA Conferences
National Association for Program Information and Performance Measurement (NAPIPM) Annual Education Conference
The 2019 NAPIPM Annual Education Conference is a comprehensive learning and networking experience for dedicated human services professionals responsible for improving the performance measurement capabilities of their agencies. Join your colleagues from across the nation for a series of information-rich presentations and breakout sessions focusing on reshaping today’s service delivery systems.

August 5-8 | Memphis, TN
American Association of SNAP Directors (AASD) & National Association of State TANF Administrators (NASTA) Education Conference
The 2019 AASD/NASTA Annual Conference is designed to assist Health and Human Service leaders and policy makers to shape the future of SNAP and TANF programs through collaboration and modernization and the exchange of experience and knowledge amongst attendees. Join your colleagues from across the nation for a series of information-rich presentations and breakout sessions focused on advancing SNAP and TANF programs.

August 25-28 | Charlotte, NC
AASD/NASTA Distinguished Service Awards 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. Awards are open to any individual, agency, company, or program that provides SNAP or TANF services. Nominations close on Friday, July 19.
Information Technology Solutions Management for Human Services (ISM) Annual Conference
The 2019 ISM Conference is the premiere conference for health and human services IT leaders, focusing on innovative IT solutions. For 52 years, the ISM Conference has brought together the brightest minds from public H/HS agencies, private industry, academia and community-based organizations to showcase the future of H/HS Information Technology. The 2019 topics will include: Data Analytics, Modernizing the Workforce, Inventive Strategies, Operationalizing Technology, Technology in Service of Customers and more.

September 22-25 | Milwaukee, WI
The National Staff Development and Training Association (NSDTA) Annual Education Conference
The 2019 NSDTA Education Conference is designed to assist Health and Human Services leaders responsible for training, staff and organizational development/effectiveness and workforce planning shape the future of these vital programs through collaboration, innovation and the exchange of experience and knowledge amongst attendees.

October 20-23 | Long Beach, CA
NSDTA Recognition Awards are to recognize outstanding individuals and initiatives within your organization which are helping advance the delivery of health and human services practices or programs to staff. Nominations close on Friday, July 26.
American Association of Health and Human Services Attorneys (AAHHSA) Annual Education Conference
The AAHHSA Annual National Education and Training Conference is a comprehensive learning and networking experience for attorneys who represent the state and local government agencies that administer health and/or human services programs. The overarching goal of the conference is to facilitate the exchange of information between attorneys and promote pragmatic innovation in the field of H/HS services.

October 27-30 | Arlington, VA
Upcoming Events
African American Economic Security and the Role of Social Security
Join the Urban Institute to discuss a new brief that addresses s tructural barriers precluding many African American workers from jobs with pension coverage and sufficient income to save for retirement. These labor market disparities result in Social Security benefit levels that leave a disproportionate share of African Americans in poverty.

Wednesday, July 24, 9:00-11:00 AM EST
Urban Institute, 500 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC
National Association for Welfare Research and Statistics ( NAWRS) Workshop
The NAWRS 2019 Workshop will have presentations on topics including child support, coaching, early childhood education, child care, foster care, substance abuse, workforce programs including SNAP E&T, and more. Additionally, they will have several exciting Research Academy sessions to discuss how to incorporate rigorous research methods into ongoing agency efforts to improve and document program effectiveness.

July 28 - 31 | Omni Royal Orleans Hotel, New Orleans, LA
NSDTA Showcase Series Webinar: Technology in the Training Room - What's HOT and How to Use it!
Join us for the latest webinar in the NSDTA Showcase Series. Using technology provides the opportunity for presenters to keep learners immersed and excited to learn while additionally catering to the varying styles in adult learning. This webinar will introduce you to HOT technologies used to implement media in an adult learning environment, producing a first-class training experience. Together, we will explore a variety of tools used to amplify learner retention, cater to the thrills within us all with content specific games, and uncover tools used to boost learner buy-in to create a more collaborative learning experience.

Wednesday, July 31, 2:00-3:00 PM EST
Well-Being Exchange - Igniting The Potential
Join clinical and organizational psychologist Beth Cohen, Ph.D. in this session designed for human services professionals who frequently experience emotional stress as a result of the nature of their work. The purpose of the Well-Being Exchange is to provide information on health and well-being, share information, discuss strategies and explore frameworks related to health and well-being in human services. Participants will be provided with opportunities to share meaningful ideas and best practices.

Thursday, August 29, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM EST
UC Davis Activities & Recreation Center, Davis, CA

Call For Papers Now Open For 2020 State Healthcare IT Connect Summit
The State Healthcare IT Connect Summit has grown and evolved into an important national venue. Public and private sector thought leaders share ideas and benchmark implementation strategies of State Health IT Systems, with an anticipated 1000+ attendees & 45+ state teams at the 2020 program. Cross-cutting agenda themes include: Data Quality, Program & Business Metrics, Evolving Procurement Approaches, Organizational Change Management, Interoperability, Consumer Data Access, Integrating SDoH, Advanced Analytics, Security and Privacy.
Submission deadline is Friday, October 4.

April 27-29, 2020 | Baltimore, MD
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.