May 27, 2022

Reconnect with your colleagues! Registration is now open for all of our upcoming APHSA Conferences, to be held in-person. Check them out in the APHSA Events section below, or on our Events page. Additionally, the Award nominations are now open for the 2022 Economic Mobility and Well-Being (EMWB) Conference; find more details here. Please submit all nominations by Friday, July 1.

The latest Catalyst blog post is the second in our series, "The Core—A Cutting Edge Blog Series Getting to the Core of Modern TANF Reform," taking a detailed look at Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Authored by Justin Brown, Secretary of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, “A Tangible Illustration of the Promise of TANF,” uses a unique analogy that is effective in connecting to poverty and allows us to imagine a framework for building a solution.

TWIW will be taking a brief hiatus for the holiday along with Congress; look for us back in your inbox on June 10.  In the meantime, we’ll keep you apprised of any important updates and you can also stay up to date on Twitter. We wish everyone a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend!

House Enacts Access to Baby Formula Act of 2022

The bill authorizes the Department of Agriculture to take certain actions to address emergencies, disasters, and supply chain disruptions (particularly the shortage of infant formula in the United States) affecting participants of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

Read Bill

FNS Releases Letter Urging State WIC Agencies to Take Action to Help Families Get Formula During Shortages

In the letter, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) urges states to request waivers, review their agency’s policies and procedures related to minimum stocking requirements for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) authorized vendors, and work to substitute recalled products and ensure WIC participants receive enough infant formula.

Read Letter

FNS Posts Policy Memo on Child Nutrition Program Area Eligibility Determination Data for Summer 2022 and School Year 2022-2023

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) memo provides guidance to State agencies as they transition from COVID-19 Nationwide waivers related to establishment of area eligibility for child nutrition programs such as the National School Lunch Program’s Seamless Summer Option and afterschool snack program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and the Summer Food Service Program.

Read Memo

HHS Issues Joint Dear Colleague Letter on Children’s Mental Health

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), and the Administration for Community Living (ACL), all within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), have released a letter on access to children’s mental health services. The letter contains opportunities for states to partner together with federal agencies, and other programs and services, to improve services and access to mental health support for youth.

Read Letter

FNS Posts FY 2019 and 2018 Reported Application Processing Timeliness Rates for SNAP State QC Reviews

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) evaluates application processing timeliness (APT) for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as part of the quality control (QC) review process.

FY 2018 APT Rates

FY 2019 APT Rates

FNS Posts Webinar on FY 2022 SNAP PTIGs

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) webinar on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Process and Technology Improvement Grants (PTIGs) provides prospective FY 2022 PTIG applicants with an overview of funding priority areas, review criteria, pre-application requirements, and more.

Watch Webinar

FNS Publishes Final Summary Report on Pilot Projects to Promote Work and Increase State Accountability in SNAP

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) presents employment, earnings, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation, and other outcome findings for individuals enrolled in pilot projects conducted by 10 states from 2016 to 2019. The pilot projects were funded through the Agricultural Act of 2014 to develop innovative strategies to reduce dependency on and increase employment among SNAP participants.

Read Report

Tracy Wareing Evans Goes "In The Ring" with Héctor Colón

APHSA President and CEO Tracy Wareing Evans recently joined Héctor Colón, former boxer and CEO of Lutheran Social Services of WI and Upper MI (LSS) on his podcast “In the Ring,” where leaders in human services, philanthropy, business and government get real about their challenges associated with removing stigma and barriers to health and well-being. Tracy's episode, "Accelerating Public Trust Through Sector Alignment and Investment," shared a call to the public sector: “How are you showing up?” Watch here:

Code for America RFI

Code for America, a 501(c)3 nonprofit civic technology organization, is seeking government partners for their Safety Net Innovation Lab. The Lab is a philanthropically-supported multi-year initiative to partner with state, tribal nation, district, and territory government agencies to improve the equity, accessibility, and customer experience of human services programs. Code for America has previously launched GetCalFresh (a digital SNAP application assister), worked with Minnesota to build and handoff MNbenefits (an integrated benefits application) as well as designed text messaging pilots in Louisiana. Interested government agencies can respond to a Request for Information (RFI) here, due

by July 8.

NSDTA Showcase Series Webinar - Crucial Conversations on Race Equity in Human Services

Join us for the next webinar in our NSDTA Showcase Series with a panel consisting of national EDI leaders. This session will facilitate the history, challenges and best practices on race equity in the human services sector. The panel consists of national EDI leaders who will discuss how their organizations are addressing this critical issue, available resources and lessons learned.

Wednesday, June 29, 3:00-4:30 PM EDT

National Health and Human Services Summit

This year marks the 90th anniversary of APHSA! Join us for our National Health and Human Services Summit, to be held at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, VA. The Summit provides an opportunity for attendees to participate in workshops and sessions encompassing a diverse range of topics including policy, research, and state and local initiatives, engaging in valuable discussions on innovation and transformation. The Summit is bringing members, partners, and allied organizations together in-person and we want you to be there! Access full online agenda here.

June 12-15, 2022

Economic Mobility and Well-Being (EMWB) Conference

The 2022 Economic Mobility and Well-Being (EMWB) Conference will be held at the Marriott Savannah Riverfront in Savannah, GA. Join us for informative sessions, engaging content, and a restorative experience! The EMWB conference brings together members from 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).

August 14-17, 2022

American Association of Health and Human Services Attorneys (AAHHSA) Annual Education Conference

The 2022 American Association of Health and Human Services Attorneys (AAHHSA) Annual Education Conference will be held at the Sheraton Columbus Hotel at Capitol Square, Columbus, OH. The AAHHSA conference is a comprehensive learning and networking experience for attorneys who represent the state and local government agencies that administer health and human services programs. This conference promotes pragmatic innovation in health and human services while facilitating the exchange of information between attorneys from across the nation.

October 9-12, 2022

National Staff Development and Training Association (NSDTA) Education Conference

The 2022 National Staff Development and Training Association (NSDTA) Education Conference will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Spokane City Center in Spokane, WA. This conference brings together human services organizational development, staff development, and training professionals at the local, state, and federal levels. Join us for the opportunity to share ideas, resources, and engage in robust sessions. We are focusing on forward-thinking ideas about instructional design, workforce development, evaluation and research, and much more!

October 16-19, 2022

Information Technology Solutions Management for Human Services (ISM) Annual Conference & Expo

The 2022 Information Technology Solutions Management for Human Services (ISM) Annual Conference & Expo will be held at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, MD. This event brings together agency leaders in technology, along with the private sector firms focused on providing solutions for health and human services agencies. The content presented will promote IT solutions and best practices that enhance the delivery of health and human services.

October 23-26, 2022

National Research Conference on Early Childhood - NRCEC 2022

The Administration for Children and Families' National Research Conference on Early Childhood (NRCEC) will address knowledge gaps across programs serving young children and their families by presenting the latest research surrounding Head Start, Early Head Start, child care, home visiting, child welfare, special education, pre-kindergarten, early elementary, and other early childhood programs.

June 27–29, 2022

White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health

The conference, which has not been hosted since 1969, will focus on ending hunger, improving nutrition and physical activity, and reducing diet-related diseases and disparities. It will be held this September 2022.

Learn More

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