March 27, 2020
Greetings!
We hope this message finds you healthy and well! As we continue to keep COVID-19 impacts and response at the forefront of our work, we have created a one-stop-shop for our most recent updates as they relate to both the support of our members and their communities during this time, as well as our events and other relevant resources.

We will also continue to refresh our blog, The Catalyst , with posts relevant to the current challenges we are all facing as we work to support our communities and workforce. The most recent post includes insight from our President & CEO, Tracy Wareing Evans, on why public service is critical right now—and always.

If you have questions, requests, or resources you would like to share, please reach out to our Communications Director, Jessica Garon.
Latest COVID-19 Updates
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
The CARES Act is the third coronavirus relief package and was passed unanimously this week by both the Senate and the House. The $2.2 trillion package allocates funding for state and local expenditures, child care and child welfare, unemployment assistance, health services, housing, and more. The bill also includes an official extension of TANF through November 30, 2020, as well as funding for the additional enrollment in SNAP following the second coronavirus relief package.
 
The relief package also creates a coronavirus relief fund, which provides $150 billion to state, local, territorial, and tribal governments. The funds may be used to cover costs incurred due to COVD-19 during March 1 – December 30. (See H.R. 748, Title V)

APHSA Letter to Congress and COVID-19 Policy Options Matrix
On Wednesday, APHSA submitted a letter to Congress urging action be taken to support human services agencies and their partners in protecting the health and well-being of communities impacted by COVID-19. The letter includes recommendations that have surfaced through our numerous conversations with members and addresses the needs to sustain child care operations, extend the TANF block grant, support the provision of SNAP benefits, provide stability for community- and faith-based organizations, and provide flexibilities to state and local agencies to address unmet needs in communities.
 
Additionally, APHSA has drafted a working document, Policy Levers for State Human Service Agencies in Response to COVID-19 . This maps various policy flexibilities human service agencies may need to consider across SNAP, TANF, child care, and child welfare. We will be making this document available through our website and are updating it regularly.  
 
CMS Approves Medicaid Section 1135 Waivers in Response to COVID-19
States/territories can request approval that certain statutes and implementing regulations be waived by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), pursuant to section 1135 of the Social Security Act. This authority took effect the evening of March 15, 2020, with a retroactive effective date of March 1, 2020, and more than thirty states have been approved for such a waiver. 1135 waivers can provide relief on a number of fronts, such as prior authorization and provider enrollment requirements, suspending certain nursing home pre-admission reviews, and facilitating reimbursement to providers for care delivered in alternative settings due to facility evacuations.
 
Child and Family Well-Being
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Letter on Housing Supports for Foster Youth Amid COVID-19
The Children’s Bureau released a letter urging child welfare agencies to conduct outreach to youth and young adults within their custody who may not be able to stay at their college or university due to the circumstances regarding COVID-19. In the letter, Commissioner Milner also urged the collaboration of child welfare agencies and university campuses to ensure no young adult is without housing.

The Children’s Bureau Hosted a Virtual Town Hall for Older Foster Youth and the Impact of COVID-19
The Associate Commissioner of the Children’s Bureau, Jerry Milner, hosted a virtual town hall to address the impacts of COVID-19 on older youth in foster care. He answered questions from states on how the CB can help meet the needs of youth during this time. Some key takeaways from this conversation include ensuring youth are included in all response efforts, addressing compliance barriers to providing services, and equipping local communities to handle emerging issues.

Planning Title IV-E Prevention Services: A Toolkit for States
The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation within the Department of Health and Human Services has released new tools to help states implement the Family First Prevention Services Act. This toolkit aims to help states develop a plan for prevention services, and outlines how states can leverage all federal funding sources, including Title IV-E prevention services reimbursement and Medicaid. 

Child Welfare Safety Assessment and Planning During COVID-19 and Social Distancing
Developed by the National Council on Crime and Delinquency, this tool outlines ideas from the Children’s Research Center on how to promote and ensure safety in the child welfare system, while also practicing social distancing. The tool also gives helpful information on helping caregivers and children cope in this time of uncertainty and gives ideas on how case workers can modify how they evaluate safety during virtual or limited contact screenings.

2020 Census Partnership
As we continue to partner with the Census to support their efforts in counting everyone in the US and ensure our communities receive all the available benefits - it's important to note the deadline has been extended. Read about new timelines here.

From school lunches to support for firefighters and families in need - m ore than $675 billion in federal funds is distributed each year to support vital programs in states and communities across the country. These funds shape local health care, housing, education, transportation, employment, and public policy. Learn more here.
 
As leaders in your community, we encourage you to urge every household to complete the census. The Census Bureau has a wealth of   materials and resources   to make your outreach simple and many can still be implemented with social distancing in mind.
Upcoming Events
Reminder: All APHSA-sponsored and co-hosted events that were scheduled between now and the end of May have been postponed. While we continue to plan for our 2020 National Health and Human Services Summit  scheduled for June, as well as other events scheduled to take place later in the summer and 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.
Save the Date: APHSA 2020 National Health & Human Services Summit
Save the date for the APHSA National Health and Human Services Summit, June 7-10 in Arlington, VA.
APHSA 2020 National Staff Development and Training Association (NSDTA) Call For Proposals
APHSA is now accepting proposals for our 2020 National Staff Development and Training Association (NSDTA) Education Conference, October 4-7, Spokane, WA. Deadline for submission has been extended to April 3.
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.
Center for Juvenile Justice Reform Youth in Custody Certificate Program
The Center for Juvenile Justice Reform (CJJR) recently released a Request for Applications for the Youth in Custody Certificate Program, which will be held at Georgetown University. The training is designed to help juvenile justice system leaders and child-serving partners improve outcomes for youth in custodial settings. The curriculum covers critical areas including leadership and changing culture, racial and ethnic disparities, family engagement, assessment, case planning, facility-based education and treatment services, and reentry planning and support. Applications are due by Friday, April 24.

July 20-24, Washington DC
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.