February 28, 2020
Greetings!
We are proudly featured in the Stanford Social Innovation Review with an article on "Reframing Human Services for Greater Impact," concerning the narrative around community-based human services organizations. Read the article, co-authored by our President & CEO, Tracy Wareing Evans, here.

Looking for a topic in past issues of TWIW? Check out our new TWIW archive here, now indexed for all 2020 issues.
Legislative Updates
Legislation Introduced to Increase Access to WIC
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced the introduction of two pieces of legislation to increase access to the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and help combat medical issues associated with lack of access to adequate nutrition. The first legislation, the Community Access to Resources and Education for Families (CARE for Families) Act would create a grant program for local WIC agencies and clinics to increase WIC participation. The second, the WIC Enrollment Collaboration Act, would strengthen collaboration between SNAP, Medicaid, and WIC. 

Child and Family Well-Being
National Youth in Transition Database Report
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released the National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) report to Congress. This report provides information on foster care experiences and outcomes reported by youth completing the NYTD survey in federal fiscal years 2014, 2016, and 2018.

ACF Proposing to Collect Data for New Study, Adoption Call to Action (ACTA) Data Collection
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is proposing to collect data for a new descriptive study, the Adoption Call to Action (ACTA) Data Collection. The purpose of ACTA is to engage child welfare agencies and leaders in improving the likelihood of permanency for children in foster care who are waiting for adoption. This new information collection will provide the Children's Bureau with a better understanding of agency target populations, specific strategies and outcomes measurement, in order to inform future technical assistance strategies, and provide a national picture of the overall success of achieving permanency in the U.S. Comments are due April 24.

Maryland Earns Federal Approval of Family First Prevention Plan
Last week, the Maryland Department of Human Services received approval for its Family First Title IV-E Prevention Plan by the Administration for Children and Families, within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Plan outlines how the state of Maryland will implement the Family First Prevention Services Act; Maryland is one of the first in the country with an approved plan, joining Utah and the District of Columbia, who also have prevention plans approved.

Employment and Economic Well-Being
OMB Seeks Comments on Additional Poverty Measures
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) seeks comments on questions posed by a working group tasked with developing recommendations on producing additional measures of poverty. In addition, the working group released an interim report.  Comments are due by April 14.

Food and Nutrition Services Posts CSFP Caseload Management Webinar
Each January, the USDA releases annual Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) caseload levels for states. This webinar discusses how the caseload is calculated, how states receive additional caseload, and best practices for caseload management. 

Upcoming Events
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, Arlington, VA - with the theme: Relentless Pursuit... Unlimited Possibilities. APHSA is elevating critical policy discussions focused on advancing social and economic mobility and working upstream, to address root causes and prevent downstream needs. We will also continue to showcase innovative approaches that are building the capacity of agencies to optimize data, put families at the center of the work, and support the well-being of the workforce. This year’s Summit is designed to showcase transformation efforts underway across the nation that demonstrate policy and practice in alignment to these focus areas.

Registration opening soon!
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 - with the theme: Visualizing New Heights . NSDTA members represent the full range of functions in organizational development and training, including broader leadership roles in human services. Workshop proposals are encouraged in the following categories: Evaluation/Research; Curriculum Design and Instructional Technology; Training/Facilitation; Human Services Leadership; Organizational Development and Effectiveness; and Workforce Development and Planning.

Deadline for submission is March 23.
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 - with the theme: Convening for Collective Impact. The education conference will bring together two professional peer groups who are helping to modernize the health and human services sector. Workshop proposals are encouraged in the following categories: Legislative/policy issues; Employment outcomes; Use of TANF and SNAP in primary prevention; Serving families with significant barriers to wellbeing
Quality control/performance issues; Program operations; Systems modernization and use of innovative technology; Program flexibility; Transformation through alignment and collaborative partnerships; Customer engagement and access; Nutrition, health and healthy food choices.

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. Awards are open to any individual, agency, company, or program that provides SNAP or TANF services.

Award categories for both AASD and NASTA are as follows:
  • Distinguished Service Award - Organization
  • Distinguished Service Award - State
  • Distinguished Service Award - Individual

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 - with the theme: Blazing Trails to Success. Workshop proposals are encouraged in the following categories: Medicaid, TANF, SNAP, and Child Care Policy Updates; Medicaid Quality Control (MEQC), and Payment Error Rate Measurement (PERM) results, and outcome; Child Care Improper Payments, and Child Care Quality Control results, and outcomes; Program Integrity - Strategies to Reduce Improper Payments, Waste, Fraud, and Abuse; Using Data to Improve Outcomes for Children and Families; Increasing Productivity, Results, and Outcomes; Modernization - Doing More with Less; SNAP Quality Control Current and Future Automation Initiatives; Legislative Updates that may have significant nationwide impact; Using Technology to Improve Customer Service; Improving Public Assistance Delivery, Accuracy and Integrity; Improving Performance of Direct Service Practitioners, Support Staff, and Management; Improving Efficiency and Evaluation of Providing Services to Clients: Change, Call and/or Mail Centers.

Deadline for submission is May 1.
APHSA Webinar: Moving People Forward on Their Path to Self-Sufficiency
Join IBM and Sonoma County (CA) Department of Health Services to hear how
Sonoma County has dramatically changed the way they deliver services to high utilizer cohorts to improve client outcomes. Listen to their journey of change and find out about the results they were able to achieve in the wake of two devastating fires. Learn how their achievements have led to a state and national agenda to revolutionize service delivery to reduce homelessness and achieve better outcomes for communities.

Wednesday March 11, 1:00-2:00 PM EST
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.