April 5, 2019
Greetings!
Both chambers were in session this week and several health and human services related bills were introduced. Here is what APHSA is following:
Legislative Update
House Passes VAWA Reauthorization
On Thursday, the House passed HR 1585, the bill reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), in a vote of 263-158 . The bill includes new provisions aimed at curtailing the purchase and possession of firearms by individuals deemed to be a threat by a court. The bill also increases protections for gender and sexual minorities, update law enforcement grants and health care provisions, and increase penalties for cyberstalking, as well as require federal law enforcement to regularly evaluate and update practices to combat online harassment and cyberbullying. However, this bill is not expected to have widespread bipartisan support in the Senate. Read Bill
House Majority Whip Introduces Sweeping Anti-Poverty Bill
Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC), House Majority Whip, and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced an anti-poverty bill—an Act Targeting Resources into Communities in Need—that would target federal funded grants to high poverty urban, rural, and tribal communities. The bill would expand the 10-20-30 anti-poverty formula and specifically target communities with high and persistent poverty levels.
House Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Combat Homelessness
Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA), Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Congressman Steve Stivers (R-OH) introduced the Fighting Homelessness Through Services and Housing Act (S.923), which would authorize $750 million over the next five years in annual federal funding for grants to local governments to combat homelessness. The bipartisan bill would condition federal funding on the ability of the local government to provide not only housing but other services that address the root causes of homelessness such as substance abuse treatment, mental health care, and educational and job training. After introducing the bill, Congressman Lieu stated, “Funding a more holistic approach helps improve the health and well-being of our most vulnerable, and provides local governments with the resources to address the specific needs of their communities.” Read Press Release
Rep. Richmond Introduces American Housing and Economic
Mobility Act of 2019
Congressman Cedric Richmond (D-LA) introduced the American Housing and Economic Mobility Act of 2019 (H.R. 1737), which would seek to make housing more affordable, specifically for underserved and marginalized communities, through actions such as local housing innovation grants, investing in affordable housing infrastructure, and down payment assistance for segregated communities. Read Bill
House Appropriators Approve Raising Spending Bill Caps
On Wednesday, house appropriators approved a draft bill that would raise the discretionary spending caps for the next two fiscal years (FY) – FY2020 and FY 2021. The bill would raise the non-defense spending to $631 billion ($34 billion above this year’s level) and defense spending to $664 billion ($17 billion above this year’s level). If a deal is not passed and signed into law, all discretionary spending would have to be cut by 10% in FY2020 (starting October 1 st). It is not expected that the Senate would pass this bill. Read Draft Bill
Child and Family Well-Being
ACF Releases Head Start Proposed Rule
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) released a proposed rule that would eliminate the requirement that Head Start programs operate 100% of their preschool center-based slots for 1,020 annual hours by August 1, 2021. ACF is accepting comments until May 28 . Read Proposed Rule
LGBTQ Youth Face Greater Risk of Homelessness as
They Age Out of Foster Care
LGBTQ youth with past involvement in the child welfare system who are currently experiencing homelessness face unique challenges, according to this study. Researchers found that a greater share of LGBTQ youth were kicked out of their homes, experienced homeless for more than one year, and were victimized while they were experiencing homelessness than their non-LGBTQ counterparts.
Employment and Economic Well-Being
Poorest Expected to Lose Food Stamps First Under New Rules
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a rule in December that, if enacted, will cause 755,000 people to lose food stamp benefits, according to the federal agency. The proposed rules are currently undergoing a 60-day comment period, which ended on Tuesday. The federal government will then weigh public comments before submitting a final rule. Read Article
APHSA Comments on SNAP ABAWD Proposed Rule
APHSA/AASD’s comments on FNS’s notice of proposed rulemaking on area ABAWD waivers have been officially submitted. The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) issued a Request for Comments on Proposed Rule entitled Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Requirements for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (FNS Docket No. FNS-2018-0004), which was posted in the Federal Register on February 1, 2019. Read Letter
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) published its FY 2019 funding memorandum for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), announcing state funding levels for the year. It also published state TEFAP funding levels for FY 2018.
Healthcare
CMS Approves Partial Medicaid Expansion in Utah
On March 29 th, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved Utah’s 1115 waiver demonstration. The state’s demonstration is unique in that is a partial Medicaid expansion linked to a community engagement requirement and an enrollment cap. The timing of CMS’s approval is significant – it came 48 hours after a US District Court judge declared community engagement requirements in Arkansas and Kentucky as illegal under the 1965 Medicaid law, and very likely indicates that CMS will appeal those rulings. Read Letter
Upcoming Events
The Forgotten First Responders: Recruiting and Training
Child Protective Services
Members of our child protective services (CPS) teams are charged with making one of the most difficult, sensitive, and life-altering decisions of any public official — determining whether a child is safe in his or her home. Join AEI for a distinguished panel of former and current CPS leaders and researchers to discuss how we can attract the right people to these positions and better prepare them for this important role.

April 8, 12:00 -1:30 PM EST
AEI Auditorium, 1789 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC
Upcoming Webinars
Learn about the work of six Children’s Bureau grantees who seek to prevent homelessness among youth and young adults with child welfare histories – the Youth At-Risk of Homelessness (YARH) grantees.

Wednesday, April 17 | 3:00 - 4:00 PM EST
Spring Webinar Series on Work Supports and Health
This spring, P4A’s Research Hub at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research and the University of California, Berkeley, will host a series of three webinars on the impacts of work supports on health. The series will bring together researchers, advocates, and other stakeholders to discuss the evidence that work supports, such as paid family and medical leave, affect family health and well-being.

Work Supports to Improve Child Health
Friday, April 26 | 3:00 - 4:00 PM EST
Work Supports to Improve Adult Health
Friday, May 31 | 3:00 - 4:00 PM EST
Upcoming Conferences
APHSA National HHS Summit
APHSA is elevating critical policy discussions and providing an opportunity for collective conversations with the Administration and Congress for a shared path forward for a modern, responsive and effective human service system.

This year’s National Summit is designed to showcase transformation efforts underway across the nation focusing on:
  • Operational Optimization
  • Healthier Communities Through Prevention
  • Policy and Practice Solutions for Family and Community Well-Being
  • Equity

May 19-22 | Crystal Gateway Marriott | Alexandria, VA
Creating Strong Partnerships for Supportive Housing Developments
With mounting evidence demonstrating the success of permanent supportive housing, communities and sectors are looking to make investments in supportive housing projects. This program will break down the language barriers between partners, provide the key ingredients for quality supportive housing, and explore local and national innovations in the development of supportive housing.

April 16, 9:00 AM -12:00 PM EST
Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church, 900 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington, DC
The 2 nd Annual Community Information Exchange Summit
The purpose of the CIE Summit is to promote and discuss best practices, challenges, and lessons learned on data sharing infrastructure, stakeholder engagement, governance, sustainability and other related issues to inform community-level efforts around the country to enhance care coordination across health and non-health sectors. 

April 24 - 26, 2019
Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina, 333 W. Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA
Housing Is Summit: Building Partnerships Across Sectors
to Improve Life Outcomes
Join practitioners, researchers, and policymakers from the affordable housing, education, and healthcare sectors for this engaging two-day event with The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA). Highlighting the ways we can transform systems to better serve low-income people, the Summit will offer two days of plenary speakers/panels, breakout sessions, and caucus discussions devoted to intersectional thinking and opportunities for action. W ith keynote speaker David A. Williams of Opportunity Insights.

May 16 - May 17
The Conference Center at CSIS, 1616 Rhode Island Ave, NW, 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.