APHSA 2015 Annual Report

INFLUENCE BUILD CONNECT 2015

1133 Nineteenth Street, NW Suite 400 Washington, DC 20036 p. 202-682-0100 | f. 202-204-0071 e. memberservices@APHSA.org

2015 ANNUAL REPORT

LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

DEAR VALUED APHSA MEMBER, We are pleased to share the 2015 American Public Human Services Association (APHSA) Annual Report, highlighting the work we have accomplished with and through member agencies like yours across the country. We are gearing up for what promises to be an active 2016 to assure we continue to help the field progress along the Human Services Value Curve, resulting in positive and lasting outcomes for families and communities. We continue to expand our network of partners and relationships both in Washington and across the nation, assuring that together we are leveraging the resources, expertise, and influence of a broad spectrum of policymakers and human-serving agencies – from Congress and the Administration, to allied associations, to our expanding circle of private and nonprofit sector stakeholders. You can count on APHSA to continue leading the field as we explore and connect you with the newest innovations in policy and practice, agency governance and management, and such disciplines as brain science that are opening up new areas of understanding and opportunity. Thanks for all you do to keep us heading along this exciting path of transformation!

Tracy Wareing Evans Executive Director, American Public Human Services Association

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American Public Human Services Association

GREETINGS, APHSA MEMBERS AND FRIENDS!

APHSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2014-2015

OFFICERS PRESIDENT Raquel Hatter, PhD Commissioner TN Department of Human Services VICE PRESIDENT David Stillman

ELECTED DIRECTORS Eric M. Bost Assistant Director of External Relations Borlaug Institute/Texas A&M University Mimi Corcoran Vice President, Talent Development New Visions for Public Schools Susan Dreyfus President and CEO Alliance for Strong Families and Communities Reiko Osaki President and Founder Ikaso Consulting AFFILIATE REPRESENTATIVE Ed Watkins (AAPWA) Assistant Deputy Counsel Bureau of Child Care Law New York State Office of Children and Family Services

Thank you for all that you do each and every day in advancing our shared vision for healthier families, stronger communities, and the sustained well- being of our youth. • Maintaining health • Having success in the workplace • Providing better opportunities for the next generation • Securing a sustainable future into old age

Assistant Secretary Economic Services Administration WA Department of Social and Health Services TREASURER/LOCAL COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE Kelly Harder Director Dakota County (MN) Community Services SECRETARY Tracy Wareing Evans Executive Director American Public Human Services Association PAST PRESIDENT Reggie Bicha Executive Director CO Department of Human Services

These are what all of us want to achieve. At APHSA, we work with and through our members—this nation’s public human service leaders—to help make these aspirations and possibilities real.

As you will see in the highlights and stories that follow, our member agencies, together with many partners, are focused on investing in preventive services, applying two-generation approaches, and leveraging data and science in achieving that shared vision. By using modern tools, being innovative, and keeping a resolute focus on results, together we are driving transformation of our field. It is truly an honor to chair the Board of APHSA during such a pivotal and opportune time. I wish you all the best in the upcoming year and look forward to advancing our partnership with you in 2016.

Raquel Hatter, PhD Board of Directors President, American Public Human Services Association

American Public Human Services Association

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DELIVERING ON OUR VALUE PROPOSITION

What our members want and howAPHSA helps themget there.

• Desired future state for health and human services, effectively framed • Foundation for getting there • Six agents of change based on current opportunities

• High level road map and common framework • Modern business model

HHS Value Curve

Pathways

• Volunteer leaders, staff and partners aligned to Pathways and leveraging expertise to deliver quality products and services

• Strategies, tools and platforms to influence, build and connect

Talent & Teaming

Value Proposition

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American Public Human Services Association

INFLUENCE HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2015

Through the Pathways framework, we advanced our members’ policy and practice priorities through the following actions and accomplishments: ●● Testified before the House Ways & Means Human Resources Subcommittee on ways to improve TANF and work engagement, sparking active discussion in Congress of the need to modernize TANF’s outdated incentive and accountability structure and align it with the workforce sector through the recently reauthorized Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Actively working with Congress as part of TANF reauthorization to design alternatives to the work participation rate. ●● Launched the grassroots Keeping Kids in Families campaign through our historic partnership with the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities and the National Organization of State Associations for Children. Known as the Triad, this partnership has advanced concrete ideas for achieving results-based funding in child welfare with a focus on shifting to up-stream prevention-oriented investments. At the request of Congressional staff and in anticipation of a bipartisan bill, provided detailed comments on draft legislation, including what constitutes an effective continuum of care. Visit online at: http://keepingkidsinfamilies.org. ●● Oriented states to the opportunities for modernizing human services systems through use of the OMB Cost Allocation Exception, which was extended for three years at the urging of our members. Advocated for expanded access to the verified data through the Federal Data Services Hub for health and human service eligibility determinations.

●● Helped collect data and connect child welfare leaders to the National Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities. Urged the Commission to include in its recommendations the need for a public health approach to reducing child abuse and neglect. ●● Testified before the National Commission on Hunger sharing members’ views on the need for an integrated set of policies and strategies for strengthening the nutrition, capacity, and overall well- being of low-income families. ●● Connected human service leaders to key officials within the Federal Administration to promote well-guided and effective implementation of major law changes, including the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and Preventing Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act. Helped secure much needed additional time for states to complete state plans following the extensive changes in the CCDBG. ●● Contributed state and local input on proposed regulations, including the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS), SACWIS, WIOA, and the extended 90-10 funding for Medicaid eligibility systems. ●● Actively supported “blended funding” demonstrations for disconnected youth; pilots to test new workforce engagement approaches for SNAP participants; and other opportunities to allow states and localities to innovate. ●● Presented information to Congress on state’s use of the Social Services Block Grant as an important resource to strengthen individual and family capacity, prevent abuse and neglect of children and adults, prevent or reduce inappropriate use of institutional care, and otherwise serve as a “glue” across services and sectors.

“When a strategy is in question I ask, what would APHSA do or recommend?” – Alaska

American Public Human Services Association

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BUILD HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2015

Supported states, localities, and key partners in building field knowledge and achieving system transformation through multiple technical assistance platforms, including the following: ●● Expanded the scope of the National Collaborative for Integration of Health and Human Services (formerly known as the National Workgroup on Integration) to include a focus on coordinated service delivery models and new financing approaches critical to impacting population health and well-being. Continued to support the field in use of data analytics, achieving systems interoperability, and modernizing the agency workforce. Enhanced our health and human services maturity model and self-assessment tool (launching version 2.0) mapped to the Human Service Value Curve to support state and local integration efforts. ●● Launched the Center for Workforce Engagement focused on promoting two-generation and cross-sector (labor, health, education, social services) approaches to employment through capacity and skill-building, career pathways, financial literacy, health, and individual and family well-being. ●● With support from the Kresge Foundation, developed and tested a change management toolkit to serve as the foundation for technical assistance to human service agencies and their partners as they work to make transformative changes in systems. ●● Using framing research, advanced and embedded a network wide communication strategy to promote the need for a transformed health and human services system. Captured and documented stories of innovation and transformation across the country.

●● Completed the National Electronic Interstate Compact Enterprise (NEICE) project, designed to build the architecture for the electronic exchange of data for the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children and to pilot the exchange through six states prior to a nationwide rollout. Results included significant reductions in the time it takes to notify receiving states, complete home studies, and make placement decisions, as well as an expected $1.6M in savings from copying and mailing costs alone once fully implemented. Awarded a $3.6M grant from the Children’s Bureau to further develop the NEICE and onboard all states to the NEICE platform. This project also received the 2015 Adoptions Across Boundaries Award. ●● Examined impacts of the Affordable Care Act on operation of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through state site visits and a national survey. This initiative, funded by the Food and Nutrition Service, identified how well customers entering the new health system were being attached to SNAP, how agency structures contributed to this interaction, and identified future research needs. ●● Established a relationship with the Social Security Administration to conduct a national survey and launch a peer community of excellence focused on achieving optimal data sharing through the Federal Services Data Hub.

“Our voice is usually well-represented by APHSA without us having to be heard” – Oklahoma

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American Public Human Services Association

CONNECT HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2015

Created opportunities through multiple forums, including virtual means, to link members, partners, and national policymakers with each other in service of Pathways and advancement along the Human Services Value Curve. ●● Hosted more than a dozen annual conferences, leadership retreats and peer learning events across the country, many with substantially increased or record attendance. Co-sponsored events with national organizations and academic partners on human trafficking (and its intersection with child welfare), collective impact, and health and human services integration. ●● Continued to elevate the work of local health and human service leaders responsible for county or city health and human services agencies, through our Local Council, which serves as a collaborative community focused on both policy influence and shared learning. Held first ever Local Council Retreat at the Allegheny County Department of Human Services in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Local leaders shared successful innovations in supportive housing, social determinants of health, and data sharing/analytics. ●● Through our organizational effectiveness (OE) team and DAPIM* Flywheel and improvement tools, helped strengthen the drivers of general organizational readiness, continuous improvement and overall performance in states and counties across the country. Provided technical assistance in using the Human Services Value Curve as a frame for transformation. Completed an OE Institute of six California counties on reducing teenage pregnancy in partnership with the National Campaign to Reduce Unplanned and Teen Pregnancy, and local foundations. ●● Co-convened the sixth annual Harvard Human Services Leadership Summit focused on a collective understanding of what it takes to advance solutions and remove barriers at each “level” of the Value Curve and ultimately move from program- to system-thinking while measuring progress and success along the way.

●● Sponsored or co-led a variety of webinars designed to share evidence-informed practices; provide practical advice for assuring data integrity, effectively use analytics and leverage technology innovations; as well as provide program-specific updates as needed. ●● Connected members to information on the use of rapid evaluation studies; the application of behavioral economics and brain science in human service delivery; social impact financing; and other ways to build and use evidence and science to improve results and adopt outcome-focused innovations. ●● Welcomed and on-boarded several new state commissioners following the 2014 elections, and continued to grow our Local city and county membership. Welcomed several new private businesses to our industry partner program focused on embedding the expertise of private businesses in our Pathways work and supporting states and local jurisdictions in modernizing their infrastructure. ●● Conducted focus group sessions with deputy level leaders of human services to design more effective member products and services for these key agency leaders. AS a result, developed a dashboard leadership tool and repository for use by deputy leaders. ●● Expanded our digital presence via social media and our website, substantially growing our reach through Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook and averaging about 10,000 unique visitors to our website each month.

“ The Information APHSA provides is very valuable when designing programs and policy” - Utah

American Public Human Services Association

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INNOVATION IN ACTION

The following examples highlight the forward thinking of a few of our members on the ways to help communities through innovative approaches. Texas’s population has grown and continues to grow rapidly, and the increasing numbers of individuals and families has translated to greater demand for service. Less predictable factors, such as unforeseen natural disasters and changes in policy, have also placed a strain on resources. In order to meet current demands and prepare for the future, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) leadership team focused its transformation strategies on the principle of creating more capacity within existing resources, and redesigned its benefits eligibility process for greater efficiency and effectiveness for both its staff and clients. HHSC developed proactive strategies in five major areas: workforce retention, process improvement, technology, communications, and private–public partnerships. HHSC leadership credits all of these strategies working together holistically as the basis for the positive results the agency has been experiencing. The improvements born of these strategies have allowed the state to serve more people without an increase in staff resources. At the same time, there has been reduced staff turnover and decreasing over time— all while the time to process an application is decreasing and the accuracy of dispositions is improving.

Since 2012, the Fairfax County Department of Family Services (DFS) in Virginia has been working to become a model social service agency, with a guiding objective of improving its understanding and ways of effectively responding to the needs of the community. The agency began a concerted effort to meet this objective by developing a four-year strategic plan that today serves as the foundation to guide the agency’s ongoing transformation. In order to employ its strategy as a “living document,” the agency has involved employees from all departments and levels to participate in planning, provide input and feedback throughout the process, and to join workgroups to develop and implement action plans. Some examples of the initiatives that have grown out of this effort include: launching a DFS Leadership Academy; organizing employee recognition events; provide training to all staff on how to use data in their jobs and as a decision-making tool; implementing a new employee evaluation system; and creating learning maps to better on-board and train staff. By taking a comprehensive approach and connecting it to operations, budget, initiatives, practice, and policy, DFS continues to move ahead.

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American Public Human Services Association

INNOVATION IN ACTION

To generate solutions to challenging issues, creative agency leaders in Milwaukee, Wisconsin have reached across programs, other county departments, and even across sectors to collaborate and provide a range of holistic services to improve practice delivery and impact outcomes of its constituents. The county’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Department of Aging (DOA) have worked together to provide effective and comprehensive services to people with Alzheimer’s disease. DHHS made accessible to DOA a wide range of life-sustaining and life-saving services provided by its divisions of Management Services, Behavioral Health, Disabilities Services, Housing, and Emergency Medical Services. The success of this system transformation also rested on changes in legal process; enhanced family and community education and engagement; and greater collaboration with partners from medical and psychiatric hospitals to long-term care facilities, home caregivers, first responders (fire, police and first aid personnel), and the courts. As a result, preventable crises are averted, support services are better utilized, cost savings are achieved from fewer residential placements, and Milwaukee’s citizens enjoy a higher quality of life. Juvenile Justice has also made significant strides in promoting education and evidence based services that are centered on the family, rather than the juvenile. By diverting youth from the state facilities, the county has spent about $2.5 million less on juvenile corrections than it did in 2010, and is producing young people who are ready to participate more richly in community life.

For Connecticut’s Department of Social Services (DSS ), navigating a “perfect storm” of obsolete systems and mounting enrollment has meant tapping a host of new technologies to bring the agency and its 950,000 enrollees closer together. DSS’ multi-faceted service modernization initiative—“ConneCT”—has resulted in such reforms as online applications and hard copy document scanning, a toll-free interactive voice-response line, and online client accounts that offer 24/7 access. Low-cost yet impactful marketing techniques were used to build awareness of the ConneCT web services, including caseworker voicemail scripts and email signatures. The initiative has increased access for clients to the department and to the health, food, and many other vital services DSS provides. The agency has now embarked on a major effort to replace its 1980s-vintage eligibility management system with a modern and fully integrated system through the Affordable Care Act’s funding opportunities for states.

“The membership is very valuable to us” – Tennessee

American Public Human Services Association

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OUR APHSA AFFILIATES

IT Solutions Management for Human Services (ISM) ISM is an association for State, Local and Federal Government Information Systems

National Association of State Child Care Administrators (NASCCA) The mission of NASCCA is to enhance the capacity of child care administrators, to improve the quality of child care programs and to contribute to APHSA policy development. NASCCA enhances and sustains legislative, regulatory and fiscal policies supportive of effective child care programs. The organization focuses on federal, state and local child care programs designed to meet the needs of children from birth through school age for safe, affordable, high quality care. National Association of State TANF Administrators (NASTA) practices among state members and to help guide the development of APHSA policy in the areas of TANF and welfare reform. The work of the NASTA includes a regular series of meetings and discussions that focus on TANF policy, law and regulation. National Staff Development and Training Association (NSDTA) issues at the federal, state, and local levels. NSDTA’s mission is to build the professional and organizational capacity in human services through national membership networking sharing ideas and resources on organizational development, staff development and training. The primary focus of NASTA is to enhance professional development, to share promising NSTDA provides a national forum for the discussion of staff development and training

APHSA houses nine affiliate organizations, whose members are the administrators that operate agency divisions or departments in the states and localities and for the most part report to a commissioner. The affiliates cover a range of program specializations as well as support functions. APHSA’s affiliates support the Association’s policy work by providing critical insight and expertise in their subject area and developing detail policy and practice recommendations. Association of Administrators of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (AAICPC) The AAICPC is the national governing body that oversees the administration of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC). ICPC establishes uniform legal and administrative procedures governing the interstate placement of children and is statutory law in all 52 member jurisdictions and a binding contract between member jurisdictions. American Association of Public Welfare Attorneys (AAPWA) government agencies that administer public welfare and/or human services programs. AAPWA facilitates the exchange of information between attorneys and promotes innovation in the field of human services. American Association of SNAP Directors (AASD) AAPWA is a professional organization of attorneys who represent the state and local Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly the Food Stamp Program) and contribute to professional development of its members. AASD promotes the exchange of experience and knowledge among agencies of federal, state, and local government administering SNAP by providing expert advice and consultation on income assistance issues. The AASD was formed to strength the administration and management of the

professionals working in the health and human services field. The mission of the organization is to promote the development and operation of effective automated systems in Health and Human Services. ISM promotes best practices in Information Technology by sharing innovative solutions, connecting IT professionals and collaborating with our private sector partners.

National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrators (NAPCWA) NAPCWA works to enhance and improve public policy and administration of services

for children, youth and families. As the only organization devoted solely to representing administrators of state and local public child welfare agencies, NAPCWA brings an informed view of the problems facing families today to the formulation of child welfare policy. National Association for Program Information and Performance Measurement (NAPIPM) NAPIPM provides states and territories with a forum for sharing mutual concerns on quality control activities and their related issues. The main focus of NAPIPM is to promote and enhance excellence in the planning and administration of state human service programs through the development, collection, analysis, and evaluation of program data, and outcomes and performance information for use toward informed decision making.

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American Public Human Services Association

INFLUENCING POLICY, PROGRAMS AND PRACTICE. BUILDING SOLUTIONS. CONNECTING PEERS AND STAKEHOLDERS. APHSA STAFF 2014-2015

Megan Lape Assistant Director, National Collaborative for Integration of Health and Human Services Ext. 265 mlape@aphsa.org Bertha Levin Senior Program Associate, Practice Innovation Ext. 279 blevin@aphsa.org Chris Tappan Director, Strategic Management (202) 823-3293 ctappan@aphsa.org GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AND POLICY Neil Bromberg Director, Public Policy and Government Affairs Ext. 299 nbomberg@aphsa.org Rashida Brown Senior Policy Associate, Children’s Issues Ext. 299 rbrown@aphsa.org Christina Crayton Senior Policy Associate, Child Welfare Ext. 257 ccrayton@aphsa.org Carla Fults ICPC Division Director Ext. 242 cfults@aphsa.org

Joshua Garner Social Media & Communications

OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Tracy Wareing Evans Executive Director Ext. 231 twareing@aphsa.org Evelyn Hunt-Williams Director, Human Resources Ext. 287 ehunt-williams@aphsa.org Jessica Hall Executive Assistant to the Executive Director Ext. 271 jhall@aphsa.org PRACTICE INNOVATION Phil Basso Deputy Executive Director Ext. 249 pbasso@aphsa.org Emily Campbell Director, Organizational Effectiveness (202) 492-5524 ecampbell@aphsa.org Anita Light Director, National Collaborative for Integration of Health and Human APHSA Local Council Retreat*

MEMBERSHIP OPERATIONS AND EVENTS Donna Jarvis-Miller, CMP, CEM Director, Membership and Events Ext. 259 djarvis-miller@aphsa.org Brittany Donald Marketing and Membership Manager Ext. 276 bdonald@aphsa.org Mas Tadesse Harris Conference Coordinator Ext. 280 mtadesse@aphsa.org FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION Raymond Washington III Director, Finance and Administration Ext. 226 rwashington@aphsa.org Alvin Brown Senior Accountant Ext. 238 abrown@aphsa.org Danell Pinson IT/Database Manager Ext. 292 dpinson@aphsa.org National Collaborative for Human Services

Manager Ext. 223

jgarner@aphsa.org Shakieta Campbell Administrative Assistant, ICPC Ext. 284 scampbell@aphsa.org STRATEGIC INITIATIVES Larry Goolsby Director, Strategic Initiatives Ext. 239 lgoolsby@aphsa.org Mary Brogdon Director, Center for Workforce Engagement Ext. 236 mbrogdon@aphsa.org Kerry Desjardins Policy Associate, Center for Workforce Engagement Ext. 268 kdesjardins@aphsa.org Carolyn Benefield-Marshall Office Manager Ext. 263 Carolyn.marshall@aphsa.org APHSA CEO Retreat*

APHSA National Health and Human Services Summit

Center for Workforce Engagement

Services Ext. 272 alight@aphsa.org

“We strongly value our relationship with APHSA. Leadership and staff are fantastic. Thanks for all you do” - Minnesota

* by invite only

American Public Human Services Association Visit www.APHSA.org for upcoming conference dates.

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@APHSA1

INFLUENCING POLICY, PROGRAMS AND PRACTICE. BUILDING SOLUTIONS. CONNECTING PEERS AND STAKEHOLDERS.

APHSA Local Council Retreat*

APHSA CEO Retreat*

National Collaborative for Human Services

APHSA National Health and Human Services Summit

Center for Workforce Engagement

* by invite only

@APHSA1

Visit www.APHSA.org for upcoming conference dates.