Policy & Practice | Spring 2025

from our president and ceo By Reggie Bicha

H ello members, partners, and friends! From our start in the 1930s—yes, more than 90 years ago—we have been a member association focused on advancing well-being and building thriving communities across the nation. There is no doubt that the American Public Human Services Association (APHSA) has had to repeatedly refocus and reprioritize to remain relevant to the political environment, the realities of the human services sector, and most importantly, the needs of our members and partners. During my first year as President and CEO, I was determined to listen and engage with our members, partners, and staff in as many ways as possible to ensure we continue to stay true to our collective mission. At last year’s APHSA National Human Services Summit, we conducted focus groups with members and launched a national survey. Thanks to the responses to the focus groups and survey, as well as the many other engage ment opportunities throughout the year—what I liked to call my listening tour—I am both hopeful and confident you will continue to see your needs better met as we implement our 2030 Next Gen Strategy. One of the first messages I received during my planning process for this next phase was, “Don’t change what’s working.” Ninety-five percent of our 2024 survey respondents shared that they could take what they learn from APHSA and use it immediately on the job. This is inspiring feedback and a huge indicator of practical relevance! As we implement APHSA’s 2030 Next Gen Strategy, we want to keep this momentum going while also reaching new heights. I want to quickly share just a few of its priorities that may be of interest to you: 1. Accelerate and broaden national policy and state and local implementation approaches that achieve results for APHSA members, the communities they serve, and the taxpayers funding these programs. This includes increasing bipartisan influence with federal officials and policymakers, strengthening coalition advocacy and member influence,

2. Expand, retain, and engage membership through clear value propositions, strategic engage ment efforts, and improved member experiences. This includes enhancing our conference and event experiences, delivering a consistent, high-quality journey for all members and strategic partners from onboarding to transition, and strengthening and growing APHSA Affinity Group offerings. You can hear more about my key 2024 takeaways and our future together with Next Gen during my remarks at the upcoming APHSA National Human Services Summit, June 1–4 in Philadelphia. And if you happen to be reading this while already at the Summit, please, let’s connect!

and broadening our own capacity and expertise in human services programs to ensure we can be responsive to all your needs, big or small.

Photo illustration by Chris Campbell

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Spring 2025 Policy & Practice