Policy & Practice | Summer 2023

association news

APHSA Recognizes Outstanding Leaders in Human Services

T he American Public Human Services Association (APHSA) National Human Services Summit 2023 brought together leaders, advocates, and visionaries from across the country. Amidst the gathering, APHSA took the opportunity to honor exceptional individuals who have made remarkable contributions to the sector. Awards included the Outstanding State Member Award, the Outstanding Local Member Award, and the Lifetime Achievement Award. Each award celebrated the recipient’s legacies and long lasting positive impact on the human services sector.

addition to his outstanding work in customer experience and human-centered design, Roubal has spearheaded initiatives to remove barriers and promote access to essential services. Justin Brown, Secretary of the Oklahoma Department Human Services and Chair of the APHSA Leadership Council, shared, “Lew leads with an authentic yet rare combination of strength and warmth. It has been wonderful to witness his leadership style in action serving on the APHSA Leadership Council together and to see his vision for a system that serves with compassion and transforms lives. His community—and our nation—are truly better off because of his service.”

Roubal

Outstanding Local Member Award Laura Zeilinger , Director of the District of Columbia (DC) Department of Human Services, received the Outstanding Local Member Award. Created to recognize a strong com mitment to building thriving communities, the award was a testament to Zeilinger’s remarkable legacy. Zeilinger has earned the respect and admiration of col leagues and leaders alike. Her relentless dedication and compassion have led to significant achievements during her eight-year tenure as director. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who saw Zeilinger’s potential early on, appointed her to the position in 2015, and since then, she has consistently shown an unwavering commitment to the individuals, children, and families of DC. Pioneering the creation of Short-Term Family Housing across the city, Zeilinger’s innovative model that has become a national standard and has been tied to a remarkable Zeilinger (center), with Uma Ahluwalia (left) and Matt Lyons, APHSA Senior Director of Policy and Practice (right).

Outstanding State Member Award Lewis Roubal , Chief Deputy Director for Opportunity for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), was presented with the Outstanding State Member Award during the 2023 National Human Services Summit. Established to recognize outstanding contributions to building thriving communities by advancing the mission of APHSA, Roubal was an obvious choice as a passionate advocate for people and human services. Throughout his more than two-decade career, Roubal has been a staunch advocate for prioritizing customer experi ence—making a lasting impact on MDHHS and the people it serves at every stage. He consistently emphasizes the impor tance of listening to participants in systems and leveraging technology to meet their needs. Under his guidance, Michigan’s “MI Bridges” portal has become a national benchmark for streamlining the benefits application process. Roubal’s innovative approach incorpo rates a range of tools to enhance customer engagement. In

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