Human Services Policy Advisors Institute
The Human Services Policy Advisors Institute is a series of monthly calls that bring together governors’ policy advisors and state leaders from social services and children and family-serving agencies to share innovations and best practices for serving the complex needs of children and families. This network serves as a monthly check-in for updates, content, peer-to-peer exchanges, and networking; this call series is the Children and Families Program’s primary space for convening policy advisors to discuss multidisciplinary policy considerations.
The Human Services Policy Advisors Institute is a series of monthly calls that bring together governors’ policy advisors and state leaders from social services and children and family-serving agencies to share innovations and best practices for serving the complex needs of children and families. This network serves as a monthly check-in for updates, content, peer-to-peer exchanges, and networking; this call series is the Children and Families Program’s primary space for convening policy advisors to discuss multidisciplinary policy considerations.
Members
Governors’ policy advisors with human services-related portfolios. Most commonly, this role is housed within the Governor’s office; however, personnel from state agencies such as human services, child welfare, and early childhood education may also join.
Activities
- Monthly call series
- State-specific technical assistance available on an ad hoc basis
- Consultation on NGA published materials
HSPAI Sessions
SNAP Payment Accuracy: Strategies for Reducing Payment Error Rate
In the coming year, states and territories may face significant financial pressure from the Payment Error Rate (PER) cost share mandate included in HR1. One estimate suggests two-thirds of states ...
Innovative Solutions to Child Care and Early Childhood Priorities
Governors’ recent early care and education (ECE) focus has predominantly centered on building child care supply and increasing affordability and accessibility of programs across their states and territories. These efforts ...
State and Territory Nutrition Priorities for 2026
As 2026 kicks off, new federal announcements are changing the landscape on state and territory efforts to increase access to affordable, healthy foods. From new federal dietary guidelines to waivers, and progress toward improved ...
A Home for Every Child – Administration for Children and Families Child Welfare Spotlight
On December 17th, 2025, the National Governors Association (NGA) hosted a conversation with the Human Services Policy Advisors network to connect on child welfare policy issues and spotlighted the Administration ...
Human Services Pain Points During the Federal Government Shutdown: Lessons Learned
States and Territories faced significant challenges during the 43-day federal government shutdown, especially in continuing to operate and deliver in the human services space. Delayed benefit delivery to the Low-Income ...
Strengthening the Mental Health Continuum for High-Acuity Youth
On August 28th, NGA hosted the monthly meeting of the Human Services Advisors Institute, which featured presentations on supporting youth with high acuity needs. The discussion focused on how Governors ...
Please contact Jess Kirchner (jkirchner@nga.org) with any questions about the network.
Our Focus Areas
- Whole-family Approaches to Serving Children and Families
- Early Childhood Education and Care
- Juvenile Justice
- Human Services Data and Delivery Systems
- Housing and Homelessness
- Food Insecurity and Hunger
- Family Economic Security
- Anti-Poverty Solutions
- Foster Care, Kinship Care, and Adoption
- Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment
- Empowering Families and Communities
- Reducing Barriers to Opportunity and Equity
Meet the Team
- Jordan Hynes, Program Director
- Jess Kirchner, Policy Analyst
- Eli McCabe, Policy Analyst
- Ekaan Ahmad, Policy Coordinator
NGA Resources
NGA Convenes Governors’ Education Policy Advisors Institute to Boost Student Achievement, Create More Universal Career Pathways
Education leaders collaborate on early literacy, tutoring and other tools to support broad student success NEW ORLEANS – The National Governors Association (NGA) this week convened its annual Governors’ Education ...
NGA Convenes Governors Health and Human Services Policy Advisors Institute to Strengthen Healthcare Delivery and Sustainability in States
NEW ORLEANS – The National Governors Association (NGA) this week convened its annual Governors Health and Human Services Policy Advisors Institute in New Orleans. Leaders from 34 states and territories ...
Policy Academy to Strengthen Benefits Systems Through Innovative Technology
This project will support up to six states and territories in advancing their governors’ priorities to strengthen SNAP and Medicaid in response to H.R. 1. The NGA Center for Best ...
2026 SNAP E&T Policy Academy Convening
The National Governors Association (NGA) recently convened states for the final meeting of its SNAP Employment and Training Policy Academy, bringing together state administrators, workforce leaders, and policy experts for ...
National Governors Association Policy Academy Convenes States to Strengthen SNAP Employment and Training Programs
Governors continue to develop creative workforce solutions and support economic mobility amid significant federal changes to SNAP Washington, D.C. – The National Governors Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices recently ...
Strategic Financing For Early Care And Education Systems
State and territory early care and education (ECE) systems operate across a complex landscape of programs, agencies, and funding streams. States and territories rely on a mix of federal, state, ...
SNAP Payment Accuracy: Strategies for Reducing Payment Error Rate
In the coming year, states and territories may face significant financial pressure from the Payment Error Rate (PER) cost share mandate included in HR1. One estimate suggests two-thirds of states ...
Youth Mental Health Action Lab: Leveraging First Spouses to Drive Change
First Spouses and state policy teams from across the country convened in Asheville, North Carolina on March 9–10 for NGA's Youth Mental Health Action Lab, marking the kickoff of NGA's ...
State of WIC Policy
On March 3, 2026 NGA held a briefing on the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. Ali Hard, Public Policy Director at the National WIC Association, told Governors' advisors that ...
Marketing, Outreach, and Creative Funding for SNAP E&T
Last month the SNAP E&T Policy Academy held a webinar to look at marketing, outreach, and creative funding for SNAP E&T programs. (Download Slides) States and territories continue to prioritize ...
States Sound Alarm over Ongoing SNAP Threats
Governors and coalition of local, county, state organizations urge Congressional fix Washington, D.C. – Changes in funding policies for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP), combined with disruptions caused by ...
Local, State Coalition Presses Congress for Urgent SNAP Fix
Officials on the frontlines of SNAP benefits administration across the nation are warning Congress about a little-known legislative provision with a huge impact on state budgets – an impact supercharged ...