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
Housing Supports as Child Welfare Prevention
In July 2024, the National Governors Association Children and Families team hosted the monthly HSPAI Network call, focused on utilizing housing supports as a child welfare preventive factor. Investments in ...
Navigating Benefit Cliffs: States and Territories Supporting Economic Mobility
In June 2024, the National Governors Association Children and Families team hosted the monthly Human Services Policy Advisors Institute Call on mitigating benefit cliffs and supporting upward economic mobility. Background ...
Plans of Safe Care: Bridging the Gap for Families Affected by Substance Use Disorder
On April 23, 2024, the National Governors Association Children and Families team hosted the monthly Human Services Policy Advisors Institute on state levers for implementing and monitoring plans of safe ...
Tax Credits to Drive Family Wellbeing
On March 27th, 2024, the NGA Children and Families team hosted a call through the Human Services Policy Advisors Institute to discuss Tax Credits to Drive Family Wellbeing. The discussion ...
Building and Empowering Impactful Children’s Cabinets
On February 28, 2024, the National Governors Association Children & Families team hosted the monthly Human Services Policy Advisors Institute call, which focused on state children’s cabinets Background Childrens cabinets ...
Leveraging Early Childhood Apprenticeships to Support the Early Care and Education Workforce
On January 17, 2024, the National Governors Association Children & Families team hosted the monthly Human Services Policy Advisors Institute on supporting the ECE workforce through early childhood apprenticeships. Challenges ...
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
Optimizing Federal COVID Relief Funds: State Perspectives on Bolstering Child Care and Early Childhood Systems
States have proven they can build the necessary infrastructure and operations that fully appreciate the business model of the early childhood sector with consistent investments in resources, necessary flexibilities, and ...
A Best Practices Dozen – Publications 2023
As we welcome a new year, it is natural to reflect on the year that has passed. In the realm of information dissemination, this act of reflection takes on particular ...
Policy Academy to Drive Thriving Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing
The NGA Center for Best Practices Children and Families team is excited to announce the Policy Academy to Drive Thriving Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing. Built off the success of ...
Discussing Youth Mental Health at the 2023 Jed Policy Summit
NGA’s Jess Kirchner and Jillian Meinhardt highlighted the importance of youth mental health at The Jed Foundation’s 2023 Jed Policy Summit. Thank you to The Jed Foundation for inviting Jess ...
2023 Health and Human Services Policy Advisors Institute
The National Governors Association (NGA) was pleased to welcome Governors’ staff from 32 states and four territories to the annual Health and Human Services Policy Advisors Institute in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, ...
State and Local Leaders Urge Congress to Extend TANF Program
The Honorable Ron Wyden ChairmanSenate Committee on Finance 2221 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Jason SmithChairmanHouse Committee on Ways and Means 1011 Longworth House Office BuildingWashington, ...
Strengthening Youth Mental Health: A Governor’s Playbook
The Playbook is intended to serve as a tool for states to further impactful policy solutions that strengthen youth mental health. Nationally, the current state of youth mental health is often labeled ...
New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy Unveils “Maternal and Infant Health Initiative Playbook”
Atlantic City, New Jersey – In the opening session of the National Governors Association (NGA) Annual Meeting, New Jersey First Lady Tammy Snyder Murphy released the “Tackling the Maternal and ...
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy Unveils Playbook for Governors to Address Nation’s Youth Mental Health Crisis
“Strengthening Youth Mental Health: A Governor’s Playbook” Includes Four Key Pillars and 35 Nonpartisan Policy Recommendations. Atlantic City, New Jersey – During the opening session of the National Governors Association ...
Governors Murphy, Shapiro, Carney Join Forces to Strengthen Youth Mental Health
Philadelphia – National Governors Association (NGA) Chair New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy continued his nationwide initiative on strengthening youth mental health with an event hosted in Philadelphia by Pennsylvania Governor ...
Youth Mental Health: Messaging for Success
As part of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s 2022-2023 Chair’s Initiative on Strengthening Youth Mental Health, the National Governors Association hosted a webinar in partnership with the Frameworks Institute on ...
Governors Murphy, Whitmer Hold Convening on Strengthening Youth Mental Health
Detroit, Mich. – National Governors Association (NGA) Chair New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy continued his nationwide listening tour on youth mental health issues with an event hosted by Michigan Governor ...