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.

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

State Strategies to Support Nontraditional Hours Child Care

Background Most home- and center-based child care providers offer coverage for parents who work 9-5pm on Monday-Friday. Parents working in industries like healthcare, service, manufacturing or retail, are often left ...

Organizational Opportunities for Strengthening the Human Services Workforce

Background State human services agencies are charged with managing complex programs and designing innovative solutions to complicated social concerns. However, one of the largest challenges facing these agencies today has ...

HSPAI Call on Youth Mental Health Playbook

In July of 2023, the National Governors Association published its Youth Mental Health Playbook for Governors, which contain more than 30 bipartisan policy opportunities and dozens of state examples about ...

HSPAI Call on Summer Hunger Opportunities

Background For some children, summer is a time of play – pool days, summer camps, and a welcome break for school. However, for children facing food insecurity, summer can present ...

HSPAI Call on State Implementation of ICWA

Background In November of 2022, the United States Supreme Court heard arguments for Haaland vs. Brackeen that challenged the constitutionality of the 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). In June ...

Supporting Youth and Families with Complex Behavioral Health Needs

Background North Carolina: The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) convened a multi-sector workgroup whose goal is to bridge and align previous and ongoing transformations aimed at ...

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

Governors Discuss Youth Mental Health at National Governors Association Winter Meeting

NGA Chair New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy Leads Discussion with U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy on Strengthening Youth Mental Health WASHINGTON – During the 115th annual Winter Meeting of the ...

Governors Murphy, Polis Join Forces to Tackle Youth Mental Health Crisis

Santa Monica, Calif. – National Governors Association (NGA) Chair New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and Colorado Governor Jared Polis held a roundtable discussion with those on the frontlines of youth ...

governors and states meet to talk prevention and resilience in youth mental health

On October 18-19, 2022, in Salt Lake City, Utah, National Governors Association (NGA) Chair New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and NGA Vice Chair Utah Governor Spencer Cox held the first ...

Governors Launch Youth Mental Health Initiative

Salt Lake City – National Governors Association (NGA) Chair New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and NGA Vice Chair Utah Governor Spencer Cox met with those on the frontlines of youth ...

States Convening to Discuss Improving Economic Mobility

From coast to coast, Governors are committed to improving economic mobility outcomes for families in their states and are investing in innovative programs—including in fields traditionally underutilized for economic security—and ...

Advancing Economic Mobility for Low-Income Families: Policy Options for Governors

As we look to post-pandemic recovery, it will be critical to ensure that individuals have access to resources and supports that not only help them meet basic needs but also ...

Letter Urges Congress to provide a one-year extension of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program

The Honorable Ron Wyden ChairmanSenate Committee on Finance 219 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Richard E. NealChairmanHouse Committee on Ways and Means 2309 Cannon Building Washington, ...

State Efforts to Address ACEs and Trauma and Build Resilience

States are working to prevent and mitigate ACEs and trauma, and have an opportunity to advance trauma-informed care with the implementation of the 988 hotline. By Anna Heard Adverse childhood ...

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Trauma

States have a vital role to play in preventing and addressing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and supporting efforts on crisis, mental health, and the long-term effects of trauma. The National ...

Governors Meet with Dolly Parton at the NGA Summer Meeting

Governors met with Dolly Parton for a discussion about early child literacy efforts, including Parton’s Imagination Library program that mails free books to children. Dolly Parton made a virtual appearance ...

Governor Murphy Introduces Chair’s Initiative: Strengthening Youth Mental Health Care

At the closing session of NGA’s Summer Meeting 2022, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy accepted the NGA Chair’s gavel from Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson and underlined the importance of Governors’ ...

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy Elected Chair of National Governors Association

Utah Governor Spencer Cox Elected Vice Chair Portland, Maine – New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy was elected chair of the National Governors Association (NGA) as the bipartisan association works alongside ...