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

Leveraging Innovative Technologies in Human Services

Speakers Thea Ramirez, Founder and CEO, Adoption Share—A technology nonprofit helping states to reduce barriers to adoption through their Family-Match application, which predictive analytics to match children with their forever ...

Opportunities to Strengthen Title IV-B

Background Title IV-B of the Social Security Act is scheduled for reauthorization in Congress this year. This funding stream supports children in the child welfare system or at risk of ...

State Strategies For Addressing The Mental Health Workforce Shortage

Background In the wake of the pandemic, Governors across the country are grappling with an ongoing youth mental health crisis exacerbated by the Pandemic. States are searching for solutions to ...

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

Help Wanted: Building a Pipeline to Address the Children’s Mental Health Provider Workforce Shortage

There is no silver bullet for the mental health crisis but reducing workforce shortages of these critical providers can go a long way to solving the problem. by Jessica Kirchner ...

Governors’ Top Priorities for Supporting Children and Families In 2022 State of the State Addresses

Across states, Governors’ cited their commitment to strengthening families and communities. By Isabella Cuneo In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Governors across the country are keenly focused on growth ...

National Governors Association Welcomes 10 States to Join Children and Families Core Advisory Board

The National Governors Association today announced its new Children and Families Core Advisory Board members for 2022. Each year, a small group of governors’ human services policy advisors and agency ...

Child and Family Well-Being Learning Cohort

The Child and Family Well-Being Learning Cohort was hosted by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and Casey Family Programs. The network joined governor’s office representatives, ...

2021 Child and Family Well-Being Governors’ Summit

The 2021 Child and Family Well-Being Governors’ Summit featured State presentations and a panel of Governors’ Policy Advisors on Governors’ plans and priorities to holistically improve the lives of children ...

State Innovation for Strengthening Families

Governors have developed ambitious initiatives to improve the lives of children and families. by Isabella Cuneo Governing a state is a bit like flying an airplane: You must know how ...

SNAP E&T Action Lab

This Action Lab focused on leveraging Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) to expand access to and support student success in education and training programs that lead ...

Case Study: California’s ACEs Aware Initiative

California’s ACEs Aware initiative takes an innovative, evidence-based approach to addressing adverse childhood experiences and toxic stress by educating and training health care providers who are directly interacting with the ...

Promising Practices to Reduce Maternal Mortality in New Jersey

Nurture NJ is an umbrella that breaks down silos between stakeholders, bringing them together to tackle issues related to maternal and child health. (View/Download) Background According to the Centers for ...

8 States Join Learning Network Supporting Child and Family Well-Being Throughout the Pandemic

As families and communities face continued uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, eight states have joined a network that will bring together Governors’ offices, child welfare leaders, state human services ...

NGA and NASWA Letter to Secretary of Labor Regarding Unemployment Insurance Fraud

The Honorable Marty WalshU.S. Secretary of LaborU.S. Department of Labor200 Constitution Avenue NWWashington, D.C. 20210 Dear Secretary Walsh: Congratulations on your nomination and confirmation as U.S. Secretary of Labor. Governors ...

Case Study: Building Strong Brains Tennessee

The COVID-19 pandemic may be increasing Adverse Childhood Experiences and trauma and demonstrates the importance of responding to them at the state level. (View/Download) Executive Summary Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) ...