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

Opportunities to Strengthen Title IV-B

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

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

Human Services Policy Advisors Institute: 2020 Virtual Series

Human Services Policy Advisors Institute: 2020 Virtual Series

The policy institute will provide an opportunity for attendees to learn about the factors that are shaping human services work in the U.S., along with showcasing innovative approaches to addressing ...
Improving Outcomes and Reducing Cost of Care for Complex Care Populations With Behavioral Health and Social Support Needs: Toolkit for Governors

Improving Outcomes and Reducing Cost of Care for Complex Care Populations With Behavioral Health and Social Support Needs: Toolkit for Governors

The toolkit features lessons learned from Arizona and Michigan, who served as models for the participating states, and supplements the NGA road map for building complex care programs and the ...
13 States Join Learning Network Supporting Child and Family Well-Being Throughout the Pandemic

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

As families and communities face increased uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 13 states have joined a new network linking governors’ offices, child welfare leaders, state human services and education ...
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State Human Services Actions & Initiatives for COVID-19

The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices has compiled a table listing State Human Services Actions & Initiatives responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. The actions and initiatives are organized ...
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State Strategies to Support Access to Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services through the COVID-19 Pandemic

(View/Download) New Challenges Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, many governors were looking for ways to strengthen substance use disorder (SUD) provider capacity as part of their comprehensive response to the ...
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Child Care Reopening and Recovery

(View/Download) Introduction As states and governors continue working to flatten the curve, plans have been developed and finalized in many states to reopen businesses. In supporting both the child care ...
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Addressing Child Abuse Reporting and Supporting Child Well-Being During COVID-19

Background Many governors have noted widespread concern about reduced reporting of child abuse and neglect during stay-at-home orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic. With schools closed and other mandatory reporters ...
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Summer Camps and Summer Learning Opportunities

As states shift their focus from the immediate emergency of COVID-19 school closures toward the reopening of schools and educational centers in the summer and fall, there has been growing ...

Steps to Address Food and Financial Insecurity for Individuals and Families in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

This memo looks at what system level changes governors are making to address food and financial insecurity, including support for affected workers, as a result of COVID-19. This memo is ...

Flexibilities Under CCDBG/CCDF, CARES Act Supports for Small Businesses and Child Care

The National Governors Association recently hosted a webinar in partnership with the Office of Child Care within the Administration for Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and ...

COVID-19 Responses in the Juvenile Justice System

As the number of COVID-19 cases increases, governors are taking action to limit the spread of this disease, including coordinating with correctional leaders to prevent and limit the spread and ...
Integrating and Advancing State Prenatal to 3 Policies

Integrating and Advancing State Prenatal to 3 Policies

November 13-15, 2019 | Charleston, SC The NGA Early Care and Education and Human Services Teams hosted six states as part of the Prenatal to Age 3 Policy Academy in ...
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