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;September 10, 2012 

NACHSA e-Alert

 

Greetings NACHSA Members:

Congress returns this week for a very brief session. Given the upcoming Jewish holidays and members' desire to campaign, the number of actual days in session this month is likely to be fewer than ten. 

 

During September, they will adopt a bipartisan six-month extension of current funding for all federal programs, thus avoiding any possibility of an October 1 government shutdown. 

 

Congress also awaits the sequester report from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Expected by the end of the week, the report will delineate the exact percentage and across-the-board funding cut for all domestic and defense programs, should there be no agreement reached on an alternative deficit reduction plan by January 2, 2013. The report will also clarify whether programs such as child support enforcement are exempt from sequestration.

 

Congress is also expected to adopt short-term extensions of programs due to expire at the end of the month, including the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and nutrition programs authorized under the farm bill. Little time remains legislatively to adopt anything more than a relatively 'clean' extension of those programs and others. 

 

 

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Human Services Resources

2012 KIDS COUNT Data Book: The recently released KIDS COUNT Data Book introduces the new KIDS COUNT index, which provides a more detailed picture of how children are faring. In addition to ranking states on overall child well-being, the 2012 Data Book offers state rankings in four categories: Economic Well-Being, Education, Health, and Family and Community.

 

Click here to access the new report. Click here to view an interactive data wheel ranking each state on a variety of measures.

  

National Food Security Data Released: The USDA last week released updated food security data. An estimated 85.1 percent of American households were food secure throughout the entire year in 2011, meaning that they had access at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members. The remaining households (14.9 percent) were food insecure at least some time during the year, including 5.7 percent with very low food security-meaning that the food intake of one or more household members was reduced and their eating patterns were disrupted at times during the year because the household lacked money and other resources for food. Fifty-seven percent of all food-insecure households participated in one or more of the three largest Federal food and nutrition assistance programs during the month prior to the 2011 survey. Key statistics and graphics may be accessed here.  Click here for a two-page summary. 

 

SNAP Beneficiaries Increase: SNAP national participation in June 2012 rose to 46.67 million, an increase of nearly 1.5 million compared to a year ago. More than one in seven Americans receives SNAP (15.1 percent). Increases in SNAP caseloads between June 2011 and June 2012 occurred in 40 states, with the highest over-the-year percentage increases in HI, FL, NJ, DE, CA, IA, GA, CO, RI, and OR.  Follow this link to state-by-state trends tables created by the Food Research and Action Center. 

Grant Opportunity

The HHS Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services is now accepting applications for funding from Assets for Independence (AFI), a federal grant program  supporting financial education and asset building opportunities for low-income populations. Three webinars are slated for you to learn more. (see schedule below).

 

The primary feature of a community-based AFI project is the Individual Development Account (IDA), in which participants receive a cash match on their savings for investing in furthering education, purchasing a home, or starting a business. In addition to the IDAs, grantees also provide participants with money management training, assistance resolving credit and debt issues, and other supports.

 

Applications for AFI grants of up to $1 million are currently being accepted; the 2013 grant application deadlines are January 25, March 25, and May 24. Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations, qualified state and local governments, and other community-based organizations. Applicants must commit a non-Federal cash contribution of an amount equal to their Federal grant size at the time of application.

 

Webinar Series for Prospective AFI Grantees:

 

First Series

  • Thursday, September 13th- Webinar 1: Planning an AFI Project
  • Tuesday, October 3rd- Webinar 2: Preparing a Successful Application
  • Thursday, October 25th - Webinar 3: Developing Resources and Partners

Repeated Webinars

  • Wednesday, November 14th -Webinar 1: Planning an AFI Project
  • Tuesday, December 4th- Webinar 2: Preparing a Successful Application
  • Wednesday, January 9th - Webinar 3: Developing Resources and Partners

Each webinar is at 2:00 pm ET. To register and learn more about the webinars visit the AFI Resource Center

 

For more information or to receive an application kit, contact Emily Appel-Newby at the AFI Resource Center at [email protected]

Tom Joseph
National Association of County Human Services Administrators