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April 10, 2015

NACHSA e-Alert

 

Greetings NACHSA Members!

Congress returns from its spring break Monday. The Senate is expected to debate and pass the so-called doc fix bill which will reform the way physicians are reimbursed under Medicare. Attached to the measure are provisions important to counties, including two-year funding extensions for both the Children's Health Insurance Program and the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program. The legislation also makes permanent the transitional medical assistance (TMA) program which allows low-income families to maintain their Medicaid coverage for up to one year as they transition from welfare to work. The House adopted the bill (H.R. 2) in late March. The administration supports the measure


 
Congressional leaders are also working to craft a concurrent budget resolution so that the Senate and House work from the same spending blueprint in the coming months. The measure will likely include a special procedure called reconciliation which directs committees to find certain levels of entitlement or mandatory spending savings and/or new revenues. A reconciliation bill cannot be filibustered in the Senate, but the administration continues to have veto power over such a bill. 

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Human Services Resources
Human Services Jobs
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Human Services Resources
County Health Rankings Released: Late last month the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute released the annual County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. The data allow each state and county to view comparisons on 30 factors that affect health, such as education, transportation, housing, violent crime, jobs, diet and exercise. Read a County News story about the 2015 rankings here.

HHS, DOL Collaborating on Youth WIOA Provisions: HHS has issued a "Dear Colleague" letter to TANF program stakeholders. The letter highlights a Department of Labor Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) outlining its vision for youth services in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The "Dear Colleague" reinforces HHS's support for using TANF to strengthen summer youth employment programs. Click here to read the letter and the resources embedded in it.

WIOA Webinar: Serving Low-Income and Lower-Skilled Individuals: The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)  gives low-income and low-skilled adults priority for Adult Employment and Training Activities. Before, this priority would only go into effect if local areas determined that funds were limited (which was often the case). Under WIOA, the priority is in effect for all local areas, regardless of funding limitations. As part of the Center on Law and Social Policy's (CLASP)  WIOA Game Plan for Low-Income People, CLASP is holding a April 16 webinar at 2 pm ET on WIOA's "priority of service" provision. The webinar will cover what's in the legislation and how localities can use it to better target services. Register here.

State's Use of TANF: Earlier this week, the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities released a report on the use of funds from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. The share of state and federal TANF spending used for basic assistance (cash welfare grants) has fallen significantly. At TANF's onset, 70 percent of combined federal TANF and state maintenance of effort (MOE) funds went for basic assistance for poor families. By 2013, that figure had plummeted to 28 percent. There is significant variation across states; 12 states spent less than 15 percent of their TANF/MOE funds on basic assistance in 2013. Charts showing each state's use of funds for different services are included. 

States Tackle 'Aging Out' of Foster Care: From Pew Charitable Trusts, this Stateline story outlines the progress of states extending IV-E foster care to youth up to age 21. It includes a map showing those states that have taken the federal option.

Uninsured Rates Drop: Since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the un-insurance rate for nonelderly adults fell from 17.7 % to 12.8 % between September 2013 and December 2014. This chart shows the drop, comparing states adopting the Medicaid expansion versus those that have not done so. Read more from the Urban Institute here. 

Financial Literacy Webinar: Slated for April 14 from 2-3:30 pm ET, this webinar features experts who will provide an overview of Your Money, Your Goals, an easy-to-use toolkit designed to help organizations improve the financial literacy of clients who are identified as low-income or vulnerable, including those who are returning to the community from incarceration. The toolkit includes modules and tools on credit reports, debt management and debt collection, bill prioritization, identity protection, how to submit a complaint about financial products and services, and more. Click here to register for the webinar, presented by the National Reentry Resource Center and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Human Services Jobs
Yolo County, Calif. invites applications for the position of Deputy Director, Health and Human Services. Please apply by April 10, 2015

Tehama County, Calif. invites applications for the position of Social Services Director (Contract Position). Please apply by April 16, 2015.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services is seeking an experienced leader to become the new Director of the Mental Health Division. Please apply by April 23, 2015.

Lucas County, Ohio, Department of Job & Family Services has an immediate opening for the position of Deputy Director of Program Integrity & Compliance.

Riverside County, Calif. invites your interest in the position of Director of Child Support Services. This position is open until filled.
Tom Joseph
National Association of County Human Services Administrators