Policy & Practice articles from March 2006

Policy & Practice archives from March 2006

APHSA conferences and major meetings in 2006.(American Public Human Services Association)(Brief article)(Calendar)
March 1, 2006... Information about upcoming conferences and meetings is posted, once available, on the APHSA web site at www.aphsa.org--click on "Conferences and Events." Please join us. April/May 2006 28-3 Association of Administrators of the...

'Broke, not poor'.(poverty)
March 1, 2006... Mark Twain once wrote that when he was 15 years old, he was ashamed at how dumb his father was. When he turned 21, however, he was amazed at how much his father had learned in six years. Although my father died when I was only 20 years old,...

Top 10 stories last year.(inside story)
March 1, 2006... You won't find all these stories inside this issue, but you will find bits and pieces of them in all the stories in this issue. We consider these the top 10 public human service stories in 2005 (not in any order) that warrant your attention in...

Marriage matters: developing a state strategy.(my turn)
March 1, 2006... Family health in America is in trouble. How can the nation seriously expect to improve child outcomes given the severity of the decay in family structures? Researchers say that, on average, children who are reared in nuclear families have the...

APHSA to offer workforce management programs.(American Public Human Services Association)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Aging workforces, inadequate leadership pipelines, high turnover, increased accountability for outcomes, and reduced staffing have left leaders in public human services searching for answers. To help human service leaders cope with these...

Census Bureau unveils alternative poverty rates.(first things first)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... The U.S. Census Bureau has provided alternative national poverty rates that range from 8.3 percent, using a more comprehensive definition of income that includes the value of noncash benefits and excludes taxes, to 19.4 percent, using another...

NCD releases 2005 progress report on federal disability policy.(first things first)(National Council on Disability)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... The National Council on Disability (NCD) released its annual report on the progress of federal disability policy, which identified three overarching themes and trends that it says need to be addressed. These themes are (1) Program design for a...

Largest one-stop employment and training center.(first things first)(The Job Center)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... The Job Center, Dayton, Ohio, a private-public partnership made up of 47 organizations housed in an 8.5-acre facility, is the largest one-stop employment and training center in the United States. The center provides numerous resources in a...

National lifeline helps prevent suicides.(National Suicide Prevention Lifeline)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (1-888-628-9454 for Spanish-speaking callers) is the only federally funded hotline for suicide prevention and intervention. People who are in emotional distress or suicidal crisis can...

HHS publishes 2006 poverty income guidelines.(first things first)(Health and Human Services )(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published its 2006 poverty income guidelines in the January 24 Federal Register. A four-person family is considered poor if its income falls below $20,000 per year ($16,600 for a three-person...

CMS announces reduced state clawback payments.(first things first)(Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services )(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced a policy decision to reduce by 9.6 percent the 2006 phased-down state contribution, or "clawback," calculations that were completed in October. The reductions were calculated...

Jacqueline C. Richardson.(staff spotlight)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Name... Jacqueline C. Richardson Time at APHSA... Seven years [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Title... Administrative Assistant Place of Birth... Sumter, S.C. A Typical Day Starts With... Prayer, and...

Welfare reform, success or failure?(Cover story)
March 1, 2006... POINT It Worked It has been 10 years since the welfare reform law was signed by President Clinton amid predictions of disaster from the left. Information reported by states, by the U.S. Census Bureau, and by researchers yields a...

The changing direction of social policy.
March 1, 2006... In 1996, the enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) ushered in a new era of reform of a wide range of public health and human service programs. A decade later, Congress has changed the...

CEOs with legislative background ... Agency leaders deal with the their state legislatures on a daily basis. Those CEOs who have had legislative background bring to their human service work valuable experience. Policy & Practice interviews three such CEOs to share their perspective.(interview)(Interview)
March 1, 2006... Howard Hendrick, director of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services Q.When did you serve in the state legislature? What prompted you to move from legislative to executive branch? A. I served in the Oklahoma state Senate from 1986 to...

Photo highlights of APHSA and NAPCWA Spring Conference.
March 1, 2006... Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, founder of Center for Health Transformation, chats with Ray Scheppach, executive director of the National Governors Association. Both were speakers at APHSA's Monday luncheon. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Interstate compacts: a useful tool for power sharing among the states.(legal notes)
March 1, 2006... Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter referred to interstate compacts as one of the "axioms of modern government." In a historic court decision in which the court upheld the validity of a state's authority to enter into compacts...

Louisiana IT rises up to hurricane challenge.(technology speaks)
March 1, 2006... When Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast on August 29, the business operations of the Louisiana Department of Social Services faced new and unforeseen challenges. The nature of the storm caused immediate needs for social services for a...

Nebraska study highlights improvements in foster care.(state and local news)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... LINCOLN, Neb. -- There has been a 43 percent increase in the number of foster children with plans to achieve permanent home placement in the past five years, according to a state Foster Care Review Board's annual report. There also has...

New York county uses software to tackle Medicaid fraud.(Monroe County )(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... ROCHESTER, N.Y -- Monroe County is using software called "Verify-New York" to target Medicaid fraud and wasteful spending. The program alerts officials to suspicious Medicaid claims. Monroe County's Medicaid chief Bill Carpenter said areas...

Ohio county honors Job and Family Service employees.(Lawrence County Department of Job and Family Services )(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... IRONTON, Ohio -- After eight years of exemplary service, the employees of the Lawrence County Department of Job and Family Services (DJFS) received some recognition. Several employees of the department were on hand in December to accept an...

Oklahoma uses technology to improve caseworker efficiency.(state and local news)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Oklahoma City -- The Oklahoma Department of Human Services uses technology to compile information and generate reports about thousands of children to help caseworkers provide better family services. Using Information Builders' WebFOCUS...

Texas expanding kinship foster care program.(state and local news)
March 1, 2006... AUSTIN, Texas -- The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services wants to recruit more kinship caregivers by involving more relatives and friends in custody decisions. The agency is offering small stipends to defray the cost of raising...

Texas goes live with smart card-based benefits card.(state and local news)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas has successfully launched a Women, Infants and Children (WIG) smart card program. WIC is a federal program that provides participants with nutritious foods, counseling, and referrals to health and other social...

The magic of teaming.(making things happen)
March 1, 2006... Child welfare has too long been a lonely vocation. It is nothing short of astonishing that in 2006 child welfare operates by the same core work process that characterized its beginnings: a lone social worker is held individually accountable for...

Nevada Department of Health and Human Services.(Misty Allen appointed)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Misty Allen has been named statewide coordinator for the Suicide Prevention Program in the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services. Allen was the crisis lines coordinator for the Crisis Call Center in Reno.

Arizona Department of Economic Security.(David Berns honored with a letter of commendation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... David Berns, director of the Arizona Department of Economic Security, was honored with a letter of commendation from Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano on Feb. 24. The "Message of the Week" from the governor says the department under Berns'...

Office of Medicaid Business and Policy.(newsmakers)
March 1, 2006... In New Hampshire, Norman Cordell has been named director of the Office of Medicaid Business and Policy, heading the state's Medicaid program.

District of Columbia Department of Human Services.(Yvonne Gilchrist)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Yvonne Gilchrist, director of the District of Columbia Department of Human Services, announced that she will be leaving her position on March 3 after 35 years in the field of human social services.

Department of Aging and Disability Services.(newsmakers)
March 1, 2006... In Texas, Addie Horn has been named commissioner of the Department of Aging and Disability Services. Horn was the department's deputy commissioner.

National Governors Association.(newsmakers)
March 1, 2006... In Washington, D.C., Barry Van Lare has rejoined the National Governors Association as director of the Office of Consulting and Training.

Department of Human Services.(Ronald Lebel appointed)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... In Rhode Island, Ronald Lebel, who has been the acting head of the Department of Human Services, has been nominated to take over the position permanently.

Lutheran Social Services.(newsmakers)
March 1, 2006... In South Dakota, Human Services Secretary Betty Oldenkamp is leaving on March 1 to become president of Lutheran Social Services.

Center for Law and Social Policy.(Theodora Ooms joined American Public Human Services Association's Board of Directors)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Theodora Ooms, a senior policy analyst at the Center for Law and Social Policy, Washington, D.C., has joined the American Public Human Services Association's Board of Directors. She replaces John White as an at-large member. [ILLUSTRATION...

Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.(Barbara Riley received the Advocate of the Year award)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Barbara Riley, director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, received the Advocate of the Year award from the Children's Hunger Alliance on Nov. 15, 2005, for her work to improve access to quality child care, nutrition, and...

Child welfare system.(Verlie Ruffin appointed)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... In Michigan, Verlie Ruffin, a children's advocate and policy expert for more than 30 years, has been named the state's children's ombudsman. The office investigates about 1,000 complaints a year about the treatment of children in the child...

Office of Child Advocate.(Kevin Ryan appointed)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... In New Jersey, Kevin Ryan, director of the Office of Child Advocate, was named commissioner of human services. He replaces Jim Davy, who will form a management consulting company. Former APHSA Executive Director Bill Waldman chaired the...

Administration for Children and Families.(Mack Storrs)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... In Washington, D.C., Mack Storrs has retired after 30 years of service to the Administration for Children and Families. Storrs was APHSA's principal contact on AFDC and TANF regulations.

Florida Department of Children and Families.(Reggie Williams appointed)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Reggie Williams has been named administrator of District 12 for the Florida Department of Children and Families, which covers Volusia and Flagler counties. He replaced Alan Abramowitz, who left in December to head Orange, Seminole, Osceola, and...

ISM changes name to ISM.(affiliates' corner)(name of IT Solutions Management changed to Information Systems)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... The APHSA board of directors approved a by-law change at its December meeting, which officially changes the name of its oldest affiliate from APHSA-ISM to IT Solutions Management. The affiliate that is always known as ISM will still use this...

Marc Cherna, Fred Wulczyn get NAPCWA awards.(National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrators)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... A distinguished human service professional and a cutting-edge researcher in child welfare became recipients of the National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrators (NAPCWA) 2005 awards at the group's spring meeting in March. ...

On homecare workforce.(the field works)
March 1, 2006... Across the nation, states and counties are striving to replace institutional care with consumer-directed, in-home services whenever possible. Frontline homecare workers are the linchpin of the consumer-directed model. These are the people who...

Managing Welfare Reform in New York City.(Book review)
March 1, 2006... Managing Welfare Reform in New York City Edited by E.S. Savas. Softcover/375 pages/Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. First edition. 2005/ISBN: 0-7425-4928-3 List Price $35.00 There has been much debate whether welfare reform was a huge...

Trying Hard Is Not Good Enough.(Brief article)(Book review)
March 1, 2006... Trying Hard Is Not Good Enough. By Mark Friedman. Software/179 pages/Trafford Publishing. First edition. 2005/ISBN 1-4120-6397-3 List Price $22.00 Finally, there is a commonsensical "how-to" book using simple English that can be of...

No to negatives.(words on words)
March 1, 2006... We often make our readers flunk reading. Consider the reader wading through the swamps of three negatives in the following passage. "When you drive above 55 miles per hour, you reduce your savings on fuel, of course--and you also decrease...

Examining the effect of the earned income tax credit and welfare.(noted studies)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... This Institute for Research and Poverty study uses a unique dataset, created by matching administrative data from public assistance records, unemployment insurance records, and federal tax returns for a sample of California residents, to study...

The interaction of child support and TANF.(Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Child support can represent an important income source for many low-income families, and the receipt of support may be most critical for women as they make the transition from welfare. In fact, in the post-welfare reform era emphasizing work...

Medicaid managed long-term care.(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Medicaid managed long-term care is a contractual agreement beetween a Medicaid agency and a contractor from whom the latter accepts financial risk via a capitated payment for providing long-term care benefits to Medicaid beneficiaries. ...

Low-income children in the United States: national and state trend data, 1994-2004.(noted studies)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... After nearly a decade of decline, the number of children living in low-income families has been steadily increasing, a pattern that began in 2000, according to a study published by the National Center for Children in Poverty at Columbia...

Juvenile drug courts and teen substance abuse.(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Juvenile justice officials across the United States are embracing a new method of dealing with adolescent substance abuse. Importing a popular innovation from adult courts, state and local governments have started hundreds of specialized drug...

Kaiser Family Foundation.(seniors' drug plan)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... As of February 2006, 45 percent of seniors say they have enrolled or plan to enroll in a drug plan, 29 percent say they do not intend to enroll in a drug plan, and another 23 percent say they are uncertain, according to a Kaiser Family...

United Cerebral Palsy.(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... New Hampshire is the top-performing state in offering Medicaid services to people with disabilities. New Hampshire scored highest in various categories such as coverage and eligibility, home- and community-based services, reaching those in...

America's Second Harvest Network and Altria.(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... More than 25 million Americans--including nearly 9 million children and 3 million seniors--receive emergency food aid each year from America's Second Harvest--The Nation's Food Bank Network of charitable agencies, representing an 8 percent...

National Center for Children in Poverty.(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Despite low levels of unemployment, the number of children living in low-income families has continued to rise. In 2004, 55 percent of children in low-income families (14.9 million) have at least one parent who works full-time and year-round;...

The National Marriage Project, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.(numbers in the news)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... In 1960, 9 percent of all children lived in single-parent families, a figure that had changed little over the course of the 20th century. By 2002, the percentage had jumped to 28 percent. Since 1960 the percentage of persons under age 18...

The U.S. Census Bureau.(numbers in the news)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Between 2000 and 2003, Southern states (and the District of Columbia) had a higher percentage of unwed mothers with infants compared with the national average. These included the District of Columbia (53.4 percent), Mississippi (45.7 percent),...

National Center on Elder Abuse.(numbers in the news)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Women are far more likely than men to suffer from abuse or neglect in 2003; two out of every three (65.7 percent) elder abuse victims are women. Nearly a third (30.9 percent) of the victims in that year was age 80 or older, and more than...

John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.(numbers in the news)(child care in foster homes)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Children raised in orphanages are stunted physically, emotionally, and intellectually but good foster care can help orphans start to grow again, according to a new study. Foster homes set up in Romania showed that children taken out of the...

Our do'ers profile.(Daniel E. Engstrom, assistant county administrator and director of the Human Services and Public Health Department)(Occupation overview)
March 1, 2006... In Our Do'ers Profile, we highlight some of the hardworking and talented individuals in public human services. This issue features Daniel Engstrom of Hennepin County, Minn., assistant county administrator and director of the Human Services and...