This brief summarizes results of interviews and focus groups with participants in human services programs about how they view extreme weather and other environmental hazards and their effects on families and communities. Participants discussed acute hazards such as flooding, as well as more chronic problems such as widespread trash, heat, poor air and water quality, and lead.
Office of Human Services Policy (HSP)
The Office of Human Services Policy (HSP) strives to improve the well-being of children, youth, and families and break down silos across government. It does so by providing timely, actionable, cross-cutting policy analysis and research, and by leading cross-government coordination to address urgent human services challenges. The office works closely with federal, state, local, and private sector partners on issues including economic mobility and employment, child poverty and well-being, child welfare, family strengthening and fatherhood, early childhood education, youth development, community initiatives, child support, recidivism, and homelessness.
HSP advises the ASPE and other HHS leadership on human services policy matters. It leads and actively participates in interagency initiatives to align federal programming; conducts policy analysis and other research on human services and related issues; shares findings with and provides technical assistance to a diverse range of stakeholders; and coordinates development of HHS’s human services legislative proposals. HSP serves as a liaison with other agencies on broad economic matters and is the Department’s lead on poverty measurement.
The Office of Human Services Policy has three divisions:
- The Division of Children and Youth Policy focuses on policies related to the well-being of children and youth, including early childhood education and child welfare, and leads the Children’s Interagency Coordinating Council and the Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs.
- The Division of Family and Community Policy covers policies to strengthen low-income families and communities and address barriers to economic mobility. The division leads the Interagency Council on Economic Mobility.
- The Division of Data and Technical Analysis provides data analytic capacity for policy development through data collection activities, secondary data analysis, modeling, and cost analyses. The Division also issues annual updates to the poverty guidelines and reports to Congress on indicators of welfare dependence.
Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Services Policy: Jennifer Burnszynski
Reports
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Advanced SearchResearch Brief
Lessons for Human Services: Perspectives of Program Participants on Extreme Weather and Environmental Hazards
Improving Economic Mobility through Child Support: Opportunities for Future Research
This two-pager presents knowledge gaps and research opportunities elevated during a national convening of child support and child poverty experts. The questions under each topic are opportunities where research can support child support program decision-making surrounding current issues elevated during the convening, though they do not cover the only important questions for study.
Report to Congress
Children's Interagency Coordinating Council (CICC) FY 2024 Report to Congress
Congress has directed HHS to operate the Children’s Interagency Coordinating Council (CICC). The CICC is charged with fostering greater coordination and transparency on child policy across federal agencies and examining a broad array of cross-cutting issues affecting child poverty and child well-being.
Research Brief
Prevalence and Characteristics of Children Entering Foster Care to Receive Behavioral Health or Disability Services
Custody relinquishment occurs when children enter foster care primarily to receive behavioral health or disability services, not because of maltreatment. Parents may relinquish custody for a variety of reasons. Entering foster care could provide children with access to services that are otherwise unavailable due to limited capacity.
Research Brief
Timing of Medicaid Enrollment for Children Engaged with Child Welfare Services in Two States
This brief examines the timing of Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) enrollment relative to timing of engagement with child welfare services for children in Florida and Kentucky. The analysis covers children involved in child welfare systems from 2017-2021.
Research Brief
Refugees’ Experience Prior to Resettlement Predicts Early Socioeconomic Integration in the U.S.
This brief describes the relationship between employment and formal educational experiences of refugees prior to resettling in the U.S., and their socioeconomic situation within their first five years in the country.Key Points
Report
Understanding Economic Risk for Low-Income Families: Economic Security, Program Benefits, and Decisions about Work
IntroductionMeans-tested benefits are designed to support basic needs such as food, health insurance, and child care for households with low incomes. When considering whether to take a new job opportunity that will increase their income, recipients of these benefits may be forced to consider trade-offs. For example:
Fact Sheet, Policy Brief
Understanding Economic Risk for Low-Income Families: Economic Security, Program Benefits, and Decisions about Work
This project explored how workers with low incomes who receive federal benefits weigh factors including marginal tax rates, benefit loss, ease of resuming benefits once lost, and job instability when deciding whether to accept an earnings increase.
Fact Sheet, Visualization
Earnings, Benefit Loss, and Job Instability: What Do People Receiving TANF Consider When Offered a Higher-Paying Job?
Infographic: Earnings, Benefit Loss, and Job Instability: What Do People Receiving TANF Consider When Offered a Higher-Paying Job?Related Products:
ASPE Issue Brief
Federal Alignment with Research-Based Practices on School-Age Development and Well-Being
Childhood development experts recommend specific practices for afterschool and youth development programs to promote well-being and healthy development, including positive relationships; rich learning experiences and knowledge development; environments filled with safety and belonging; the development of skills, habits, and mindsets; and integrated support systems.