APHSA 2015 Annual Report

CONNECT HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2015

Created opportunities through multiple forums, including virtual means, to link members, partners, and national policymakers with each other in service of Pathways and advancement along the Human Services Value Curve. ●● Hosted more than a dozen annual conferences, leadership retreats and peer learning events across the country, many with substantially increased or record attendance. Co-sponsored events with national organizations and academic partners on human trafficking (and its intersection with child welfare), collective impact, and health and human services integration. ●● Continued to elevate the work of local health and human service leaders responsible for county or city health and human services agencies, through our Local Council, which serves as a collaborative community focused on both policy influence and shared learning. Held first ever Local Council Retreat at the Allegheny County Department of Human Services in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Local leaders shared successful innovations in supportive housing, social determinants of health, and data sharing/analytics. ●● Through our organizational effectiveness (OE) team and DAPIM* Flywheel and improvement tools, helped strengthen the drivers of general organizational readiness, continuous improvement and overall performance in states and counties across the country. Provided technical assistance in using the Human Services Value Curve as a frame for transformation. Completed an OE Institute of six California counties on reducing teenage pregnancy in partnership with the National Campaign to Reduce Unplanned and Teen Pregnancy, and local foundations. ●● Co-convened the sixth annual Harvard Human Services Leadership Summit focused on a collective understanding of what it takes to advance solutions and remove barriers at each “level” of the Value Curve and ultimately move from program- to system-thinking while measuring progress and success along the way.

●● Sponsored or co-led a variety of webinars designed to share evidence-informed practices; provide practical advice for assuring data integrity, effectively use analytics and leverage technology innovations; as well as provide program-specific updates as needed. ●● Connected members to information on the use of rapid evaluation studies; the application of behavioral economics and brain science in human service delivery; social impact financing; and other ways to build and use evidence and science to improve results and adopt outcome-focused innovations. ●● Welcomed and on-boarded several new state commissioners following the 2014 elections, and continued to grow our Local city and county membership. Welcomed several new private businesses to our industry partner program focused on embedding the expertise of private businesses in our Pathways work and supporting states and local jurisdictions in modernizing their infrastructure. ●● Conducted focus group sessions with deputy level leaders of human services to design more effective member products and services for these key agency leaders. AS a result, developed a dashboard leadership tool and repository for use by deputy leaders. ●● Expanded our digital presence via social media and our website, substantially growing our reach through Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook and averaging about 10,000 unique visitors to our website each month.

“ The Information APHSA provides is very valuable when designing programs and policy” - Utah

American Public Human Services Association

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