Each year at the Economic Mobility and Well-Being (EMWB) Conference, the American Public Human Services Association (APHSA) recognizes state or local human services agencies that deliver exemplary services within their jurisdictions. The Impact Award for Excellence in Human Services honors agencies that have made significant strides in enhancing the customer experience, strengthening program outcomes, and driving innovation across SNAP, TANF, and Quality Control.

APHSA will present three agencies with the Impact Award—each representing one of our three affinity groups leading the EMWB community: the American Association of SNAP Directors (AASD), the National Association of State TANF Administrators (NASTA), and the National Association for Program Improvement and Performance Management (NAPIPM).

Awardees will be recognized for their commitment to:

• Improving access to benefits and supports that promote family stability and economic mobility
• Demonstrating a people-centered approach that puts individuals and families—especially those facing persistent barriers—at the forefront
• Sustaining their mission through forward-thinking, effective practices that embrace technology and operational excellence
• Strengthening public trust by improving the accuracy, integrity, and transparency of program delivery

Examples of impactful work include:

For AASD: Innovative partnerships that reduce hunger and improve access to nutritious, desirable, and culturally responsive food—leveraging collaboration across community organizations, schools, peer agencies, and other partners.

For NASTA: Modernized approaches to TANF service delivery that align with APHSA’s TANF Modernization Principles, prioritizing inclusion, dignity, and the potential of every individual to thrive.

For NAPIPM: Data-driven strategies and technology-enhanced practices in Quality Control that improve review completion, reduce payment error rates, and identify scalable practices for continuous improvement.

Award Criteria

Each of the three awardees:

• Is a state or local human services agency
• Is an active member of their respective affinity group (AASD, NASTA, or NAPIPM)
• Has made demonstrable improvements in access to benefits or supports that increase family stability over the past two years
• Has shown a clear commitment to individuals and families in their jurisdiction, with special attention to those facing significant challenges
• Has demonstrated sustained investment in their mission, workforce, and community

Nomination Process and Deadline

We invite all to nominate agencies in recognition of their contributions to APHSA, the human services sector, and the communities we collectively support.

Nominations should:

• Be no more than 500 words
• Include the name of the state or local agency and identify a representative from the agency

Submission Deadline: Please submit your nomination by Friday, June 20th.

For questions, contact Chloe Green (cgreen@aphsa.org) or Kapria Lee (klee@aphsa.org).