Social Current, Author at Social Current

Heartland Family Service recently became the first organization in the country to be reviewed against SAMHSA’s updated criteria for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics through COA Accreditation, a service of Social Current.

Funded through SAMHSA, CCBHCs are designed to ensure access to coordinated and comprehensive behavioral health care. CCBHCs are required to serve anyone who requests care for mental health or substance use, regardless of their ability to pay, place of residence, or age—including developmentally appropriate care for children and youth.

With over 500 CCBHCs operating across the country, SAMHSA’s recent criteria encourages states to require accreditation by an independent accrediting body as part of its state certification requirements. COA Accreditation standards cover SAMHSA’s six key program areas and align with the CCBHC certification criteria.

COA Accreditation reviewed Heartland Family Service’s ability to meet the CCBHC certification criteria through site visits, discussions with service providers and care recipients, and data review. As the first organization to undergo COA Accreditation’s CCBHC review utilizing SAMHSA’s criteria, Heartland Family Service has helped to strengthen the process to assist more organizations in their pursuit of this review.

“CCBHCs provide timely access to mental health and substance use care and create important links for service recipients. We are proud to recognize Heartland Family Service as a CCBHC against SAMHSA’s criteria,” said Jody Levison-Johnson, president and CEO of Social Current.

COA Accreditation standards center person and family-centered treatment and promote culturally and linguistically appropriate practice and inclusive and accessible care. The standards for performance and quality improvement (PQI) provide a roadmap for developing a robust, sustainable, organization-wide PQI system that will increase organizational capacity to meet data tracking and reporting requirements.

Learn more about COA Accreditation for CCBHCs.

Webinar on COA Accreditation for CCBHCs

We will be hosting a webinar June 12 from 1-2 p.m. ET that will give an overview of COA Accreditation as it relates to Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs). Participants will hear from staff at Social Current, as well as BestSelf Behavioral Health, a COA-accredited organization operating a CCBHC program. Register now to join us and learn about the process and next steps.

Help Shape the Next Edition of COA Accreditation Standards

COA Accreditation, a service of Social Current, is proposing enhancements to its accreditation standards. These draft revisions are now available for review and comment from the field.

The Mental Health and/or Substance Use Services (MHSU) and Integrated Care; Health Homes (ICHH) standards have been revised in response to SAMHSA releasing its updated criteria for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) in March 2023. As more states begin drafting their state certification processes and requiring independent accreditation for CCBHCs, Social Current is committed to ensuring our COA Accreditation standards continue to meet the needs of these clinics nationwide. We are also updating the standards to reflect current literature and practice in behavioral health and care integration.
Download the MSHU and ICHH documents of proposed changes.
The Pregnancy Support Services (PS) standards have been updated to reflect current literature and practice and address the range of supports and services needed to help pregnant individuals make decisions about their pregnancies, experience healthy births, prepare for parenthood, and improve their own health and well-being.
Download the document of proposed changes.
The Adult Protective Services (APS) standards have been revised to better address current literature and practice related to screening, investigation, service coordination and delivery, and collaboration with community partners in adult protective services. These revisions aim to mitigate or eliminate the risk of abuse, neglect, and exploitation for vulnerable adults, emphasizing the promotion of their safety, independence, and overall well-being.
Download the document of proposed changes.
The Respite Care (RC) standards have been updated to align with current literature and practice and reflect effective, person-centered respite care with a focus on both the caregiver’s and the care recipient’s specific needs and preferences. The revisions also clarify and streamline respite care intake and assessment, care provision, and service environment practices and procedures.
Download the document of proposed changes.

Click on the links above to save the Word documents to your computer’s Downloads folder. Review the documents and submit your feedback through the process outlined at the top of each document. The deadline to make comments is Feb. 1.

These proposed updates reflect an in-depth review and synthesis of prominent published research and professional literature, as well as collaboration with a diverse group of subject matter experts from this field. The field comment period is a critical step in our process because it ensures our standards are field informed by including input from provider organizations in the development process.

This critical pairing of research and practice ensures that the COA Accreditation standards remain rigorous, practical, and reflective of current trends and evolving practices and continue to promote improved outcomes for individuals, families, and communities. The final updates will be released in spring 2024.

House and Senate members are actively involved in last-ditch negotiations on a year-end tax deal that would address key issues for both Democrats and Republicans. Ahead of the 2024 election, Democrats are pushing for a strengthened Child Tax Credit (CTC) to address rising childhood poverty after a refundable CTC expired in 2021. Republicans are hoping to reinstate full deductibility for research and development investments, a provision that lapsed in 2022. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and House Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.) are collaborating on a potential package, with an estimated cost of around $100 billion.

If a deal cannot be made by the end of the year, both sides of the aisle are eyeing passage of the bill in January. This is good news considering a similar deal was attempted and failed last December, and talks did not continue into the new year. Nevertheless, the $100 billion tax deal is expected to encounter numerous challenges, such as determining the appropriate legislative vehicle to pass the deal as well as Congress needing to reach consensus on essential appropriations bills.

Special Committee on Aging Holds Hearing on Substance Use Trends Among Older Adults

On Dec. 14, the Senate Special Committee on Aging convened its 11th hearing of the 118th Congress to address substance use disorder in older adults. Chairman Bob Casey (D-Penn.) and Ranking Member Mike Braun (R-Ind.) introduced the hearing by providing context. The National Survey of Drug Use and Health reported that nearly 4 million older adults had a substance use disorder in 2022. The committee is also addressing the overlooked issue of synthetic drugs, like fentanyl, with overdose death rates increasing by 53% among older Americans. According to the senators, the hearing aimed to shed light on the challenges faced by older adults with substance use disorders, emphasizing gaps in data, stigma, and barriers to accessing treatment, while also addressing the broader fentanyl crisis affecting different demographic groups and regions of the country.

The first witness, Keith Humphreys of Stanford Medical School and a former White House drug policy advisor, emphasized the need for urgent policy actions, pointing to factors such as the growing number of pharmaceutical products, changes in drug tolerance with aging, generational substance use patterns, and the expansion of synthetic drugs contributing to the crisis. The second speaker, James W. Carroll, former director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, advocated for tailored treatment for older adults, accountability in treatment centers, supply-side interventions to counter the influx of synthetic drugs, and comprehensive prevention efforts, including education, naloxone availability, and safe disposal of medications.

The next witness, Deborah Steinberg, representing the Legal Action Center, highlighted the organization’s Medicare Addiction Parity Project, which has found that financial barriers in Medicare persist. She recommended addressing remaining gaps, including discriminatory standards, barriers in Medicare Advantage plans, and the need to expand coverage for community-based and residential substance use disorder treatment. The final speaker, William Stauffer of the Pennsylvania Recovery Organization Alliance, highlighted the prevalence of negative attitudes and stigma surrounding addiction in society, especially affecting older adults due to ageism, leading to underreporting and insufficient support. The speaker proposed initiatives such as a Master Plan for Older Adults, investment in the substance use disorders workforce, and the establishment of an Older Adult Recovery Community Corps to utilize the strengths of older adults in recovery.

HHS Announces New Guidelines for HCBS Worker Registries

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has rolled out directives via the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to enhance accessibility to home- and community-based services (HCBS). The central focus revolves around the establishment and management of worker registries, advanced platforms that identify health workers delivering Medicaid-covered HCBS to specific groups, like those grappling with disabilities and the elderly. The guidelines underscore the availability of substantial federal funding, courtesy of the American Rescue Plan (ARP), which earmarked aid to states for these registries. In a statement, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said, “The Biden-Harris Administration has distributed $37 billion from the American Rescue Plan across all 50 states for home- and community-based services. Additionally, we are delivering new guidance to states about how direct worker registries can help ensure more individuals receiving Medicaid-covered services can receive care in a setting of their choice.”

The guidelines are geared toward helping Medicaid recipients stay in their homes and neighborhoods, rather than utilizing nursing homes. Additionally, CMS highlights how ARP funds have been strategically injected to strengthen HCBS workers registries, allowing states to access a verified list of professional home care workers. This initiative dovetails with overarching endeavors in support of quality HCBS, which include increased funding, proposed rule adjustments around access and quality, and collaborative ventures with government partners to refine workforce data, all in sync with President Biden’s executive mandate amplifying access to top-notch care and supporting caregivers.

Biden Administration Urges All-of-Government Approach to Naloxone Access

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have jointly issued a letter urging collaboration between public health departments, health care providers, housing providers and agencies, and community-based organizations. The objective is to enhance access to naloxone and other overdose reversal medications, particularly in public housing facilities, multifamily housing and housing counseling programs, and programs for individuals experiencing homelessness. The joint effort aims to address overdoses happening within homes and encourage housing providers to ensure access to effective medications that can reverse an overdose. The guidance stresses the importance of making overdose reversal medications readily available in all public spaces, such as schools, libraries, and community institutions.

The guidance aligns with President Biden’s Unity Agenda, which calls for a collective response to the nation’s overdose epidemic, de-stigmatization of substance use disorders, and emphasis on recovery. “Naloxone and other overdose reversal medications save lives and should be as available in public housing as smoke detectors and fire extinguishers,” said to Richard Monocchio, HUD’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing. The letter underscores the federal government’s commitment to a flexible and collective response to the evolving overdose epidemic, working together at federal, state, and local levels. It also aligns with President Biden’s National Drug Control Strategy and the investments made in the State Opioid Response (SOR) grant program, which has already helped states acquire nearly 9 million naloxone kits and reverse over 500,000 overdoses.

Subscribe to the Policy and Advocacy Radar to receive our biweekly policy roundup, which includes commentary on issues in Social Current’s federal policy agenda, opportunities to take action, and curated news and opportunities.

Through COA Accreditation, a service of Social Current, we seek to empower organizations to implement best practice standards to improve service delivery and achieve better outcomes for individuals and communities. COA Accreditation provides a framework to help organizations manage resources, incorporate best practices, and strive for continuous improvement.

We believe there is rich expertise in our field, so we ground the COA Accreditation process in our human and social services community. Our volunteer peer reviewers conduct our site visits and finalize accreditation decisions.

We are proud to spotlight the latest Volunteer of the Quarter: Christian Holland

About Christan Holland

Christian Holland was named vice president of programs for the Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN) this September. He is responsible for the service delivery strategy, program implementation and compliance for all PYN programs in this new role. This includes ensuring all youth are connected to high quality services by developing programs as well as facilitating procurement models and support. Additionally, Christian provides leadership to support fundraising and business development relationships and processes. His goal is to ensure all participants and partners have a meaningful and valuable experience while assisting youth up the ladder of economic mobility.

Christian earned a master’s in business administration from Benedictine University as well as a master’s in divinity with a focus on administration, counseling, and education from Claremont School of Theology. He earned his bachelor’s in psychology from Wesleyan University. He also received a certification from the Nonprofit Executive Leadership Institute at Bryn Mawr College.

Christian most recently served as senior director of out-of-school time and youth programming at Episcopal Community Services. There he provided strategic oversight and expansion for multiple sites and contracts, which deliver quality educational extended learning opportunities to youth and families. In addition to his more than 20 years of professional experience, Christian chairs and serves on various health and educational boards throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

It was in 2010, during a accreditation cycle, Christian was approached by a staff member from the Council on Accreditation, now Social Current. During this conversation, he learned about the opportunity to become a COA Accreditation volunteer. He says accepting the chance to serve as a volunteer was one of the greatest decisions he made in his career.

Q&A

What three traits define you?

I am defined by the following traits: High quality, impact, and dignity. These values push and motivate me in the work I do. As a volunteer, I am committed to ensuring agencies offer high–quality services, hence impacting the participants being served. It’s also important because offering high quality services ensures participants have dignity and feel a sense of equity and respect. This is critical.

What are your strongest beliefs about the value of COA Accreditation?

COA Accreditation is extremely powerful! It really does provide a framework for agencies to manage resources, offer best practices and strive for continuous quality improvement. This is critical for an organization to continue to grow, innovate and sustain its stance as a credible player in the nonprofit sector.

What advice would you give someone interested in being a COA Accreditation volunteer?

It may be intimidating in the beginning, however, if someone approaches you, or perhaps you just feel like it’s something you may want to do, go for it! Social Current is an amazing organization, and they are there to assist you.

I will always be a part of the COA Accreditation family. I’m not going anywhere. Social Current has amazing staff like Director of Volunteer Engagement Darrell Woodliff and Senior Volunteer Services Coordinator Phil Vasquez (they are really incredible support for volunteers), a great commission of senior volunteers and decision makers, a supportive COA Accreditation team, and a great visionary and president, Jody Levison-Johnson. You can’t go wrong with this supportive team! Try it, like me, and it may just positively change your life.

Share a memorable place, person, or experience from a site visit.

I have served as a volunteer for over a decade and there are so many great experiences and leaders I have had the pleasure to encounter. For me, however, what’s most rewarding is when I am able to do a site visit and see a program, make recommendations through the process, and then return to the site at a later time, four to eight years later, to see those recommendations implemented, standards in full action and the site thriving. There are no words to explain how that makes me feel. There is a sense of fulfillment and assurance the youth and families being served are really experiencing the best possible experience– that is CQI in action! I love that!

What excites, surprises, and/or challenges you the most about the work you do as a COA Accreditation volunteer?

I tell people the people I have met through COA Accreditation are an extended part of my family and COA Accreditation saved my life. It really did. In a time when I was burning out in the work, COA Accreditation gave me energy, a sense of purpose, and allowed me to see the bigger picture of the “power of the work” as well as the true impact of quality programs.

I believe we have the power to positively change the lives of those we serve! That excites me! It is never easy, however, helping an organization through the COA Accreditation process and seeing when the light bulb goes off for an executive director or manager in relation to best practices, CQI, or an area of service delivery is powerful! That’s when it gets exciting for me–when people can take the standards and connect them to practical examples and use that data to inform and improve their programs. That is what I live for!

Learn more about how to become a peer review volunteer and apply online.

More than 800 nonprofits have joined a sign-on letter to Congress in support of the Streamlining Federal Grants Act (S. 2286/H.R. 5934). Social Current has been active in advocating for federal grant reform, and in collaboration with the National Council of Nonprofits, has been educating the sector on the importance of this legislation that would enhance the efficiency and performance of federal grants and cooperative agreements.

Social Current’s Senior Director of Government Affairs Blair Abelle-Kiser commented on the importance this act has for the sector:

“I believe the Streamlining Federal Grants Act is a transformative step toward a more efficient and equitable grant administration system. By addressing critical issues and advocating for coordination, transparency, and equitable access, this legislation has the potential to empower nonprofits and uplift underserved communities across the nation.”

Grassroots advocacy by community-based organizations has been instrumental in building support in Washington, D.C., for the Streamlining Federal Grants Act. Since Social Current hosted its first-ever Capitol Hill Day on October 18, during which dozens of our network organizations met with members of Congress and staff, eleven members of Congress have cosponsored the bill.

These new cosponsors include Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), Rudy Yakym (R-Ind.), David Trone (D-M.D.), Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.), Joseph Morelle (D-N.Y.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Penn.), Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.), Yadira Caraveo (D-Colo.) and Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.).

Please sign onto the letter endorsed by more than 800 other nonprofits and help keep up the momentum!

HHS and DOE Release New Resource for Inclusion of Children with Disabilities in Early Childhood Programs

The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have collaboratively issued an updated policy statement highlighting the value of integrating children with disabilities into early childhood programs. This revised statement expands upon a 2015 version, reaffirming dedication and urgency to surmount obstacles hindering these children from fully engaging in inclusive early childhood programs. The revision aligns with President Biden’s executive order focusing on enhanced access to top-tier care and bolstering support for caregivers. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said, “Our nation’s youngest learners – including those with disabilities – deserve access to high quality early childhood programs that nurture their potential and provide a strong foundation for future success.”

With over 61 million U.S. adults grappling with disabilities and nearly one in six children experiencing developmental delays, the administration has advocated for a culture of inclusion spanning from birth to education and extending into communities and workplaces, according to HHS and DOE. The statement underscores the need for inclusive environments, presenting updated guidelines for implementing programs administered under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Head Start, childcare, home visiting, preschool, and public schools. It also includes evidence-based models and resources to facilitate tailored programming for children with disabilities in early childhood programs.

Administration Launches 2024 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period

The Biden-Harris administration announced that more than 4.5 million people have opted for health insurance plans through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Health Insurance Marketplace in the ongoing 2024 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period (OEP), between Nov. 1 and 18. This data encompasses the 32 states using HealthCare.gov up to week three, and in the 17 states as well as the District of Columbia with State-based Marketplaces until week two. Among these selections, 920,000 individuals (20% of total) are newcomers to the Marketplaces for 2024, while 3.7 million people (80% of total) possess existing 2023 coverage.

In a statement, Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra highlighted the robust launch of this year’s enrollment season, stressing four out of five individuals can secure a plan for $10 or less per month after subsidies on HealthCare.gov. According to the administration, the Inflation Reduction Act has played a role in reducing costs and enhancing benefits; it is anticipated 9 out of 10 customers will be eligible for savings. During the OEP, almost 96% of HealthCare.gov consumers have the option to choose from at least three health insurers. The highly competitive Marketplace for 2024 offers various plan choices, encouraging individuals to revisit and shop for plans that better align with their needs at a reduced cost.

The 2024 OEP spans from Nov. 1, 2023, to Jan. 15, 2024, and individuals enrolling by midnight on Dec. 15 can secure full-year coverage starting on Jan. 1, 2024. The administration also provides support through Navigator Awards to organizations aiding in consumer assistance.

Congress Punts Federal Budget Negotiations Until Next Year

President Joe Biden signed a temporary funding bill on Nov. 16, following the Senate’s bipartisan approval in a vote of 87-11. The legislation, referred to as a continuing resolution (CR), effectively averts the risk of a government shutdown until after the holiday season. The CR garnered substantial backing in the House, securing a vote of 336-95 on Tuesday. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) highlighted the significance of bipartisan collaboration in ensuring government operations without detrimental cuts or contentious provisions.

Crafted by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), the CR allocates funds to specific departments such as Agriculture, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Veterans Affairs until Jan. 19, 2024. The Defense Department, along with Health and Human Services, Education, and other government components, will receive funding until Feb. 2. Johnson’s strategy was aimed at avoiding a last-minute comprehensive spending package ahead of Christmas. Notably, the CR is characterized as “clean,” devoid of spending cuts or policy disputes that could isolate Democrats, and it excludes a supplemental package addressing matters like aid for Israel and Ukraine, humanitarian assistance, or border security.

This interim measure grants additional time for House Republicans to pass remaining appropriations bills and for negotiators in both the House and Senate to finalize funding agreements. Despite challenges, Johnson maintains an optimistic outlook, underscoring the ongoing process of consensus-building within the Republican ranks.

The Center for Juvenile Justice Reform at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy, in partnership with Social Current and Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), has launched a new organizational diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEI) certification that aims to help youth and family-serving organizations approach their DEI efforts with intention and ensure that equity is deeply embedded in their culture, reflected throughout their policies and practices, and can endure through leadership and administrative changes. The DEI certification leverages Social Current’s organizational assessment tools, DEI trainings and consultation, and standards of practice.

Set to begin May 20, this 12-month certification will include online trainings, peer learning, individual and group coaching, and guidance on a capstone project. The capstone project will include individuals served in its design and implementation and demonstrate the organization’s implementation of the DEI principles covered in training, coaching sessions, and Social Current’s DEI standards of practice. The certification will culminate with an in-person convening at Georgetown University, where the capstone projects will be presented.

Certification objectives:

To deepen the principles of DEI into the organization’s culture, policies, and practices
Demonstrate a commitment to developing an equity journey within the organization for sustainability to achieve certification status
Gain a better understanding and strategies for implementing core principles, methods, and techniques in building an equitable organization
Assess where leaders may be on their learning and commitment continuum to equity through assessment tools and education
Deepen a leader’s knowledge and competence in equity through coaching, peer-sharing, and learning

Each organization must commit at least two staff to engaging in the certification process that will include coaching and training over a 12-month period. The cost for this certification is $19,000 per organization, which can be paid in two installments. The certification will be valid for two-years after completion of the program.

You can learn more about the DEI certification and schedule online, or join us for an upcoming informational webinar:

Dec. 14 (Noon-1 p.m. ET): Virtual information Session #1
Jan. 17, 2024 (3-4 p.m. ET): Virtual Information Session #2
Feb. 20, 2024: (11 a.m.-noon ET): Virtual Information session #3

To start the registration process, please click here. Applications are due March 29, 2024, and participation will be confirmed by April 19, 2024.

If you have any questions, please contact Undraye Howard, vice president of equity, diversity, inclusion, and engagement at Social Current.

More than 800 nonprofits have joined this sign-on letter in support of the Streamlining Federal Grants Act (S. 2286/H.R. 5934). This legislation addresses critical issues in managing federal grant programs and would help enhance the efficiency and performance of federal grants and cooperative agreements.

The Streamlining Federal Grants Act first gained momentum when introduced by Sens. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), and John Cornyn (R-Texas) on July 17. At the time, leaders from across the social sector shared statements of support for the bill in a press release from the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs.

Now, 827 nonprofits have rallied behind the legislation recognizing the lasting impact it could have on the sector and the communities served. Specifically, the Act focuses on several fundamental principles that will enhance this grant process for all:

Coordination and Standardization: The Act acknowledges the need for better coordination and standardization in federal grant administration. The lack of uniform rules and forms across federal agencies creates unnecessary complexity and inefficiency.
Streamlined Grant Application Processes: The Act aims to simplify the grant application process, reducing redundant requirements and paperwork and making it easier for nonprofit organizations and communities to access federal grants.
Improving Transparency: Standardizing Notices of Funding Opportunities and implementing common data standards enhances transparency and ensures potential grant applicants can quickly identify and apply for relevant opportunities.
Equitable Access: The Act specifically addresses the need to provide underserved communities and organizations with greater access to federal grants. This focus on equity aligns with our commitment to serving all members of our society, regardless of their size, location, or resources.
Support for Workforce Development: The Act recognizes the importance of a well-trained workforce and the need for agencies to provide training and assistance to potential grant applicants. This support is crucial for the success of nonprofits and communities alike.

Social Current has been active in advocating for federal grant reform and educating our network about the issue. Social Current’s Senior Director of Government Affairs Blair Abelle-Kiser commented on the importance this act would have on the sector:

Social Current is monitoring the progress of the Streamlining Federal Grant Act of 2023 and will share updates in our Policy and Advocacy Radar newsletter. Subscribe online.

VIEW LETTER

Learn More & Take Action

Review highlights of the legislation’s provisions that benefit charitable nonprofits in this one-pager from Social Current and the National Council of Nonprofits.
View Social Current’s on-demand Policy Briefing about the issue.
View the National Council of Nonprofits recorded webinar, The Urgency of Government Grants Reform for Your Nonprofits.
Read the op-ed, “Government contract reform is a must for social sector nonprofits,” authored by Social Current President and CEO Jody Levison-Johnson in New York Nonprofit Media in February 2023.
See highlight from Social Current’s Hill Day during our SPARK 2023 conference. Participants spent the day advocating for support of this legislation with their members of Congress.
Reach out to Blair Abelle-Kiser, senior director of government affairs at Social Current, with any questions.

Social Current has always emphasized that together, we can create a greater impact. By working across systems, community-based organizations can establish a web of services that maximize their strengths and address their needs to better serve their staff and communities.

At Social Current, we provide multiple pathways toward purposeful partnership. From Strategic Industry Partners to Network Champions to Corporations and Philanthropy, we bolster our network’s impact by sharing their business solutions and opportunities.

Our President and CEO Jody Levison-Johnson would like to introduce our Silver Strategic Industry Partners in this video. These five partners offer specialized products and services that benefit the sector:

Meet Social Current’s Silver Strategic Industry Partners

Brown & Brown Insurance: Long-time partner Brown & Brown Insurance is the preferred choice of over 1,300 health and human services organizations nationwide. They are dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of their customers by helping to protect what they value most.

FlexAMS: FlexAMS offers a results-driven and cost-effective Electronic Health Record (EHR) solutions geared toward nonprofit health and human service organizations. They are committed to superior customer service and affordability, making them the top choice for many behavioral health and social services organizations.

Marsh McLennan Agency: Marsh McLennan Agency provides business insurance, employee health and benefits, retirement, and private client insurance solutions across North America. With inclusion and diversity at the heart of their shared enterprise, they work side by side across disciplines, businesses, and borders to solve their clients’ most complex problems.

Public Consulting Group: Public Consulting Group is a leading public sector management consulting firm that partners with health, education, and human services agencies. They offer a multidisciplinary approach to solve their clients’ challenges and favor long-term client relationships.

Triad: Triad is the leading provider of education, community, and career resources for our sector. They support the behavioral and mental health community, from student to practitioner, and offer discounted rates for our network.

Interested in partnering with Social Current? Contact Marisa Collins, director of strategic partnerships and partner communications, or visit our partnerships page online.

The Biden-Harris Administration is taking significant steps to bolster public health by addressing social determinants through a collaborative effort across multiple agencies. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), particularly the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), is unveiling vital resources to streamline the coordination of health care, public health, and social services at the federal, state, and local levels.

The effort includes the introduction of the inaugural U.S. Playbook to Address Social Determinants of Health, underscoring the interdependence of health, secure housing, nutritious food, and unpolluted air. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said, “It is clear that the health of our people does not exist in a vacuum, but it is affected by our access to stable housing, healthy food, and clean air to breathe.”

Additionally, the administration is launching a Call to Action to Address Health Related Social Needs as well as a Medicaid and CHIP Health-Related Social Needs Framework. These resources offer guidance to states in structuring programs that tackle housing and nutritional deficiencies for vulnerable populations. The guidance advocates for collaborative efforts across sectors, engaging private health care, social services, public health, environmental agencies, government, and information technology, to cultivate a more integrated health and social care system.

This all-encompassing strategy aligns investments across diverse federal agencies, including the departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Agriculture (USDA), Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Veterans Affairs (VA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and others, to fund local initiatives, empower communities, and enhance health outcomes. Rooted in the White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities, this initiative aligns with the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. The overarching objective is to establish fair, accessible, person-centered health and social care systems, irrespective of social circumstances, reinforcing the administration’s dedication to health equity and comprehensive well-being.

HHS Announces New Funding for Community Behavioral Health

As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to address behavioral health challenges at the community level, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) have unveiled funding opportunities totaling $74.4 million. These grants are designed to proactively prevent substance use, addressing associated concerns in line with the administration’s efforts to combat the overdose epidemic and tackle the national mental health crisis.

In related remarks, Secretary Xavier Becerra of HHS underscored the promotion of positive outcomes and the advancement of health equity through the support of community-based behavioral health services. SAMHSA, led by Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, is dedicated to enhancing access to behavioral health care services nationwide. The funding empowers organizations to implement evidence-based strategies aimed at preventing and addressing substance misuse while also promoting mental health.

The announced funding opportunities include $30.4 million in grants for the Expansion and Sustainability of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children with Serious Emotional Disturbances (CMHI) program. This initiative targets the enhancement of mental health outcomes for children and youth at risk of serious emotional trauma. Additionally, $13.1 million is earmarked for Tribal Behavioral Health to counteract suicidal behavior, substance use/misuse, overdose, and trauma among American Indian/Alaska Native youth. Two grants, $15.5 million each, are directed at state and community entities to mitigate substance misuse onset and progression by prioritizing prevention and mental health promotion services. This initiative aligns with the administration’s comprehensive mental health strategy and the National Drug Control Strategy, contributing to a holistic, whole-of-government approach to addressing the overdose epidemic and mental health crisis.

HUD Rolls Out Grants for Youth Experiencing Homelessness

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) introduced a comprehensive strategy to tackle homelessness, with a specific focus on youth, individuals in unsheltered environments, and those in rural areas. HUD has designated $50 million for Youth Homelessness System Improvement (YHSI) grants, which will benefit around 35 communities. The grants seek to bring about systemic changes that improve response systems for youth at risk or experiencing homelessness. Objectives include enhancing impact through Youth Action Boards, setting up regional committees to address youth homelessness across various systems, gathering and utilizing data on at-risk youth, nurturing community leaders, and refining coordination of homeless assistance projects.

According to HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge, “The Biden-Harris Administration is taking a whole-of-government approach toward ending homelessness. We encourage our state and local partners to join us in this critical effort and leverage unprecedented levels of federal resources and flexibilities available to address this crisis.” In addition to the YHSI grants, HUD is implementing a technical assistance strategy for 62 Continuum of Care communities and 139 Public Housing Authorities (PHAs). This strategy aims to improve program coordination, elevate leaders with lived experience, engage individuals in unsheltered and rural settings, and make permanent housing a reality with supportive services.

Family First Prevention Services Clearinghouse Posts New Ratings

The Family First Prevention Clearinghouse has posted new ratings for twelve prevention services. One was found to be “well-supported,” one was rated as “supported”, one as “promising”, and nine were rated as “does not currently meet criteria.” The programs included mental health, substance abuse, kinship navigator, and in-home parent skill-based services. So far, 160 programs and services have been reviewed, and 79 have been rated as promising, supported, or well-supported. The new ratings are:

Autism Parent Navigators: “Does not currently meet criteria”
Celebrating Families!™: “Does not currently meet criteria”
Celebrating Families!™ 0 Thru 3 Years: “Does not currently meet criteria”
e-Family Foundations: “Does not currently meet criteria”
Family Foundations: “Well-supported”
FF@Home: “Does not currently meet criteria”
Maternal Early Childhood Sustained Home-visiting®: “Supported”
Parent-Child Assistance Program: “Does not currently meet criteria”
Parent-Child Care: “Promising”
Strong Foundations: “Does not currently meet criteria”
Wellbriety & Celebrating Families!™: “Does not currently meet criteria”
Washington State Kinship Navigator Program: “Does not currently meet criteria”

Help Shape the Next Edition of COA Accreditation Standards

COA Accreditation, a service of Social Current, is proposing enhancements to its accreditation standards. These draft revisions are now available for review and comment from the field.

The Domestic Violence (DV) standards, have been updated to reflect current literature and practice to ensure they support survivor empowerment, respond to the different types of abuse survivors may have experienced, and address the range of services that enable survivors to heal, access resources, develop connections, and build skills.
Download the document of proposed changes.
The Services for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDDS) standards have been revised to better address key topics in the field including personnel competency, the inclusion of workers with lived experience on the team, caregiver/family support, and the delivery of individualized, therapeutic interventions to address symptoms that inhibit positive functioning and quality of life.
Download the document of proposed changes.
The Crisis Response and Information Services (CRI) standards have been expanded to better reflect the full spectrum of crisis services including additional standards for crisis text services, mobile response, peer support staff, and short-term crisis receiving and stabilization units that were all previously accredited under Residential Treatment Services (RTX). The updated standards also include new or expanded content on law enforcement involvement; collaborative crisis response systems; and trauma-informed, culturally-responsive, and person-centered care.
Download the document of proposed changes.
The Wilderness and Adventure-Based Therapeutic Outdoor Services (WT) standards have been expanded to include WT services for adult populations and include new content on safety and well-being for persons served and personnel in the field. The updated standards also include new content on trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and person-centered care.
Download the document of proposed changes.