Policy and Practice (P&P) is APHSA’s longstanding magazine highlighting the latest insights and innovations in human services. In each issue, we feature stories from our members, which include human services leaders across the country, as well as other leaders throughout the public sector, our strategic industry partners, APHSA staff, key partner organizations, individuals with lived experience, and subject matter experts from other sectors who are committed to advancing the well-being of individuals, children, families, and communities.


Catch up on all the issues from 2023!
Prevention in Practice:
Navigating Upstream to Build Resilient Communities (Spring 2023)
Advancing Social and Economic Mobility for Equitable, Long-Term Success
(Summer 2023)
Modernizing IT Systems for the Future: Emerging Technology and Process Innovation
(Fall 2023)


Latest Release!
Community-Led Solutions:
Partnerships for System Change (Winter 2023)


Read Past Issues Here

P&P is no longer a subscription-based publication. We hope everyone, everywhere, will read, share, learn, and be inspired!
If you have questions or requests, please contact the editor, Jessica Garon, Director of Communications, at APHSA.

2024 THEMES

The editorial themes for the 2024 P&P issues are rooted in our mission to advance the well-being of all people by influencing modern approaches to sound policy, building the capacity of public agencies to enable healthy families and communities, and connecting leaders to accelerate learning and generate practical solutions together. To continue the shared learning of APHSA members and partners in our collective journey to build well-being from the ground up, the themes focus on the following:

Spring — Moving Human Services Upstream to Proactively Promote Well-Being

This issue is focused on prevention and early intervention as ways to improve overall health and well-being. Articles focused on promoting child and family well-being and preventing child maltreatment through effective prevention and early intervention will be particularly important to include in this issue. We are also seeking articles showcasing the effective application of a prevention framework, yielding meaningful and equitable outcomes for families and shifting the orientation of programs and systems upstream. Other topics will explore the integration of large systems with human services (e.g., housing, employment, justice, health, etc.), learning from other sectors such as public health and education in working upstream to address root causes, how human services can wrap around and positively impact the social determinants of health, and build more resilient communities by utilizing the whole system to serve families. This issue will be aligned with our National Human Services Summit.
Submission Deadline: February 21

Summer — Advancing Social and Economic Mobility for Equitable, Long-Term Success
This issue is focused on human-centered design and whole-family approaches that support long-term social and economic mobility. Centered in evidence of what works for families and informed by the perspectives, goals, and needs of individuals served, potential article topics could include how to define, quantify, and measure social and economic mobility; addressing structural racism and inequities; aligning employment and training with meaningful, supportive services; mitigating the benefits cliff; engagement with employers, workforce partners, and the community; and root cause level supports including the role of non-economic social supports. This issue will be aligned with our Economic Mobility and Well-Being (EMWB) Conference.
Submission Deadline: May 1

Fall — Emerging Technology and Process Innovation: Modernizing for the Future of Human Services
This issue is focused on emerging technology and process innovation that advance the next generation of human services by equipping staff and customers with modern tools and practices. Examples of how state and local agencies engage customers and leverage data insights to modernize systems and advance person-centered service delivery are encouraged. We also wish to showcase what agencies require to modernize their business model for the future, such as deploying digital tools and applications, performing advanced analytics to track impact, and/or employing technology to inform ethical, equity-driven decision-making. This issue will be aligned with our IT Solutions Management for Human Services (ISM) + Public Human Services Attorneys (PHSA) Education Conference and Expo.
Submission Deadline: August 7

Winter — Community-Led Solutions: Partnerships for System Change
 This issue is focused on shifting power dynamics from institutions to the community to drive system-level change through authentic and continuous engagement with people who have experienced or are currently involved with human services and other support systems. Specific examples of partnerships with community-based organizations and adjacent sectors such as education, housing, employment, environmental justice, and criminal justice working to align systems to achieve greater impact are of interest. We also wish to showcase partnerships working towards service delivery systems that are truly equitable, human-centered, and community-driven.
Submission Deadline: October 9