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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

Displaying 1 - 10 of 992. 10 per page. Page 1.

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Research Brief

Title IV-E Foster Care Eligibility Rates Have Declined While Determination Costs Have Increased: Meanwhile Eligibility Review Results Have Varied Since FY00

This brief synthesizes national caseload and expenditure data related to Title IV-E foster care eligibility and summarizes the Children’s Bureau’s published Title IV-E foster care eligibility review findings. Key findings include:
ASPE Issue Brief

Over the Past 10 Years, Head Start Administrative Spending Remained Relatively Steady and Always Below the 15 Percent Statutory Ceiling

This brief describes the share of spending on administrative expenses in Head Start. Key findings include:
ASPE Issue Brief

Exposure to Domestic Violence/Intimate Partner Violence Is Associated With Child Welfare System Involvement

KEY POINTSExisting research shows that children’s exposure to domestic violence (DV)/ intimate partner violence (IPV) increases the likelihood of involvement with the child welfare system (including child protective services (CPS) involvement and foster care entry).
ASPE Issue Brief

From FY16 to FY25, Fewer Head Start Families Received Comprehensive Services and the Percentage of Families Receiving Services Also Declined for Many Categories

This brief examines how Head Start’s comprehensive service delivery changed between the 2015-2016 (FY16) and 2024-2025 (FY25) program years, focused on volume (total number) and rate (percent) of children and families who received comprehensive services. Key findings include:
ASPE Issue Brief

Structure Matters: How State Child Support Program Administration and Procedures Can Impact Federal Spending and Support Order Establishment Performance

h3 { max-width: 100% !important; } p{max-width: 100% !important;}KEY POINTSFederal spending per child support case increased from $374.31 to $435.82 (in inflation adjusted dollars) between Fiscal Year 2015 (FY15) and FY24.
ASPE Issue Brief

HHS' Historical Approach to Head Start Regulation Following the 2007 Statutory Reauthorization has Increased Costs and Reduced Access, without Substantial Quality Gains

This brief describes HHS' historical approach to Head Start regulation following the 2007 statutory reauthorization. Key findings include:
Case Study

How Texas Achieves Strong Program Integrity in CCDF: Practical Considerations for State CCDF Lead Agencies

To facilitate cross-state learning, the Office of Child Care (OCC), in partnership with the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), is launching a snapshot series to highlight promising state practices.