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ACF convening launches ‘Forward Together’ to center equity in disaster human services
Summary
Administration for Children and Families leaders opened a multi‑day convening to align federal and state human services on disaster response, emphasizing flexible supports, equity, and partnerships with local service providers.
The Administration for Children and Families opened a multi‑agency convening titled “Forward Together, Shaping the Future of Disaster Human Services” to advance equity and operational improvements in disaster response.
Natalie Grant, director of the Office of Human Services Emergency Preparedness and Response at ACF, opened the convening, thanking practitioners who shared lived experience with the office and laying out a 2½‑day agenda focused on federal program coordination, state perspectives, and equity in disaster human services. Grant said the convening will “curate a platform to amplify the conversations” that practitioners have started and urged participants to contribute operational lessons learned.
Jeff Hild, principal deputy assistant secretary for ACF, framed the sessions by noting how growing frequency and complexity of disasters have elevated emergency response in ACF’s portfolio and called for sharing promising practices across jurisdictions. “Our goal at ACF is to promote social and economic well‑being by meeting individuals, households, and communities where they are,” Hild said, connecting program delivery to disaster resilience.
Panelists from ACF offices described how program lines such as TANF, child support, the Children’s Bureau, and Head Start play roles before, during and after disasters. Anne Flagg (Office of Family Assistance) highlighted cash‑based tools such as TANF to address immediate family needs in disaster response. Commissioner Tangela Gray (Office of Child Support Services) described a March 4 final rule that adjusts child support performance indicators so state programs can continue key services during public health emergencies without automatic penalties.
Why it matters: Federal programs and regional offices said they are retooling policies and tools to reduce barriers to assistance, expand language and accessibility supports, and improve early coordination with state and local partners so survivors receive timely help. The convening also included practical event housekeeping—organizers announced an on‑site lactation suite and ASL interpretation—to support inclusive participation.
The convening moved into panels that afternoon on state responses to recent disasters and agency reforms; roundtables and follow‑up sessions were scheduled to translate discussion into action.
