April 2024 CSQ

families we serve. These considerations should be taken when considering
the policies we make within our states.
The “To Fear or Fear Not: Benefits, Risks, and Considerations
for Implementing Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI)” plenary
kicked off the afternoon sessions with Jamia McDonald, Deloitte
Consulting LLP, and Eyal Darmon, Accenture, along with
moderator David Kilgore, providing great insight on what AI is and how it
should be appropriately used. For many of us who may not be as educated
on AI, this extremely educational session ignited excitement about how it
could be used in the child support program.
Thursday rounded out with the “Unlocking the Power of
Community-Based Organizations: Strategies for Development
and Sustainable Growth” session. Diane Wallace Booker from
the American Dream Academy, Lauren Farrell of the Urban
Institute, Willie Bell, CEO/Founder of the fatherhood program F.A.R.M., and
Darla Biel of South Dakota’s Center for Prevention of Child Maltreatment,
through the moderation of Mary Nelson of APHSA, demonstrated there’s
more to collaborating with community-based organizations. It’s also about
engagement, strength leveraging and perspectives, and the grassroots
connections that community-based organizations have with the people we
serve.
Thursday’s sessions set up Friday nicely, beginning with
“Breaking Barriers and Building Futures: Advancing Policy-
Centered Partnerships to Empower Family Services.” Eileen
Stack, IV-D Director (NY); Shaneen Moore, Deputy Assistant
Commissioner and Child Support Director (MN); Matt Lyons, Senior
Director of Policy & Practice of APHSA; and John Rees, Senior Policy
Advisor with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, were joined by Elise
Topliss who kept the panelists engaged in conversation. Matt shared the
path APHSA took to connect with the child support program in the broader
human services system to strengthen families. Matt also discussed how
APHSA worked with John on benefit cliffs to understand the root cause of
why people are struggling, and how they should be considered in
policymaking. John explained that the Federal Bank is involved in this
space because its mandates include promoting maximum employment.
Because benefit cliffs are a significant obstacle to economic mobility and
maximum employment, the Federal Bank has developed a variety of tools,
including one that John demonstrated to emphasize the impact of