The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of
2002 (P.L. 107-171) (the Farm Bill) authorized the Food and Nutrition
Service (FNS) to award $5 million dollars in grants for FY 2003 through
FY 2007. These grants are targeted to State agencies, public health or
educational entities, or private nonprofit entities such as
community-based or faith-based organizations, food banks, or other
emergency feeding organizations. The grants are specifically for
projects aimed at simplifying the food stamp application and eligibility
determination systems or improving access to food stamp benefits by
eligible households. In addition, FNS has used these grants to address
the priorities of encouraging partnerships and coordinating enrollment
in the FSP and the Medicaid Part D Prescription Drug Benefit Program.
For example, in FY 2004 and FY 2005 FNS awarded $1 million of the $5
million to projects that included partnerships between State agencies
and faith-based or community-based organizations. In FY 2005 FNS awarded
one grant to a project that coordinated the application process for the
FSP and the Medicaid Part D Prescription Drug Program. See below for
descriptions of the projects that have been funded to date. FNS will
announce the FY 2006 awardees by August 2006.
FY 2003
The University of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma
Department of Human Services is systematically analyzing barriers to
participation in the FSP and identifying alternatives for removing them.
In addition, it is producing outreach materials that increase awareness
of the FSP. Finally, it is performing observations and ethnographic
studies designed to identify communication and human relations issues
that should be addressed through training or changes in the
administrative procedures. At the end of the project, the State agency
will have a Continuous Quality Improvement model that it can use to
continuously update its application processing system.
The Wisconsin Department of Health and
Family Services is developing an on-line “Customer Service Toolbox.”
The toolbox includes a self-screening program, a full application for
food stamps and other programs, a form to allow applicants to make
changes to their applications and a program for applicants and
participants to query the status of their applications. Sites throughout
the state are testing the on-line system as it is being developed. This
initiative simplifies the application process, improves access to the
FSP for new applicants and current participants and improves Wisconsin’s
payment accuracy rate.
New Jersey Department of Human Services,
in collaboration with Mercer Street Friends, the Mercer County Board of
Social Services and the New Jersey Food Stamp Nutrition Education
Program at Rutgers University, is creating multiple paths for
individuals to access food stamp benefits. These paths include: an
online food stamp application, a food stamp screening tool that
estimates potential eligibility for food stamps, a printable food stamp
application in multiple languages, an online interview tool and an
interactive voice response system. Using this combination of new
technologies, along with outreach and marketing, New Jersey hopes to
ease the application and certification process as well as increase
participation in the FSP.
Virginia Department of Social Services,
in partnership with the Federation of Virginia Food Banks and other many
other nutrition service providers, is developing an on-line application
that can be transmitted electronically to the appropriate local
department of social services. In addition, the partners are creating a
web-based Nutrition Resource Center that makes information about all
nutrition services in the State available through the internet and
through information and referral providers. The partners are promoting
use of the on-line application and the resource center via the media and
traditional outreach activities. This multi-pronged project streamlines
the application process, promote nutrition assistance and increase
participation in the FSP.
Rhode Island Department of Human Services
is developing a web-based interactive food stamp application and
eligibility determination process for the entire State. The State agency
is also purchasing and deploying ten computers in public facilities such
as libraries around the State and training staffs in those offices in
the use of the program so they may be able to assist applicants in
completingthe process. The ability to offer an interactive on-line
application 24 hours a day 7 days a week greatly improves access to the
FSP particularly for working families and others with difficulties in
reaching an office during working hours.
FY 2004
The Southern Institute on Children and
Families in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Social
Services and Agape Ministries of Charleston (a faith-based
organization), is developing, testing, and implementing a process
improvement process in three county offices. In addition, it is
implementing a faith-based campaign whereby volunteers perform outreach
and application assistance in various churches in two counties. This
initiative increases access to food stamp benefits, enhances staff
capacity to solve problems, streamlines work processes and improves
worker morale.
The Community Action Project (CAP) of Tulsa
and the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) are working
together to expand the scope and reach of the Benefits Eligibility
System for Oklahomans (BESO), an Internet-based screening tool and
calculator that determines eligibility, calculates a benefit amount, and
assists clients in applying electronically for benefits. CAP is
expanding BESO to various pilot sites in Oklahoma and will eventually go
statewide. The expansion of BESO effectively decentralizes the screening
and application process. In addition, CAP and the OKDHS are identifying
and implementing changes in both the eligibility determination and
application processes to address drop-offs in certification rates, and
in the case maintenance process to ensure more time that frontline
caseworkers can spend on managing FSP cases.
Illinois Department of Human Services
is developing a process by which potentially eligible individuals can
apply for food stamp benefits via the Internet and have their
applications automatically register in the DHS processing system. In
addition, it is developing a means by which working individuals can
recertify through an automated telephone interview. Finally, it is
developing a telephone based benefit calculator and local office
locator. These streamlined processes improve access to the FSP by
low-income households and improve services and outcomes for potential
applicants.
Iowa Department of Human Services is
establishing a centralized statewide Customer Call Center that responds
to inquiries about the FSP and accepts and begins processing
applications and reported changes. In addition, Iowa is simplifying all
of its forms and translating them into Spanish. Finally, Iowa is
training local faith-based and community-based organizations so they can
prescreen individuals for benefits. The combination of these measures
make access to Iowa’s FSP easier and more efficient for applicants and
recipients and ultimately increases participation among those eligible
for benefits.
Nevada Department of Human Resources and
the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, is developing a system that
interfaces with 10 kiosks in 8 grocery stores and two welfare district
offices in Washoe County (includes Reno). This system allows individuals
to prescreen themselves for eligibility and apply for food stamps
on-line (the kiosk application is in English and Spanish). The system
also provides printouts that detail the date, time and location of the
interview and the name of the worker with whom the applicant will be
meeting. The Food Bank of Northern Nevada is providing an outreach
worker in each grocery store to promote use of the kiosks and to assist
in filling out applications. The DHS is also undertaking a marketing
campaign to promote use of the kiosks. This project improves access to
the FSP by increasing the number of locations individuals can apply for
food stamps and making the application system more efficient for both
the applicant and the worker which ultimately increases the number of
eligible individuals receiving food stamps.
New Mexico Association of Food Banks,
in conjunction with the New Mexico Human Services Department, is using
an outreach coordinator to recruit and manage volunteers. These
volunteers conduct outreach and provide application assistance to
potential recipients. In addition, it is using “mobile” eligibility
workers to work in community-based locations to qualify and enroll food
stamp applicants. Finally, it is training “food stamp champions” who
communicate the value of the FSP to both customers and staff. This
multi-pronged project increases participation in the FSP and reduces the
amount of time required to process food stamp applications.
FY 2005
Elder Law of Michigan and the Michigan
Department of Human Services are developing the Michigan Coordinated
Access to Food for the Elderly (MiCAFE), which is an on-line application
processing system, in Wayne County. Elder Law of Michigan is also
providing locations where individuals can apply using this system and is
training volunteers to provide application assistance. This project
increases access to the FSP and streamlines and simplifies the
application process, particularly for the elderly and disabled.
State of Arizona, Office of the Governor,
in partnership with the Department of Economic Security, El Rio Health
Center, the Benefits Checkup partnership, the Arizona Community Action
Association, the Foundation for Senior Living (a faith-based
organization) and the Arizona 2-1-1 project, is expanding
Health-e-Arizona to include the FSP. Health-e-Arizona is a web-based,
cross-agency, fully automated application system that enrolls low-income
individuals in public health insurance programs. By including the FSP in
the Health-e-Arizona system, community-based agencies have the ability
to submit electronic food stamp applications directly to the DES. In
addition, Arizona is enhancing its web-based pre-screening tools,
Benefits CheckUP Arizona and Arizona Self Help, so individuals can
prescreen for eligibility and then link directly to the Health-e-Arizona
system. Finally, Arizona is expanding its 2-1-1 system to provide
information and referral services to include food stamps. This paperless
system increases locations where individuals can apply for benefits and
simplifies and streamlines the application process.
City of New York, in partnership with
the New York City Coalition against Hunger, is designing and
implementing an automated application, eligibility and recertification
system. This system is able to take applications at about 1,200
locations around New York City; and can scan verification documents. The
system also generates, where appropriate, applications for the Medicaid
Part D Prescription Drug Benefit Program. This project results in a
paperless office system which simplifies the application process for
both program administrators and applicants, increases the number of
locations individuals can apply for benefits thereby increasing
participation in the FSP.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services,
in collaboration with the Semcac and Olmstead County Community Action
Agencies, is developing a software program that offers a streamlined,
multi-program application process for about 624,000 Community Action
Agency clients, a simplified re-certification process, and a simplified
monthly reporting process. The project expands the number of locations
available for people to apply for benefits, ensures easier access to
food stamps and to other county services and leads to increased
participation in the FSP.
Tennessee Department of Human Services
is deploying ‘roving’ caseworkers in two urban counties to enroll and
recertify applicants and participants. The caseworkers are available in
the early mornings and the evenings in convenient locations. They hold a
“walk-in-clinic” one day a week. This project eases access to the FSP
for working families, pregnant women, immigrants and refugees, and
senior citizens. Through this initiative, Tennessee hopes to improve its
payment accuracy; timeliness of application processing, productivity and
customer satisfaction.
Maryland Department of Human Resources,
with its partner the United Way of Central Maryland, is developing a
web-based multi-program screening and application tool that offers
access to food stamp benefits and other benefits through United Way
locations and community-based organizations. This project improves
access to the FSP as well as eight other benefit programs, including the
Medicaid Part D Prescription Drug Benefit Program.
