Outreach Coalition Minutes

February 18, 2004 
The National Council of La Raza 
  
Attendees:

Bill Ayres, World Hunger Year 
Kay Bengston, Lutheran Office of Governmental Affairs 
Julie Brewer, Bread for the World 
Desmond Brown, APHSA 
Lucreda Cobbs, Catholic Charities 
Ed Cooney, Congressional Hunger Center
Stacy Dean, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities 
Larry Goolsby, American Public Human Services Association 
Abby Hughes Holsclaw, National League of Cities 
Rosemary Lahasky, Center for Workforce Preparation, US Chamber of Commerce 
Janice Magill, Center for Workforce Preparation, US Chamber of Commerce 
Julie Paradis, America’s Second Harvest Sara Simon Tompkins, National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty 
Marcela Urrutia, National Council of La Raza 
Ellen Vollinger, Food Research and Action Center 
Sheila Zedlewski, Urban Institute

From FNS and USDA:

Suanne Buggy, Office of Communications and Governmental Affairs [CGA] 
Jeff Cohen, Food Stamp Program [FSP]
Art Foley, FSP 
Carolyn Foley, FSP 
Barbara Hallman, FSP 
David Heller, FSP 
Lynn Jordan, FSP 
Kathie Klass, CGA 
Harriet Kornegay, FSP 
Courtenay McCormick, USDA Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives
Pat Seward, CGA 
Jessica Shahin, FSP
Patrick Waldron, FSP 
Dawn Washington, FSP

Welcome and Introductory Remarks

Jessica Shahin, Acting Deputy Administrator for the Food Stamp Program, opened the meeting. She stressed that FNCS Under Secretary Eric Bost has long made outreach for food stamps a major priority. More than $5 billion in food stamp benefits for low-income people is lost each year due to under-participation in the program, and only about 60 percent of those who are eligible for food stamps benefits participate. That amount of lost resources is probably greater than the dollar value of all the food given out each year by every food bank and food pantry in America combined.

To address this need, Shahin continued, FNS distributes posters and flyers about food stamp benefits in more than 34 languages; offers a web-based food stamp pre-screening tool; and is launching a national media campaign that will air radio ads in dozens of cities nationwide. FNS has also announced some $6 million in grant funding to community-based and faith-based organizations interested in food stamp outreach projects or projects to improve local access to the Food Stamp Program. 

Shahin thanked David Heller for his work on behalf of the Coalition, and noted that he is leaving FNS in March. Elizabeth Whelan, an Emerson Fellow of the Congressional Hunger Center, will be continuing Heller's work at FNS. Jessica also thanked Bill Ayres for his commitment to the Coalition and his enthusiasm in urging others to join and in identifying outreach best practices. There is much interest nationwide in promoting food stamp outreach, and also in finding effective strategies for outreach. The issue is not new, Shahin added: a food stamp public service announcement from decades ago was recently spotted on eBay. But it has come into greater focus in recent years, especially as greater demand now exists for guidance on effective strategies.  

Reaching Local Organizations and Building Partnerships

Bill Ayres of World Hunger Year [WHY] discussed a new alliance of major groups that address domestic hunger, the National Anti-Hunger Organizations [NAHO], to which several members of the Coalition belong. Their recent meeting in New York was productive, and featured remarks from FNCS Under Secretary Eric Bost. Ayres noted Bost’s remarks that re-branding the Food Stamp Program as a work support program could be especially effective, because it could encourage Congressional appropriators to see the Program as especially worthy of extra funding. Local groups could be encouraged to aid in this effort.    

Ayres noted that WHY has a contract with FNS to create and maintain a National Hunger Clearinghouse of local anti-hunger groups nationwide. WHY also has a program, Reinvesting in America, aimed at spotlighting outstanding anti-hunger programs. Begun under USDA Secretary Dan Glickman, the Clearinghouse now has some 7500 members and also offers a hotline, 1-800-GLEAN-IT. Though this number was originally intended to allow organizations to donate food to Clearinghouse members, some 90 percent of callers today are people seeking emergency food.  

Ayres added that although this national hotline has been helpful to low-income people, state-level hotlines would be more so, if they could be identified and publicized. NAHO could also be a vehicle for surveying state and local best practices and then disseminating them to local anti-hunger organizations nationwide.

Specific publicity efforts could include 

• Local partnerships with religious groups and congregations 
• Public service radio advertisements 
• Outreach to workers at factories or offices that are facing closure 
• Local partnerships with soup kitchens or food pantries 
• Print advertisements on food packages 
• Outreach partnerships with other Federal benefits programs [e.g. SSI] 

Outreach, Ayres continued, is only one portion of the effort to help improve Food Stamp Program participation. The quality of the food stamp applicant's interaction with their local application office is equally important--and its culture must be changed. Tactics for doing so could include:

• Improving office accessibility [through longer hours, for example] 
• Simplifying food stamp applications, and the certification process [which could also 
  make life simpler for food stamp eligibility workers, or "EWs"] 
• Promoting an attitude of friendly, caring service  

New York has created a Hunger Heroes program, modeled on a similar Massachusetts effort, to honor people who have been especially instrumental in helping fight poverty and hunger in the region. EWs are under great pressure to process a large volume of applications quickly and accurately; would it make sense, Ayres asked, to design such an award to honor especially kind or helpful EWs, and to create an incentive for EWs to provide a friendlier environment for food stamp applicants? 

Ayres concluded by asserting that the Food Stamp Program should be the first "line of defense" for low-income Americans facing hunger, instead of food banks or pantries. An initiative to change the culture of food stamp offices for EWs and clients could help make it so, because EWs generally care more about job satisfaction than salary. 

Larry Goolsby also agreed the proposed initiative would be a good idea, and offered the help of the APHSA in implementing it. Recognition is important, Goolsby concurred, and positive feedback can be extremely meaningful to an overworked EW. 

Dawn Washington concurred that an initiative to honor EWs, modeled on the Hunger Heroes awards, could be an excellent way to change food stamp office culture. Shahin then asked how such an initiative could be implemented. Would the criteria for recognizing outstanding EWs be the number of applications processed; kindness and quality of service; ability to catch fraud; or other measures?  

Harriet Kornegay agreed that a focus on changing the culture of local food stamp offices is a sound strategy for improving program participation- and that re-branding the Program as a work support initiative would also help. Harriet noted that FNS' Quality Control Branch, which oversees matters like food stamp fraud and the error rates of the states that deliver food stamp benefits, previously gave out awards to recognize top performers. People like being appreciated, so this initiative would be a step in the right direction. 

Abby Hughes Holsclaw said that a state-level meeting with selected state food stamp program staff to develop such a model program could be a good step. Kathie Klass added that such an initiative could be unveiled at APHSA's annual conference, so that attendees could publicize the message locally. 

Ellen Vollinger said that FRAC's upcoming conference would feature a session on customer service in the Food Stamp Program, and the issues facing EWs, and that she would ask that conference's moderator to elicit ideas on this Hunger Hero initiative for EWs. Vollinger concurred that EWs face considerable pressure not to fall behind on their work. Pat Seward agreed that outreach to EWs to help them play a role in improving food stamp participation is crucial, and that these tactics could help EWs find means of doing so. 

Ayres added that local anti-hunger groups could sponsor rewards for Hunger Hero EWs in their area, such as a party or cake in their honor. Photos and other information about the Heroes could also be posted on the Coalition website. Heller added that information about the Hunger Heroes idea could be sent quickly to grassroots anti-hunger organizations already involved in the Coalition, through its upcoming national listserv. The Heroes could also be honored nationally through a mention on that listserv. Shahin added that the websites of state food stamp offices could also recognize these Heroes. 

Heller also noted that Coalition members with national networks of local organizations, such as WHY’s National Hunger Clearinghouse, could play a similar role. Ayres agreed that such networks could prove highly useful.   

Building Resources and Communication Networks

Heller then provided a demonstration of the prototype for the Food Stamp Outreach Coalition website. The site provides a step-by-step guide on how a person or group can use FNS materials to start a food stamp outreach project, as well as basic instructions on how to apply for food stamps, and a copy of the food stamp application and list of food stamp offices for nearly all 50 states. It also contains a resource center that will feature food stamp outreach materials from organizations around the country. 

Heller noted that he had placed an invitation to join the Coalition in the National Hunger Clearinghouse's February newsletter, and had received several dozen responses. The website will also list all organizations which have joined the Coalition, and thereby allow each to contact the others. The website aims ultimately to be a tool to foster a grassroots food stamp outreach community. 

Barbara Hallman suggested that an online training center or curriculum for food stamp outreach would be helpful in allowing interested local groups to begin outreach activities. Hallman noted that in at least one state, perhaps Florida, as a training exercise EWs were required to travel by public transportation from various locations to the nearest food stamp office while carrying 20-pound sacks, to acquaint them with the effort food stamp applicants must often make to reach the nearest food stamp office. 

Hughes Holsclaw suggested the site contain an area requesting feedback from local organizations on their outreach efforts, ideas, and materials.  

Hallman added that a balance must be struck on the website between offering the widest possible selection of food stamp outreach materials and providing useful quality products. FNS must decide whether the site will only offer especially effective outreach materials, or post all materials it receives, but with the disclaimer that it is not responsible for their content or quality. 

Vollinger suggested that a disclaimer be added to the page on the site that provides outreach information and materials for each state, indicating that the food stamp participation rate for the state is not necessarily a fair assessment of the quality of the state's outreach activities, as it depends on a variety of factors. Vollinger noted that New York has done a great deal of successful food stamp outreach, funded both by the state and by private organizations, but that its rate of food stamp program participation remains low. 

Stacy Dean praised the site and suggested it screen the outreach materials it makes available for factual accuracy, especially materials that it endorses as potentially useful to those new to food stamp outreach. Dean also suggested the site promote the ideas in existing FNS food stamp outreach reports on how to successfully reach populations that have least used the Food Stamp Program. 

Dean said the site could also contain some section designed to improve access to the Program, through a resource center or through simpler steps such as a note on the "How to Get Food Stamps" pages urging the reader of their right to apply. 

Kay Bengston added that hard copies of information on the site, such as food stamp outreach guidance, could be made available in houses of worship and other areas that lack computer access but would be interested in learning about such outreach. 

Vollinger suggested the site also provide the fax numbers of all local food stamp offices whenever possible, and indicate that applications may be faxed and that appearing in person to hand them in is therefore unnecessary. Vollinger also suggested that the food stamp outreach contacts for each FNS regional office be clearly identified. Shahin suggested the site also identify a person to act as ombudsman for each state's food stamp office, so that office can be represented within the Coalition. 

Desmond Brown said providing information and a voice to state food stamp state offices will motivate them to become involved in this coalition, and thereby ensure that food stamp access issues become a part of its efforts. Highlighting positive practices and steps could be a good way to do so. Heller suggested that tactics to work with EWs, and to market the economic benefits of food stamps to state food stamp offices, could both help fulfill this goal. 

Ed Cooney then noted that the Congressional Hunger Center's annual Victory Against Hunger awards, which provide 25 $1000 grants to anti-hunger organizations, funded by Victory Wholesale Grocers, will this year be given to groups undertaking food stamp outreach, and the application process is open. A group must be nominated by a member of Congress to be eligible, however, and a handout on how to apply will be made available at FRAC's upcoming conference. 

Cooney also mentioned that the United Parcel Service (UPS) will be meeting on March 31 with some 25 to 50 national anti-hunger organizations, who will advise UPS' foundation on how best to donate funds available for anti-hunger projects. Kate Coler, Deputy Under Secretary of FNCS, and Jessica Shahin will represent FNCS at this meeting. UPS is the United States' third largest employer, and is especially interested in anti-hunger philanthropy. They may be willing to entertain proposals on food stamp outreach partnerships as an anti-hunger strategy worthy of funding. 11 discussion papers have been written in advance of this meeting, and these will be distributed at the upcoming FRAC conference. 

Heller added that both initiatives, especially the UPS conference, could represent lucrative opportunities for public-private partnerships on food stamp outreach. 

Julie Paradis said the website should be tailored to reflect the needs and interests of the business community, to emphasize the beneficial economic effect of food stamps for local communities and to stress the program's role as a work-support system. Hughes Holsclaw agreed that outreach to business interests would be effective, and said she was interested in helping. 

Shahin noted that Mandy Briggs, an FSP staff member currently working on detail in the office of the FNCS Under Secretary, oversees food stamp outreach to retail organizations, including food retail companies. Vollinger added that the Food Marketing Institute had identified food stamp outreach as a major priority, and that Pathmark Stores had also shown an interest. Kate Coler, the FNCS Deputy Under Secretary and former Deputy Administrator for the Food Stamp Program, formerly worked for FMI. 

Vollinger added that FNS distributes a mailer, FNS Notes, to retail organizations, and that the state of Minnesota had sent food stamp posters to interested organizations. Vollinger has received increasing numbers of examples of food stamp outreach efforts aimed at retailers and grocers. The recently-announced food stamp outreach and access grants are greatly welcomed, and FRAC will promote them as widely as possible, especially to community-based and faith-based organizations. 

Brown said a shift in the culture of the Federal and state food stamp leadership is also needed. Ayres asked whether data was available on the number or percentage of people eligible for food stamp benefits who are working poor, because that population could be of particular interest to state officials such as governors. Art Foley replied that the total number was not known to FNS, but that a study suggests that about 27% of those using food stamps have at least one working person in their household. A pending study by the Economic Research Service on the characteristics of food stamp households has also produced draft findings indicating that people eligible for food stamps who do not use the program tend to have higher incomes than those who do. 

Shiela Zedlewski said that FNS food stamp participation studies could underestimate the number and percentage of people who are eligible for food stamps and do not receive them, because such studies may not account for the value of certain assets, such as vehicles, owned by such people, which could disqualify them. Shahin noted that the FNS online food stamp pre-screening tool does account for such qualifying factors. 

Hughes Holsclaw said that the National League of Cities is providing direct technical assistance to low-income people in five cities to help them navigate the Food Stamp Program application and other processes. The pilot revealed that doing outreach for multiple programs at once can be highly effective, because those not eligible for food stamps may nonetheless be eligible for programs such as EITC, or vice versa. 

Bengston said that she knew of a promising web-based multi-benefit screening project, which is looking for funding. Shahin said information on such ideas should be shared with Heller. 

Improving Access at the Local Office and Beyond

Marian Wig then spoke on a publication produced by FNS' Mid-Atlantic Regional Office [MARO], Excellent Service for All. The publication is designed to spotlight best practices for improving access to the program, and to recognize the state food stamp offices that have realized them. It was published in May 2003, August 2003, and November 2003, and is assembled as a newsletter to be distributed to state and local food stamp offices. The first two issues dealt only with food stamp access issues, but the third and all future issues also deal with issues such as benefit payment accuracy.

The next issue will be released in March 2004. Information for its content was requested from FNS regional offices. Like the previous issues, it will be available on the FNS website. FNS’ Northeast and Midwest Regional Offices of FNS produce similar publications. MARO encourages each regional office to share such publications with others and with the food stamp outreach community.   
Goolsby said that, although state food stamp offices do care about outreach and access issues, they sometimes cannot access or spend the funds needed to have an impact on these matters, even if they are aware that a small investment can have a considerable payoff. So-called 50-50 food stamp outreach matching plans aren't actually split evenly between the state agency doing the food stamp outreach and FNS, because of state costs associated with such programs that FNS does not reimburse. States need to receive fuller financial backing from FNS to have an incentive to undertake such plans. 

Paradis said that the Food Stamp Outreach Coalition website should be formally unveiled or rolled out soon and a plan could be devised to do so. Vollinger suggested that Shahin mention the site at the upcoming FRAC conference. 

Conclusion

Shahin proposed that, in order to turn the suggestions voiced at the meeting to direct action, a series of Coalition subcommittees be created to address specific issues, namely 

• Mobilizing the business community, and stressing the economic benefits of food stamps  
  for local communities [Paradis, Vollinger, Hughes Holsclaw, and Mandy Briggs of FNS] 
• Partnerships with state food stamp offices, and state-level outreach initiatives [Brown, Heller] 
• Coordinating the Coalition's work with FNS regional offices [Hallman, Wig] 
• Creating a Hunger Heroes initiative to recognize EWs, and improving food stamp access
  [Ayres, Goolsby, Klass, Paradis, Vollinger, Washington]

Shahin further proposed that these subcommittees could produce reports on their efforts to be presented at the next Coalition meeting, which will be scheduled for mid-April. 

Shahin thanked all Coalition members for their attendance and ongoing commitment, and adjourned the meeting. 

For more information, please contact Elizabeth Whelan at elizabeth.whelan@fns.usda.gov  or Laura Griffin at (703) 605-4399 or laura.griffin@fns.usda.gov . 

Last modified: 04/30/2009