Promising Practices - Connecticut

Connecticut – Greater Waterbury Interfaith Ministries, a recipient of a food stamp outreach grant in FY 2006, works exclusively with low wage Hispanic immigrants in their community. They attribute some success to the fact that their offices are in a church which is perceived as safe ground, but the primary factor is the high quality of their outreach worker. “Word spread fast in the community that she would help them. They do not come here for our emergency food pantry; they come to see our FSP outreach worker. For successful outreach, one has to be available to the target population. Because they work during the day, one has to be flexible enough to meet with them at their community gatherings, usually a church event; and one has to live by one’s word.” For more information, contact: Susan Pronovost, Food Stamp Grant Project Director, Greater Waterbury Interfaith Ministries, 16 Church Street, Waterbury, CT 06702, susan.pronovost@snet.net.

Connecticut – The Hispanic Health Council of Hartford and the Connecticut Department of Social Services collaborated to produce a fotonovela titled "In Times of Need, Food Stamps Are Here to Help." Written in a culturally appropriate format at a sixth grade reading level, the fotonovela educates the reader about food stamps and the health benefits that may result from participating in the program. For more information, contact: Richard Burt, Connecticut Department of Social Services, Hartford, CT, 860-424-5384, richard.burt@po.state.ct.us.

Connecticut – The Department of Social Services does special mailings to soup kitchens, food pantries and shelters encouraging them to make available Food Stamp Program applications and information to their customers. For more information, contact: Mary E. Parizo, Mary.Parizo@po.state.ct.us.

Last modified: 04/30/2009