Promising Practices - Kentucky

Kentucky – Residents of Jefferson County may apply for benefits at the main office of Family Support and also at eight other sites around the county. In a county with a relatively large geographic area, the eight “satellite” sites provide outreach to populations of restricted transportation means. Each of the out-stationed offices are called Neighborhood Places and include an opportunity to apply for the Food Stamp Program, KTAP or Medicaid, as well as to attend WIC clinics, consult with staff of the Health Department or Workforce Development or local agencies such as “Dare to Care” who are available to assist to meet the needs of low income residents. For more information, contact: Janet L. Washington, Jefferson County Family Support Services, 502-595-5212.

Kentucky - Boone and Kenton Counties provide outreach to Hispanic and Latino communities at the annual Feria de Salud (Health Fair) which attracts over 300 participants. Their booth is staffed by Spanish speaking professionals and stocked with a variety of brochures about the Food Stamp Program in Spanish. Working with other community agencies has made it possible to reach low income families who are hampered by poor language skills. At the same time, the quality of outreach conducted by these Family Support Offices has earned the admiration of their partners. For more information, contact: Sarah Hughes, RN, Special Projects Coordinator, North Central Area Health Education Center, 859-384-2209.

Kentucky – Boone, Grant, and Kenton Counties Family Support workers set up outreach booths at back-to-school events helping families fill out applications for Food Stamp Program benefits. They also participate on the advisory councils of the school-based Family Resource and Youth Service Centers, interacting with parents, school officials, and community representatives to meet the needs of children. Their experience demonstrates this is a good strategy to meet parents in a neutral setting and provide all with information about the Food Stamp Program. For more information, contact: Carol Leggett, Region 4 Manager for Family Resource and Youth, 859-525-6783

Kentucky – Counties in the Kentucky River region offer extended hours in the morning and evening, use a prescreening form, and hold orientations to discuss eligibility requirements for various assistance programs. Two workers from each county visit senior citizen groups and group homes for the elderly on a regular basis to educate them about Food Stamp Program requirements and the use of the EBT card. In addition, eligibility workers partner with community and church organizations as well as other State program staff (Employment and Training, Comp Care) to help identify low income families that may need assistance. Also, FSP staff creates a friendly presence in communities by actively participating in events such as preparing food boxes, preparing holiday presents for children, preparing food for holiday dinners, and by participating in an annual Beef Stew Drive to stock shelters and homeless meal providers in the region. For more information, contact: Division of Policy Development, Policy Support Section 502-564-7536.

Last modified: 04/30/2009