Promising Practices - West Virginia

West Virginia – In Fayette County, public transportation is sparse. Concern for the high older adult population, some of whom were paying friends and neighbors $10 or $15 for a ride to the local office, prompted the county to start “out stationing” their staff and programs. By January 2008, eligibility specialists regularly staff four outlying locations in the county where they work during regular business hours because overtime pay is not available. Fayette County Department of Health and Human Resources provides funds to acquire connection to the internet and office space is donated by community centers, a city hall, and senior living facilities. A social worker at one senior living facility estimated that 50 percent of the residents would not be receiving these supplemental nutrition benefits without the outstation program. For more information, contact: Stacey Brown, Fayette County Department of Health and Human Resources,  staceybrown@wvdhhr.org, 304-465-9613 .

West Virginia – The Presbyterian Church of Richwood is a central part of the outstation program operated by the Nicholas County Department of Health and Human Resources. Since January 2000, the church has been providing office space and equipment at no cost, while the Richwood Food and Clothing Pantry, located down the hall, meets emergency needs and encourages clients to find out how the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program can help meet their ongoing food and nutrition needs. For more information, contact: Patty Martin, Nicholas County Department of Health and Human Resources, pmartin@wvdhhr.org, 304-822-0803, ext. 176.

West Virginia – The Department of Health and Human Resources developed a Food Stamp Program eligibility pre-screening tool and an on-line application. For more information, contact: Margaret Lovejoy, West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, margaretlovejoy@wvdhhr.org, 304-348-0884.

West Virginia – Fayette County Department of Health and Human Resources maintains two sites in outlying parts of the county to handle applications and reviews so customers in those areas do not have to drive so far to the County office. They are currently in the process of scheduling an additional day for outstation work and are working to upgrade all outstation sites so staff can connect laptop computers to process applications on site. For more information, contact: Skip Jennings, Community Services Manager, Fayette County DHHR, 304-465-9613.

Last modified: 04/30/2009