Promising Practices - Indiana

Indiana – State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and El Centro Hispano publish Food Stamp Program information in other languages. For more information, contact Robin Masters at Robin.Masters@fns.usda.gov.

Indiana – A local Food Stamp Program worker at the Allen County office in Fort Wayne took the initiative to devise a way to make communicating with non-English speaking applicants much easier. He had basic interview questions translated into the five languages most commonly spoken in the area – Bosnian, French, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Burmese. The questions were then transferred to cue cards and secured by a key ring. Applicants can search for the language they understand. This has reduced frustration, reduced processing time, and served as a useful tool for workers to find the right translator when needed for an expedited application interview. For more information, contact: Karen Snodgrass, Division of Family and Children, 210 East Rudisill Blvd, Suite 100, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46806, 260-458-6301.

Indiana - Monroe County Office of Family and Children (OFC) participates in outreach efforts monthly at the Shalom Community Center, a faith-based initiative providing food, clothing, diapers and other services to low income clients. On days that the Center distributes free lunches and bagged food, OFC staff is present to answer questions about the Food Stamp Program and to assist with Emergency Food Stamp Program applications. For more information, contact: Lisa Chaplin, 812-336-6351.

Last modified: 04/30/2009