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Promising Practices - Michigan
Michigan – The Center for Civil Justice
(CCJ) operates a toll-free statewide Food and Nutrition Program
Helpline in partnership with the Michigan Department of Human
Services and Michigan State University Extension (MSUE). Michigan
residents may call the Helpline for a confidential eligibility
pre-screening, counseling about the application process, and
information on various food, nutrition, and educational resources.
Callers are encouraged to call back if they encounter any barriers. For more information, contact: Center for Civil Justice, 436 S.
Saginaw St. Ste.504, Flint, MI 48502,
info@ccj-mi.org, 810-244-8044.
Michigan – The Center for Civil Justice (CCJ) offers a
self-screening eligibility tool called the Food Stamp Calculator
which is accessed via the web at www.foodstamphelp.org. Callers who
desire additional advocacy services are helped by CCJ staff using
non-federal funding. CCJ has advertised the Helpline through
emergency food providers, faith-based organizations, community
agencies, information and referral services, and the press.
Demographic data is collected on the callers. Through an agreement
with DHS and USDA, the Helpline number is now being provided to
people who contact USDA’s national toll-free number. For more
information, contact: Center for Civil Justice, 436 S. Saginaw St.
Ste.504, Flint, MI 48502, info@ccj-mi.org
810-244-8044.
Michigan – Since its inception in 2002,
Michigan’s Coordinated Access to Food for the Elderly (MiCAFE) has
assisted over 2,500 seniors in applying for food stamps and other public
benefits. As of May 2007, approximately 74 percent of households
assisted have been eligible for benefits that average $70 a month.
MiCAFE uses an internet-based application, visits senior and community
centers, and trains volunteers to help seniors in 10 counties. Key
partners are the Michigan Department of Human Services and the Michigan
Office of Services to the Aging. For more information, contact: Kate
White, Executive Director, Elder Law of Michigan, Inc., 3815 W. Saint
Joseph St., Suite C-200, Lansing, MI 48917,
kwhite@elderslaw.org
517-853-2368.
Michigan – The Family Independence
Agency (FIA) designed a new and improved self-screening tool called MARS
which is connected through Michigan’s State agency web pages. For more
information, contact: FIA Program Coordination and Support, 517-241-7040.
Michigan – Kent County Family Independence Agency (FIA) developed
a pilot program in partnership with ACCESS (All County Churches
Emergency Support System) to place Food Stamp Program outreach workers
at various food pantry locations throughout the county, at low income
schools and at businesses where low wage workers were employed. From
October 2000 to March 2002, the outreach workers enrolled an average of
20 families a month in the Food Stamp Program with an average monthly
benefit of $200 per family.
Continuing the outreach effort beyond March 2002 was stymied by a sudden
increase in caseloads which required reassignment of the outreach
workers to the FIA office full-time. ACCESS then attempted to carry on
by training their Pantry Directors to complete initial assessments and
referrals, but the reality of the demands of their jobs and the level of
expertise needed to effectively make referrals hampered success. ACCESS
then sought private funding for staff to carry on the outreach program.
Currently, the outreach effort is operative through funding from MAZON
and Michigan State University. Also, ACCESS contributes a portion of
their current success to being able to hire a retired Family
Independence Agency caseworker with an interest in client advocacy who
processes applications and serves as a liaison between clients and FIA.
For more information, contact: Marsha De Hollander, ACCESS, Grand Rapids
MI, 616-774-2175, ext. 103.
Last modified:
04/30/2009
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