Promising Practices - Oregon

Oregon – Beginning in 2000, the Oregon Hunger Relief Task Force (OHRTF) held a series of focus groups with low-income participants to identify client-perceived barriers to accessing and using the Food Stamp Program, and included ongoing feedback on client barriers from community advocates and service provider partners. In 2004, the State Department of Human Services (DHS) formed the Food Stamp Outreach Steering Committee, comprised of agency and community organization members who problem-solved together with the identified barriers and helped implement successful solutions: a simplified application and the development and distribution of various educational outreach materials. In 2005, their on-going collective effort was published in a DHS report, Food Stamp Program Strategies of Accountability, which outlines specific responsibilities at each staff level throughout the State agency and provides a base point for both State agency staff and advocacy groups to measure access and customer service issues. The FSP Strategies are a work in progress, and are the latest example of the unique and successful collaboration between advocates and DHS. This has contributed to Oregon’s high ranking in increased participation. For more information, contact: Nancy Weed, Food Stamp Outreach Coordinator, Oregon Hunger Relief Task Force, 123 N.E. Third Avenue, Suite 475, Portland, Oregon 97232, 503-998-6194, nancy@oregonhunger.org.

Last modified: 04/30/2009